Meet Respected Retiree Pat Ryan - Education Minnesota

Pat Ryan taught Speech at West High School in Mankato and MSU and is a freelance writer. Pat is one of the ringleaders of the Education Minnesota Labor 2008 Program with support from AFT. He effectively recruits volunteers to participate in member-to-member phone-banks, labor walks, worksite leafleting, and other programs.

Last week, one of Pat’s former students, Jodie Forrey, showed up to phone-bank union members for the first time. (A natural, Jodie enjoyed conversing with her fellow union members on the upcoming political races.)

Pat enjoys interacting with his community on the phones and getting other members’ perspectives on the races. He informs fellow union-members about the union-endorsed candidates. As a Speech teacher, Pat is naturally good at engaging people in conversation and his sense of humor is an asset in heated political situations. He admits that most of all, he enjoys Labor Walks because he gets to be outside walking.

Pat is one of many dedicated Release Staffers for Education Minnesota. He successfully recruits and engages union members on working family issues this year. Pat taught with Tim Walz at West High School and supports Walz’s run in Congressional District 1. Pat also pulls for union-endorsed Franken and Obama.