Sacramento, CA — CFT – A Union of Educators and Classified Professionals is proud to announce our endorsement of Sharon Hendricks in her 2023 re-election campaign for the CalSTRS Teachers’ Retirement Board, where she serves as one of three elected members and represents community college instructors in her position. Hendricks was first elected in 2011 and is seeking her fourth term on the board. She is a communications studies faculty member at Los Angeles City College, and an officer in her union, AFT Local 1521. 

CFT President Jeff Freitas said of Hendricks, “Sharon has repeatedly proven herself to be an extremely capable and committed board member. She has worked tirelessly to protect the retirement security of CalSTRS members and has worked to ensure that their deferred income is available after they retire from public service. She has also helped establish both a short- and long-term vision for ethical investments of the pension’s funds. CFT is proud to count her among our members and we enthusiastically endorse her re-election.”

During her tenure on the board she has served as board chair, chair of the investment committee and currently serves as vice-chair of the board.  Hendricks has advocated for transparency in fees, sustainable investment strategies that mitigate risks associated with climate change, worker/labor rights, improved education on retirement issues for part-time community college faculty, and has helped guide the board to develop investment beliefs.

In addition to her service on the CalSTRS board and in her local union, Hendricks serves as a board member of Principles for Responsible Investment (UNPRI), a global organization committed to incorporating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors in investment decisions. She also serves on the working group for the Trustee Leadership Forum, part of the Initiative for Responsible Investment at Harvard Kennedy School, chairs the American Federation of Teachers’ Trustee Council, and partners in convening the California Trustee Network.

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CFT — A Union of Educators and Classified Professionals represents 120,000 teachers, faculty, and school employees in public and private schools and colleges, from early childhood through higher education. It is the statewide affiliate of the AFT, AFL-CIO.