Kimberly Claytor, president of the Newport-Mesa Federation of Teachers, Local 1794 and CFT vice president, was listed by Costa Mesa’s Daily Pilot newspaper as the eighth most influential person in the Newport-Mesa community for 2011. The Pilot said, “The teachers’ union president voiced support for cutting money from the administration instead of the classroom and led a teachers union no-confidence vote in the superintendent.”

John McDowell, professor of labor relations, director of the Labor Center at the Los Angeles Trade Technical College, and member of the Los Angeles College Faculty Guild, Local 1521, was appointed to the California Student Aid Commission on January 24 by Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez. The California Student Aid Commission is the principal state agency responsible for administering state financial aid programs for college students. “With 25 years of experience fighting for higher education access, John McDowell is the type of leader who will defend the critical programs that make higher education possible for all Californians,” said Speaker Pérez.

Dennis and Hene Kelly were honored as Humanitarians of the Year by the B’nai Zion Foundation in January. Dennis is president of United Educators of San Francisco, a CFT vice president and AFT vice president. Hene is chair of the CFT Retirement Committee and a member of the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee. Both are lifelong educators and unionists.

Paul Karrer, member of the North Monterey Federation of Teachers, Local 4008, had an article published in the Korean Timescalled the “Myth of Korean Super Teacher.” In the article, Karrer makes the point that parental commitment and cultural support define how education succeeds in Korea.

Have you or your colleagues made news lately? Email the pertinent facts to the editor at jhundertmark@cft.org