Congratulations to our Local 434 retirees—your impact on students, families, and colleagues will be felt for years to come. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to education and to our union.
We also recognized members celebrating milestones in their careers—from year 1 to year 30. Every chapter in this profession matters, and we’re proud to celebrate each one. 

Below are photos of just a few of our recognized members for years of service!

What a great way to kick off summer! More than 150 Local 434 members from all three councils—teachers, aides, and our amazing administrative assistants—gathered at TR’s to celebrate the start of break with food, drinks, and camaraderie. We’re grateful for this time together and the strong community we’ve built!

Congratulations to Local 434 members Kayla Hosier and Teagan Gross! 

Two Belleville West teachers were recently honored by the Illinois State Board of Education through its prestigious Those Who Excel awards program.

Kayla Hosier, Spanish teacher, received a Special Recognition for Early Educators—an award honoring excellence within the first three years of teaching. Kayla’s passion, talent, and dedication have made a meaningful impact on her students and school community, and her colleagues, families, and administrators have taken notice!

Teagan Gross, Individualized Education teacher, was awarded the Award of Excellence—the highest honor given in the program. Teagan exemplifies what it means to be an educator: committed to equity, deeply collaborative, and constantly working to build a supportive and inclusive learning environment. Her work continues to inspire students, families, and fellow educators alike.

We are proud to have these outstanding educators in our Local 434 family. Congratulations, Kayla and Teagan!

Congratulations to our newly elected executive board! This marks the first board to serve under our unified federation structure, with equal representation from all three councils. We’re proud to take this next step forward—together. Members will serve through May 2027.