Okeechobee County Education Association - OCEA

06/02/2026

It's no secret that Florida legislation in the last few years has made it harder than ever to operate as a union, but still we hear so many people in our bargaining unit don't know.

Here are just SOME of the biggest obstacles and restrictions we face each day. What did we miss?! What did you not realize?

Not a member but want to know more? Send us a message! We'd love to chat about why it is so important and what the many benefits of union membership are.

06/01/2026

Update regarding our PERC Renewal

AND winner for the May Membership Drive!

05/27/2026

We're almost there!

And as the month closes out, our membership drive is also coming to a close.

Join OCEA now so you can enjoy all the benefits over the summer, including the potential for a $50 gift card! Join here: https://feacms.floridaea.org/portal/fasttrack/5/form

05/18/2026

We’re plotting over here..

If you’ve been around a few years you may remember our former OCEA Member cards that got you discounts to local businesses.

Unfortunately due to the front loading work and busy schedules this was not continued the last few years.. BUT we plan to bring it back!!

We are starting the process of finding the best way to make this happen, and we want your feedback. What are some of your favorite discounts you used? What businesses would you like to see?

ALSO if you’re a local business manager or owner who would be interested in partnering with us for this, please reach out via messenger or email and we will make sure we come see you next month when we start officially gathering discounts!

We can’t wait to bring back this LOCAL member benefit!

05/18/2026

Don’t forget, just over an hour until our meeting!

With our membership drive, recent legislative changes, and so much going on we decided to host a virtual info meeting for our members next week!

An email was sent out with the link for 6pm next week, and tomorrow evening anyone who has not opted out to texts will receive one of those as well.

If you have not gotten any communication by Wednesday please don't hesitate to reach out to us. We advise you first check your spam to make sure you're receiving our emails.

This meeting is for active OCEA members only. If you're a potential member seeking more information please reach out and we'd love to chat!

05/16/2026

Often we hear people think that they’re automatically “in”. We wish! There are costs, which means our members do have to pay dues and this is one of the most common questions.

We understand that money is tighter than ever right now, which is why we encourage people to make the most of their benefits. Also, the stronger our membership the more we can do to give back.

You can link your bank account for automatic monthly payment, or pay annually or semi-annually via cash or check.

Ready to join? Sign up here: https://feacms.floridaea.org/portal/fasttrack/5/form

05/13/2026

It’s Sarah’s birthday!! What she wants is

1. New members

2. Donations for our annual “New” Teacher Store

Each year we offer this to our members as well as any new staff to help set up their classroom. This is a big undertaking, but one of our favorite things to do each year as we see how much it is truly appreciated.

If you’re cleaning out and have items or materials in good condition you’d like to donate please reach out so we can set up a time to meet and to get these items

05/13/2026

💰 What could the proposed state budget mean for your paycheck?

We broke down the proposed Teacher Salary Increase Allocation (TSIA) numbers so you can see a rough estimate of what your district could receive—and what that could mean per paycheck.

But there are a few important things to keep in mind:
➡️ Lawmakers still haven’t finalized a state budget, so the numbers could change.
➡️ The House proposal limits raises to teachers with 20+ years of Florida public school experience.
➡️ Once again, education staff professionals like paraprofessionals, clerical workers, cafeteria staff, and others are excluded from TSIA funding.

Use the chart on this page to select your county and paycheck schedule to explore the estimates for your district: https://bit.ly/426WH0h

05/12/2026

📣 OCEA Members — Save Our New Number!
📱 (863) 441-3562

Members are always welcome to call or send a text if needed. Please note that OCEA officers are actively working in and around classrooms Monday–Friday from 8:00 AM–4:00 PM, so calls and messages will be answered at our earliest convenience.

If we miss you, please leave a voicemail or send a detailed text message and we will get back with you as soon as possible.

You may also reach us by email anytime:

📧 Tiffany Kane, President
[email protected]

📧 Sarah Blomerth, Secretary/Treasurer
[email protected]

05/12/2026

In our last video we brought up Professional Development..

FEA offers some great opportunities to learn more about your union as well as sessions to prepare for tests and so much more! We’d love to bring more PD opportunities to Okeechobee as well.

Follow FEA Professional Development and Educational Research to stay informed

Ready to join? Sign up for OCEA here: https://feacms.floridaea.org/portal/fasttrack/5/form