On this page, you can meet the folks that make OTTO go and learn a bit about the various Committees that keep OTTO going. If you are interested in joining one of our Committees, please email us at oldtownteachersorg@gmail.com. Our mailing address is Old Town Teachers Organization, PO Box 25014, Chicago, IL 60625. Or, you can catch any one of us in the hall! Please note that we are still in the process of updating the names of some of the Committees’ Members.
OTTO
The Officers
Dona Benkert – Co-President – Renée Nanzer – Co-President – Will Fancher – Secretary – Julianne Rice, Acting Treasurer
The Standing and Ad Hoc Committees
The Steering Committee
The Steering Committee is comprised of the Officers and the Chairs of the various Committees. Its members meet semi-monthly to set the agenda of the organization and to conduct any other business that is within its authority.
Steering Committee Members
Dona Benkert – OTTO Co-President; Bill Brickey; Mars Caulton – Co-Chair BIPOC Committee; Jim DeWan – Chair Communications Committee; Will Fancher – OTTO Secretary, Co-Chair Onboarding Committee, Chair Defense Committee; Alicia Lees – Chief Steward; Lenny Marsh – Co-Chair BIPOC Committee; Shelley Miller – Professional Development Committee; Renée Nanzer -OTTO Co-President; Michael O’Toole – Webmaster, Eminence Grise; Julianne Rice – OTTO Acting Treasurer; Rick Veras – Co-chair Onboarding Committee
The Stewards Council
The Stewards Council facilitates two-way communication between the members and the Steering Committee, takes grievance information, and represents all members within their trust. Your Steward is your first call for anything union.
Stewards Council Members
Alicia Lees (Chief Steward), Alton Smith, Karen Banks-Lubicz, Alison Chesley, Rose Nadolsky, Will Fancher, Xadie James
The Stewards Council is actively looking for new members.
The Grievance Committee
The Grievance Committee works with the officers to resolve contractual and non-contractual disputes in the workplace. The Committee sometimes works with folks who have been trained to represent our Members at disciplinary meetings with Admin. Those folks are called Weingarten Representatives, named after Weingarten Rights. Learn more about Weingarten rights
Committee Members and Weingarten Reps
Dona Benkert – OTTO Co-President and Chair; Weingarten Reps include Karen Banks-Lubicz, Bill Brickey, Jim DeWan, Alicia Lees, Lenny Marsh, Elaine Moore, Renée Nanzer, Mary Peterson, Alton Smith, Jacob Sweet, and Chris Walz
The Defense Committee
The Defense Committee is responsible for monitoring internal and external events and developing appropriate responses to any threats against the organization. At times, they may work to develop appropriate responses to such action in cooperation with affiliated organizations.
Committee Members
Committee Chair: Will Fancher
The Professional Development Committee
The Professional Development Committee identifies the professional and work-related educational and training needs of the membership and develop programs and activities that meet said needs, taking into consideration the resources of the state and national affiliates; shall work to educate and provide guidance to the membership in matters related to labor organizing and management of the organization; shall work to develop future leaders of the organization.
Committee Members
Shelley Miller – Chair
The Pro Dev Committee is actively looking for new members.
The Finance and Budget Committee
The Finance and Budget Committee is responsible for the yearly budget and audit. The Treasurer serves as chairperson of the Finance/Budget Committee.
Committee Members
Julianne Rice – OTTO Acting Treasurer and Chair; Renée Nanzer – OTTO Co-President
The Outreach Committee
Committee Members
Rick Veras – Co-Chair; Will Fancher – Co-Chair; Mars Caulton; Michael O’Toole – OTTO Secretary; Renée Nanzer – OTTO Co-President; Alicia Lees
The Outreach Committee is actively looking for new members.
The Communications Committee
OTTO’s Communications Committee facilitates media relations and communication between the news media and the appropriate OTTO spokesperson(s). The Comms Committee also maintains OTTO’s website and Social Media presence.
Committee Members
Jim DeWan – Chair; Michael O’Toole – OTTO Secretary; Alvin McGovern
The BIPOC Committee
The BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) Committee supports and grounds the BIPOC communities of OTTO, OTSFM Admin and Staff, OTSFM Board of Directors, and OTSFM Students. The Committee produces a regular BIPOC Newsletter and Podcast (BIPOC Podcast). All are welcome.
Committee Co-Chairs
Mars Caulton; Lenny Marsh
The Election Committee
The Election Committee conducts all general and special elections, and referenda of the organization, including ratification of its constitution, future amendments, and future by-laws in accordance with the rules set by the National Labor Relations Board.
Committee Members
The Election Committee is convened as needed. Our next scheduled election for Officers will be in May of 2025.
