Ever wondered what happens to teachers when they retire? Well, here's a starting point -- the Retired Teachers Association of Chicago. Now if they could only help me find Mrs. Giannigorakis, my 3rd grade teacher.
I'm a freelance education writer with too much time on my hands.
It's quite possible to track many people, both through Google and using the growing amount of data the CPS has to make available (sometimes, relunctantly) under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
Using the Position File, you can find out whether the person is still working for CPS. She is not currently with CPS.
Following that, you can check with CTPF, which has a current list of all people drawing teacher pensions and the amount. No one named "Giannigorakis" is currently drawing a pension under that name. She might have married and be under a different name.
When I taught journalism at both Amundsen and Bowen one of my first lessons was to bring a bunch of phone books to class. Back when Harold Washington was mayor, it surprised the kids that you could look him up in the phone book and he might even answer at his home in Hyde Park. So that's always a good place to try, too.
Posted by: George Schmidt | February 03, 2007 at 12:00 PM