Toni Clover, Labor Relations Administrator
 

Toni Clover has been with the Detroit Federation of Teachers (DFT) since October 2003.  Although fairly new, she has juggled several special assignments in addition to fulfilling her main duties as a Labor Relations Administrator.
 

Before coming to the DFT Toni taught first grade and special education students for more than 20 years.  Her decision to become a teacher and ultimately a special education instructor was influenced by the fact that she  has an older sibling who is mildly retarded.  Her desire to become
a Labor Relations Specialist grew out of a need to support teachers. 
 

Toni is a resident of Belleville and earned her bachelor’s degree at Michigan State University. 
She is pursuing her master’s degree in Educational Leadership Specialization at Walden University.
 

Her words of encouragement for DFT members are: “Teach one, reach one.  You never know
how far your influence will reach.”

Patrick Falcusan , Financial Analyst
 

Patrick Falcusan has been the Detroit Federation of Teachers’ Financial Analyst since 1994.  Before coming to the DFT, Patrick taught visually impaired students in Detroit for 25 years. 
He says the work year is what initially attracted him to the teaching profession but over the years working with students and helping them set and reach goals became the job’s biggest payoff.
 

Patrick’s most rewarding accomplishment since coming to the DFT has been convincing almost 3,000 teachers to enhance their pensions by buying extra years of service time, resulting in an estimated $600 million in additional retirement income.
 

Patrick is a resident of Farmington Hills.  He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees

at Wayne State University and the University of Detroit and like several of his colleagues at

the DFT, he comes from a family with a long history of union involvement.
 

Patrick’s advice to DFT members is: “Whatever the problem, no matter how long it takes,
we will work with you to resolve it.”

Terrence Martin, Labor Relations Administrator
 

Terrence Martin is a Labor Relations Administrator and has been with the DFT since
November 2003.  Before coming to the DFT Terrence taught 2^nd and 5^th grade at
Lynch Elementary School for six years.
 

As the DFT’s medical appeals specialist, Terrence is responsible for determining – through mediation with a neutral physician – when a teacher on medical leave is able to return to work. 
 He feels that being able to exert influence through the mediation appeals process has been
one of his biggest accomplishments since coming to the DFT.
 

Terrence’s decision to become a teacher came out of a desire to be a positive influence on
young Detroiters.  He believes that no matter what your environmental circumstances are,
everyone is capable of setting and achieving goals.  He wanted to become a Labor Relations Administrator because he knew it would put him in a better position to carry out the wishes of
DFT members.
 

Terrence lives in Detroit and earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education at
St. Francis College of Pennsylvania outside Pittsburgh.
 

“If I could offer advice to any of our members I would tell them to hold the profession of teaching
in the highest esteem,” said Terrence.  “A lot of people think they can teach but teaching is a
 gift and not everybody can do it.  Teachers need to be aware of that and exude pride in that
fact, all the time.”

Mershira Oliver, Labor Relations Administrator
Mershira Oliver has been a Labor Relations Administrator for the Detroit Federation
of Teachers since the start of the 2000-2001 school year.  Before coming to the DFT
 Mershira was a teacher at Winship Middle School where she was active as a
cheerleading coach, served on the School Union Committee and worked on
the school improvement team.
 

Mershira attended Alabama A&M University, where she received a bachelor’s degree
in special education learning disabilities.  After returning home to teach, she went on
to earn her master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Detroit-Mercy.
 

Since coming to the DFT Mershira has completed several labor studies courses at
Wayne State University.  She has also attended the George Meany Center for Labor Studies
at the National Labor College in Maryland.
 

Mershira is a resident of Detroit and is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. 
 She is also a member of the Order of Eastern Stars, the Sigma Tau Epsilon
Professional Fraternity, and was named in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers,
 (Fifth Ed., 1998).
 

Mershira encourages DFT members to: “Keep good documentation including transcripts,
pay stubs, certification and any correspondence between you and the district.  Above all,
stay focused and know that the DFT is here for you when you need us.”

Before coming to the DFT, Prestine was an Early Childhood Specialist for Detroit Public
Schools.  While working as a teacher Prestine became active in the DFT as a
 building representative for Wilkins Elementary and Greenfield Union Elementary.  She
has also served as a vice president and chair of the Civil Rights Committee for
the Michigan Federation of Teachers & School-Related Personnel.
 

Prestine recognizes that achieving accomplishments in her role as DFT’s Political Director
 will be a work in progress.  She is active on several committees, including the Michigan
 Labor History Society Program Committee, which is responsible for the Labor Legacy
Landmark in downtown Detroit, and she has raised more than $100,000 for COPE, which
 is the political action arm of the DFT.
 

Prestine earned her bachelor’s degree at Temple University in Philadelphia.  She
earned her master’s in education at Wayne State University and  is a resident of Detroit. 
 She decided to become a teacher at a very early age because of a relationship she had
 with her kindergarten teacher, whom she says was one of the most inspirational people
 she has ever known.
 

Prestine’s words of encouragement to DFT members are: “One person can make a
difference.  You are the ‘U’ in Union.”