ORLANDO — Nearly 1,000 delegates attending the Florida Education Association’s annual Delegate Assembly have elected FEA Vice President Fedrick C. Ingram as the organization’s new president.
Ingram has served as FEA vice president for the past three years and succeeds Joanne McCall. Previously, Ingram was president of the United Teachers of Dade and spent 10 years in the classroom as a music teacher and band leader.
Elected along with Ingram at the Delegate Assembly were his election running mates, Andrew Spar and Carole Gauronskas. Spar, president of the Volusia United Educators and secretary-treasurer of the Florida AFL-CIO, was elected FEA vice president, succeeding Ingram in that role.
Gauronskas, president of the St. Johns Educational Support Professional Association, was elected FEA secretary-treasurer. She succeeds Luke Flynt. Gauronskas is the first education staff professional to hold an FEA statewide office.
Ingram addressed delegates after the official results were announced, delivering a message focused on unity and the path forward:
“I am truly humbled by the results of Friday’s election. I give special thanks to the great public schools that gave me the skills and values that underscored my election today.
“To my FEA colleagues, be assured that we go forward today as a united union dedicated to the students we serve and committed to be the strongest of advocates for the remarkable education professionals we represent. We will stand up every day for our students, our communities and for our members, who devote their lives to the success of public education.
“To students and parents, please know that the FEA will stand by your side, every day. We will fight with you for the quality schools, colleges and universities you deserve and our state needs to prepare the next generation for the challenges ahead of us.
“To Florida elected officials, get ready. We shall be mobilized, day in and day out, in Tallahassee and all across Florida. Our present funding for public schools and higher education is insufficient — and funneling millions of dollars to charter schools with no accountability is unacceptable. The pay scale for Florida teachers, education staff professionals, adjunct professors and the others who serve our students is among the lowest in the nation, so it’s no wonder it’s difficult to attract quality education professionals. The stakes for our students are too high to stick with the status quo.
“To achieve our goals, our union will speak with one voice. Now we move forward, grounded in the ironclad commitment that working together is the surest way to achieve our common goals. I offer sincere congratulations to my predecessor Joanne McCall and her supporters, to my running mates Andrew Spar and Carole Gauronskas, and to all who participated in the FEA election.
“FEA is a united union, fighting for real change in Florida.”
Delegates cast their ballots for FEA officers on Friday evening, Oct. 12, and were notified of election results as soon as the count was finalized. In addition, Brian Kerekes, a teacher from Osceola County, was reelected as a National Education Association director, representing Florida.
Newly elected officers addressed delegates Saturday, Oct. 13, during the closing session of the FEA Delegate Assembly.
