Thank You!

To all who took the time to answer our short survey, thank you!  Out of 128 responses, 70% of our membership would like to see us return to a brief all district meeting at the beginning of the school year.  Many who commented said they would like to have an opportunity to meet new teachers, interact with teachers in the district who they don't get to see on a regular basis and to be addressed by the Superintendent and SREA President in an effort to clarify our vision.  We appreciate you speaking up and want you to know that you were heard!

MEA Urges Members NOT to Sign or Circulate Synder Petition

Of the recent effort to present language for the recall of Snyder, only one (petition) has been approved for circulation.  Not unlike the petitions to recall Sens. Meekhof and Schmidt, this too is sponsored by members of the far right wing of the tea party.  In short, sponsors of the recall petitions believe Meekhof and Schmidt are not conservative enough.  Although we have not been contacted by sponsors of those petitions, the sponsor of the Snyder recall did contact us this morning.  We’ve no intention of returning his call and would urge that MEA members NOT sign nor circulate the Snyder recall petition.

Here’s why:

1.    In the unlikely event Snyder is actually recalled or resigns – the result would most likely be devastating for MEA.  First, Lt. Gov. Calley could become the new governor and he’s no better than Snyder is.  Second, Calley or any other GOP candidate, running for a full term as governor, would be compelled to prove his far right, tea party bona fides and the best way for him to do that would be to move as much anti-MEA, anti-school employee legislation as possible, as soon as possible.  We gain absolutely nothing by the recall of Snyder and quite possibly would be in worse shape very quickly.

2.    The sponsor of this petition is Ben Lazarus.  He’s a 24 year old, recently elected member of the Warren Consolidated Schools Board.  He was not endorsed by MEA.  Mr. Lazarus, a Republican, is a controversial figure and constant social media critic of Snyder even though he appeared in one of the last Snyder TV spots in the last election.  He was also the campaign manager of Republican Alan Arcand running in the first Congressional district, running to the right of Benishek and received the support of disgraced RNC member Dave Agema. 

Mr. Lazarus essentially ran for the Warren school board from Florida and won the election only after running race baiting robo-calls.  Unfortunately, he did not mention his arrests for drugs and resisting arrest while living in Florida just two years ago.

Whatever Mr. Lazarus’ agenda, plans or motivations are, it is simply ludicrous to believe any of it is to benefit members or the MEA, quite the opposite. 

Again, we urge that local leaders and members refrain from signing or circulating his petitions.

Steven B. Cook

MEA President

Meet (or become reaquainted with) Your Executive Board Members

Your SREA President - Bill Triolet

Bill has been the SREA President for the past 9 years and enjoys doing so because "South Redford is an incredible district with fantastic employees" and he feels "honored" to represent "such a highly skilled , professional group of educators."  Mr. Triolet has been teaching in the district for 19 years and currently teaches 8th grade language arts at Pierce Middle School.  In the past, he been an SREA building rep, an SREA Grievance Chair, 7th grade boys basketball coach,  language arts department head, NCA Committee Chair and martial arts instructor for the Pierce Martial Arts Club.  Bill has been married to a former Pierce and Thurston grad - Lori (Matukaitis) Triolet for 21 years. They have two children, Ryan (16) and Miranda (13).  Mr. Triolet loves to read, fish and hunt and has trained in martial arts for almost 25 years (Aikido and Laido).

Your SREA Vice President - Tracey Drotos

Tracey has been the SREA Vice President and Grievance Chair for the past 3 years. She has been a teacher in the district for 18 years and is currently a Teacher Consultant at Pierce Middle School.  Ms. Drotos has served in many capacities including: SREA building rep, South Redford Foundation rep, volleyball coach, track coach and NJHS sponsor.  When she's not at school, Tracey loves to travel...anywhere, anytime!

Your SREA Treasurer/Membership Chair - Lynda O'Donnell

Lynda has been the SREA Treasurer for the past 5 years.  She has been in the district for 18 years and is currently teaching 5th grade at Addams Elementary.  Mrs. O'Donnell has held several positions in South Redford including:  SREA Building Rep, School Improvement Chair, district reading and math committee member, Kindergarten teacher and she is a graduate of the Galileo Leadership Academy ('09 - '11). Lynda's husband Chris O'Donnell used to work in the media center at Thurston High School. They are the proud parents of two boys, Joe and Ian, and they have an "awesome" dog named Louie.

Your SREA Secretary - Kevin Conte

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Kevin has been the SREA Secretary for the past 2 years.  He has been a teaching in South Redford for 11 years and is currently teaching 5th grade at Fisher Elementary.  Mr. Conte has also server as an SREA building rep at Fisher/  He is married to the lovely Jill Conte who teaches 2nd grade at Vandenburg Elementary and they have two awesome kids (ages 6 and 4) who keep them busy in their non-teaching time.

Your SREA MEA/NEA Representative - Bryan Chase

Bryan has been our MEA/NEA Rep and our PAC Chair for the past two years.  He has been teaching in South Redford for the past 25 years at Fisher Elementary.  Mr. Chase has taught 5th grade for all of those years except one.  He has served on the last two negotiating teams, has been a member of the Sex Ed. Advisory Board since its inception and has served on many different district level math committees.  He is the second best SREA teacher in his house, coming in a distant second to his wife Michelle who also teaches in the district. Bryan, Michelle and their three boys (Austin, Travis and Landon) have seen 49 states on their summer vacations and they can't wait for Delaware.

Your SREA BST/Communications Chair - Beth Harris

Beth has been the BST/Communications Chair for the past year.  She has been teaching in South Redford for the past 15 years and currently teaches in the English department at Thurston High School.  She serves as an SREA rep, department head and Crisis Committee member and has been a middle school teacher, NCA chair and committee member, volleyball and softball coach, and Galileo teacher leader (09-11). Beth lives with her husband, Dave, two sons, Nicholas and Emmett, two dogs and 10 chickens.She loves to travel, read and do home improvement projects.

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Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!

Some of our members won big bucks from the scratch off ticket they received from the SREA. Congratulations, Winners! Not pictured:  Kelly Ferstle and Ryan Robertson

Josh Bzovi - $15

Kevin Conte - $30

Heather Barlow - $1

 Heather - $1