In 1971, Estelle Stapp established WCRTA with a total of 32 retired teachers from Georgetown. The organization focuses on helping retired teachers in the community with maintaining an identity in area schools, WCRTA President Sue Duncan said.
WCRTA members spend time volunteering by babysitting, reading to children or delivering food to the elderly, Duncan said. The organization also has a book project to donate books to elementary-aged children who do not have any at home. In 2019, WCRTA reported donating a total of 504 books.
“Last year we would go into the school, spend time with [the kids] and read to them,” Duncan said. “It is really cool because some of these kids never had their own book; they just see books at school. So, we give them to the individual student.”
The organization also awards two to three $1,000 scholarships to graduating seniors who are planning to major in education, Duncan said. The scholarship is funded 100% with fundraisers.
To help retired teachers in the area, WCRTA helps answer any questions a member may have, Duncan said. The organization also helps advocate for better health care and better pension benefits for retired teachers in collaboration with the Texas Retired Teacher Association.
“Not only are we taking care of retired teachers with their paychecks and health coverage, but we also take care of those that will be coming into the retirement field,” Duncan said.
In the future, WCRTA leaders hope to increase their membership and community support, Duncan said.
“I would like the whole community to know and support retired teachers,” Duncan said. “[Retired teachers] are very active, very supportive of one another and we really give back to the community.”
Learn more about the nonprofit at www.wcrta.org.
