{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"1595 Andrew Spar on Florida Education Attacks + News & Clips","description":"My Conversation with Andrew begins at 27 mins Subscribe and Watch Interviews LIVE : On YOUTUBE.com\/StandUpWithPete ON SubstackStandUpWithPete Stand Up is a daily podcast. I book,host,edit, post and promote new episodes with brilliant guests every day. This show is Ad free and fully supported by listeners like you! Please subscribe now for as little as 5$ and gain access to a community of over 750 awesome, curious, kind, funny, brilliant, generous soulsv Andrew Spar is president of the Florida Education Association, the state\u2019s largest association of professional employees. Spar was born and raised in the suburbs of New York City, attending public schools. A violinist since age 6, he earned his bachelor\u2019s degree in music education from Ohio State University, graduating in 1994. That same year, he went to Daytona Beach to teach at Turie T. Small Elementary School, where more than 90 percent of the students lived in poverty. The music teacher soon found his voice as an advocate and has worked ever since on behalf of public school students, schools, teachers and education staff professionals. \u201cI could not read when I was in first grade,\u201d Spar recalls. \u201cI struggled in school. But the educators in my life were empowered to make my success a priority, and that\u2019s just what they did. I want the same world for my family and for all of Florida\u2019s children.\u201d At Turie T. Small, Spar served as school-improvement chair for two years and as a union steward for seven years. He would go on to become president of his local union in May 2003 and led Volusia United Educators until he was elected FEA vice president in 2018. In September 2020, he was named FEA president after the previous president, Fedrick C. Ingram, was elected secretary-treasurer of the American Federation of Teachers. During his 15 years leading the Volusia union, Spar negotiated 14 contracts, handled numerous grievances and arbitrations, and spent many long hours advocating for members and working families. In 2017, he led the merger of the Volusia Teachers Organization and the Volusia Educational Support Association to create Volusia United Educators. The new union has nearly 3,800 members and represents more than 6,000 teachers, paraprofessionals and office specialists in Volusia County Schools. Throughout his career, Spar has served on committees and task forces for the AFT. At FEA, he spent eight years on the executive cabinet. He also has served on the executive board of the Florida AFL-CIO and was secretary-treasurer of the organization from January 2016 until September 2020. Spar\u2019s wife, Vernell, is also a public school music teacher. The Spars have two daughters; both girls attend public schools. On YOUTUBE.com\/StandUpWithPete ON SubstackStandUpWithPete Listen rate and review on Apple Podcasts Listen rate and review on Spotify Pete On Instagram Pete on Blue Sky Pete on Threads Pete on Tik Tok Pete on Twitter Pete Personal FB page Stand Up with Pete FB page Gift a Subscription https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/PeteDominick\/gift Send Pete $ Directly on Venmo All things Jon Carroll  Buy Ava's Art  Subscribe to Piano Tuner Paul Paul Wesley on Substack Listen to Barry and Abigail Hummel Podcast Listen to Matty C Podcast and Substack Follow and Support Pete Coe Hire DJ Monzyk to build your website or help you with Marketing ","author_name":"Stand Up! with Pete Dominick","author_url":"http:\/\/standupwithpete.libsyn.com\/website","html":"