Awards

There have been a few inquisitive members who were interested in knowing who Bill Simpson was and why does P.E.A. give an award in his name to its members.

This is a very good question being that there are many new P.E.A. members and many young staff members not aware of the history behind this award.

Bill Simpson was a dynamic middle school math teacher. He worked at Goodman when that school was where the current Harbor Ridge is now. This was in the late
60’s and early 70’s when teachers across the state were fighting for their collective bargaining rights.

Across the state, associations were just being formed with the exclusive purpose to represent teachers. In the early 60’s the WEA represented superintendents, principals, and teachers. A sense of unionism was being born and these entities formed separate associations.

Bill Simpson was instrumental in the development of the Peninsula Education Association we have today. He served the association as a president, a treasurer, and a bargainer, fighting for class size and working condition language, increased pay and benefits. He inspired others to join the association and to serve it as a way to build professional unity and collective power.

Unfortunately, he died suddenly in the early 70’s and the members at that time created the William (Bill) F. Simpson Award for outstanding service to the Peninsula Education Association. This award has been given to deserving members since 1972.