Higher education employees work at one of Colorado’s many higher education institutions, including community and technical colleges as well as private and public colleges and universities. This includes a variety of roles including adjunct faculty to program coordinators.

Why Join:

CEA membership empowers educators of all backgrounds to come together and have a say in our classrooms, schools, and workplaces. Joining together in a strong union gives us the power in numbers to advocate for our professions with elected officials and other decision makers.

In addition, whether it’s access to legal services or discounts on shopping and travel or savings on home and car insurance, membership in the union provides a range of tangible benefits.

How to Join:

Aspiring educators (college students/pre-professionals) are those who are enrolled in a teacher preparation course in a Colorado accredited public or private college or university prior to having a teaching license and are planning to pursue a career in education. Students studying in alternative licensure programs are also welcome.

Why Join:

As a student member, you can connect with working professionals to help you enter the classroom ready to reach, teach and inspire.

We honor your decision to join the next generation of caring, committed teachers our students need – and we need your voice to inform state and school district officials so they make decisions and policies that create rewarding career opportunities in our schools, especially given Colorado’s growing teacher shortage.

How to Join:

Additional Resources:

• See why student members are joining our Association across the country.
• Find out more about NEA’s Aspiring Educators program.

Retired educators are those who have retired from the education professions. Even though retired educators may not go into our schools every day, they continue to advocate for our profession, our schools, and the retirement security they deserve.

Why Join:

Your membership connects you to other committed peers, provides statewide and national opportunities to engage, and adds your voice to the collective voice in support of Colorado public schools and its children.

As a member, you can join your colleagues in advocating for the retirement security you deserve. Your eligibility for NEA Member Benefits programs will continue, and you can continue to support your colleagues, students, and public education.

Your interests at the statewide level are represented by the CEA-R Representative Council, a governing body with elected representatives from each CEA Region. Local Retired associations throughout the state offer a variety of volunteer, leadership, and networking activities.

Note that if you plan to go back to active work in a school district or substitute in a certified or classified position, it is recommended that you maintain an active membership (instead of a retired membership) as the Retired membership does not include any legal services or protections for working at a school site.

K-12 Teachers and Special Service Providers are licensed staff who are actively working in our public school districts or BOCES to ensure our students learn the skills and content they need to be successful. This includes those with appropriate licenses such as classroom teachers, counselors, special educators, school psychologists, social workers, school nurses, vocational teachers and other professionals.

Why Join:
CEA membership empowers active teachers and special service providers to come together and have a say in our classrooms, schools, and workplaces. Joining together in a strong union gives us the power in numbers to negotiate with our employers about our pay and working conditions and to advocate for our profession with elected officials and other decision makers.

In addition, whether it’s access to legal services or discounts on shopping and travel or savings on home and car insurance, membership in the union provides a range of tangible benefits.

How to Join:
Most teachers can join through one of CEA’s 200 local associations or a BOCES Unit at any time of the year. Your membership will include your local association, the Colorado Education Association (CEA), and the National Education Association (NEA).

Your school’s Association Representative (AR) can tell you more about membership benefits, dues and how to fill out the forms, either a local form or the CEA-NEA Membership Form.

Find a local office near you >>

We hope you will join the thousands of Colorado teachers and special service providers who work together through our local, state and national association to help every student thrive.