The Calcasieu Federation of Teachers and School Employees was one of five chapters of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers to receive the “Union Values in Action Award” on Sunday, November 23 at the 44th annual LFT convention in Covington. The award is presented “for improving the lives of members, enhancing the influence of the union and advancing the mission of public education.” Shown at the award ceremony are, from left, CFT member Monica Chadwick, LFT President Steve Monaghan and CFT member Eric LeGros.
(Covington – November 23, 2008) Five local chapters of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers today received the Union Values in Action Award for improving the lives of members, enhancing the influence of the union and advancing the mission of public education.
The award recognizes the efforts of local LFT chapters to promote the union agenda and express commitment to the values that make the Federation the largest professional organization for teachers and school employees in Louisiana.
“These Federation chapters exemplify what the LFT stands for,” said LFT President Steve Monaghan. “The Union Values in Action Award serves as an inspiration and a road map for other chapters around the state. It shows how much can be accomplished when we are true to the principles that led us into the union movement in the first place.”
The awards were presented at the 44th annual LFT convention at the Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites in Covington.
Calcasieu Federation of Teachers: Under the leadership of President Jean Johnson, the Federation was a leader in discontinuing the Calcasieu Parish School Board’s participation in the unsuccessful and highly unpopular Teacher Advancement Program sponsored by the Milken Family Foundation. Touted as a way to enhance teacher performance, a survey revealed that most Calcasieu teachers were unhappy with the program. The Federation made the school board aware of TAP’s shortcomings: unqualified people were named Master Teachers, money was not fairly distributed and the program was piling additional work on top of already overburdened teachers. Faced with mounting resistance, the board abolished the program