The OTTO/OTS Admin Committees
The OTTO-OTS Management Committee
It is the joint intention of OTTO and OTS Administration to meet on a regular basis to promote a sound and mutually beneficial relationship. OTS Admin and OTTO SC shall each designate two members to meet. Either party may invite consultants or resource persons to attend the meeting to discuss specific agenda items with a minimum of one-weeks’ advance notice to the designee. There shall be at least one meeting per month. The parties may mutually agree to waive a monthly meeting. Additional meetings may also be called by mutual agreement. A mutually agreeable place and time will be established. An agenda for each meeting shall be agreed to at least one week prior to each Labor-Management meeting. Any Memorandum of Agreement made as a result of these meetings shall be reduced to writing and signed by the parties.
OTTO Committee Members
Dona Benkert – OTTO Co-President; Renée Nanzer – OTTO Co-President
OTS Admin
Troy Anderson – Executive Director and CEO
This committee is currently full.
The OTTO-OTS Program Manager Committee
OTTO may request a meeting with the program managers and the Senior Director of Education up to three times per year not to exceed one hour in length per meeting. An agreed upon agenda shall be issued no less than 1 day in advance. Up to 4 teachers designated by the OTTO shall be eligible to participate in these meetings. Meetings shall be scheduled at mutually agreed-upon times no less than 1-week in advance.
The Teacher Evaluation Committee
The joint Teacher Evaluation Committee consists of an equal number of members from OTS administration and OTTO with no more than eight (8) members. This committee is tasked with establishing an agreed-upon evaluation rubric and rating scale and with developing a short student feedback survey with agreed-upon components.
OTTO Committee Members
Oscar Jasso; Billy Oh; Mary Peterson
Collective Bargaining Unit Member
Marisa Cordeiro
OTS Admin
Troy Anderson, Executive Director and CEO; Eric Singh; Lisa DeRosia
This committee is currently full.
The Catalog Committee
The Catalog committee brings together Teachers and Admin to develop a catalog of class offerings that best serves the School and all of its communities.
OTTO Committee Members
Song Heisey; Julia Storke; Rick Veras; Tommi Zender
OTS Admin
Lisa DeRosia; Allison Grabarczyk, Krista Ortgiesen, Eric Singh
The Virtual Teaching Fund Committee
OTS Administration will establish a virtual teaching fund of $12,000 per year to which employees can apply for funding for equipment and necessities incurred in virtual teaching. A joint labor management committee shall be established to develop the guidelines for, and to administer, the fund.
OTTO Committee Members
Dona Benkert – OTTO Co-President; Elaine Moore; Renée Nanzer – OTTO Co-President; Mary Peterson
This committee is currently full.
The OTTO/Admin/BoD Committees
The OTTO-Admin Education/DEI Committee
- Supports OTS staff/faculty in setting, implementing, monitoring and improving strategic vision and direction of educational programs and DEI initiatives.
- Facilitates innovation, communication and information sharing between OTS staff/faculty and the full Board regarding educational programs
- Monitors financial impact of educational programs on the OTS budget
Time Commitment: 4 to 6 times per year
OTTO Committee Members
Mars Caulton; Leah Dahline; Dan Fulkerson
OTS Admin & Staff
Troy Anderson – Executive Director and CEO; Senior Director of Education (TBD); Lisa DeRosia; John Huber; Eric Singh
OTS Board Members
David Lentz; Betsy Solaro; Ernest Dawkins; Louise Frank; Rana Komar; Kim Moran; Bryan Proctor; Kate Tomford
Community Members
Marguerite Griffin; Cristina Mercader
This committee is currently full, however there may be an opportunity for interested teaching artists to participate on a rotating basis in the future.
The OTTO-BoD-Admin Infrastructure Committee
Supports OTS staff/faculty in setting, implementing, maintaining and improving the strategic vision and direction of information technology (IT), facilities improvements and investments (This needs more explanation, I’d suggest.)
Supports innovation within OTS’s technology function to help the school maintain a competitive advantage and reach the broadest audience
Facilitates communication sharing between OTS staff/faculty and the full Board regarding IT facilities projects, needs, decisions
Monitor the financial impact of IT and facilities maintenance, improvements, and decisions on the OTS budget
Time Commitment: 4 to 6 meetings per year
OTTO Committee Members
Elaine Moore; Harlan Terson
OTS Admin & Staff
TBD; Dawn Patch; Gail Prete; Gregg Tager
OTS Board Members
Kish Khemani – Chair; Sue Kessel;, Kate Tomford; Jeff Judge; Mary Berkoff; Rana Komar
This committee is currently full.