TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Education Association (FEA) has honored Terrie Brady, president of Duval Teachers United (DTU), with the Andy Ford Lifetime Achievement Award, named in honor of the commitment and dedication former FEA President Ford has exhibited throughout his lifetime on behalf of Florida’s students, public schools and FEA members.
Brady started teaching in Duval County in 1979, and 20 years later became the president of the Duval Teachers Union. As president of DTU, she has a long record of excellent leadership and a deep commitment to the 13,000 employees her union represents. Brady was part of a nationally recognized effort that forged a special memorandum of understanding with DTU and Nikolai Vitti, then superintendent of Duval County public schools, that allowed principals unprecedented authority to choose their teaching staff. A second major accomplishment was a new contract for teachers that made Duval County the first district in Florida to comply with state requirements for pay and retention and the highest paying school district in Northeast Florida for new teachers.
Current Duval Schools Superintendent Diana Greene writes on Brady’s behalf: “She has been a champion of public education for decades, working evenings and weekends to ensure that the value of public education, and the contributions of the educator heroes who serve students and families, are known, acknowledged and supported by community leaders, elected officials, and the philanthropic community.”
Fellow union leader Michelle Dillon, president of the St. Johns Education Association, writes: “Terrie Brady sets the standard for union leadership. She embodies the activism, passion, and knowledge to lead her union AND impact future generations of educators.”
Stephanie Yocum, president of the Polk Education Association, expands on Brady’s role as a mentor: “Personally, Terrie has mentored me as a new union president, always lending herself for advice, ideas and support in my role. She inspires me to be a better leader. She inspires me to think outside of the box. She inspires me to continuously stand strong and speak out for our members and public education.”
In addition to leading DTU, Brady serves on the FEA Governance Board, the FEA Advocacy Committee and the American Federation of Teachers’ (AFT) Teachers Program and Policy Council.
Brady was honored at the FEA Human and Civil Rights Awards Gala on Oct. 14 at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, where FEA held its annual Delegate Assembly. The Andy Ford Lifetime Achievement Award was one of five statewide awards presented to six recipients.
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CONTACT: Joni Branch, joni.branch@floridaea.org, (850) 201-3223
The Florida Education Association is the state’s largest association of professional employees, with 150,000 members. FEA represents PreK-12 teachers, higher education faculty, educational staff professionals, students at our colleges and universities preparing to become teachers and retired education employees.
