After 35 Years of Service, Her Future Is in Jeopardy—The Shocking Reason Why

For 35 years, Lorraine Redbird, a Cherokee Nation teacher and respected elder from rural Oklahoma, poured her heart into teaching. She helped students learn to read, write, and embrace their cultural heritage. Her classroom was a place of growth, where young minds connected with their Cherokee roots and built brighter futures. Yet, after decades of selfless service, Lorraine faces a heartbreaking challenge: her retirement is at risk.

This isn’t just one woman’s story—it’s about respect, fairness, and honoring those who shape our communities. Lorraine’s dedication strengthened the Cherokee Nation and beyond, nurturing generations with knowledge and pride. Now, her uncertain future serves as a wake-up call. We must stand for justice, ensuring that elders like Lorraine, who built our nation with love and hard work, are cared for. Her legacy deserves protection, and her story reminds us to fight for those who give so much.

After 35 Years of Service, Her Future Is in Jeopardy

After 35 years of dedicated service as an educator, Lorraine Redbird, an Indigenous woman, should enjoy a secure retirement. Instead, she faces fear and instability, a problem shared by many public workers across America. This crisis hits hardest for women and Indigenous educators, who often work in underfunded systems.

Underfunded pensions, frozen cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs), and rural school closures threaten the stability of entire communities. These workers, who spent their lives teaching and serving, deserve reliable support in their later years. The system’s failures leave them vulnerable, struggling to afford basic needs like housing and healthcare.

But here’s the good news: with awareness, political will, and smart partnerships, there’s a path forward. We can honor our elders’ service—whether in classrooms, hospitals, or community centers—by ensuring they retire with dignity.

Lorraine’s Story: A Life of Service & Culture

Lorraine Redbird isn’t your average teacher. She infused her lessons with tribal language, storytelling, and survival skills, helping Cherokee students re-connect with their roots. Her classroom wasn’t just about English or math—it was a cultural safe space for students facing racism, poverty, and loss.

“Our stories matter,” Lorraine says. “If my grandkids learn who they are, they can stand taller.”

She’s a mentor, a mother figure, a community powerhouse. But after 35 years, her salary has plateaued, and her retirement benefits are suddenly frozen—leaving her future hanging by a thread.

Why Her Retirement Is At Risk

Here’s what’s happening:

Pension Freeze & COLA Stop

Oklahoma’s Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS) is 68% funded, which triggered a state-imposed freeze on cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs)—affecting 90,000 retired and active teachers. Without COLAs, they lose about $700/year to inflation on average.

“It’s not just numbers—it’s my groceries, meds, and the hotel when I visit grandkids,” Lorraine shared.

School Closure & Mergers

Declining enrollment and budget shortfalls have pushed officials to merge districts, with Lorraine’s school slated for closure. Teachers are being offered delayed contracts, fewer benefits, or forced retirements under pressure.

Bigger Picture: Teachers in the Hot Seat

• Over 330,000 teachers in the U.S. risk delayed retirement benefits.
• 15 states, including Illinois, Kentucky, Oklahoma, and New Jersey, have public pension funding dips below 70%—a red flag.
• Female teachers (67% of the workforce) and educators of color are most impacted by benefit reductions and rising healthcare costs.
• Rural school closures affect 1 in 4 U.S. schools, threatening community hubs and local economies.

Unique Pressure on Indigenous Educators

Kids in rural and tribal areas depend on educators like Lorraine. When pensions crumble:

• Elder students lose mentors
• Family caregivers get squeezed
• Cultural transmission trails off

Lorraine’s daughter, a fellow educator, explained:

“Our family goes way back in this district. It’s more than a job—it’s our ecosystem.”

What’s Been Promising So Far

1. Legal Advocacy

Teacher unions in Arizona successfully challenged a COLA freeze—restoring ~$500 yearly to retirees.

2. Tribal-State Coalitions

Alaska Natives partnered with state leaders to supplement pensions with elder grants, covering medical copays and groceries in exchange for community service.

3. Creative Retirement Models

Some states now allow early retirees to phase into retirement, working part-time to maintain benefits.

Your Action Plan: Secure a Safer Future

Whether you’re a teacher, admin, policymaker, or parent—here’s a smart, step-by-step guide:

• Audit Your Pension
  • Log into Oklahoma TRS or your state portal
  • Review your vested status, contribution history, and benefit projections
  • Get clarity on how COLA changes impact future benefits
• Understand Your District’s Finances:
  • Research local Title I, state aid, and bond measures
  • Identify if consolidation has passed, and what that means for staffing and healthcare
• Advocate Politically:
  • Reach out to state reps—ask them to support COLA restoration and pension stabilization
  • Use templates from NEA or NIEA to craft letters and petitions
• Collaborate with Tribes:
  • Push for tribal elder stipends or housing initiatives
  • Encourage tribe-state partnerships in pension oversight boards
• Plan for Transition:
  • Consult a certified financial planner with expertise in public pensions
  • Explore early retirement options, healthcare bridges, and supplemental income
  • Consider community roles—mentor, tutor, cultural advisor—for phased retirement

Related Links

Fear Is Rising: 59% Believe Social Security Will Collapse; Here’s the Retirement Backup Plan You Need

Florida TCA Payment Schedule for June Announced– Are You on the List?

TANF in June 2025: Exact Payment Dates and What to Do If Yours Is Delayed

Voices of Support: Experts Weigh In

Dr. Marisol Thompson, pension analyst at Pew Trusts, warns:

“Cola freezes aren’t budget cuts—they’re benefit cuts in disguise. It means empty pockets in old age.”

Sharon Yazzie, tribal social-services director, adds:

“Educators in tribal areas do more than teach math—they save futures. We must protect them.”

Rebecca Sanders, retired teacher in Kansas, shares her experience:

“We battled the COLA freeze for two years. Pressing the legislature helped—now each retiree gets $600 annual bump.”

FAQs

Q1: What’s a COLA, and why does it matter?
COLA (Cost-of-Living Adjustment) is a yearly raise tied to inflation. Without it, retirement checks get eaten by rising prices.

Q2: What does “68% funded” mean?
It means the pension fund has only saved 68 cents for every $1 it owes—leaving a $XX billion shortfall.
Source: Pew Trusts (2023).

Q3: Can Lorraine challenge the freeze legally?
It’s tough but possible—some states saw success via right-to-contract clauses or constitutional protection for vested benefits.

Q4: What actions can tribes take?
Tribes can offer elder supplements or serve on pension boards. They can also preserve skills by enrolling elders as cultural mentors.

Q5: How can teachers protect themselves now?
Steps like pension audits, financial planning, early retirement options, and advocacy are vital. Group strength (through unions or coalitions) helps big time.