Francis J. Flynn

Francis J. “Frank” Flynn was elected as an AFT vice president at the union’s executive council meeting July 9, 2011. Flynn had been the president of the Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals since November 2010. Prior to that, he served as president of the Cranston (R.I.) Teachers’ Alliance, Local 1704, for eight years.

 

Flynn began his career in 1977 as a special education teacher. His 34-year career included working at the elementary, middle and high school levels. He was involved in developing and implementing several highly effective inclusion models to better serve the special needs student population in Cranston.

 

His union involvement began in 1977 when he was first elected as building delegate, and over the next three decades he served in numerous capacities, including negotiations chair, grievance chair, vice president and president. During his tenure, he was instrumental in negotiating such education reforms as a professional development institute, a new teacher mentor program, and a teacher evaluation model. 

 

Flynn previously served on the AFT Teachers program and policy council. He currently chairs the AFT Legal Defense Fund, and serves on the AFT Constitutional Amendments and Convention Committee as well as other committees in the leadership of AFT. 

 

Additionally, Flynn serves on numerous educational, labor, and civic boards and committees. He sits on the executive committee of the Rhode Island  AFL-CIO, Working Rhode Island, and the Providence Central Labor Committee. He chairs the state’s Certification Policy Advisory Board and is a board member of the Occupational and Environmental Health Center of Rhode Island.

 

Flynn holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary and special education (1977) and a master’s degree in special education (1983), both from Rhode Island College.