The big news: Penni Cyr has served multiple roles at the Idaho Education Association. Now, after a six-year campaign, she will advocate for retired members and issues as a member of the National Education Association Board of Directors.
• Cyr is the second Idaho representative on the NEA Board of Directors. Lindsey Smith represents the state’s educators as an NEA Director.
Why it matters: Cyr’s presence will give Idaho’s retired educators a direct line to Washington, D.C. on Social Security, Medicare and public education funding.
The backstory: This isn’t Cyr’s first stint at the national level. She served four years on the NEA Board of Directors before leaving to become IEA president.
• Retired members are elected by delegates at NEA’s Retired Annual Meeting (RAM), a gathering of more than 300 people.
• This year, Cyr campaigned at the March retired conference in Arizona, then again at RAM and NEA Representative Assembly.
• Campaigning involved constant visibility, many conversations and a few sweeteners. “I gave away a lot of chocolate bars,” she laughed.
What she’ll focus on: Cyr will lobby on issues that directly affect retired educators, especially any potential changes to Social Security and Medicare.
• But she’ll also be a voice for current educators. “We want to make sure the Department of Education is still there, and that schools are still funded,” she said.
• Along with incoming IEA President Peggy Hoy and NEA Director Lindsey Smith, Cyr will lobby Idaho’s congressional delegation in person during NEA’s biannual Superweek.
Her ask to retired members: Cyr said she is available to Idaho’s retired members to discuss any concerns they would like to raise at the national level.
• She’s also hopeful that retired members will consider contributing to the NEA Political Action Committee, which support pro-public education candidates. “Their donations to the PAC would be greatly appreciated — and if they were to, say, commit to $5 a month, it would be so helpful.”
