Orange CTA Human and Civil Rights Reception

February 2016

"The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education."
– Martin Luther King, Jr.


Former OCCTA President Cliff McInturff presented
Ulysses Floyd the 2016 Human and Civil Rights Award
For as long as I've been a member of OCCTA, Ulysses Floyd has been my friend, mentor and inspiration. Last evening, Ulysses received the Human and Civil Rights Award at the Black History Month Human and Civil Rights Reception.

Ulysses was married to his wife Dorothy for 61 years before she passed away in 2013. They met at FAMU School of Education and were both teachers in Orange County. Their daughter, Karen was also a teacher in Orange County before she moved to Atlanta, Georgia where she works as a UniServ Director.

Ulysses started his teaching career in 1958 at the Webster Street Elementary School. In 1968 he joined the FEA statewide teacher walkout to protest the underfunding of the Florida's schools. It was the first statewide teacher strike in America's history with 40 percent of the state's teachers participating. Because striking was illegal in Florida, the walkout was actually a mass resignation. Orlando teachers stayed off the job for three weeks and most were later rehired.

In 1974 Ulysses was elected the President of OCCTA, serving for a one-year term. It was during his presidency that OCPS recognized OCCTA as the teacher's official bargaining agent and the first bargaining session was held in May 1975.

After his presidency, Ulysses was assigned to Sadler Elementary School, where he worked until 1990 when he retired after 34 years in the profession.

Ulysses served on the OCCTA Board of Directors, the Service Unit Council, and numerous committees. He was President of the FEA-Retired and served as a member of the NEA Retired Council.  Ulysses is currently an FEA Director. For fourteen years he served as a member of the NEA Resolutions Committee.

A Resolution from Orange County School Board Member Kat Gordon recognized Ulysses for his dedication to teachers, students and public education. Statements from AFT President Randi Weingarten and FEA President Joanne McCall also applauded his accomplishments. Some of us shared how Ulysses impacted our lives and the lives of so many.

For several years I was privileged to travel the state with Ulysses, Joanne McCall and others to interview finalists for the FEA Teacher of the Year award. Ulysses entertained with his incredible stories and fantastic sense of humor.

In January this year,  Ulysses, Sybil and I held the OCCTA banner in the Orlando Martin Luther King Parade. Ulysses was a celebrity! Throughout the parade route people shouted, "Mr. Floyd!" One man who looked like he was in his 60's rushed to get his photo taken with his former teacher. Priceless!

Ulysses Floyd's work as an educator, union activist and community organizer has served as an example to all who know and love him.

LaFrances Trotter speaking about Ulysses and
his contributions to the union.

Former Orange CTA President Mike Cahill
made remarks about Ulysses's work.


   

No comments:

Post a Comment