Joe Dion

President
Joe Dion is CalRTA’s State President. Prior to his current position he served as Area III Director, Chair of the State Insurance Committee and as Division 75 President and Treasurer. Prior to retiring in 1993, Joe worked as a teacher and middle school principal for the San Juan Unified School District. He was also President of the ACSA San Juan Administrators Association and President of ACSA Region III. Currently he serves as a member of the Citrus Heights Water District Board of Directors and the Regional Water Authority Board of Directors. Joe has four sons, one daughter and 10 grandchildren. His personal goal for CalRTA is to “seek ways and means to continue to move CalRTA into the 21st century to meet the needs of all its members.”

Bill Kipp

President Elect
Prior to being elected as President Elect, Bill Kipp served as Area II Director, Chair of the State Communications Committee and President of Division 16. He also represented CalRTA at the National Educator Support Network Conference and the NRTA Leadership Conference. Prior to retiring in 1995, Bill served as a teacher at the elementary, junior high and high school levels, and worked as a principal, personnel director, assistant superintendent of instruction and superintendent. He was named Superintendent of the Year by ACSA in 1994. Bill and his wife of 53 years, Dene, have four children and three grandchildren. In addition to CalRTA, Bill’s volunteer efforts include serving as the AARP Regional Volunteer Leader for Northern California, and as a HICAP and long-term care counselor. Bill’s goals for CalRTA include “strengthening the partnerships with NRTA, AARP, ACSA and other educator special interest groups and improving the communication and involvement in CalRTA.”

Polly Bacich

Past President
Polly held many offices within CalRTA prior to being elected State President Elect in 2007. She served as Area II Director, Division 51 President and Legislation Chair and had been a member of the State Legislation Committee and Area II Legislation Platform Committee. Prior to retiring in 1989, Polly worked 31 years in Hayward Unified School District as a teacher, assistant principal and counselor. She’s been married to husband Jack for 57 years and has three children, two grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Her personal goal for CalRTA is “to assure its members of an affordable health care program.”

La Quita Cole

State Secretary

Ken Hewitt

State Treasurer
Prior to being elected as CalRTA’s State Treasurer Ken Hewitt served as chair of the State Legislative Committee, helped launch the Leadership Development Program and helped lead the CalRTA Advocacy Days. He is a member of the Speakers Bureau and has served as treasurer for his local division. Ken retired in 1998 from the Ukiah USD. He taught mathematics at the 8th grade, high school and junior college levels. He also served as pastor of the Redwood Valley Community Church. He is married to his lovely wife Beryl and currently lives in Northern California. Ken’s personal goal for CalRTA is that the organization be the leading advocate for retired educators in the state and that every division have a solid group of leaders eager to help the organization move forward.

Peter Paolino
Betty Silva

Area I Co-Directors

Peter Paolino held numerous CalRTA volunteer positions prior to being elected co-director of Area I including division co-president, treasurer and scholarship foundation chair, and a member of the State Nominations and Elections Committee. Prior to retiring in 2001 Peter taught business, Spanish, English, and worked 37 years as a high school counselor. He is a native Californian and has 41 cousins! Peter’s personal goal for CalRTA is for the organization to become a larger, more influential organization on behalf of retired educators.

Betty Silva’s professional career includes working as a government research librarian/reference librarian for Fresno County Library, a library media teacher for 31 years (20 of which were at Fairfield High School) and an independent training contractor with Follett Software Company. She retired in 2004. She and husband Ray have one dog, a blue merle Australian Shepherd named Pepper. Betty’s favorite quote is “I choose what kind of a day I will have.” Her personal goal for CalRTA is to make CalRTA an active, viable, first choice of organizations that retiring teachers will want to join!

Bob Sharp

Area II Director

Patricia Boyd

Area III Director
Pat is serving as Area III Director. Prior to this position, she was Division 75 President, Treasurer, Chair of Communications and on several committees including social, mini grants, and membership. Pat retired from the Rio Linda Union School District in 1991, having taught Kindergarten and First Grade in Dearborn, Michigan, San Bernardino, Rialto, and North Highlands for a total of 38 years. In addition to CalRTA, Pat volunteers as a surrogate parent for Foster Youth, is Co-Vice-President of AAUW/CHAR, and a Junior League of Sacramento Sustainer promoting Childrens Theatre as a field trip for Kindergarten-Third Graders. Pat loves her son Anson, her golden retrievers Bailey and Murphy, playing bridge, scrapbooking, and having lunch with friends. Her goal as a Director is to encourage retired teachers to join CalRTA and to support the current and future leadership in their Divisions.

