NILES — The work of the Trumbull Retired Teachers Association has touched generations of students and teachers in its commitment to education as the group has hit a milestone of 60 years.

The TRTA was established in 1965 and came into existence when a group of retired Trumbull County teachers adopted its first constitution and bylaws. It was an affiliate of the newly formed Ohio Retired Teachers Association, now known as Ohio Retirement for Teachers.

Cynthia Harris, the current TRTA president whose term ends Wednesday, said the purpose of the TRTA includes promoting the interests and welfare of retired teachers, fostering good fellowship among retired school personnel, aiding the advancement of public schools, awarding teacher grants, and promoting continued education through a scholarship fund.

Harris said the members are dedicated to volunteering through community service programs, scholarship programs and teacher grants.

She said the outreach program includes volunteering at Second Harvest Food Bank, supporting Trumbull Mobile Meals, and collecting eyeglasses and hearing aids.

The group meets six times per year, every other month on the second Tuesday at Ciminero’s Banquet Centre in Niles. The first meeting in 2026 is Feb.13.

Harris said in 2014 and 2015, the TRTA was recognized by the ORTA as the chapter with the greatest number of volunteer hours out of all 91 chapters in the state.

Harris said with 300 members, the TRTA is among the largest active retired teachers groups in the state.

She said even during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, members conducted Zoom board meetings and discussed ways to help through that challenging time. Harris said the meetings include a variety of guest speakers on various topics and entertainment.

A quilt square designed by Barbara Wright, a retired teacher and principal, is part of a quilt that hangs in the ORTA office in Columbus. There is a square for each of the 91 chapters in the state.

Linda Morton Cowin, a retired middle school science teacher who serves as TRTA treasurer, said all the members worked as teachers, but they did not really know one another until they became members of the TRTA.

“I enjoy the camaraderie and spending time with other retired teachers,” she said.

Charlotte Jessep, a retired teacher of 37 years, who worked in Champion, Howland and Southington, said one event she always enjoyed being part of was the annual TRTA-sponsored spelling bee at the Trumbull County Fair each summer.

“I was a judge for the spelling bee for 37 years. I was always glad to be able to help at that event,” she said.

Sue Datish of Howland said being a part of TRTA “is like a family.

“I like that we are able to do so much community service and give back to the schools,” Datish said.

Harris said when people become members of TRTA, they become involved with the success of the group.

“What I like is the members being willing to step up and help. The members are hard workers and take part in different events,” she said.

Marilyn Stanton, a retired 36-year Spanish teacher from Howland High School, said, “This is a great organization with great leadership. We do so much to help in the schools and the community.”

GRANT PRESENTATIONS

In December, members of the TRTA awarded $500 grants to four teachers:

* Heather Ault, Seaborn Elementary School in Weathersfield, for the “Readers Lead” program to inspire a love of reading, with fifth-grade students reading to grades K-2. Ault plans to get books for the program. She said the school’s student council is active in reading with the younger children. The school has a former snack machine filled with books from which children can select.

* Sarah Frank, Liberty High School, for a Chompsaw for visual art classes, which allows a safer way for students to cut and create art projects.

* Heather Whetstone, Bloomfield Middle School, for Bringing Theatre to Life — launching a first-ever theater class.

* Jennifer Wilson, Champion Central Elementary School, for rewritable LCD boards for first-grade language arts.

Harris said the four teachers have been invited to the TRTA August meeting to share how they have used the grants.

“We have always been blown away by what the teachers do with the grants,” Harris said.