Longtime union activist Dr. Brenda Mitchell, who recently retired as president of the United Teachers of New Orleans, received the Louisiana Federation of Teachers’ Pioneer Award at the LFT’s 44th annual convention in Covington on Sunday, November 23. The award is presented annually to individuals who, over the years, made major contributions to the growth and influence of the LFT. Shown at the presentation are, from left, LFT President Steve Monaghan, Dr. Mitchell and UTNO President Larry Carter.
Leaders honored for long service to Federation
(Covington – November 23, 2008) Two longtime members and officers of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers today received the Pioneer Award from the Louisiana Federation of Teachers. The award is presented annually to individuals who, over the years, made major contributions to the growth and influence of the LFT.
Both Dr. Brenda Mitchell of New Orleans and Margie Crenshaw of Slidell recently retired from their Federation responsibilities; both served the union with dedication and skill for years.
Brenda Mitchell joined the United Teachers of New Orleans in 1968, and served the union as a building representative, area coordinator, Educational Issues Committee Chair and QuEST coordinator. She was elected to the local’s executive board in 1973.
She was the founder of the New Orleans Teacher Center, which became the UTNO Health and Welfare Fund Center for Professional Growth and Development. In 1999, she was elected president of UTNO. She also served as executive vice president of the LFT and as executive vice president of the Greater New Orleans AFL-CIO.
Dr. Mitchell holds a doctorate in developmental education from Grambling State University, a Master’s +30 in adult education and a Master’s degree in counseling from the University of New Orleans, and a Bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Southern University.
Margie Crenshaw spent 25 years in the classroom as a paraprofessional. In her union life, she is in demand as an Educational Research and Dissemination trainer, helping other paras to enhance their professional credentials and learn new skills.
She is a former chairperson of the St. Tammany Federation of Teachers and School Employees’ Paraprofessional and School Related Personnel conference. For the past nine years, she has chaired the LFT-PSRP Committee. From 1995 until her retirement this year, she has been a vice president of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers.
She and Thomas, her husband of 35 years, have two children and eight grandchildren.
The awards were presented at the 44th annual LFT convention at the Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites in Covington. Presenting the awards were United Teachers of New Orleans President Larry Carter and St. Tammany Federation of Teachers and School Employees President Elsie Burkhalter.
Longtime union activist Margie Crenshaw received the Louisiana Federation of Teachers’ Pioneer Award at the LFT’s 44th annual convention in Covington on Sunday, November 23. The award is presented annually to individuals who, over the years, made major contributions to the growth and influence of the LFT. Shown at the presentation are, from left, LFT President Steve Monaghan, Margie Crenshaw and St. Tammany Federation of Teachers and School Emplyees President Elsie Burkhalter.
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