Cathe Norman

Area IV Director
Cathe Norman is serving as Area IV Director. Before joining the CalRTA Board she was President of Division 85 for three years. Cathe retired in 1999 after working as an elementary school teacher in the Hayward USD for 20 years teaching K-5. She is married to Fred, her husband of 50 years, who is a writer and peace activist. Cathe’s daughter Rebecca is also a teacher and lives in Orinda; her son Owen lives in San Francisco. Cathe has four grandchildren ages 11 to 15. In addition to her “wicked” tennis serve and wonderful homemade apple pies, Cathe likes to travel and spend time with family. Her goal for CalRTA is to help it grow larger and stronger and to repeal the WEP, “which is unfair, as any third-grader knows.”

Ann Hansen

Area V Director
Ann Hansen currently serves as Area V Director. Prior to her current position she served as Division 6 President and volunteered on the State Nominations and Elections Committee. Before retiring in 1995, Ann taught second, fourth, fifth and sixth grades in the Moreland School District, though fifth grade was her favorite. She was also president of the teachers’ association and on the contract writing committee and the bargaining team for several years. Ann has three children and two grandchildren. After retiring Ann was an artists’ representative for three years representing five artists in the San Jose area. Her personal goal for CalRTA is “for us to really get to know our members. When we know our members, their needs and their talents, we can serve them better. And as we serve our members, we become an even stronger organization.”

Carol Luhring

Area VI Director
Prior to her current position as Area VI Director, Carol Luhring served as Division 34 Treasurer and on several Division committees including Scholarship, Games Day and Newsletter. Before she retired in 1997, Carol taught for 25 years, plus 10 years as vice principal, for the Merced River School District. She has three children and six wonderful grandchildren. Carol’s favorite quote is “Don’t run faster than your guardian angel can fly.” As for personal goals for CalRTA, Carol says “We all appreciate the need for increased membership but my personal goal for the next year is to find ways to increase participation in Area VI’s division meetings and activities.”

Linda Dawson

Area VII Director

Barbara Gera

Area VIII Director
Barabara Gera currently serves as Area VIII Director. Before joining the State Board of Directors she served as Vice President of Programs for Division 71. Barbara retired in 2003 from the El Monte City School District where she taught grades K to 5th including working as a Miller-Unruh Reading Specialist, a Title 1 Teacher, Assistant Principal and Director of Instructional Services. Barbara and her husband John like to line dance and even teach it periodically. Her personal goal for CalRTA is “to fully implement the ‘Membership Marketing Initiative’ and then help accomplish all the other goals.”

Dr. Ralph Villani

Area IX Director
Dr. Ralph Villani currently serves as Area IX Director. Prior to this position he served as Division 89 President and First Vice President. Before he retired in 1991, Dr. Villani worked as a high school teacher, elementary and high school principal, assistant superintendent and superintendent. He also was a Board Member for the Santa Monica Community College and worked as a part-time university professor. Dr. Villani is an active member of AARP and currently serves on the Region IV Management Team. He and wife Barbara have two children and five grandchildren. His personal goal for CalRTA is to “increase membership and motivate others to seek leadership roles.”

Judy Smith

Area X Director
Prior to being elected as Director for Area X Judy Smith volunteered many hours for her local Division 42 serving as President and Legislative Chair and serving as Area X Legislative Chair. Her teaching career spanned 38 years in three states including West Virginia, Maryland and California. She retired in 2000. When not donating her time to CalRTA Judy loves to garden and sing in a local chorale group.  Judy’s personal goal for CalRTA is to include members’ feelings when making decisions at the state level; to increase membership; and to continue to make CalRTA known to legislators on both the state and federal level.

Barbara Bethel

Area XI Director
Barbara Bethel is serving her first term as Area XI Director. Prior to this position, Barbara was extremely active in San Diego Division 4 serving as President, Insurance Chair, Treasurer of their Scholarship Foundation, and a variety of other positions for both Division 4 and Area XI. Prior to retiring in 2000 Barbara worked for the San Diego Unified School District for 35 years as an elementary school teacher; math lab/demonstration teacher; district mathematics resource teacher, mathematics curriculum consultant; and elementary school vice principal and principal.  Barbara actively volunteers at the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park as a docent and animal interpreter.  Her personal goals for CalRTA are to help the organization achieve its core mission and become the dominant, authoritative voice for all retired California educators.

Tom Collette

Area XII Director
Tom Collette has been very involved in CalRTA prior to his term as Area XII Director. He held many positions within Division 22 including Secretary, Membership Chair, Program Chair, Vice President and President. He’s also served as Membership Chair for Area XII. Prior to retiring in 1994, Tom taught elementary grades including one year at a private school in England. He also worked as a teaching principal for one year. Tom has traveled extensively during his lifetime, visiting over 80 countries. His favorite quote is “If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again.” His personal goal for CalRTA is “to continue to bring in new members to CalRTA and to tell retired educators the important reasons to join.”