Having His Say

Tim Dunn

From politics to poetry, this retired educator’s passions run deep

James “Tim” Dunn’s career has been a true embodiment of public service. After 25 years in the Army and 33 years as a teacher, Dunn served six years in the New Hampshire House of Representatives.

He’s also a Renaissance man who runs an antique letterpress print shop and writes poetry.

Dunn’s work has been recognized by the Poetry Society of New Hampshire, and he was the 1990 New England Poet of the Year.

During his years in the legislature, Dunn drew on his experience as a teacher and NEA local leader to become a strong and successful advocate for public education.

After I retired from teaching in 2002, I saw an opportunity to make a difference in New Hampshire by running for public office. New Hampshire taxes only interest and dividend income. As a recent retiree living on a fixed income, I saw 10 percent of my income going to pay off taxes.

I never managed to change New Hampshire’s tax policy, but I found myself naturally drawn to education issues.

I knew school employees didn’t have much decision-making power, and I wanted to bring some balance to the process by using my voice in the legislature on their behalf.

I’m proud to say that during my three terms, I was part of some important victories for teachers, students, and schools.

As vice chair of the education committee, I sponsored a bill that gave teachers the right to arbitration in cases of dismissal. I also helped pass an initiative that keeps kids in school until age 18—instead of allowing them to drop out at 16.

To make that work, we had to offer new kinds of support to students, such as tutoring and alternative curricula that offer credit for community work and professional apprenticeships.

In addition, I chaired a subcommittee that wrote new laws to tighten oversight of special education programs. We also defined, for the first time in state history, what constitutes an “adequate education.” And we may have been the last state to do it, but we finally made completion of kindergarten mandatory.

Teaching was always the most rewarding part of my career. I loved watching young people become more aware of who they were—and I grew through it, too.

I spent almost all my teaching years at Keene High School in Keene, New Hampshire, where I wrote the humanities program that was recognized with a Center of Excellence Award from NEA in the early 1980s. During my last seven years as a teacher I served as president of my local NEA chapter.

Most school employees aren’t finished when they retire. I felt fortunate to continue working for education through elected office, and I’d like to see more retirees do the same. If you’ve been a school employee and understand people, you’re ready for elected office. We have expertise, and we have a vested interest that’s not a selfish one.

It’s an interest in our children and the quality of our society in the future. Democracy is a shared responsibility, and teachers and other school employees who devote some years to elected office contribute greatly to the democratic process.