COLUMBIA, Mo. – Teachers from across the state are gathering to discuss their legislative plans for the 2017 year.
More than 750 delegates will convene in Columbia for the annual Missouri State Teachers Association (MSTA) convention, which begins Thursday, November 10th.
The delegates will set their association’s legislative agenda, as well as discuss several topics of importance in education, including limiting the costs and required assessments for pre-service teacher certification, as well as working toward the development of a plan to encourage students interested a career in teaching and enable them to return to their home districts for employment. To see all of the proposed items on the agenda, click here.
The delegates will meet at 9:30 a.m. until 11 a.m. on Thursday, and then return at 1 p.m. to complete everything on their agenda.
More than 1,000 teachers are expected to meet on Thursday and Friday at the Holiday Inn Conference Center for professional learning and collaboration.
The first annual convention was held in 1856, and since then, the MSTA convention has grown to become the largest education organization in the state, with more than 46,000 members joining their ranks.
Over the years, the MSTA has featured several noteworthy guest speakers, including First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglass, journalist Tom Brokaw and even Captain Kangaroo.
The MSTA’s headquarters are based in Columbia, with field representatives spread throughout the various regions of the state.
“We are excited to hold our convention in Columbia for the fourth year,” MSTA Executive Director Bruce Moe said. “We look forward to setting the 2017 legislative agenda and establishing guidelines for advocating for our pre-service teachers and new teachers. We also look forward to providing the exceptional professional development opportunities for our members to hone their skills.”
Benjamin Peters was a reporter for The Missouri Times and Missouri Times Magazine and also produced the #MoLeg Podcast. He joined The Missouri Times in 2016 after working as a sports editor and TV news producer in mid-Missouri. Benjamin is a graduate of Missouri State University in Springfield.
