ABC School Board recognizes ABCFT's 40th Anniversary

ABC School Recognition
Pictured ABCFT President and Past Presidents with ABC School Board

Its been a busy one and both on the school front and the home front with kid activities so I'm a little backlogged on posts so here is the first.......

The ABC Unified School District School Board formally recognized the ABC Federation of Teachers 40th Charter Anniversary with a commemorative plack. Here is the transcript of some of what I said at the school board meeting:

"I would like to thank the District for recognizing the ABC Federation Teachers for their 40th anniversary. I would like to take this opportunity to pay homage to those past presidents and past executive boards. Here is a list of all the past presidents of ABCFT and the school that they worked in when they were elected to the office of President.

1. Charlie Ryder - Artesia High School
2. Dick Neville - Cerritos High School
3. Julien Minard - Faye Ross Middle School  Pictured
4. Roni Love - Faye Ross Middle School
5. Dennis Cox - Cerritos High School
6. Walter Zavaleko - Carver Elementary
7. John Ennes - Kennedy Elementary
8. Richard Hathaway - Hawaiian Elementary  Pictured
9. Joan Elliot - Cerritos High School
10. Don Saul - Cerritos High School
11. Laura Rico - Artesia High School Children's Center  Pictured
12. Ray Gaer - Artesia High School  Pictured

There have been many dedicated unionists that have strived to make ABC a diamond in the rough. This Union continues to work for the traditional bread and butter issues commonly associated with the union movement, however, the ABC Federation of Teachers has continued to strive to evolve and in partnership with the ABC Unified School District together we have become nationally known for our ability to work together and to keep our eye on the main thing....student achievement (note: Randi Weingarten has called the way we do the business in ABC as "solution driven unionism.")

In our next 40 years we will continue to find new ways to reach out to the community as we look for new partners who have the same interest as our own, our students in 21st century schools. 

Thank you for the honor and respect you have shown to your employees with this presentation."

Thanks to all that attended this presentation. Happy Birthday ABC Federation of Teachers!!!!

In Solidarity,

Ray Gaer
President, ABC Federation of Teachers Local 2317