Joan Lee Husted, who helped build the Hawai'i State Teachers Association and has been an active union leader in the state for 35 years, will retire Dec. 31, 2007.

Over her career, Husted has fought to allow teachers to use sick leave for maternity, designed a rapid dismissal process to remove poorly performing teachers from the classroom, bargained for a clearly defined workday to be capped at seven hours and worked with others to establish a student code of conduct.

The retirement was announced more than a year in advance to enable the union and its parent organization, the National Education Association, to launch a national search for Husted's successor as executive director.

Husted, who will be 70 when she retires, is stepping down to care for a brother suffering from Alzheimer's.

Husted has been credited with promoting many reforms for the union's 12,000-plus public school teachers.

Schools superintendent Pat Hamamoto said she has the "ultimate respect" for Husted, even though they have been on opposite sides of issues at times.

"I can't think of an individual who has done as much for Hawai'i's public school teachers as Joan Husted," Hamamoto said in a statement.

She said Husted has an "unfailing devotion" to teachers and a willingness "to fight hard for what she believes is right."

Husted was instrumental in establishing HSTA in 1971. After its formation, she served as director of programs and later as deputy executive director. She also has served as chief negotiator for the union since 1972.