Forget 9-9-9, CEA Supports 3-3-3

Most of us were not sad to see Herman Cain and his "9-9-9 Plan" retire from the presidential nomination race earlier this year; the same can not be said of the retiring Members we recognized last night.  CEA said goodbye and thank you to our version of the "3-3-3 Plan": three hundred thirty-three years of experience and educational excellence.  The attending retirees, including former committee chairs and long-time Building Reps, were recognized by the current CEA Rep Council and Board of Directors for their dedicated service not only to the children of Chesterfield County, but also to the colleagues who they have mentored and supported over the years, and to the greater good of public education.

While the retirees were treated to cake and hot hors d'oeuvres, former CEA President and current Chair of the CEA Retired Educators committee (CEA-R) delivered a humorous and passionate keynote address, filling in for VEA President-elect Meg Gruber who was representing VEA senior staff at a funeral in Chesapeake.

Also recognized were the winners of the Dawn Campbell CEA Member Scholarships: Donna Charles-Koski (Guidance Counselor, Thomas Dale HS) and Rich Peterson (Math Teacher, Manchester HS), and the Fred Thompson CEA Student Scholarship: Maya Henderson (Meadowbrook HS), as well as Judith Leshen (Elizabeth Scott ES) who completed her 10-year renewal certificate as a National Board Certified Teacher.

The evening concluded with the regular monthly business session of the Rep Council, in which the CEA Budget for FY2013 was approved.

Thank you again to all of our retiring Members for your professional pride in your work, your students, your union, and your community. We wish you the best in all future endeavors, and hope you stay involved with CEA/VEA/NEA through our Retired Educators group. Congratulations on such meaningful and empowering careers!