Two women were recognized by the Lucas County commissioners this week for their contributions to public education, each a tireless advocate whose work extended beyond Toledo Public Schools to the state and national levels.
Francine Lawrence, retired teacher and labor activist, and Christine Varwig, longtime member of the Toledo Public Schools board and former Ohio School Boards Association president, were honored at the commissioners’ meeting Tuesday for Women’s History Month.
Ms. Lawrence was an educator for more than 40 years at Toledo Public Schools, working at 11 schools in the district. After 14 years as the president of the Toledo Federation of Teachers, Ms. Lawrence briefly retired before serving as the executive vice president of the American Federation of Teachers — the nation’s second-largest teachers union.
Mr. Gerken said that every superintendent and school board member at the opposite side of the bargaining table praised Ms. Lawrence for her fervor.
“You were an advocate for teachers, and sometimes it was adversarial with the administration. But I’ve never heard one superintendent not speak with affection and respect for the positions that you took — you held them accountable, and you held your own teachers accountable,” he said.
Commissioner Lisa Sobecki, who served on the TPS board from 2007 to 2015, said Ms. Lawrence’s activism on behalf of teachers “inspired many generations.”
“You knew that if she put on her red lipstick, she was going to give you her opinion, but her opinion on behalf of so many educators. So we buckled up. The part that I loved the most was she never shied away from that commitment — she never missed one word of that commitment, and she never missed a word when she was representing her colleagues and union members,” Ms. Sobecki said.
Kevin Dalton, president of the Toledo Federation of Teachers, said Ms. Lawrence represented him while he was a first-grade teacher and encouraged him to get involved in the union.
“When you talk about elevating the profession, it wasn’t just the profession she was elevating — it was the classrooms and the learning conditions of all the students in Toledo Public Schools that were elevated right along,” Mr. Dalton said.
The commissioners also pulled off “the best-kept secret on the eighth floor,” surprising Ms. Varwig, who is also Ms. Sobecki’s executive assistant, with a similar recognition during the meeting.
Ms. Varwig has served on the TPS school board since 2013 and began in the position after her involvement in the district as a parent. She served as the president of the district’s parent advocacy group and president of parent-teacher organizations at several schools while her daughter was a student.
Ms. Sobecki called Ms. Varwig a “fearless fighter” and said her involvement in district initiatives included the revitalization of the TPS Foundation; expansion of career technology, art, and athletics programs; and advocacy for early childhood education.
“[Christine] doesn’t take very many vacation days for herself. ... She turns all those around to do work for Toledo Public Schools each and every day,” Ms. Sobecki said.
Splitting her time as a school board member and executive assistant meant late nights and early mornings, but Mr. Gerken said she never missed a beat juggling her responsibilities.
“The dedication for her to transition from a school board leader to an employee of the county, with little sleep and nutrition, is remarkable. I always remember thinking that,” Mr. Gerken said.
Commissioner Anita Lopez echoed Mr. Gerken’s remarks, crediting Ms. Varwig for being a part of the growth of TPS on the national level.
“It’s because of that type of dedication that TPS is becoming a leader across the country and being recognized for what you’re doing,” Ms. Lopez said.
First Published March 19, 2025, 4:47 p.m.
