The former Crystal Street Elementary school teacher has advanced the cause of public education and teacher unionism since TFT was chartered by the American Federation of Teachers in 1975.
During her service, TFT grew to be the largest and most influential education organization in the parish. The Federation was responsible for providing all teachers with a duty-free lunch period, providing hepatitis B vaccine for teachers and school employees who deal with special needs students, winning back lost wages for educators, establishing seven-hour work days for paraprofessionals, and demanding that the school board obey public meetings laws, among many other accomplishments.
Along with her presidency in Tangipahoa Parish, Flanagan served as a vice-president of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers, and saw the LFT also grow to be the largest teacher union in the state.
Ponchatoula High School teacher Kevin Crovetto has been elected as TFT’s new president by members of the union. The industrial arts teacher was also unanimously chosen to replace Flanagan on the LFT board.