Leadership: MEA-Retired Officers

MEA-Retired President Kay Walker-Telma

Kay Walker Telma began her second three-year term as President of MEA-Retired September, 2002. She was previously the organization’s Vice President from 2016-19, after serving as the Region 15 delegate to the MEA-Retired Board of Directors. She was President of the Grand Traverse Bay Area chapter of MEA-Retired and a member of its Executive Board since 2003.

“How fortunate I am to have had mentors like Judy Foster, Dan Rudd, Harvey Miller and Larry Dodd,” she said. “I am excited to be part of this leadership team and will continue to rely on the support of the many outstanding leaders at the chapter, state and national level. It is crucial that we continue addressing the important issues facing both retirees and current public school employees. MEA-Retired is a vital, dynamic organization that will effectively serve its members now and in the years to come.”

A Traverse City Area Public Schools teacher from 1976-2003, she was president of the Traverse City EA from 2001-2003, UniServ Field Assistant in the MEA 15-A (Traverse City) office from 2003-2013 and temporary UniServ Director in the spring and early summer of 2013. She enjoys living in the beautiful Grand Traverse area, walking, reading, traveling and spending wonderful time with family and friends.

MEA-Retired Vice President - Judy Daley

Judy Daley continues her long-time union activism as the MEA‑Retired Vice-President since September, 2019. As the past St. Clair-Sanilac County MEA‑Retired President, she has participated in the Presidents’ Conclave and served as the MEA‑Retired liaison to the MEA Art Acquisition Committee and on the MEA‑Retired Elections and Chapter Development Committees. A longtime delegate to the MEA‑Retired Annual Meeting and both the MEA and NEA RA, Judy has been MEA‑Retired NEA RA Coordinator and is the current Caucus Chair for the 38-member MEA RA delegate group.

“My goal is to continue my activism by addressing the critical issues that our public schools, our union and both active and retired MEA members are facing,” she said. A former Harbor Beach special education teacher and HBEA President, she held a number of positions at the regional and state level, and worked for MEA as both an E‑Dues SNAP Assistant as well as a temporary UniServ Director. Judy is a proud CMU alumna, and in her spare time she enjoys returning to her alma mater, spending time with her family and friends and starting a home-based business.

MEA-Retired Secretary/Treasurer -Jeanne Hansen

MEA-Retired Secretary-Treasurer, Jeanne Hansen, retired in 2009 from Maple Valley after nearly 30 years of teaching elementary students in South Dakota and Michigan. She was a member of NEA in South Dakota and Michigan.  During her Michigan teaching career Jeanne was a leader in her local association as a build rep, vice president, president, negotiations team member, Region 8 rep., served as the crisis chair on the 8E Coordination Council, and was a delegate to NEA RA.

Upon retirement Jeanne continued to serve as the MEA-Retired rep for Region 8, 8E Coordinating Council, NEA-Retired PAC Captain Team, and serve as a delegate to the MEA RA, NEA-Retired Annual Meeting & NEA RA.  Jeanne has been president of her local MEA-Retired Chapter and elected in 2022 as MEA-Retired Secretary/ Treasurer. She attributes her success with the support of her mentors, Judy Foster and Dan Rudd.

Lifelong learning is Jeanne’s mantra for life.  “Lifelong learning is the key to a long and content life.  If you are not learning you are not living.”  She also believes in supporting, and passing on, learning to others by being engaged in organizations like MEA and NEA.

Jeanne received her bachelor’s from Michigan State University (go Green) College of Human Ecology (K-12) and an Elementary Certification.  She obtained her master’s degree in special education, learning disabilities from the University of South Dakota.

Jeanne resides in Nashville, Michigan where she enjoys spending time outside, mowing lawn and doing yard work; then relaxing by the pool in the summer and snuggled up with a book in front of a roaring fire during the colder months. Friends and family are always welcome to join her!