Professional Documents
Culture Documents
on educators
focus on educators is an award winning publication of the Pittsburg Education Association/CTA/NEA www.peateachers.org
students who we educate. There are several key focus areas. The first is around Quality Public Education and Our Profession. CTA has an ambitious goal of changing the education reform narrative so we advocate for educational reform policies that we know work (i.e., lower class sizes, targeted professional development, quality Volume XXII, Number 8 leadership, etc.). Luckily, we dont have a lot of privateers looking to In this Issue draw funds from our public schools in - Day of the Teacher Information Pittsburg to for-profit charters or independent schools, like they do in - W.H.O. Award Winner areas like Oakland and L.A. Even so, - Bargaining Update its important we stay united in our - CTA/NEA News advocacy for quality public schools for all of our children. Additionally, Presidents Message we must ensure that we increase the capacity of educators in our local so Dear Colleagues, that we have a stronger voice in I think its safe to say, We are all implementing the best teaching ready for Spring Break! methodologies, curriculum and evaluation systems. