The AFT-WV Executive Board is comprised of the four consitutional officers of the organization, eleven members-at-large and one ex-officio retiree member. The Executive Board, elected every two years at the AFT-WV convention, governs and sets policy for the AFT in West Virginia.

Meet the members of the AFT-WV Executive Board by clicking a name or scrolling down the page to view all members.

Officers
Judy Hale, President
Cynthia Phillips, Vice-president
Tony Lautar, Treasurer
Beth Kitzmiller, Secretary

Members-at-large
Fred Albert
Andrea Alfred
Debra Elmore
Teresa Cunningham
Ed Delaney
Sue Kelley
Greg Merritt
Ralph Smith
Stacey Strawderman
Tena Webb

Ex-Officio Member
Delores Campbell

AFT-WV Officers

Judy Hale, President (see President's page)

Cynthia Phillips, Vice-president

Cynthia is a special education teacher at Captial High School in Kanawha County. She also serves as vice-president of AFT-Kanawha and is an ER & D trainer for the state Federation.  She was appointed  as a member of the American Federation of Teachers PreK- 12 Program and Policy Committee (PPC) by former AFT national president Edward McElroy. The PPC, which is a constitutional body of the AFT, provides policy guidance to the AFT elected leadership on pre-kindergarten through 12th grade issues such as class size, school safety and discipline, special education, curriculum, professional development, and the challenges of the No Child Left Behind Act.  Cynthia enjoys spending her spare time with her family. 




Tony Lautar, Treasurer
Tony is a special education specialist for Wood County Schools and has worked in thei field for 35 years. He is a long-time AFT activist, serving in numerous capacities on both the state and local levels over the years. In addition to his role in the union, Tony serves in several other capacities, including trustee for the Parkersburg Area Labor Council, representaitve of the Teachers' Defined Retirement System on the West Virginia Investment Management Board and member of the Board of Directors for St. Joseph's Hosptial in Parkersburg.  In his spare time, he enjoys cooking, attending sporting events and spending time with his family.





Beth Kitzmiller, Secretary
Beth teaches K-8 music at Glade Elementary in Webster County, where she serves as treasurer of her local union. A 26-year veteran of teaching, Beth put her experience in the classroom to use to help fellow educators as a trainer for the Educational Research and Dissemination program (ER & D), the AFT's professional development. When not teaching, she enjoys singing, traveling and creative hobbies such as sewing, crafts and cake decorating.





AFT-WV Executive Board, Members-at-large

Fred Albert
Fred teaches 6th grade at DuPont Middle School in Kanawha County, where he is president of AFT-Kanawha. Fred is also an ER & D trainer for AFT-WV. Fred is a pet lover and spends his free time spoiling his dog!







Andrea Alfred
Andrea teaches special education for grades 9-12 at Liberty High School in Harrison County. Andrea has taught for 30 years and been active in the AFT, as well as her local AFL-CIO Labor Council for many years. Andrea serves as president of the AFT local in Harrison County. In her spare time, Andrea enjoys gardening, crafting, reading, writing, drawing, music, dancing, and decorating.







Debra Elmore
Debra teaches 3rd grade at Ansted Elementary in Fayette County. A 15-year veteran of teaching, Debra is very involved in both the union and the teaching profession. She is a vice-president of the Fayette County Federation of Teachers, a delegate to the South Central Labor Council, and chairperson for Activists for Congressional Education.  Debra ia also an ER & D trainer and teaches professional development courses for AFT-WV at Summer School and other events. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, hiking, traveling and politics.





Teresa Cunningham
Teresa, better known as "Terry" to her friends, teaches exceptional education at Hurricane High School in Putnam County. Terry serves as secretary of the Putnam County Federation of Teachers and is an ER & D trainer for AFT-WV.  Terry's hobbies include reading, traveling, music and theatre, football (Go Mountaineeers and Steelers!)  and just enjoying life.






Ed Delaney

Photo and bio coming soon...





Sue Kelley
Sue is a professor at Fairmont State University, where she teaches British literature. Although she has 20 years of teaching experience, she is relatively new to the union, and is very excited about the growth of AFT-WV's Higher Ed Division.  When she isn't wokring, Sue enjoys gardening, nature, reading and opera, but most of all- spending time with her daughter, Anna.







Greg Merritt
Photo coming soon...