Federal Education Association

Meet Sharon Manuel, FEA’s new President!👋 With 23 years in DoDEA and a deep commitment to listening to educators, Sharon is ready to lead with experience and purpose. She wants to hear your stories because your voice is FEA’s strength. 💙 📧 Share your story: feaadmin@nea.org"

The Fall 2026 FEA Journal should be in your mailbox! 🎉📖 Didn't receive your copy? Email FEAAdmin@nea.org to update your mailing address. Scan the QR code in the photo, or you can also read it online here❤️: https://feaonline.org/our-publications/fea-journal/fall-2026

🎥 Introducing FEA Minute! Join FEA President Sharon Manuel for quick tips and valuable member resources. Our 1st video: Three Ways FEA Can Help You! 💪 📚 Learn about discounted VESi recertification courses: https://feaonline.org/member-resources/professional-development/recertification Stay tuned!

🗳️ The November General Election Is Coming Up! FEA Overseas Members: Election Day is November 3. Now is the time to check your voting information and deadlines. FVAP can help you request an absentee ballot and so much more! 📱 Scan the QR code or visit FVAP.gov to get started.

Congratulations🎉 to Amanda Marcella Gates, FEA’s 2027 Travelers Award for Teaching Excellence recipient! Amanda is an English/Language Arts educator at Osan Middle High School in Pyeongtaek, South Korea. Please join us in celebrating👏 Amanda and congratulating her on this outstanding recognition!

Did you know that DoD federal civilian employees can opt in to TSA PreCheck® for free? ✅ Visit DoD ID Card Office Online: https://idco.dmdc.osd.mil/idco/ ✅ Select My Profile → CIV ✅ Follow the instructions to opt in Take care of it now and have one less thing to worry about this holiday season! ✈️

Make Sure Your Fall FEA Journal Finds You! Now is a great time to double-check your information so your Journal is mailed to the correct address. Scan the QR code in the image below or visit: https://feaonline.org/how-update-your-contact-information to learn how to update your contact information.

Happy Labor Day from FEA! As a union, FEA is proud to advocate for, support, and stand alongside the educators and ESPs who serve DoDEA students and communities every day. Remember that FEA is here for you. 📧 Need assistance? Contact us at FEAAdmin@nea.org.

FEA welcomes NEA's new president, Princess Moss! 🎉 President Moss serves alongside newly elected NEA Vice President Noel Candelaria and Secretary-Treasurer Robert Rodriguez. Learn more: https://www.nea.org/about-nea/leaders/president

Please join us in welcoming Adam Johnston, who joined FEA's Board of Directors as our new Pacific Area Director in late June! We look forward to the work ahead and to your leadership in supporting educators throughout the Pacific.

Happy Retirement, Mike Adair! 🎉 After years of dedicated service to FEA members as our Pacific Area Director, Mike retired at the end of June. We wish you endless days of relaxation, adventure, and joy in your well-earned retirement. 💙 Congratulations, Mike, and thank you for everything!

The 2026 FEA Spring Journal is here! You can access the journal online here: https://bit.ly/4w7f2Gy If you experience any difficulties accessing the journal through the website, please contact FEAAdmin@nea.org for assistance. We hope you enjoy this latest issue of the FEA Journal!

National Black Teacher Appreciation Day: Dr. Michael A. Pope🌟 🔬 Middle school science teacher at Zama 🏆 Inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame 🌍 Created the G.L.P. model (Global, Local, Personal) 💡 NEA Global Learning Fellow Want to be featured? Email FEAAdmin@nea.org

National Teacher Day Spotlight: Jessica Yucel🌟 🏆 DoDEA-Europe West Teacher of the Year 📚 English & Social Studies teacher in Germany 🌍 FEA Europe-West District Representative 🤝 Advocates for educators ✨ DoDEA alum, now empowering the next generation Want to be featured? Email FEAAdmin@nea.org

This Teacher Appreciation Week, we honor the educators who show up every day with care, resilience, and commitment to their students. FEA members stand together to support, protect, and uplift the profession. Your impact matters. 💙📚

FEA Member Spotlight: Joshua Kaufman Josh is a Math Support Specialist in Yokosuka, Japan He leads teacher-driven PD, specializes in Math Talks, and created a math resource site used by 11,000+ educators across DoDEA. Want to be featured? Email FEAAdmin@nea.org

FEA’s Annual Membership Meeting (AMM) + NEA Representative Assembly (RA) will be held June 30-July 8, 2026 in Denver, CO. Key Dates: June 30: Arrival / AFSPA Reception July 1-2: AMM July 3-7: RA (Reg. July 3) July 8: Departure Interested in attending AMM as a non-delegate? Email FEAAdmin@nea.org

The Winter 2026 edition of the FEA Journal is now available online. Read the full digital edition here: https://feaonline.org/fea-journal-winter-2026 Please note: The Winter edition of the FEA Journal will be available in digital format only and will not be mailed to members’ homes.

National School Counseling Week 2026, observed February 2–6, celebrates the critical role school counselors play in supporting students and strengthening school communities. Tag an FEA counselor who makes a difference every day!

🌟 2027 Awards for Teaching Excellence 🌟 The NEA Foundation is now accepting nominations for the 2027 Awards for Teaching Excellence. 📅 FEA submission deadline: Monday, February 23, 2026 📎 Scan the QR code for more information!

FEA and NEA showed up at the U.S. Capitol for the January 14 rally in support of the Protect America’s Workforce Act (PAWA), a bipartisan bill that would restore union protections for federal workers and require the administration to honor collective bargaining agreements.

