Garfield Heights Teachers Association

Stronger
Together

The Garfield Heights Teachers Association represents approximately 200 educators across the Garfield Heights City School District. We are committed to protecting the rights of our members, advancing the cause of public education, and building a stronger community for every student and teacher we serve.

📝 Submit a Concern
📄

Current Contract

Search and browse the active collective bargaining agreement by article, keyword, or topic.

🔍 Search Contract →
⚖️

File a Grievance

Report a potential grievance for review. Submissions are evaluated by the GHTA Grievance Committee before any formal action is taken.

Start Process →
💬

Contact Leadership

Send a message, ask a question, or raise a concern directly to union reps.

Send Message →
👥

Officer Directory

Find your union officers and contact them directly.

Browse Directory →
📊

Principal Evaluations

View the results of the 2025–2026 administrator evaluation survey submitted by GHTA members.

View Results →
01
Latest Updates Announcements & News
May
28

🎓 Graduation — May 28th at 7:00 PM · Public Hall, Downtown Cleveland

Commencement is Thursday, May 28th at 7:00 PM at Public Hall in Downtown Cleveland. All members are encouraged to attend and celebrate our students.

Reminder: Members who attend graduation in its entirety are entitled to take the last teacher workday off, provided all end-of-year obligations have been met and you have checked out with your building principal. This benefit applies only to those who stay for the full ceremony — not a partial attendance.

Graduation

🏆 Congratulations to Our 2026 Outstanding Educator Award Winners!

What a wonderful evening at the Oak Barrel Room! GHTA is proud to recognize this year's award recipients:

  • Rising Educator Award — Austin Stamatis
  • Outstanding Educator — Elementary — Nicole Shinshock
  • Outstanding Educator — Secondary — Tessa Emery

Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate these deserving educators. Check out photos from the evening in the Gallery!

Awards
May
03

New Contract Coming Soon

We are pleased to announce that a new contract agreement has been reached. The finalized document is currently being reviewed by the Board's legal team and will be posted here as soon as it is available. Thank you for your patience.

Contract
02
Agreements & Policies Contract & Document Library
  • 📄
    GHTA Negotiated Agreement 2022–2025
    Effective July 1, 2022 · Expired June 30, 2025 · PDF · 97 pages
    Expired 🔍 Search ⬇ Download
🎉 Agreement Reached! The GHTA and the Garfield Heights City Schools Board of Education have come to an agreement on a successor contract. The new agreement will be posted here soon. Check the Announcements section for updates.
  • 📝
    Executive Board / Representative Assembly Agenda — April 15, 2026
    April 15, 2026 · PDF
    Latest ⬇ Download
03
Workers' Rights Grievance Center

The Grievance Process

1

Level I — Informal

Discuss the issue with your principal or immediate supervisor. Must be initiated within 90 days of when you knew or should have known of the violation.

2

Level II — Formal

Submit the Grievance Form to your principal. Must be filed within 10 days of the Level I decision. Principal responds in writing within 5 days.

3

Level III — Superintendent

If unresolved, submit to the Superintendent or designee within 10 days. Written decision issued within 5 days of the meeting.

4

Level IV — Arbitration

The Association may request arbitration through the American Arbitration Association. Arbitrator's decision is final and binding.

🔍

Not sure if you have a grievance?

Start with the Grievance Screener

Answer a few questions about what happened — the tool will tell you which contract articles may apply and what to do next.

Do I Have a Grievance? →
⚖️

Ready to File a Grievance?

Click the button below to open the official GHTA Grievance Submission Form. Members are encouraged to report potential violations — however, please note that under our contract, it is the GHTA Grievance Committee's determination whether a grievance will be pursued or elevated. Submitting this form begins a conversation with your representative, not a formal grievance proceeding.

04
Reach Leadership Submit a Concern

Use this form to raise a workplace concern, ask a contract question, request guidance on a potential grievance, or contact your building representative directly. Your submission goes straight to the right person's inbox automatically.

Please note that under our contract, the GHTA Executive Committee and Grievance Committee determine how grievances are pursued. Submitting this form begins a conversation with your representative — it does not automatically initiate a formal grievance.

Opens in a new tab. Responses typically within 2–5 business days depending on urgency.

Direct Contacts

Scott Mingus
President
smingus@ghbulldogs.org
Jeffrey Cunningham
Vice President
jcunningham@ghteachers.org
Andrew Burke
Treasurer
aburke@ghbulldogs.org
📞 GHTA Contact
(234) 208-6180
Mon–Fri, 8 AM – 5 PM
05
Leadership Officer Directory
SM
Scott Mingus
President
smingus@ghbulldogs.org
JC
Jeffrey Cunningham
Vice President
jcunningham@ghteachers.org
AB
Andrew Burke
Treasurer
aburke@ghbulldogs.org
TM
Tammy Moeller
Corresponding Secretary
tdmoeller@ghbulldogs.org
SH
Susan Hart
Recording Secretary
sehart@ghbulldogs.org
CL
Christo Lehmann
Member at Large
cslehmann@ghbulldogs.org
KI
Kristen Iezzi
Member at Large
khagan.iezzi@ghbulldogs.org
BD
Brett Dawson
Member at Large
bdawson@ghbulldogs.org
NT
Nicole Thomas
Member at Large
nthomas@ghbulldogs.org

Building Representatives

Building Representatives
Elmwood Josh Bourdrez, Jen Molnar
William Foster Stacey Mather, Amanda Hirter, Shannon Bailor
Maple Leaf Rebecca Bauman, Megan Balduff, Emily Weisblatt
Middle School Mackenzie Hurd
High School Ben Swope, Caitlyn Rickus, Eric Malek, Tiffany Clendenning, Tyler Lucien
06
2025–2026 Survey Results Administrator Evaluations

The 2025–2026 administrator evaluation survey is now closed. A total of 187 evaluations were submitted by GHTA members across all buildings. Results are reported on a 100-point scale converted from 1–5 survey responses. Scores of 70 or above are considered Top Rated.

