Mission Viejo, CA – The Association of American Educators (AAE), a national non-union professional educator association, announced today that it is doubling job protection benefits for members without raising dues. Following the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Janus v. AFSCME, more public school educators and staff are expected to be exploring their professional association options.

Throughout their career, educators can experience workplace issues that threaten their job as well as their professional reputation. Along with liability insurance and protection against lawsuits, AAE professional membership includes employment rights coverage for members experiencing termination, demotion, involuntary transfer, suspension, or other disciplinary actions. By including job protection benefits in each member’s liability insurance policy, AAE is able to provide legal support at the onset of workplace issues while still charging only $198 per year to members. The doubling of each of the three levels of job protection now covers up to $10,400 in legal fees paid by the insurance policy to defend each member’s due process rights for covered incidents.

Gary Beckner, Founder and President of AAE, explained, “AAE was founded to provide quality professional benefits so that students aren’t losing great teachers to misunderstandings, false accusations, or petty issues. AAE’s employment rights coverage is a shield against very real threats to a member’s entire career.”

AAE’s Director of Legal Services Sharon Nelson explains how employment rights coverage works for members, “Professional members encountering workplace issues contact our legal services department to activate their policy. They work with a local attorney. Many of these matters are resolved prior to or at the hearing, at which point a member has received thousands of dollars worth of legal services. In fact, because the policy is in the member’s name, coverage does not require an approval by AAE staff, which is as close to guaranteed coverage as it gets."

Each AAE professional member receives an individual $2,000,000 educator liability insurance policy to cover damages as well defend against claims. Unlike many association policies, AAE’s policy has no group aggregate, each policy is individual and each member is covered for $2,000,000 per claim. In addition, AAE’s policy includes up to $35,000 to protect a member’s teaching license and up to $50,000 to defend a member against criminal sexual misconduct charges, as long as they are found not guilty. Complete terms and limitations are outlined in the insurance policy.

Colin Sharkey, AAE’s Executive Vice President, added, “Educators are increasingly under intense scrutiny and asked to do even more with less these days. Nearly one-third of AAE’s entire budget is dedicated solely to liability insurance, legal services, and employment rights coverage for tens of thousands members across the country. Those are the trusted services and protections teachers, paraprofessionals, and administrators need and we take great pride in providing them at an affordable price.”

AAE’s job protection benefit increase is immediately in effect in forty-eight states and the District of Columbia for all current and new professional members of AAE and AAE’s state chapters. Policy changes are pending in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and expected to be in effect by the end of the year. A sample copy of the policy can be found on the AAE website. AAE’s liability insurance policy is underwritten by AmeriTrust Group, Inc. and administered by Forrest T. Jones, Inc.

The Association of American Educators (AAE) is the largest national, non-union, professional educator organization, advancing the profession by offering a modern approach to educator empowerment and advocacy—promoting professionalism, collaboration and excellence without a partisan agenda. AAE is committed to a teaching profession that is student-oriented, well respected, and personally fulfilling. AAE serves members in all fifty states and welcomes professionals from all education entities. Membership is $16.50 per month which includes $2 million professional liability insurance, employment rights coverage, professional resources and many other benefits. Visit aaeteachers.org for further information.

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