UTNO Congratulates Incoming Executive Council Members
At the United Teachers of New Orleans General Membership Meeting on April 13th, members chose new and returning leaders for its executive council.
Dave Cash was selected UTNO President. He will be the thirteenth president of AFT Local 527 since it was chartered in 1937. “I’m excited to serve teachers, paraprofessionals, and support staff in New Orleans schools,” Cash said. “UTNO has a long history of fighting for and winning more democracy in our workplaces. We know that when teachers are at the table, students benefit.” Cash has previously served as Executive Vice President (2020-2022) and Recording Secretary (2008-2020). He will continue to work as a classroom teacher at Rooted School while serving as UTNO president.
John Mersch will continue to serve as Secretary-Treasurer, a position he has held since October 2020. Alorea Gilyot will serve as Recording Secretary, a position she has held since April 2020. She previously served as a Teacher Member-at-Large (2010-2020). Keely Hill will serve as Vice President of Membership, a position she has held since 2021. Rebecca Cavalier will serve as Vice President of Professional Development. She has not previously served on UTNO’s executive council. Lauren Lastrapes will serve as a Teacher Member-at-Large. She currently serves as Vice President of Professional Development, a position she has held since 2018. Incoming council members will take office in the first week of June. Council members serve for a term of three years.
Each school that has earned recognition is entitled to send a representative to sit as a voting member on the executive council. Eriko Otero continues to serve on the council as the representative of United Teachers of Franklin. Matthew Tuttle also continues to serve on the council as the representative of Morris Jeff United Educators.
Cash will succeed Wanda Richard as president. Richard has served as president since August 2019. Prior to that she served as Executive Vice President (2016-2019), Vice President of Political Action/Education (2013-2016), Teacher Member-at-Large (2008-2013), and in numerous other positions on the executive council since 2002. Prior to joining the council, she was a building representative. She first joined UTNO as a member in 1978. Members of UTNO are deeply grateful to her for her decades of service and solidarity.
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