True leaving CCCTA position

True [Order this photo]

But when negotiations take place later this month, True won't be there as he recently stepped down from the position of CCCTA President and chief spokesman for bargaining.

True said in the past 20 years, LeRoy Sedgwick and Harlean Pliskin also occupied the position.

"The three of us have done it the majority of the time probably for the last 20 years," True said. "There have been other people who have served a year or two here and there, but the three of us have done the bargaining and presidency for the bulk of those years."

True said stepping down from the position at this time was the right thing to do.

"Everyone, once in a while, needs to step back and take a breath," True said. "I felt like the time was good for right now."

He said he wanted to spend more time with his three grandchildren in addition to having the opportunity to see his youngest daughter, Allie True, run cross country for St. Mary-of-the-Woods College.

"I hope to spend a little more time with my family for a couple of years," he said.

Still, he said he plans to help out if needed.

"I don't plan on riding off into the sunset or anything permanent," he said. "I'll still hang around and help out when needed."

True said the new president of the CCCTA is Staunton Elementary teacher Mavery Quinn and the organization's Uniserv Director, Ruth Henderson, will be the spokesperson at the bargaining table.

True has taught in the county school system since the 1983-84 academic year. Prior to teaching here, he spent two years teaching in the North Montgomery School Corporation.

A native of Staunton, True spent one year teaching at Van Buren before moving on to North Clay Middle School.

He currently teaches seventh-grade math, but has also taught the computer literacy course at the school.

True said he believes the CCCTA is in good hands.

"We have got a really good, solid bunch of young teacher leaders," True said. "There is a nice core of those teachers. Some of them I have known since they hired in and some of them I had as students and watched them grow up.

"They were ready for this next stage of growth in their career."

True said he'll miss the extra hours at the bargaining table to some extent.

"There's lots of stuff I'll miss," he said. "I'll miss interacting with the people and the administration. The time commitment I won't miss."

True and his wife, Leeanne, reside in Clay County.

The teacher's association and school corporation are expected to begin negotiations on a new contract sometime soon, True said. He said he believed negotiations will run more smooth this year as opposed to two years ago.

"Neither side liked that," he said. "I don't think it will be a long, drawn out situation. That was kind of an odd circumstance. I don't see that happening."