In celebration of the 90th anniversary of the charter of TFT, here are some "love letters" written by union members; past, present, and future.
I grew up in a rural area of Northwest Ohio where unions seemed to inhabit the same psychological space as Bigfoot, werewolves, and the Loch Ness monster: In my circle, nobody’d ever seen one, everyone had heard of them, and the conventional wisdom was that they were dangerous creatures to be approached warily, if at all.
So when I became a teacher at age 29 in 2004, I came with little knowledge and a lot of baggage about exactly what a union was, and how it functioned. It took me a few years to really understand what the union was - and what it could be.
It wasn’t until 2007 when I attended an AFT workshop that my eyes began to open. It was, to this day, some of the best professional development I ever attended. Practicing teachers helping practicing teachers perfect instructional strategies. Folks working together to hone their craft, union members working together to move their practice from good to great. It was honestly the last thing I expected from an organization that I believed existed solely to stick it to the bosses.
Even after that, I found myself wondering sometimes if the solidarity I saw was real or imagined. I remember a contentious contract vote in 2008 and as a young teacher, wondering if I was being sold down the river by the veterans. There were lean years, but through it all I saw us ride them out together. By 2010, I came to truly understand this was a union family. People looked out for each other. A year later, I would find out just how deep those family ties went.
I was diagnosed with metastatic kidney cancer in 2011, and began what is now an 11-year odyssey with terminal disease. Every parry and jab of that fight, my TFT siblings have been there. They’ve been there with hospital visits, sick days, and with calls to the insurance company. But maybe most importantly, they’ve been there to still, in the autumn of my life, teach me how to be a better teacher.
When I transferred to Waite in 2014, I shared a classroom with Carey Smith, TFT’s grievance chair. I learned more watching Carey plan and teach than I’d learned in years. And in watching her execute her duties in the classroom and in the union, I learned that the same things that make a person a great teacher - empathy, connection, planning, execution - are the same things that make a great union. They’re the things that are foundational to the Toledo Federation of Teachers.
- Joe Boyle
I am now 75 years old. I have been retired since 2011. It's nice to know that ANYONE remembers me at all! I am fortunate that I still have a memory, too! I hope that this helps you in this project.
I am also happy that I was a full-time teacher all of the years that I served on the TFT Board and as an OFT officer. It helped me to actually deal with those decisions I made as a member of both.
I do want to point out that Dal did share with many of us his main motivation for starting the Intern-Intervention Programs. Dal was frustrated when he was a classroom teacher, with other teachers who were so obviously incompetent, yet the union would often fight for them and save their jobs. Dal wanted teaching to be more like other professions, where teachers would take full responsibility for policing their own profession. Dal knew that too many educational administrators obtained their jobs based upon whom they knew, not how effective they were. Too often, administrators would not follow through on all of the steps on the procedures to get rid of poorly functioning teachers. (This is still true of poorly functioning administrators!) The union would protect the PROCESS, and thereby, too often save the jobs of too many who should have NOT been teaching.
Is the Intern-Intervention system perfect? NO!!! Nothing which involves human beings is perfect. But, is it better than what we had before? YES!!! Dal Lawrence was truly an innovator who was far ahead of others in our profession!
- Dale Pertcheck
TFT encouraged and helped me gain my National Board Certification. They always supported high quality education and continue to make professionalism the priority in out Union. We truly are a union of professionals.
- Catherine Hernandez
My first TPS position was as a mathematics teacher at Woodward High School. I was in the 2nd cohort of the brand new Teacher Intern Program. Shortly after starting my 2nd year at Woodward, a number of veteran teachers encouraged me to run for the Building Committee at Woodward, where I also eventually served as Building Representative. In 2010, Dal asked me to replace the retiring Cliff Mallet as TFT Treasurer and Fran asked me to run for a board seat at the State Teachers Retirement System. I had not previously considered either position, but due to the tremendous respect I have for Dal and Fran, I accepted. I continue to hold both positions.
