The SHTA President's Service Award
Each year, the President of the Association presents the
President's Service Award to a deserving member of the Shaker
Heights Teachers' Association. Since written records have not been
maintaine, it is unknown exactly when the idea of this award was
first conceived. Past recipients have included Carolyn Booker, Sal
Fabrizio, Emil Knorr, Tom Patrick, Don Scherer, and Jean Synor.
In search of information on this historical practice, former
SHTA President, William J. Scherer was contacted. He said that Sal
Fabrizio, President Emeritus, started the idea back in the 1970's.
"The presentation was made to an individual who, during their
tenure in Shaker, had contributed significantly to the SHTA. Often
it was given to an individual who was retiring and Sal wanted to
recognize them for their service. The only real criterion was
service to the SHTA; individuals who just simply gave of their time
to make the organization what it has become." Bill told me further
that he "believes all the recipients were very humbled by the
selection and grateful for the recognition they never sought." He
said, "I always enjoyed giving that award!"
In the past, the recipient was surprised to learn of the honor
at the reception. When Rebecca Thomas became president, she changed
that practice in order to provide an opportunity for the family and
friends of the awardee to be present at the District Recognition
Reception in May.
Once again, this year, someone who has worked tirelessly to
serve our Association will be honored with the Service Award
plaque. Once again, as always, I will be excited to learn of the
President's choice. I hope others will be moved and seek to give of
their time, energy, and experience to support and serve the Shaker
Heights Teachers' Association with the fervor shown by past
recipients.
Respectfully submitted,
Donna Brittain, former SHTA Secretary
Recent SHTA Service Award Winners
- 2024 Selena Boyer
- 2023 Donita Townsend-Al Amin, Paula Klausner, and Margaret
"Peg" Rimedio
- 2022 Monica Triozzi and Bonnie Gordon
- 2021 Lisa Hardiman
- 2020 James Schmidt
- 2019 Aisha M. Fraser, Jackie Conway-Scanlon
- 2018 Chante Thomas
- 2017 Michael Sears
- 2016 Darlene Garrison, Eileen Sweeney
- 2015 Matthew Zucca
- 2014 Lena Paskewitz, Addie Tobey, Andrew Glasier
- 2013 William Scanlon
- 2012 Susan Mears
- 2011 John L. Morris
- 2010 Dollye P. Finney
- 2009 George Harley
- 2008 Mike Kobilis
- 2007 Donna Brittain
- 2006 Jane Ulrich
- 2005 Bill Scherer
- 2004 Darcel Arrington
- 2003 Stacy Elgart
- 2002 Rebecca Thomas
- 2001 Linda Pagel
- 2000 Delette Walker
- 1999 Rod MacLeod
- 1998 Gary Raymont
- 1997 Paula Freiberg
- 1996 Steven Fox
- 1995 Jim Mallin
- 1994 Pat Baird
- 1993 Mary Underwood
The SHTA Lifetime Service Award
This Award, established in 2011, recognizes the contributions of
an Association member, past or present, who has provided many years
of service in various capacities. Unlike the President's Service
Award, the Lifetime Service Award is not an annual award. It is
meant to serve as a special recognition for a member's devoted
service to the Associaton.
2011 Dr. Rebecca L. Thomas
Rebecca L. Thomas worked as an elementary school librarian from
1976 until her retirement in 2011. From 2005 until her retirement,
she was president of the SHTA. She also served as Chairperson of
the Salary-Tenure Committee; prior to that she chaired the Teacher
Education committee and worked closely with newly hired and
nontenured teachers.
Dr. Thomas enjoys reading and gardening. She also writes
reference books
for ABC-CLIO, including A to Zoo: Subject Access to Picture
Books
and the Popular Series Fiction books.
She continues to serve the Association as Past President and can
be reached via e-mail at Thomas_R AT shaker.org
2013 Dr. Mark Freeman
For twenty five years, Dr. Mark Freeman served as an
exemplary superintendent. When our Association was in its early
years, Dr. Freeman was SHTA Grievance Chair and served as a
Negotiating Team member.
Dr. Freeman not only negotiated contracts with us, he was one of
the architects of the contract that we work by today. He has also
been an undeniable champion for professionalism in teaching and
respect for public schools throughout the state the nation.
2013 William J. Scherer
Bill retired from the Shaker schools in 2005; he passed away in
2010. He was a dominant figure in the Association for more than 25
years serving on many committees and in leadership positions, most
notably as president. He was the longest standing president of the
union. Bill was an advocate for teachers' rights and an outspoken
proponent of collective bargaining.
