what is mea in minnesota

MEA in Minnesota stands for Minnesota Educators Association. It is a long-standing tradition in Minnesota where students get a four-day break from school on the third Thursday and Friday in October, known as "MEA Weekend". The MEA conference, which takes place during this time, is the largest one-day professional development event for educators in Minnesota. The conference provides training and professional development coaching for educators from various backgrounds and abilities, and it is open to Education Minnesota members and aspiring educators. The acronym "MEA" originally stood for the Minnesota Educators Association, which was one of the unions in the state. In 1998, it merged with another union to form Education Minnesota, and the MEA weekend became the "Minnesota Educator Academy" to maintain consistency in the acronym. The MEA conference is a significant event for educators in Minnesota, providing them with opportunities for professional development and networking.