All respondent identities are anonymous. Results reflect staff perceptions and do not constitute an official district evaluation. Adrienne Clotman (William Foster) and Tasha Pettigrew (Central Office) are not included due to insufficient response data.

District-Wide Ranking
Survey conducted by GHTA · Scores on a 100-point scale · All respondents anonymous
07
Our Union Family Affiliate Organizations

GHTA is a proud affiliate of the following state and national education associations. As a GHTA member, you are also a member of these organizations and entitled to their resources, legal protections, and advocacy.

🏛️

NEA

The National Education Association is the nation's largest professional employee organization, representing nearly 3 million educators across the country. NEA membership provides legal protections, advocacy at the federal level, and member benefits.

Visit NEA →
🏫

OEA

The Ohio Education Association advocates for Ohio's public school students and the educators who serve them. OEA provides legal representation, labor relations support, and professional development resources to members statewide.

Visit OEA →
📍

NEOEA

The Northeastern Ohio Education Association serves nearly 29,000 educators across eleven counties in northeast Ohio. NEOEA offers leadership training, professional development workshops, and regional advocacy for its member locals.

Visit NEOEA →
08
Common Questions Frequently Asked Questions

Why do we wear red on Wednesdays?

Wearing red on Wednesdays is a tradition shared by union members and public education advocates across the country. It is a visible show of solidarity — a reminder that educators stand together in support of public schools, fair working conditions, and the rights of every member. When we wear red, we send a message to our community, our administration, and our legislators that GHTA members are united and engaged. It costs nothing and says everything.

When do we get paid?

Members are paid on the 10th and 25th of each month. If a pay date falls on a weekend or holiday, payment is typically issued on the last business day before that date. Contact the Treasurer's office if you have questions about a specific pay date.

How are union dues collected?

Currently, union dues are deducted directly from your paycheck each pay period. In the future, GHTA will be transitioning to an autopay option where dues are paid directly to OEA. Members will be notified in advance of any changes to how dues are collected. If you have questions about your current dues amount, contact Treasurer Andrew Burke at aburke@ghbulldogs.org.

Who do I contact if I have a contract question?

Your first point of contact for contract questions is your building representative. Building reps are elected by members in each building and are trained to advise you on your rights under the contract. If your building rep is unable to assist, they will escalate your concern to the appropriate officer. You can also reach out directly to any GHTA officer through the Officer Directory on this page.

What are my Weingarten Rights?

Weingarten Rights give you the right to have a union representative present during any investigatory meeting that could lead to disciplinary action. If you are called into a meeting and you believe it may result in discipline, you have the right to request your building representative or another union rep be present before answering questions. You must request representation — it is not automatically provided. Your employer is not required to inform you of this right, so it is important that you know it and assert it.

What should I do if I am called into a disciplinary meeting?

Do not go alone. Contact your building representative immediately and invoke your Weingarten Rights before the meeting begins. You are entitled to have a union representative present. Do not sign any documents or make any statements until you have spoken with your rep. The sooner you contact GHTA, the better positioned we are to support you.

How do I join GHTA?

New and prospective members can join GHTA by contacting our Treasurer, Andrew Burke, at aburke@ghbulldogs.org. Andrew will walk you through the enrollment process and answer any questions about membership and dues. We are glad to have you!

09
We Need You Get Involved — Become a Building Rep

Building Representatives are the backbone of GHTA. They are the direct link between members in each building and the union's leadership — and right now, we need more of them.

As a Building Rep, you attend Representative Assembly meetings, bring concerns from your colleagues to leadership, and keep your building informed about what's happening in the Association. You don't need to be an expert — you just need to care about your fellow educators and be willing to show up.

Building Reps are elected by members in their building at the start of each school year. If you're interested in stepping up for your colleagues, we'd love to hear from you.

✋ I'm Interested — Contact Jeff Cunningham

What Building Reps Do

  • ● Attend monthly Representative Assembly meetings
  • ● Bring concerns from your building to GHTA leadership
  • ● Report back to colleagues on union business and updates
  • ● Help members understand their rights and the contract
  • ● Refer members to the Grievance Committee when needed
  • ● Assist with elections, dues, and building-level coordination
  • ● Assist members in Weingarten situations as a union representative
  • ● Help shape GHTA policy by voting at Representative Assembly
📣

Your building needs a voice.

One rep is elected for every 10 members in your building. If your building doesn't have one, those members aren't being heard.

Member Resources

Member Tools

Practical tools to help you document, draft, and know your rights — available to every GHTA member.

📝

Witness Statement Tool

Been asked by administration to write a statement about something you witnessed? This tool guides you through what to include — and what to leave out — then builds a prompt you can paste into any AI tool to generate a clean, professional draft.

Open Tool →
⚖️

Weingarten Rights Card

Called into a meeting that could lead to discipline? Pull this up on your phone right now. It gives you the exact words to say, explains what administration can and cannot do, and tells you step by step what to do while you wait for your rep.

Open Card →
🔍

Do I Have a Grievance?

Not sure if what happened is a contract violation? Answer four quick questions about your situation and this tool will identify which articles from your contract may apply, whether time limits are a concern, and what to do next.

Open Screener →