For the first time since the pandemic, CEA-Retired members returned to the Capitol for a dedicated retired lobby day, ensuring the voices of retired educators remain part of the conversation shaping state policy. More than thirty members spent the day meeting with 17 legislators, sharing their experiences and advocating for issues that affect retirees, active teachers, and the future of the profession.
“I want you to know how much I appreciate your continued advocacy, participation, and real commitment to making sure that the voice of our educators is in our legislators’ ears at all times,” CEA President Kate Dias told retirees. She thanked them for making sure lawmakers understand not just retired teachers’ legislative priorities, but those of active and aspiring educators as well.
“I have never heard anybody advocate more solidly for paid student teaching than our retired teachers, and that’s a real testament to your commitment to the profession as a whole,” she said. “It’s deeply valuable to me to know that we can rely on you—to know that you’ll be here on a day like today when active teachers can’t be at the Capitol. It’s such a powerful thing to have you in this space.”
CEA-Retired members Phyllis Winkler and Peggy Wilde talk legislative priorities with Rep. Kevin Brown.
Some of the issues retired educators advocated for include doubling the Teachers’ Retirement Board disability benefit (from $220 to $440 per month) for a group of 50 retirees who were inadvertently left out of an update to statute a few years back and allowing active and retired educators to vote in the elections for all open seats on the Teachers’ Retirement Board. Retirees also thanked legislators for their commitment to fully fund the annual pension and retired teachers’ health insurance account contributions.
“Thank you, all of you, for being here,” CEA-Retired President Mary-Beth Lang told her colleagues. “It’s been a great experience putting together a CEA-Retired Lobby Day for the first time in a long time. CEA-Retired leaders have been meeting with a number of lawmakers via Zoom this session, and we’re excited to be here at the Capitol today with all of you for face-to-face conversations.”
Judy Beahan retired this past January from Griswold Public Schools but is already getting involved with CEA-Retired and came to her first CEA lobby event today.
“I think it’s important to have representation and be involved in issues effecting retirees,” she said. “It’s my first time at an event like this, so I want to see how it all works.”
CE-Retired members Susan and Dan Hart and Bob Brown talk with Rep. Chris Poulos.
“Letters and phone calls can work, but facetime is more impactful when it comes to communicating our issues,” CEA-Retired member Dan Hart said. “I encourage anyone who hasn’t met their legislators to do so, and have a conversation with them.”
He added that retirement funding is always a legislative priority for retired and active educators alike.
“Making sure our retirement is fully funded is always one of the biggest things on my mind,” Hart said. “Up until the Keep of the Promise rally and vote in the mid-aughts, I was worried about our pensions because we were billions short. We’re making progress now, but we’re still short, so it’s important legislators maintain that commitment.”
“Thank you for your advocacy,” CREC teacher and Education Committee Vice Chair Rep. Kevin Brown told CEA-Retired members. “I’m a civics teacher by trade, so it matters to me that people at all levels, retirees down to the children that are testifying in the Education Committee today, use their voice. Sound the alarm when there’s something that you feel needs to be addressed. I appreciate you coming up here to talk to us.”
Senator Jorge Cabrera hears from CEA Research and Policy Development Specialist Alex Kolokotronis and CEA-Retired members Rob Traber and Kate Lunnie.
“As both a teacher and a legislator, I believe the best education policy starts with listening,” said Redding teacher Rep. Chris Poulos. “Hearing the priorities of active and retired CEA teachers ensures our decisions reflect real classroom experience and truly support our students and schools.”
“Strengthening relationships between members and their legislators is one of the most important things we do,” said CEA Legislative Coordinator Louis Rosado Burch. “Elected officials are meant to serve the public, and they can’t do that without hearing from teachers about the issues that affect them the most. We deeply appreciate all the retired members who took the time to have their voices heard today.”
“Whatever happens this legislative session, our work is not done,” CEA-Retired Legislative Committee Co-Chair Joe Jankowski told retired members. “Our CEA-Retired Legislative Committee will reflect on what happens at the end of this session, and then we will look forward to the future. If there are things that you see as priorities for the future, make sure you communicate those through your representative on the CEA-Retired Advisory Council to make sure those ideas get to our committee.”
