Tom Mooney (educator)
Encyclopedia
Tom Mooney was an American
and public school teacher.
from Antioch College
in Yellow Springs, Ohio
in 1974.
, and quickly became active in the American Federation of Teachers
local affiliate there.
, Local 1520 of the AFT, AFL-CIO
, at age 24, was re-elected many times, serving from 1979 to 2000.
In 1990, Mooney was elected a vice president of the AFT. He served on the AFT's executive council, the governing body of the national union, and in 1998 became part of the council's executive committee—a body of executive council members close to the president of the AFT, which advises the president and debates and formulates policy before bringing it to the council. On the executive council, Mooney served on the human rights and community relations, organizing, and affiliate accountability committees. He was also chair of the "program and policy council" for the union's teacher division.
In 2000 he became president of the Ohio Federation of Teachers
.
Mooney was member of the Board of Directors of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
, and the Albert Shanker Institute
. He was also a founding member of the Teacher Union Reform Network (TURN) and of what was re-named in his honor, the Mooney Institute for Teacher and Union Leadership.
Mooney's approach to teacher unionism emphasized the union's role as the professional voice of teachers. As chair of the AFT's Professional Issues Committee, Mooney remained focused on the classroom teacher's perspective and voice. He believed the union must lead reform, collaborate with the administration whenever possible, engage the adversaries of public education, but always put forward a strong teachers' voice, with bold ideas. Some of the ways that Tom Mooney's life and work provided inspiration to reform-minded teacher union leaders is captured on the Mooney Institute's Web Page devoted to Tom
s, and an advocate of teacher professionalism and education reform.
Very much in-touch with his Irish family roots, Tom Mooney was an internationalist who drew inspiration from teacher unionism across the globe, from Australia, to Europe, Latin America and Africa. He brought lessons from the much more political teacher union movements in other countries to inspire union leaders in the US to build social movements and connect with broader movements for social change.
as the director of Global Organizing Partnerships. They had a daughter, Leilah Mooney. Tom had a son, Ruairi Rhodes, from his first marriage to Virginia Rhodes.
at his home in Columbus, Ohio
.
December 3, 2006.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and public school teacher.
Early life
Mooney grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, and graduated with a bachelor's degreeBachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
from Antioch College
Antioch College
Antioch College is a private, independent liberal arts college in Yellow Springs, Ohio, United States. It was the founder and the flagship institution of the six-campus Antioch University system. Founded in 1852 by the Christian Connection, the college began operating in 1853 with politician and...
in Yellow Springs, Ohio
Yellow Springs, Ohio
Yellow Springs is a village in Greene County, Ohio, United States, and is the location of Antioch College and Antioch University Midwest. The population was 3,487 at the 2010 census...
in 1974.
Family
Tom's mother, Marguerite Mooney, and his late father, Don Mooney Sr., had three other children, Don Mooney Jr. and Tina Mooney, both living in Cincinnati, and Lee Mooney, of Philadelphia.Early career
Mooney began his career as an educator teaching high school government in Cincinnati, OhioCincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
, and quickly became active in the American Federation of Teachers
American Federation of Teachers
The American Federation of Teachers is an American labor union founded in 1916 that represents teachers, paraprofessionals and school-related personnel; local, state and federal employees; higher education faculty and staff, and nurses and other healthcare professionals...
local affiliate there.
Union work
Mooney was elected President of the Cincinnati Federation of TeachersCincinnati Federation of Teachers
The Cincinnati Federation of Teachers is a labor union representing teachers, paraprofessionals, support personnel and others in the Cincinnati public school system...
, Local 1520 of the AFT, AFL-CIO
AFL-CIO
The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, commonly AFL–CIO, is a national trade union center, the largest federation of unions in the United States, made up of 56 national and international unions, together representing more than 11 million workers...
, at age 24, was re-elected many times, serving from 1979 to 2000.
In 1990, Mooney was elected a vice president of the AFT. He served on the AFT's executive council, the governing body of the national union, and in 1998 became part of the council's executive committee—a body of executive council members close to the president of the AFT, which advises the president and debates and formulates policy before bringing it to the council. On the executive council, Mooney served on the human rights and community relations, organizing, and affiliate accountability committees. He was also chair of the "program and policy council" for the union's teacher division.
In 2000 he became president of the Ohio Federation of Teachers
Ohio Federation of Teachers
The Ohio Federation of Teachers is a statewide federation of unions in Ohio, affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers , AFL-CIO....
.
Mooney was member of the Board of Directors of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting excellence in education. Founded in 1987, NBPTS improves teaching and student learning by enhancing overall educator effectiveness and recognizing and rewarding highly...
, and the Albert Shanker Institute
Albert Shanker Institute
The Albert Shanker Institute is a nonprofit foundation dedicated to advancing democratic ideals, improving the quality of public education, and conducting research into the labor movement and the sociology of work...
. He was also a founding member of the Teacher Union Reform Network (TURN) and of what was re-named in his honor, the Mooney Institute for Teacher and Union Leadership.
Mooney's approach to teacher unionism emphasized the union's role as the professional voice of teachers. As chair of the AFT's Professional Issues Committee, Mooney remained focused on the classroom teacher's perspective and voice. He believed the union must lead reform, collaborate with the administration whenever possible, engage the adversaries of public education, but always put forward a strong teachers' voice, with bold ideas. Some of the ways that Tom Mooney's life and work provided inspiration to reform-minded teacher union leaders is captured on the Mooney Institute's Web Page devoted to Tom
Reputation and opinions
Mooney had a reputation as an articulate, aggressive, and progressive labor union activist. He frequently clashed with school district administrators over his bold ideas. He was a vocal critic of charter schoolCharter school
Charter schools are primary or secondary schools that receive public money but are not subject to some of the rules, regulations, and statutes that apply to other public schools in exchange for some type of accountability for producing certain results, which are set forth in each school's charter...
s, and an advocate of teacher professionalism and education reform.
Very much in-touch with his Irish family roots, Tom Mooney was an internationalist who drew inspiration from teacher unionism across the globe, from Australia, to Europe, Latin America and Africa. He brought lessons from the much more political teacher union movements in other countries to inspire union leaders in the US to build social movements and connect with broader movements for social change.
Personal life
Mooney was married to Debbie Schneider, who lives in Washington and works for the Service Employees International UnionService Employees International Union
Service Employees International Union is a labor union representing about 1.8 million workers in over 100 occupations in the United States , and Canada...
as the director of Global Organizing Partnerships. They had a daughter, Leilah Mooney. Tom had a son, Ruairi Rhodes, from his first marriage to Virginia Rhodes.
Death
Mooney died of a heart attackMyocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
at his home in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
.
December 3, 2006.
External links
- Albert Shanker Institute shankerinstitute.org
- American Federation of Teachers aft.org
- Cincinnati Federation of Teachers, Local 1520, AFT, AFL-CIO cft.mwg.org
- National Board for Professional Teaching Standards nbpts.org
- Ohio Federation of Teachers, AFT, AFL-CIO oh.aft.org
- Mooney Institute for Teacher and Union Leadership