Chesterfield educators’ leader to return to library job

When Lois Stanton left her library job to become president of the Chesterfield Education Association four years ago, she was guaranteed a position when she returned.

But she didn't know where she would end up.

Stanton is feeling fortunate to be headed back to her job at Manchester High School in Chesterfield County. The librarian who replaced her is retiring this month, and Stanton's last day as the association's president is Tuesday.

"I feel very lucky to have been allowed to go back to the same position that I left," she said. "I couldn't have planned it if I tried."

Frank Cardella, a teacher at Manchester High, is replacing Stanton as CEA president.

For the past four years, the association has been paying Stanton's salary, as it does with all presidents.

Knowing she would have a chance to return to the school system gave Stanton the peace of mind to try something new for a while. "It's been overall a very positive experience," she said.

One of her proudest accomplishments as CEA president has been her ability to offer input during the decision-making process for instructional changes. "I think teachers want to be represented in terms of instructional decisions," she said.

As the association leader, she saw the implementation of training for new teachers in the county schools and pushed for equity in teacher salaries in the region.

But some ground has been lost with the budget constraints that have played out this year, she said.

"It's going to be a real challenge to pay teachers in the future enough to adequately compensate for the work that they're expected to do," she said.

She's afraid that when the economy gets better, more teachers are going to leave the "profession that, frankly, gets hit so hard in the hard times and doesn't get a whole lot of attention in the good times," Stanton said.

"I just hope that the time period, as far as the economy and budget, won't have hurt us so much that we won't be able to recover the kind of quality teachers that we're letting go," she said.

It's been an eye-opening experience to work as the association's president, Stanton said. She now feels proud of the 2,400-member association, which includes Colonial Heights school employees.

"I've had an opportunity to see specific examples, that because the association was here, somebody's job situation is better," she said.

Marshall W. Trammell Jr., School Board chairman, said Stanton has been a tremendous asset to the CEA.

"She approaches the School Board in a way that fosters good discussion," he said. "She's not combative. She is very firm on what she thinks is best for her members."

Contact Juan Antonio Lizama at (804) 649-6513 or .