Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA) State President Ella Gauthier is all about building connections. Elected this past April at the TRTA Convention, Gauthier greeted the attendees ready to share her unique vision for the future of our longstanding organization.
For her 2024-2026 term, Gauthier devised a theme: TRTA: Bridge to the Future. When asked, “why this theme?” Ella responded, “Bridges that span our goals and dreams are built by teamwork. I see all of us—TRTA members—as bridge builders between our organization and active educators, our organization and retirees who are not members, our organization and the public, and our organization and legislators.”
Reflecting on the many successes TRTA has had over the years, and especially during the 88th Legislative Session in 2023, Ella says, “I want our members to know that we still need to make important connections—building bridges. We still need to encourage public school retirees to become involved in TRTA. We still need to educate members about our goals and mission.”
Ella takes inspiration from a line in the poem “The Bridge Builder” by Will Allen Dromgoole:
“A youth whose feet must pass this way.
This chasm that has been naught to me
To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be;
He, too, must cross in the twilight dim;
Good friend, I am building this bridge for him!”
“I see TRTA and its members as building a bridge for future retirees,” says Gauthier.
Gauthier first joined TRTA after she retired in 2003 after 32 years as an educator, 11 years of those out of the classroom as a Success Coordinator. “My initial TRTA membership was a retirement gift from a very dear friend—Aleen Jones.” Jones and her husband were active members of Pasadena Area Retired School Employees (PARSE).
During Ella’s first year of retirement, she says initially, she felt compelled to attend meetings since her membership was a gift. However, after attending several meetings, she “found a group of committed retired educators actively involved with programs designed to give back to their community.”
PARSE participated in ongoing tutoring programs in the elementary schools (HOST), donated goods to various agencies, volunteered to clean up parts of various highways and streets in the Pasadena area, and educated members about the importance of advocating for a sound pension fund. Not surprisingly, Ella also admits, “we had a FUN time,” adding that there were luncheons, trips, and interesting and educational programs.
It wasn’t long before Ella began taking on leadership roles in PARSE, first as Secretary, and then as First Vice-President and President. As part of District 4, Ella served as Treasurer, Parliamentarian and District President. Ella first served at the state level on the District Presidents Council as Vice-Chair. She decided to run for State Secretary/Treasurer in 2018 and continued in state leadership positions as Second Vice-President (2020-2022) and First Vice-President (2022-2024), before being elected President in 2024.
“With each position I learned something new about TRTA and its members,” Ella says.
Ella’s favorite thing about TRTA members is that “they want to make retirement benefits secure for those that are following in their footsteps—TRTA members are still looking out for others!” Seeing members in action “still educating, still involved, wanting to make a positive difference,” is something she finds heartwarming.
Ella encourages all public-school retirees in Texas to join TRTA and become a part of this legacy.
“As public-school retirees we have ONE organization advocating for us. That organization is TRTA. Our tagline says it all: TRTA, The Voice for All Public Education Retirees!” says Ella.
While the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) manages the pension fund, she reminds members, “It is important that we realize TRS cannot advocate for public education retirees. TRTA is your advocate!”
She also thinks members benefit greatly from being a part of one of TRTA’s 230-plus local chapters. “Local chapters provide opportunities for its members to learn more about happenings in their communities, participating in trips that are fun and educational, and participating in projects that are beneficial to students in their communities!”
As someone who has been a member of TRTA for more than twenty years, Ella’s experiences and insights tell a story about public education retirees in Texas that rings true all across the state. Educators build bridges, and continue to do so long after leaving the classroom.
