Dec 19-Jan 20 Advisor

REPRESENTING

6 CEA ADVISOR DECEMBER 2019 – JANUARY 2020

TEACHERS WIN KEY SEATS ON TOWN COUNCILS, BOARDS, COMMITTEES How educators in politics are reshaping education policies, priorities

In cities and towns across the state, teachers are making their schools and communities stronger by joining town councils, serving on boards of education, and taking on other municipal leadership roles. “Teachers recognize that even outside the classroom they can have a communitywide impact when they help set education goals and policies,” says CEA President Jeff Leake. “Civic engagement is so important. When teachers serve as selectmen and committee members, they’re helping ensure their students, their profession, and their public schools get the attention they deserve and the resources they need to thrive.” From Avon to Windsor, active and retired teachers stepped up to the challenge this past election season and successfully campaigned for a range of offices throughout Connecticut.

L-R: East Hartford teachers Kim Knapp and Annie Irvine (EHEA president) and CEA President Jeff Leake come out in support of teacher Angie Parkinson, who won a seat on East Hartford’s town council.

Using social media to reach out and to celebrate her election victory, CEA-Retired teacher Lisa Bress (center) encourages friends, neighbors, and colleagues to vote.

Below, re-elected to Southington’s town council, teacher Chris Poulos gets support from Congressman John Larson.

Teacher Angie Parkinson

won a seat on the town council in East Hartford. Former science teacher and retired CEA Government Relations director Vincent Loffredo was elected to Middletown’s common council before being appointed deputy mayor. Former third-grade teacher and former CEA President Rosemary Coyle was elected to Colchester’s board of selectmen. Southington voters gave Redding high school Spanish teacher Chris Poulos a seat on the town council and put retired teacher and current CEA board member Bob Brown on the board of education. Windsor’s town council welcomes retired teacher Lisa Bress . Granby teacher Sean Passan earned a spot on West Hartford’s board of education. West Hartford teacher and building rep David Peling has taken a seat on Granby’s board of education. West Hartford teacher Anthony Weber ran a successful campaign for a seat on Avon’s town council. Windsor elementary school teacher Lisa Thomas earned a spot on Coventry’s town council. Fairfield English language arts teacher Mick McGarry is Hamden District 1 councilman. Plainfield Education Association Vice President Joyce Rice won a board of education seat in Griswold. Canterbury elementary school teacher Courtney Langlois and recently retired Sterling teacher Holly Wood won BOE seats in Sterling. Andover teacher Laura Bush won a seat on Vernon’s town council. Elected to a full four-year term on Litchfield’s board of education, Thomaston school counselor Steve Malo was the top vote-getter, while Region 10 world languages teacher Jodiann Tenney won a seat on the board of finance. Patricia Mechare , who retired from teaching in Kent, chairs the Canaan Board of Education (Falls Village) and won re-election to the Region 1 BOE. In Clinton, high school social studies teacher Eric Bergman was elected to the town council, Waterford teacher Jason Adler was the top vote-

getter for the board of education, and retired teacher Don Hansen was the top vote-getter for the board of assessment appeals.

CEA Backs Treasurer’s New Policy to Divest Pension Funds from Irresponsible Gun Manufacturers CEA President Jeff Leake joined State Treasurer Shawn Wooden, AFT- Connecticut, and gun violence prevention advocates for a press conference announcing the treasurer’s new Responsible Gun Policy—a plan that includes divesting state pension funds from irresponsible gun manufacturers. Annually in Connecticut, the cost of gun violence averages $1.2 billion and claims 180 lives. The new policy aims to divest Connecticut’s pension funds for teachers and state employees from civilian firearms manufacturing companies and prohibits future investments, with flexibility to invest in gun safety technologies. It also encourages companies to adopt safe gun policies, requests that financial institutions wishing to work with the Office of the Treasurer disclose their policies on guns, and seeks to partner with and promote good corporate behavior on safe gun policies. “Teachers applaud the treasurer for taking these steps to reduce gun violence in our communities,” said Leake. “Treasurer Wooden’s decisions involve billions in investments, and we are pleased he is choosing to use the power of those decisions to promote responsible gun policies.” “If money talks, then we want our policy to speak loud and clear—the status quo must change to produce better returns and safer communities,” said

Wooden. “Through divestment, disclosure, and decision-making at the Connecticut Treasury we will change the way we do business and work to be part of the solution in reducing gun violence.” The new policy must be formally approved by the Investment Advisory Council, which will take up the changes in February. CEA President Jeff Leake (far right) joins State Treasurer Shawn Wooden (fifth from right), AFT-Connecticut, and gun violence prevention advocates for a press conference announcing the treasurer’s new Responsible Gun Policy.

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