Teaching isn't just a job. It's a life.

Nearly 12,000 Montana teachers strong, MEA-MFT is Montana's leading advocate for children, public schools, and school employees.

We represent K-12 teachers, school support staff, future teachers, and retired teachers who join Retired MEA-MFT.

What we do for teachers:

Protecting you on the job: MEA-MFT's highly skilled staff help members resolve all kinds of work-related problems. Their help is free to members. Click here to contact field staff.

Bargaining good contracts: MEA-MFT staff help our local affiliates negotiate and maintain contracts that protect members' rights, working conditions, and salaries.

Liability insurance: Your MEA-MFT membership protects you from frivolous lawsuits with a $1 million professional liability policy for defense against criminal charges or civil lawsuits. Obtaining this kind of defense could cost non-members many thousands of dollars.

Professional development: MEA-MFT offers top-quality professional development, including:

• Our annual MEA-MFT Educators' Conference, the largest professional conference for teachers in the Northwest.

• Our state-of-the-art Educational Research and Development (ER&D) program.

• Local and regional training in professional issues.

• Research and publications on issues such as gifted education, survival skills for new teachers, safe schools, and much more.

• Our annual Montana Educator Forum brings teachers and policymakers together to address some of the hottest topics in education.

• Our Montana Professional Teaching Foundation, promoting great teaching.

School funding: MEA-MFT has led the fight for better school funding, winning major increases in state funding in recent legislatures. The fight is far from over, and we continue the effort.

Our nationally acclaimed, award-winning Stand Up For Education campaign has mobilized thousands of Montanans to speak out for better state funding of education.

Protecting your retirement: Read about our recent victories for retirees in the Montana Teachers Retirement System.

Your voice in issues that affect you: MEA-MFT works closely with elected officials and others whose decisions affect you and your job. We help elect friends of children and public schools. We fight for policies that support education and public school teachers.

From the local school board to the state legislature, from the state Board of Public Education to the governor's office, we provide a strong voice for teachers.

Tooting your horn: MEA-MFT's public relations efforts are designed to tell your story to Montana's people, to gain broader public support for teachers and the important work you do.

Special benefits -- members only: Your membership entitles you to special discounts and programs designed to save you hundreds of dollars. Learn more about these special benefits.

Your voice in MEA-MFT: K-12 members are well represented on the MEA-MFT Board of Directors.

Montana Professional Teaching Foundation
New Teacher ASSIST
Montana curriculum group web sites
NEA web site
AFT web site
AFT's Educational Issues Department

Join us!