- Dale Price
Being raised in a decidedly non-union family, I came into my teaching career with zero to almost negative expectations about my union. My opinion changed from the start as I witnessed TFT supporting teachers and their students in the classroom. I support the union because I have seen firsthand the way TFT fights to ensure that teaching is seen as a profession and not just a job.
- Daniel Fray
Our union, TFT 250, has had a significant influence throughout my 30 years as a teacher, from the intern-teacher who guided me through my first year in TPS with wisdom and reassurance to the time I have spent on the Board of Directors–experiencing strength in numbers, with members who support each other and a contract that has a reputation of power and thoroughness for all it protects. Thank you, TFT!
- Kristin Ahiekpor
I am very proud to be a part of a union devoted to improving the working conditions of its members and the learning conditions of their students. Toledo Federation of Teachers Local 250 would not have the reputation it has today if it weren't for the founding members standing firm on the most basic of working conditions. May we never need to strike like they did. However, it would be an honor to strike if necessary.
- Kristin Haney
The union means so much to both my family and me. My mother was a teacher and spent the first half of her career teaching in a private school. When she had the opportunity to join the Toledo Federation of Teachers, she was thrilled. She realized that she was no longer standing on her own, but instead had the support of hundreds of people that were unified under a common cause. Since I joined the teaching profession, I’ve had so many opportunities presented to me because of my involvement in the union. There is nothing greater than a group of people joined together in solidarity.
- Amy Graver
I can remember my mom’s excitement when she shared she finally had a full time contract to teach. She had been a daily sub for a year or two. I remember her always telling people all the benefits the contract included, sick days, personal days, medical, dental and vision insurance for herself and her children.
TFT has persistently advocated for a fair teacher contract. Today, as a TFT member, I benefit from those who fought to create a contract that continues to support and promote professionalism, fair wages, benefits and school safety, just to name a few.
- Kathleen Mattimoe
The Toledo Federation of Teachers union works relentlessly to support its members in any way they can. From offering resources to help further develop educators in the classroom, to having a shoulder to lean on and offering insights and suggestions on issues educators face within the classroom. I know that my professional development will keep improving because my union strived to represent educators of a high caliber. I know that TFT has my best interest in mind and that they will continue to support and advocate for me. I know that with my union that I have a place where I belong and where I am heard.
- Monique Anderson
* In 2022, TFT member Therese Gordon reached out to Dale Pertcheck for a "TFT Love Letter". Here is what he had to say...
Therese,
Although this project has been going through my mind a lot, the reminder really helps me to focus.
I do have a LOT of stories. but they all seem to begin and end with Dal Lawrence. He had been a teacher I had at Devilbiss High School about 60 years ago! I also had, as a teacher, Jim Kilcorse, who also taught history at DeVilbiss, and was a friend of Dal's, Jim Kilcorse died when he was much too young. So, I know that Dal heard more about me when I was a high school student than he ever wanted to know. Fortunately for me, this served me well later on.
I went through Toledo University, and received a degree as a Political Science major, with a minor in Economics. I continued to work for my father at his very small jewelry store in Swayne Field Shopping center. It was named, "Senn and Neuer Jewelers." My father had been a watch repairman (then called watchmaker), and Mr. Senn and Mr. Neuer, and been among his wholesale clients. My father had long dreamed about becoming a co-owner of a jewelry store, and when Mr. Senn died, my father spoke with Mr. Neuer about their going into business together. Mr. Neuer died within a year, and my father bought the business from their widows. At the time, their business was located in a place upstairs from the "Woolworth 5 & 10" in downtown Toledo. My father wanted a location on a ground level. So, when the Swayne Field ballpark was torn down, and Kroger replaced it with a shopping center, he signed on!
I had dabbled in politics since I was in college. One of my very close friends was Richard Wittenberg. His father Sol had been a long-time political operative in the Toledo area. In late 1971, Richard called me one day, really out-of-the-blue, and asked me to work on his campaign for State Representative for the 1972 Election. Dick had just turned 25, and I was still 24. To make a long story short, Dick won this election.
When Dick became a State Representative, I became his "volunteer" Administrative Assistant. Back in those days, there was no money for what was considered to be a part-time job. I continued to work full-time for my father, but Dal Lawrence, who was then the President of the Toledo Federation of Teachers, considered me to be HIS personal contact to Dick Wittenberg. And, as in so many things, Dal was right!
