LESLIE DANAGE

A few blocks south of downtown Peoria, 47-year-old Leslie Danage recounts how she came from the small, rural community of McLeansboro in southern Illinois to Peoria to teach in Peoria Public Schools, having gotten to know the city from her Southern Illinois University at Carbondale roommates, who brought her here for visits several times.

Eventually, they interviewed with District 150, and Dr. Jerome Greer, 150’s Director of Human Resources, hired Danage to teach special education. That was 2001. Now, Danage teaches second grade at Hines School and leads Local 780 of the Peoria Federation of Teachers, an AFL-CIO union representing about 1,000 workers.

A former Building Representative and Woodruff Area Vice President, Danage was installed to her position in May. Meeting at the union headquarters as people were preparing a holiday get-together, Danage took a moment to respond to The Community Word’s “Five Questions.”

1. Do you have a hero, like a labor leader or teacher?

My grandmother, a lifelong educator who taught in the same town, at different levels, until she retired. My interest in teaching came from her, and she stayed active as a retired teacher.

2. What’s a big issue in U.S. education, especially one affecting schools in metro Peoria?

Accountability — especially in families. Kids are “raised” by devices. Parenting has evolved; the educational system has not.

3. What’s the best advice you were ever given?

Don’t take things personal. Whatever people say, it’s a reflection of what’s going on inside them.

4. Coming into your union position, did any unexpected challenge come to mind?

It’s a challenge to turn my advocacy brain off. We [as a union] don’t want to get political in a partisan way, but some of what’s going on is seeing “the bat signal.” It’s time to build power.

5. If you were about to be stranded somewhere and could only bring one album or movie (and could play them!), what would you bring?

Maybe Bob Marley, setting the vibe. No! No! I’d bring “Waiting to Exhale,” which is a great movie with an awesome soundtrack.