The Southern Wisconsin Education Association has been providing quality educational experiences for Wisconsin teachers since 1890. Formerly known as the Southern Wisconsin Education Association (SWEA), SWEIO changed its name in the 1970's to avoid confusion with the state's largest teachers union.

SWEIO is an independent organization of educators run by an elected executive board and part time staff members. Article I of the SWEIO constitution sets the following goals: "SWEIO functions for the improvement of instruction of students through the cooperative efforts of the certified educators of SWEIO."

SWEIO exists to improve education through the enriching experiences of the SWEIO Convention

Click here for information about the SWEIO Convention

The fourth Friday in February is SWEIO Day. Many school districts in southern Wisconsin dismiss their students on this day so all of its educational employees can go to Madison to the SWEIO convention. A typical SWEIO day provides a packed schedule of choices from about 8:00 a.m. until nearly 3:00 p.m.

A list of previous SWEIO speakers includes: Jack Anderson, Harry K. Wong, Gwendolyn Brooks, Linda Ellerbee, Mike Farrell, Edwin Newman, Mary Francis Barry, Michael Feldman, Art Linkletter, Daniel Schorr, Corretta Scott King, Frank McCourt, Richard Dreyfus, and Homer Hickum. These are just a few of the quality speakers SWEIO has brought to address its membership.

As an additional service SWEIO publishes the SWEIO Newsbeat. This publication edited by SWEIO's Communications Director Harry Putz, enables us to stay in contact with our membership between conventions. It includes information about speakers, organizational news, and current contact information.

The executive SWEIO board consists of Elected Officers, Three elected District representatives and two non-voting ex-officio members.

Elected Officers:
SWEIO’s elected officers include a President, Program Chair, and treasurer. All elections are held on the day of the SWEIO Convention. Any educator interested in running for these offices should contact SWEIO Secretary Jeri Kortkamp.

District Representatives:
The SWEIO membership elects three district representatives. Each member’s school system has a contact person who is in communication with a District Representative on the SWEIO Board. For example, the Sun Prairie School District designates one person to handle Newsbeat distribution, collection of ticket orders, and final distribution of tickets and programs. Ticket requests are directed first to your local school district’s designated contact person, who then mails checks, and distributes tickets and programs via the appropriate SWEIO District Representative. The representatives are voting members of the board and serve for a term of three years. If you do not know your school’s local contact person, or your District Representative on the SWEIO Board, please contact Ann Perry.

Ex-officio non-voting members:
Ex-officio members of the SWEIO Board consist of an Executive Secretary and a Communication Director. The voting members of the Executive Board select these members for two-year terms.

Click here for a list of current board members and their contact information