Sharron Raymond, a teacher with the Peel District School Board and president of the Peel ETFO Teacher Local, was re-elected to the Executive of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) at the federation’s annual meeting today. 

Raymond told the more than 500 delegates to the meeting that investing in local leadership is fundamental to ETFO’s success in upcoming bargaining.  She stressed that negotiations will continue to focus on a variety of key issues, including “report card reforms, eradicating the funding gap, supporting local issues, parameters on staff meetings and board/ministry initiative, ensuring mentoring and professional development opportunities for all members, class-size caps in junior and intermediate and tightening of the salary grid.”

She also noted that ETFO must continue to lead in social justice.  “We must fight government attacks on women’s programs, press for a viable day care system, and eradicate child poverty.  We must enact the principles of advocacy, awareness, ability, and accommodation to ensure an inclusive education environment.”

A teacher for 24 years, Raymond has taught primary, junior and intermediate grades, as well as ‘English as a Second Language’, special education and physical education. She is active in her community, canvassing for the Heart and Stroke Foundation

Raymond has served on the ETFO Executive for the last two years and has worked as a staff officer at the ETFO provincial office.  She has also been a collective bargaining committee chair and chief negotiator for her local.

The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario represents more than 70,000 public elementary school teachers and education workers across Ontario and is the largest teacher federation in Canada.