Retired and working teachers receive thanks
Many teachers will receive a little reminder next week that all
their hard work is important during Teacher Appreciation Week May 5
through May 9, even those who have been out of the classroom for a
while.
Retired and working teachers receive thanks
Many teachers will receive a little reminder next week that all their hard work is important during Teacher Appreciation Week May 5 through May 9, even those who have been out of the classroom for a while.
The San Benito County Retired Teachers’ Association members are hosting a luncheon Wednesday, May 7 to honor members who have volunteered throughout the year. The local chapter had a goal of serving the community with 10,000 hours of volunteer work, and according to Barbara Ament, the community director, they made it.
“It’s the highest we’ve ever reached,” she said.
The local chapter is just one of many with the statewide organization that serves as an advocacy group for retired teachers. The main chapter does everything from review state legislation that could affect retired teachers to advocating for public education.
“It’s so important that every [retired] teacher keep up on things in California,” Ament said.
Ament worked as a teacher for 30 years, and spent most of the 25 years she taught in San Benito County with the Hollister School District. Since then she has been volunteering her time as the community director for the local chapter of SBCRTA. It was a time-consuming job this year to log all the hours volunteered by the 117 local members.
Some members volunteered 15 hours for the year while one former teacher logged 2,164 hours. They spent their time doing a variety of activities. Community Pantry, Hazel Hawkins Hospital and many local churches benefited from their efforts.
“One man and his wife worked almost 40 hours a week,” Ament said, of their volunteering. “It’s a way to give back to the community. If these agencies didn’t have people working for free, they couldn’t go on.”
The group also sponsors a scholarship fund for local graduates who go into the teaching field each year.
In addition to the May 7 luncheon, the week will kick off with a tea honoring the retired teachers at the San Benito County Office of Education May 2. The Hollister School District staff will host a catered lunch at two schools in the district each day for all staff members during Teacher Appreciation Week.
