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Retired IBEW Director Mentors Teacher Unionist

November 30, 2009

Royetta Sanford, retired director of IBEW’s Human Services Department, has volunteered to share her knowledge and experience by providing mentoring to a recipient of the Union Leaders of the Future Scholarship.

Sanford will mentor Carrie Meyers-Herron, a member of the American Federation of Teachers Local 2665 in Palatine Bridge, which is near Saratoga Springs in upstate New York.

Providing annual rewards of up to $3,000 to women and people of color, the scholarship program is sponsored by the Union Plus Education Foundation, issuer of Union Plus Credit Cards.

“I’m mentoring because I feel it is one of the only ways we can move forward getting women and minorities in the mainstream of the labor movement,” say Sanford.

“This is a great, well-organized program with some real bright talent, a lot of people with capacity to be good leaders,” adds Sanford.  “I want to give back to the movement and do whatever I can to make it stronger and more diverse.”

Meyers-Herron, president of the Galway Central School District’s local teachers association, says, “It’s nice to be hooked up with a mentor who has done union work for so long. She reassures me.” Meyers-Herron, who met Sanford for the first time in September, hopes to take master’s-level courses in labor relations. She looks forward to monthly communications with Sanford on balancing tasks and getting her perspective on issues facing teachers in a time of tightening budgets.

Since 1992, more than $2.8 million has been awarded through a range of Union Plus scholarships. This year 13 unionists representing 10 unions were awarded more than $33,000 in scholarships.