April 9, 1954: The Retired Teachers of Florida first organized as a section of the Florida Education Association. In 1971, The Retired Teachers of Florida broke from the FEA and reformed as The Florida Retired Teachers Association (FRTA) an affiliate of the National Retired Teachers Association (NRTA), the education arm of AARP. The distinction being that the FRTA became a non-partisan organization that advocates for issues in line with the FRTA Mission Statement, not individual candidates. FRTA became the Florida Retired Educators Association (FREA) in order to include all employees of the Florida public school system.
FREA’s Purpose is reflected in their Mission Statement.
The FREA Mission
To safeguard the strength of the Florida Retirement System
To support public education in Florida
To provide fellowship opportunities
To encourage community involvement
To be a source information and materials
The History of the Florida Retired Educators Day Proclamation
In 1979, FREA Member Fay M. Milton of MacClenny, FL began a two year quest to create Florida Retired Teachers Day.
The recognition for the day was first requested in 1979 and a proclamation was issued for the 3rd Sunday in October by then Governor Bob Graham.
In 1980 the proclamation was again requested and again Governor Graham proclaimed the 3rd Sunday in October as Florida Retired Teachers Day.
On June 1, 1981 the proposal was passed as a law that the 3rd Sunday in November would be recognized as Florida Retired Teachers’ Day. It was signed by Governor Graham. This particular date was chosen because it is the Sunday preceding National Education Week, which starts the third Monday of November.
Ethel Percy Andrus
Founder, NRTA and AARP
“We are born into this world with clenched fists, we leave it with fingers apart – preaching the lesson that you take nothing with you.”
A chicken coop was the unlikely place where a woman in her 60’x realized she must transition from educating young people to fostering dignity and independence for people as they age.
The Florida Retired Educators Foundation
Florida Retired Educators Foundation (FREF) was established to provide:
- Scholarships for future teachers;
- Grants to current teachers for special projects;
- Grants to Educators in Financial Crisis.
You can find applications for all of these on the Scholarships, Grants and Contests page on this website.
To read or download the FREF: Case for Support pdf, click the button below.
