“Tina has an impressive resume as a longtime advocate for teachers and their students both here at home and across the country,” said AFT Connecticut President Jan Hochadel. “We are excited she is running for local office and are proud to support someone so dedicated to reclaiming the promise of a quality public education,” added Hochadel, who previously taught physics and science in the Connecticut Technical High School System (CTHSS).
Candidates for municipal office completed questionnaires over the past four months on a series of policy issues important to the members of AFT’s local unions and their communities. Members of the federation’s legislative and political action committee reviewed the responses and made recommendations for endorsements in the 2015 Election to its executive committee.
“Good leaders understand the potential around them for progress and innovation,” said Manus. “Great leaders inspire those around them to devote their own talents and skills in the creative process of organizational development, together,” added Manus, who is also a member of the AFT Connecticut-affiliated State Vocational Federation of Teachers (SVFT).
Manus has served as an educator for over 16 years and currently heads the General Education Department at Wright Technical High School in Stamford. In 2014, Manus was selected to serve on the “Connecticut Dream Team” sponsored by Learn Zillion and the State Department of Education (SDE). Manus in January and again in September was invited to congressional hearings on the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) in Washington D.C. to advocate for equity nationwide.
“A political endorsement is a decision we do not take lightly,” said Hochadel. “Our members support candidates who have pledged to tackle the issues facing working families. And we make sure any candidate we back understands that they will be held accountable once elected,” Hochadel said.
AFT Connecticut represents approximately 30,000 hard-working women and men in PreK-12 education, healthcare, public service and higher education from more than 90 local unions throughout the state. For more information, visit www.aftct.org or follow the labor federation on Twitter at @AFTCT and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/aftct.
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Paid for by AFT Connecticut. This message was made independent of any political party, candidate or other political action committee.
