CTA is celebrating the life of one of its leaders, former President Mary "Lois" Tinson, who died Dec. 28 after an extensive illness.
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Lois Tinson |
"Lois was a gifted educator, a strong advocate and a good friend to all who knew her," says CTA President Barbara E. Kerr, who served as CTA secretary-treasurer when Tinson was president. "She was committed to public education and helping all children succeed. She worked hard to secure sufficient funding for California schools and was instrumental in reducing class size in the lower grades. Her passing is a great loss to the education community and to everyone who knew her."
Tinson served two terms as CTA's first ethnic minority president (1995-99) and two terms as CTA secretary-treasurer (1991-95). During her tenure, she led efforts to secure passage of the state's landmark law to lower class size for millions of students in kindergarten through third grade. She also established CTA as a significant political force on behalf of California public schools and public school children, leading the association's fight to defeat Proposition 226, which threatened to silence the voices of teachers and working families.
A teacher of reading and English for many years at North Park High School in the Baldwin Park Unified School District, she began her career as a first- and fourth-grade teacher in Arkansas City, Ark., where she was a family friend of former U.S. President Bill Clinton. She relocated to the Los Angeles area in 1961, and received her master's and doctorate degrees from Pepperdine University, where she also worked as an instructor of grade school education.
A former member of the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, she is listed in Who's Who in Black America and Who's Who Among International Women.
She began her association involvement as a member of the Baldwin Park Education Association and was a leader in what was then CTA's "southern section." She quickly learned how to be an effective change agent in an organizational structure where she was one of very few African American teacher-leaders. After CTA transitioned into its current regional structure, she headed CTA's initial affirmative action efforts as the first chairperson of the CTA Board of Directors' Affirmative Action Advisory Panel. She championed the development of minority leaders and the hiring of minority staff members.
"The thing that really impressed me about Lois was how dignified she was, and what a dignified face she put on CTA," says CTA Board member Bob Nichols.
Even though Tinson was soft-spoken and kind, she also had a big voice and was a power to be reckoned with, says CTA Board member Deborah Harrison. "Her leadership and gracefulness will not be forgotten."
"She was a peacemaker," adds Harrison. "She put a major emphasis on bipartisan efforts to improve public education. I think that made for a stronger organization."
"Lois was a wonderful woman and a tribute to the organization she led," says Senate Minority Leader Jim Brulte, a Republican legislator who joined Tinson in her efforts to make education a bipartisan issue. "As an ambassador for teachers and school children alike, she had a positive impact on all who came in contact with her. We will sorely miss her."
Tinson is survived by her husband David, two sisters, two brothers, and several nieces and nephews.
