The Teachers’ Retirement Board Elects Chair and Vice Chair —By Ricardo Duran

The Teachers’ Retirement Board Elects Chair and Vice Chair

 

By: Ricardo Duran

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The trustees of the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) today elected Harry Keiley board Chair and named Sharon Hendricks as Vice Chair for the 2014-2015 term.
The 12-member Teachers’ Retirement Board nominates and elects its chair and vice chair annually. The newly-elected officers assume their posts immediately. The chair and vice chair provide board leadership, direction and policy development for the largest educator-only pension fund in the world. The election took place at Thursday’s Teachers’ Retirement Board meeting.
Mr. Keiley has served as board Vice Chair since 2010. He is a high school teacher with the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District and was elected to the Teachers’ Retirement Board in 2007. He has served as the president of Santa Monica-Malibu Classroom Teachers Association and chair of the California Teachers Association Political Involvement Committee.
“With so much activity surrounding the system’s funding underway this year, you cannot say enough about the critical role board leadership will play in achieving long-term financial health,” said incoming Board Chair Mr. Keiley. “It’s also a time to truly appreciate the dynamic, steady leadership Dana (Dillon) has provided the board in her five years as chair, helping guide us through the depths of the Great Recession and positioning the fund for the long-term, as we assist the Legislature in their finalization of a funding plan.”
Ms. Hendricks is a speech professor with the Los Angeles Community College District and was elected to the Teachers’ Retirement Board in 2011. She also serves as president of the American Federation of Teachers, local 1521 chapter at Los Angeles City College. Ms. Hendricks is active in the Community College Council of the California Federation of Teachers.
The California State Teachers’ Retirement System, with a portfolio valued at $180.8 billion as of February 28, 2014, is the largest educator-only pension fund in the world. CalSTRS administers a hybrid retirement system, consisting of traditional defined benefit, cash balance and voluntary defined contribution plans. CalSTRS also provides disability and survivor benefits. CalSTRS serves California’s 868,000 public school educators and their families from the state’s 1,600 school districts, county offices of education and community college districts.