Title
Honoring and recognizing Ted Kirsch on the event of his retirement, and his incredible service to the teachers of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania.
Body
WHEREAS, Born in Philadelphia in 1939, Mr. Ted Kirsch has been surrounded by union members all of his life. He was the son of two trade unionist, his father was a member of the United Auto Workers and Meat Cutters Unions, and his mother, a member of the Bookbinders Union; and
WHEREAS, Along with his parents, two of his uncles were also union officials. He would often sit at the dinner table listening to different family member's accounts of the difficulties of being in a union, and the incredible positive impact it could have on one's life and family; and
WHEREAS, After graduating from West Philadelphia High School, Ted Kirsch went on to graduate from West Chester State Teachers College with a Bachelor's Degree in Education in 1960, and then graduating from Temple University in 1970 with a Master's Degree in Education; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Kirsch's first position out college was as a Social Studies Teacher at Thomas Junior High School in 1960 before moving to Overbrook High School to teach Social Studies; and
WHEREAS, In 1965 Mr. Kirsch began his career as a union leader after being elected as the union representative from Overbrook High School, from there he would join the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers' (PFT) Executive Board; and
WHEREAS, From 1970 through 1981, Mr. Kirsch served as a Staff Representative for the PFT, becoming deeply involved with the PFT strike of 1973, and was arrested on the picket line for defending teachers; and
WHEREAS, In 1983, after another strike and arrest, Mr. Kirsch was elected Vice President of the PFT, and served as the Director of Staff from 1983 to 1990; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Kirsch was elected president of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers and a Vice President of the American Federation of Teachers in 1990, cementing his role as a union leader in Philadelphia and ...
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