Kenneth Kalen and Elaine Koury graciously accepted the 2024 Honor Our Own awards with a luncheon held at the New England Botanic Garden.
The Oct. 21 gathering was the first in-person event for MTA Retired members since the pandemic began in 2020. The open-air event space offered the perfect environment for people to gather safely. More than 70 people attended, according to MTA events staff.
The Honor Our Own Award is designed to recognize MTA retirees for their contributions to public education.
Kalen, a 35-year elementary school educator in Stoughton, and Koury, a longtime English and performing arts teacher and administrator in Cambridge and Boston, spoke about their experiences as educators and union members.
Kalen, who retired last year, invited family and colleagues to the luncheon. One of those attending was Bob Trotta, the former president of the Stoughton Teachers Association, who Kalen recalled said to him on his first day of work as a teacher: “So, you’re going to get involved in the union, right?” Kalen went on to become a building rep, and then a contract team member and union secretary. Kalen volunteered in early retirement to help finish the last contract cycle.
“He really showed me the importance of organization and the importance of a union voice,” Kalen said, of Trotta, “and how strength in the union is just the epitome of what we are as educators, where we have the ability to further our career and profession and keep it a wonderful place to be.”
Koury invited Wyatt Jackson and Trinidad Ramkissoon, two former students who went on themselves to become theater teachers at schools in Cambridge and Boston. Koury, who also founded the Wisdom Warriors activist group, encouraged her fellow retirees to get involved and stay active in campaigns.
“When we show up for active educators, teachers who have not yet retired, they are so thankful for the support. You remember what it was like. When you’re a teacher, you sometimes feel the world is against you. It’s so great when a bunch of grey-haired people show up for you and shout for you and sing for you and say, ‘Yeah! Keep going, you’re doing great’.”
For information about the Honor Our Own awards, please visit massteacher.org/honorourown. ■