Only a couple of times do I remember getting calls from either Dal or Dick about legislation, while I was working at my father's jewelry store. When I did, I took decisive action to help them both. Dick lost his re-election campaign in 1974 in a Republican-leaning district, and I went back to UT as a UWD (Undergraduate With Degree) to get certified to teach. My father was both flexible and encouraging, as was my wife, for me to do this. I received my Elementary (then 1-8) teaching certificate in 1975, and I went to work for TPS in 1976. (There was a "hiring freeze" in 1975.) As Dal told me more than once, "I have a short list of candidates for teachers for TPS, and you are on that list." The day I was scheduled to meet with the Personnel Office of TPS, was the very same day my son was born. Since I had been up all night with Kathie the night before, I was dog tired, and I re-scheduled my interview with Carolyn Patton. She was most kind.
My first year of teaching was a great experience for me. I taught 6th Grade at the then Cherry Elementary School with 2 experienced teachers -- Cliff Mallett and Teresa May. Kathie stayed at home with our son. Three years later, she would have a girl, and she continued to be a stay-at-home mom for a total of 8 years, until both children were of school age. She renewed her certification, and taught at 6 different TPS schools, in 6 different years, until she was able to stay at Crossgates where she taught both 6th Grade and, later, 5th Grade.
I became active in TFT my second year. Cliff Mallett had been another one of the three 6th Grade teachers my first year at Cherry. Cliff was also the Building Representative for Cherry with the TFT. Cliff was appointed to a position as a "Visiting Teacher," He had been the TFT Building Representative at Cherry. I asked each member of the Cherry School Building Committee if they wanted to be the TFT Building Rep. None did! (It was a rather thankless job.) So, I asked the TFT office if I could fill the position. Little did I know what was in store for me and the TFT!
Teachers in TPS received NO salary increase in the 1977-78 school year. TFT was still in negotiations with TPS. And, even though TPS had enough money for a settlement, as it turned out, the negotiators saw no need to add the money it would take to settle the TFT contract. By late in 1977, Cliff Mallett had been elevated to the position of TFT Elementary TFT Union Representative and the chief elementary negotiator for contract talks. The only problem was that Cliff's older child was born in late 1977, and Cliff needed some family time. So, Dal, once again, turned to his former student, me, to fill in for Cliff as the elementary representative at negotiations. Also, when TFT did go on strike in 1978, Dal appointed me to be a "Sector Captain," along with two experienced teachers, Suellen Newnham (then Simko) and Mattie McCallister, for the Woodward Sector. The TFT organized the strike structure by the TPS high school feeder pattern. We were on strike for over 3 weeks before we obtained a settlement both sides could live with. It was a tough 4 weeks for the Pertcheck household! Kathie did not work outside the home, and I had no income at all! I took out an interest-free (the interest was paid by the AFT) loan from what was then called the Toledo Teachers Credit Union (later the TPS Credit Union). The most interesting part of this for me, was the Credit Union at that time, was located in the TPS Administrative Building on Manhattan and Elm. That was one of the buildings that I went to every day to check the picket lines. I had to cross the picket line there to go to the Credit Union. Later, the Credit Union would have its own building, but NOT in 1977!
My first week back at Cherry was interesting, too. That first Friday back, while a couple of teachers, who had crossed the picket lines and "scabbed" during the strike, received their new paychecks, including the settlement increase the rest of us had struck for, I received a notice, as did the vast majority of teachers and non-teaching personnel, which told me how much I had earned that 2-week period, and how much I STILL OWED TPS! The next paycheck, 2 full weeks later, was diminished by the amount I still owed before my earnings were figured in. As I said before, it was a tough 4 weeks.
