Chesterfield Education Association

06/01/2026

We know it’s officially summer break, but union work never ends! Here is the June newsletter!

05/28/2026

It's contract season!
We'd like to know how well informed you are on employee School Board policies and regulations?

❤️ Fully informed, no surprises
💙 Not fully, but I know where to find them
🧡 Not at all and I don't know where to find them
🖤 I am now after finding out the hard way

Are there policies you think should be revisited and amended?

05/27/2026

Jump Start Your NBCT Journey!

Have you ever considered National Board Certification but weren’t sure where to begin? VEA Jump Start is designed for educators just like you.

Join us June 24–26, 2026, in Portsmouth for a multi-day, hands-on workshop created and led by teachers. Whether you’re ready to begin the process or simply exploring the possibility, this experience will provide practical tools, helpful guidance, and a supportive community of educators on the same journey.

The workshop is open to all eligible Virginia teachers, and space and hotel rooms are limited. Come discover what’s possible and take the first step toward your National Board Certification journey.

If you have questions, feel free to email [email protected].

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER, GO TO

If you are a candidate for National Board Certification seeking your initial certificate, this workshop is for you! This is a hands-on workshop designed to help every teacher — no matter your school, your community, or your background — take a confident first step toward National Board Certifica...

05/25/2026

Extending deepest gratitude to all that serve and a solemn thanks to those that gave the ultimate sacrifice this Memorial Day.

05/23/2026

📣 Here’s the latest Bellwood Update:

For the last two months we have been asking the school board and CCPS administration to keep Bellwood’s contracts on July 1st. This would have avoided a gap in pay or a loss of income in the 26-27 school year. CCPS denied this request.

CEA and VEA are still ready to support our members!
On May 19th, the Representative Coucil voted to use existing CEA funds to match the July 15th bonus that CCPS is offering to Bellwood staff. Since the staff will see about $900 of that bonus after taxes, the Rep Council voted to give each member at Bellwood a one-time hardship payment of $900! While the bonus offered by CCPS is helpful to Bellwood staff, it will not cover their bills in July. Our Rep Council has made our priorities clear: our union will not idly by while our members suffer. This hardship fund will help make up for some of the impact of CCPS’ irresponsible contract decisions.

⭐️This fund can ONLY be accessed by CEA members at Bellwood Elementary School.
When the system lets our members down, we stand up for each other!
Solidarity!

05/19/2026

Join us Thursday!

If you're upset about Governor Spanberger's veto of the historic collective bargaining legislation, you're not alone. Now is the time to show up and speak out about this betrayal.

Join us in solidarity at 4 p.m. on Thursday May 21 in Richmond to march for workers' rights. This event is being organized alongside our union partners in the Virginia Public Sector Labor Coalition.

We will not be silent in the face of union busting.

Show your solidarity! Join us at 1111 E Broad St., Richmond, VA 23219 on May 21 at 4pm.

You can RSVP here:

https://www.mobilize.us/seiu-virginia/event/954834/

05/18/2026

Just a reminder tomorrow’s Representative Council doubles as our end of year social and will be at Legend Brewing. The original May newsletter was published before the social details were hashed out. There is no virtual option tomorrow. We hope to see everyone there!

📍321 W 7th Street, Richmond, VA 23224
⏰6:30 PM

05/18/2026

We know last week was a frustrating week, but we did have a shining moment featuring our CEA president Rob Hammel and Dale Member at Large, Darlene Pantaleo!

HB1437 (Dougherty), one of the 13 VEA initiated bills, became a law last week! This bill grew out of a 2025 New Business Item by VEA members June Prakash and Danielle Jones. This legislation expands existing state vacancy reporting requirements to include the number of employee exits, disaggregated by race, along with the reasons for each exit, including whether the separation was voluntary or involuntary. The goal is to provide policymakers, school divisions, and the public with greater transparency about workforce trends and retention challenges in Virginia schools.

Rob and Darlene were able to attend the bill signing!

05/14/2026

Today's veto= BETRAYAL. HYPOCRISY. INJUSTICE.

Join us!!
🗓️ Monday, May 18- ALL MEMBER CALL
🗓️ Thursday, May 21; 4 pm Richmond LABOR COALITION PROTEST

05/14/2026

🚨🚨 Chesterfield County's Board of Supervisors in their role as 🐔 Chicken Little 🐔 and their message of "the sky is falling" may have succeeded with the Governor's veto on the Collective Bargaining bill for public sector employees supporting teachers, fire fighters, police, and healthcare workers. It is on the backs of public servants providing high quality services that attracts new businesses and residents to Chesterfield County.

Let's be clear, we are PUBLIC sector employees that live and work in Chesterfield with no desire for demands that would make it a less affordable community to live in.

We are employees that want our seat at the table to negotiate best practices and policies that make it the most desirable school system in which to work and to better serve students and families.