2014 Gary P. Raymont
Gary Raymont taught for 34 years in the Shaker Heights City
Schools, with one year at Chardon. He was a career member of the
Shaker Heights Teachers' Association. Gary taught 5th grade for six
years, 6th grade for one year, and kindergarten for 28 years. He
has played roles such as head representative, Vice President,
Professional Rights and Responsibilities Chair, and Negotiations
Team member for five contracts. Gary worked tirelessly on
maintaining our medical benefits. His commitment, humor, and
enthusiasm were highly valued by the Association.
2015 Dollye Finney
Dollye Finney came to work in the Shaker Height City Schools in
1986. She has worked in Moreland, Ludlow, Fernway, Sussex, Lomond,
Boulevard and SHHS as a speech and language pathologist. She joined
the union upon employ. She became actively involved in SHTA as a
member of the Executive Board under the leadership of her SHTA
mentor William Scherer as the Legislative Chair in 1997. After
two terms on the Executive Board, she was elected Vice President
and served in this office for seven terms.
2016 Donna Brittain
Lifetime Award Winner Donna Brittain's mother was a teacher.
When Donna became a teacher, she was encouraged by her mother (and
others) to become active in the teachers' association. So, early in
her career at Moreland Elementary School, Donna served the SHTA as
a building representative. She later served as a building
representative for Mercer Elementary and then on the Executive
Board as chairperson of the Legal Aid Committee and then the Policy
Committee. As the Policy Committee chair, she organized a revision
of the Constitution and By-Laws. Finally, Donna was elected to the
office of Secretary, where she served for more than ten years until
her retirement in 2009. Donna knows that the strength of the SHTA
comes from the commitment and service of its members. Not only did
she serve the Association throughout her 35 years in the Shaker
Heights schools, she also mentored other teachers, including our
current Vice President, Matt Zucca. Matt was Donna's student
teacher and he was elected Secretary after Donna retired. And Donna
continues to serve the Shaker Heights schools. She is the president
of the Senior Shakerites, the organization of retired Shaker
employees that meets twice a year for programs and collegiality. It
is a pleasure to give the 2016 SHTA Lifetime Service Award to Donna
Brittain.
2017 Tom Patrick
Lifetime Award Winner Tom Patrick taught High School Mathematics
for thirty-six years and one year as a retiree. Tom also served as
treasurer for the SHTA for 32 years. During that time, Tom
established Our investments committee, Our financial structure, Our
budget, and the ambitious goal of one day having a million dollars
in Our general fund. It is Tom's financial vision that has given
the SHTA the stability that it has today. Tom's legacy is seen in
the continuing work of Our Treasurer Bill Scanlon and his vital
work on behalf of Our Association. Tom's favorite memory is
receiving an award from former President Sal Fabrizio. The words of
this award hold as true today as they did in 1987.
Your colleagues wish to express
their appreciation for your continuing efforts on their behalf.
With you at the helm of our financial ship, we have steered clear
of the ancient Greek playwright Sophocles' pronouncement of the
"…inevitable dishonesty among those whom we trust with our money…"
And today we possess the financial wherewithal to serve our
members, and to serve them well. May we continue to be the
beneficiaries of your veracity and probity. The strength of your
moral character has brought honor to you and a feeling of security
to us. Money affects not only morals and ideals, but also the way
an organization works. Thanks to your financial leadership, Our
Association has the means to fulfill its obligations to its
members. May we continue to prosper under your aegis = a model that
has set a standard for others to follow. For this Tom, you have our
deepest admiration.
It is a pleasure to give the 2017 SHTA Lifetime Service Award to
Tom Patrick.
2019 Sal Fabrizio
The 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Former SHTA
President Sal Fabrizio for establishing the modern SHTA as we know
it. Before Sal's tenure, the SHTA was primarily a social
organization that included the Superintendent and provided a spring
luncheon for members. Thanks to Sal and his team's tireless
efforts, he was able to introduce a contract and collective
bargaining to the district. Sal also commuted back and forth to
Columbus and was active in establishing the STRS system. Sal
Fabrizio also led the movement for SHTA to declare Independence
from OEA/NEA. Sal was the leading force, along with others, in
crafting the first Master Agreement between SHTA and the Shaker
Board Of Education which was a consequence of Ohio Revised Code
Chapter 4117; for those of you unfamiliar with Chapter 4117 it is
Ohio's Public Employees Collective Bargaining Law. The Master
Agreement was written while SHTA was still affiliated with the OEA
and has been used by OEA as a template for collective bargaining
units throughout the state.
Sal Fabrizio taught Social Studies and Economics at Woodbury
Junior High and Shaker Heights High School.