I ran for the Ohio Federation of Teachers Convention shortly after the strike year. I also ran for the American Federation of Teachers Convention that same year. I distinctly remember Mattie McAllister telling me that she wanted to go to the AFT Convention, and since she was so much better known than was I, she would win, and I would not. Mattie was right! I was first elected to the OFT Convention in 1981. Of course, there is more to the story than that. Dal was so busy with negotiations in 1980, when the election being set up, that he screwed up the ballot. Instead of doing the entire election over again, which would have been quite a large expense, Dal asked all of the people who had run for either the OFT or AFT Conventions if they would accept going to the OFT Convention as a compromise. All of them accepted, and I went to my first OFT Convention! I LOVED the experience!
The next year, the TFT Board of Directors met to decide how many delegates would be elected to each convention, OFT and AFT. Dal was not there that day, and Fred Fails, the TFT Vice President, ran the meeting. Those of us who had attended the OFT Convention, and, generally, had a great time there, increased the numbers of delegates to represent TFT at each convention. I do remember well, when the ballots were to be distributed later that same school year. Dal, running that meeting, as usual, quoted the numbers from previous years to the respective conventions. A few of us said, "Wait, Dal. That was changed at a previous meeting." Well, Dal was beside himself! Hs swore then that anytime he would be unable to attend a TFT meeting, he would cancel the meeting rather than let another officer lead a meeting without Dal in attendance! For a few years, he did so.
Around 1984, there was an OFT Convention, and OFT was electing state officers. The longtime OFT Recording Secretary, representing TFT, had been Carlean Triplett. She had retired that year, and Dal wanted his close friend, Terry Wyatt, to be the OFT
Recording Secretary. Terry lost. At the TFT suite, a few TFT delegates asked aloud, without Dal in attendance at that time, why I wasn't the TFT choice for an OFT office. Honestly, that was the first time, I ever contemplated my running for any such.
In 1986, I first ran to be the OFT Recording Secretary. I could not have run for an office in the OFT without Dal Lawrence's support! I lost that election on a vote based upon how many teachers each delegate represented. I lost that election 50.8% to 49.2%. Yes. I still remember those figures after all of these years! I lost to one of my best friends in the OFT -- Norma Jackson, who was from Cincinnati. After she and I had made a presentation to the small locals' caucus, asking them to vote for each of us before the actual election voting had begun, we had drinks together at the hotel bar. BTW-- Dal did have some advice for me, before I addressed the small locals. Dal said, "Don't overwork the topic." Dal knew me well!
After a few meetings into the next school year, Norma let me know that she had no plans to run again. With all of her local responsibilities, and full-time teaching, adding the OFT Recording Secretary's position to all of this was just too much for her. So, in 1988, I ran once again. This time, it was an easy race. I ran unopposed! I was the OFT Recording Secretary for the next 16 years. I was then the OFT Treasurer for the next 6 years. I fully retired from teaching in 2011, and from OFT office in 2012.
One time, after I had been a TPS teacher and a member of the TFT Board of Directors, for many years, Dal Lawrence was visiting a teacher who had gone through the Intern Program, Dal had sponsored and really pushed for in negotiations. Janet Chapp had been very successful, and was one whom Dal wanted to give an interview for a publication which wanted to do an article on the Intern Program. So, Dal, being Dal, stopped into my classroom after he spoke with the Janet. I was pontificating in front of the class, as was my wont, and I saw all of the heads and eyes turn toward the door to the classroom, behind me. Of course, Dal had entered the room. I, respectfully of course, introduced Dal as the President of the Toledo Federation of Teachers, and one of my former teachers. Dal's comment to my students was, "I bet that you thought that Mr. Pertcheck was so old that all of his former teachers were dead!"
Sometimes, Dal and I would attend an OFT meeting together, and Dal would say on the way there, that he had had a terrible night's sleep, and maybe he would ask me to drive on the way back to Toledo. I NEVER drove with Dal in the car. Dal ALWAYS drove. Now, Fran Lawrence and I had a close working relationship, too. But it was different with Dal. We had a special bond. One time, a couple years before he retired, Dal was driving, as was his wont, to some meeting with Fran and me, and Fran turned to me and said, "Sometimes don't you feel like you and I are the children, and Dal is in charge of us?" I agreed with her!
I could go on...and on...and on...and on...
Thanks,
- Dale Pertcheck
