TRSL College Representative Bob Lawyer, left, Director Maureen Westgard, Board Chair Anne H. Baker, District 1 Representative Joe Potts.
At its first meeting of the New Year, the Louisiana Teachers Retirement System Board of Supervisors welcomed two new members with strong ties to the Louisiana Federation of Teachers.
Joe Potts, president emeritus of the Jefferson Federation of Teachers and executive vice president of LFT, took his oath of office as the representative of District 1, which comprises Ascension, Jefferson, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, and St. John parishes.
Robert Lawyer, a professor at Delgado College and treasurer of the United Federation of College Teachers, was sworn in as the elected representative of higher education members of the retirement system.
Both Lawyer and Potts were elected last fall. Their terms run until December 31, 2014. The two men are a welcome addition to the board. Attacks on teacher retirement have emerged in recent legislative sessions, and are expected to surface again when lawmakers return to Baton Rouge in April. Both Potts and Lawyer will be reliable allies in the fight to preserve the rights and benefits of retired teachers and school employees.