November 13, 2025
On behalf of the TAAAC Board of Directors, I am excited to share that Alyssa Picard has been selected as the next Executive Director of the Teachers Association of Anne Arundel County (TAAAC)! Alyssa brings decades of experience in union leadership, advocacy, and strategic program development, and she is deeply committed to advancing the rights and voices of educators.
Alyssa began her career as a teaching assistant and union member at the University of Michigan, where she earned her Ph.D. in U.S. history. From the start, she championed equity and inclusion, negotiating contracts that set national precedents for paid childcare and immigration leave. Her passion for democratic unionism has guided her work ever since.
For nearly ten years, Alyssa worked with AFT Michigan, negotiating more than 50 contracts and training union leaders across K–12, higher education, and municipal sectors. She championed groundbreaking initiatives such as the first union-negotiated transgender-inclusive health benefits in the country and expanded supports for educators with disabilities. Her ability to lead through complex challenges and build strong member engagement is widely recognized.
At the national level, Alyssa directed AFT’s higher education division, managing a multimillion-dollar budget and supporting 300 higher education locals. She launched AFT’s Student Debt Clinic program, which helped members secure more than $45 million in student loan debt cancellation. Most recently, Alyssa served at the U.S. Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid Office, supervising caseworkers and helping borrowers access programs that cancel student loan debt.
“I am honored to join TAAAC and work alongside such dedicated educators,” Alyssa said. “Together, we will continue to strengthen our union, advocate for our members, and ensure that every student in Anne Arundel County has the opportunity to succeed.”
Please join us in welcoming Alyssa to TAAAC!
In solidarity,
Kristina Korona
TAAAC President
