Saginaw Intermediate School District (ISD) and the Early Childhood Education Association (ECEA) are celebrating a new three-year collective bargaining agreement representing a significant investment in the professionals supporting Saginaw County’s youngest learners through Head Start, Early Head Start, Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP), and other early childhood programs and services.
The agreement was ratified by ECEA and approved by the Saginaw ISD Board of Education on September 15, 2026. The redesigned compensation structure delivered immediate salary increases averaging 11.5% while creating stronger connections between employees’ education, credentials, professional advancement, and compensation.
The agreement supports one of Saginaw ISD’s largest areas of service. The district’s Early Childhood Department supports 2,454 early childhood slots across Saginaw County through Head Start, Early Head Start, GSRP, and other early childhood programs and services. To put that scale into perspective, if those 2,454 slots were compared with student enrollment in Saginaw County’s 12 local public school districts, Early Childhood would rank as the third-largest educational system by size, behind only Saginaw Public Schools and Saginaw Township Community Schools. Delivering programming at that scale requires a highly skilled workforce of teachers, associate teachers, family service advocates, home visitors, program support professionals, and other early childhood specialists working with children and families throughout the county.
“When you look at the scope of our early childhood programs, you begin to understand the magnitude and importance of this work,” said Dr. Jeffrey Collier, Superintendent of Saginaw ISD. “For many children and families, our early childhood professionals are among the first educators and educational partners they encounter, helping establish a strong foundation during some of the most important years of a child’s development. This agreement helps us build and sustain the exceptional workforce necessary to deliver high-quality early childhood programming and support children and families throughout Saginaw County.”
The agreement also responds to a broader workforce challenge affecting early childhood education across Michigan. According to the Michigan Center for Data and Analytics’ Childcare Industry Workforce Analysis, preschool teachers earned approximately 78% of what the typical Michigan worker earned in 2023, while nearly half of Michigan preschool and kindergarten teachers held a bachelor’s degree or higher. The analysis also found that median wages for childcare workers and preschool teachers were below statewide median earnings at every level of educational attainment.
The new compensation structure better recognizes employees’ education, credentials, and professional growth while creating clearer opportunities for career advancement. Employees who continue their education and earn additional credentials can see that growth reflected in their career opportunities and compensation. The agreement also continues tuition reimbursement for up to 18 approved credits annually and establishes new mentor stipends to recognize experienced employees who help develop and support their colleagues.
“Our members believe deeply in the work they do every day. They come to work because they care about children, families, and the communities we serve. As preschool teachers, we know that the early years are some of the most important years in a child’s development.
We have the opportunity to create safe, nurturing classrooms where children feel valued, build confidence, develop a love for learning, and gain skills that will stay with them throughout their lives,” said Jessica Willingham, President of the Early Childhood Education Association.
“Our members also believe that when we invest in early childhood educators, we are investing directly in our children and families. This agreement provides opportunities for our members to continue their education, strengthen their skills, earn credentials, and grow throughout their careers. We are proud to support our members not only in the important work they do today, but also in helping them build a future within Saginaw ISD. Our members deserve to be valued, supported, and given opportunities to grow—and our children deserve educators who are given the same opportunity to grow alongside them.”
Research also demonstrates why building and sustaining a strong early childhood workforce matters. Michigan evaluations of GSRP have found significant gains in early literacy and math among participating children and reductions in early literacy achievement gaps for children with higher levels of risk. Michigan’s GSRP has also met all 10 national quality benchmarks established by the National Institute for Early Education Research for nine consecutive years, placing Michigan among just six states nationally to achieve that distinction.
To recruit and retain highly qualified early childhood professionals, Saginaw ISD pairs its more competitive salary structure and opportunities for professional advancement with a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability coverage, along with leave provisions supporting personal, family, and medical needs.
The agreement directly advances Workforce Excellence, one of the five pillars of Saginaw ISD’s 2025–2028 Strategic Compass, by supporting competitive compensation, professional growth, recruitment, retention, and employee recognition. That investment in people also supports the district’s commitment to Educational Advancement by strengthening its capacity to provide high-quality, student-centered early childhood programming throughout Saginaw County.
Individuals interested in building a career with Saginaw ISD can explore current employment opportunities through the district’s Join Our Team page. The ratified collective bargaining agreement is available through Saginaw ISD’s Transparency Reporting page.
JOINTLY ISSUED BY
Saginaw Intermediate School District | Dr. Jeffrey Collier, Superintendent
Early Childhood Education Association | Jessica Willingham, President
ABOUT SAGINAW INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL DISTRICT
Saginaw Intermediate School District (ISD) is an educational service agency that provides effective and innovative leadership, services, resources, and programs throughout Saginaw County. Saginaw ISD provides career and technical education, early childhood, finance, human resources, instruction, pupil accounting, special education, technology, and transportation services. In addition, Saginaw ISD operates multiple educational programs to meet the unique needs of students ages birth to 26 across Saginaw County, including Hartley Outdoor Education Center, Head Start/Early Head Start and preschool programming, Great Lakes Bay Early College, Saginaw County Juvenile Detention Center School, and Special Education Center Programs.
Saginaw ISD serves 12 local school districts, five public school academies, and 22 non-public schools, supporting approximately 26,000 students throughout Saginaw County.
MEDIA CONTACT
Coty Kuschinsky | Chief of Staff and Communications Director