On December 10, the world observes International Human Rights Day, first established in 1948. It stands on one powerful truth: Every human being is born with equal dignity, rights, and worth. 🌟 Happy International Human Rights Day! 🌟

🍁✨ Happy Thanksgiving from FEA! ✨🍁 Please enjoy this special Thanksgiving message from FEA President Sharon Manuel! As we celebrate this season of gratitude, we invite you to take a moment and share one thing you are thankful for.

In honor of ESP Day, join us in celebrating Mrs. Teresa Brown and all Educational Support Professionals who keep our schools strong. Tag an ESP you appreciate and want to recognize. Happy ESP Day!

Happy ESP Day from FEA! We extend our gratitude to every ESP who shows commitment, care, and leadership in service of our students and school communities. Your work is essential and deeply valued. Thank you for all you do.

Hear from FEA President Sharon Manuel as she wishes a happy 250th Birthday to the United States Marine Corps! 🦅🌎⚓ The Marine Corps’ values of discipline, honor, and commitment shine through in our Marine-connected schools every day. 👉 Know someone in the Corps? Give them a shoutout below!

Today, on National Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we honor and celebrate the histories, cultures, and contributions of Indigenous peoples across the world.

Happy Birthday to the U.S. Navy!⚓️ Hear from FEA President Sharon Manuel as she celebrates the birthday of the U.S. Navy and honors the courage, dedication, and sacrifice of sailors and their families across the globe. 👉 Know someone in the Navy? Give them a shoutout in the comments!

✈️Skip the Lines with Free TSA PreCheck ✈️ Good news for U.S. service members and qualifying DoD civilians — you can enjoy TSA PreCheck at no cost, with no application required. This benefit makes airport security faster and less stressful. Scan the QR code to learn more!

🌍✨ Happy World Teacher’s Day! ✨🌍 FEA educators bring knowledge, care, and stability to military-connected students and their families. Your dedication ensures that around the world students receive the high-quality education they deserve. Today, we celebrate your impact. Thank you! 💙📚✏️

What happens to your health and life insurance benefits during a furlough? Learn more by scanning the QR code!

By designating a beneficiary, you ensure that the benefits from your policy go directly to the person (or people) you intend, without unnecessary delays or complications. It’s quick and easy to do, but it can make a world of difference during a difficult time.

Happy Birthday to the United States Air Force!✈️ Hear from President Sharon Manuel as she reflects on the importance of recognizing our military community and the educators who serve alongside them in DoDEA schools. 👉Do you know someone in the Air Force? Give them a shoutout in the comments below!

🌟 Hispanic Heritage Month is September 15 – October 15 🌟 FEA celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month by honoring the histories, cultures, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities. Their resilience, creativity, and pride enrich our schools and our union every day. 💛💙❤️

Earn discounted graduate credits on technology integration through FEA’s VESi courses, then expand your knowledge with NEA’s new AI in Education Hub. Scan the QR codes to find out more!

Hear from FEA President Sharon Manuel as she shares why unity and collective strength are essential to building a stronger, more equitable public education system. 👉 How are you celebrating Labor Day and the power of workers in your community?

Meet Christine Caylor-Beltran!👋 Christine is a Social Studies / Science / AVID Middle School Teacher at Lester Middle School, Okinawa, Japan. This summer, Christine traveled home from Okinawa to Austin, Texas, and joined her family for the 1st Annual 5K Night Nation Music Fun Run!

🎉Happy 235th Birthday to the U.S. Coast Guard! 🎉 At FEA, we honor the service members, veterans, and civilian personnel who uphold their motto, Semper Paratus—Always Ready. Your commitment helps safeguard our communities and bring stability to life on the water. Thank you for your service.

Carleen Alford, an AVID Elective Teacher at Mahaffey Middle School in Fort Campbell, KY, delivered a keynote at the 2025 AVID Summer Institute in Orlando, FL—selected from 100s of applicants nationwide! 👏 Join us in celebrating Ms. Alford for lifting up her students and our entire DoDEA family.

July 28th is National Buffalo Soldiers Day Today, we honor the Buffalo Soldiers—African American regiments formed in 1866 who served with bravery and distinction across the American West and beyond. #BuffaloSoldiersDay #BlackMilitaryHistory

July 27th is National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day Today marks the anniversary of the 1953 armistice that ended active combat in the Korean War. To all Korean War veterans: we remember you. We thank you. We stand with you. #KoreanWarVeterans #NeverForgotten

July 25th is National Hire A Veteran Day! Hiring a veteran isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s a smart business decision. Let’s honor their service by opening doors and creating opportunities. 💬 Learn how you can support veteran employment by scanning the QR code in the picture!

Meet Kyla Senecal, a dedicated UPK teacher at Spangdahlem Elementary School in Germany! Kyla kicked off her summer break with a beautiful family trip to Venice, Italy. We hope all of our incredible educators are enjoying a well-deserved break this summer—just like Kyla! 💛

Happy Fourth of July from FEA! Today, we celebrate the ideals of freedom, equity, and opportunity—the same values that drive our work every day in support of our educators across the globe.

Happy Juneteenth from FEA! We honor the legacy of 97-year-old Dr. Opal Lee, the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” who visited DoDEA students at Yokosuka Middle School in Japan last year. Juneteenth is a powerful reminder of how far we’ve come—and how far we need to go in the pursuit of equity for all.