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Photograph by Jacqueline Ramseyer
Cupertino resident Harlan Sethe, president of the mid-peninsula Division #54 for the California Retired Teachers Association.
Retired teachers still work as education advocates
By Amy Jenkins
Even after retirement many former Cupertino teachers are pushing for their benefit rights and the betterment of students by joining the California Retired Teachers Association. There are 48,428 members in 89 divisions throughout the state, and 700 members make up the Mid-Peninsula division, between Redwood City and San Jose, and includes Cupertino.
The organization was founded in 1929 to focus on legislation and benefits for retired teachers. Retiree Laura E. Settle began the CRTA because she felt teachers were entitled to more than the mere $500 annual stipend they received after the 1914 retirement compensation law for California's retired teachers went into effect. Currently CRTA is making sure retirees get 80 percent of their former income, and they aim to repeal the windfall elimination provision in federal law.
"This law cuts retired teachers Social Security check in half each month because they also receive their State Teachers Retirements System check," says Harlan Sethe, president of Mid-Peninsula Division 54 and former Miller Jr. High teacher. "This is a poor law."
Sethe taught eighth-grade science and math at Miller Jr. High School for 33 years and has been a part of the organization for 11 years. He says he and his wife are taking advantage of a travel planning service CRTA offers to its members, and they are going to take a trip to Arizona. Other services are credit unions, retirement communities, insurance and discounts. "CRTA aims to help retired teachers live as safe and as comfortable as possible," he said.
Sethe says that even though junior high schools don't have reunions, he enjoys running into former students. Recently he saw a former student at a restaurant where she was his waitress and she offered him encouraging words.
"She told me, 'You instilled inspiration and compassion in me; you helped me to expand and be creative,'" he said.
The woman is now 30 and works as a teacher during the week and a waitress on the weekends.
Ted Yanak taught U.S. government, history and math for 41 years--two in Massachusetts and 39 at Miller Middle School--and recently retired. He got involved with the organization because of his friend Sethe. While he was a teacher, he was president of the Cupertino Education Association and was active in politics, he says.
"This is a good organization for retired teachers. They need a powerful organization," he says. "Retired people tend to be forgotten about, and as prices rise, they fall behind."
In 1980, Yanak was awarded Teacher of the Year out of 195,000 teachers from the Santa Clara County. "It was a great honor to be chosen in a field I love," he said. "A lot of teachers need recognition like that." He has also helped former students run for office in all levels, including city council. Yanak still substitutes at Miller Middle School, where he has taught several generations of family members.
There is a $36 annual membership fee for CRTA that covers benefits and services. Members can keep in contact with peers through division meetings, trips and luncheons. Membership is offered to any active or retired educator. "It doesn't cost a lot and gives us a say in Sacramento," Yanak says.
The organization helps the community by volunteering and holding social meetings and bake sales to raise money for a scholarship fund. In 2001 Division #54 has given 12 scholarships of $700 each to graduating high school students and two scholarships to Foothill and De Anza students of $1,000 each. Last year the 89 divisions gave out a total of $531,000 in scholarships from contributions and fundraisers.
"We would like the graduating students to become teachers, but it's not a necessity," Sethe says.
CRTA members not only raise scholarship money, they also contribute more than 1 million hours a year of volunteer services to their communities, through museums, Meals on Wheels, churches, hospitals and much more. Division #54 volunteered 225,136 hours last year that would be worth $3.5 million if transferred into wages for the volunteers.
"We do this just because we like to do things to help people," Sethe says.
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Cupertino, California Since 1947
