Jean Johnson was one of the founding members of the Calcasieu Federation of Teachers, and was elected as the chapter’s first president. She served as president from the union’s beginning in 1998 until her retirement this year. Under her leadership, CFT grew from a handful of ardent unionists to become the largest and most effective education organization in Southwest Louisiana.
Leona Venson rose through the ranks of education employees, and in 2001 she was elected president of the Rapides Federation of Teachers and School Employees when longtime President Gary Nugent retired. Her fearless advocacy for teachers and school employees has maintained and enhanced RFT/SE’s reputation as a bastion of teacher and school employee rights.
In presenting the awards, LFT President Steve Monaghan said, “In good times and bad, in triumph and in tragedy over the past decade, I have always relied on the wisdom, quiet confidence and solid advice that Jean and Leona had to offer. Together we have weathered natural disaster, political upheaval and financial collapse. Through it all, these strong women held true to our union values and helped us emerge as stronger and better advocates for public education, for professional educators and for the children of Louisiana.”
The Pioneer Awards were presented at the 48th annual LFT convention at the Hilton Capitol Park in Baton Rouge.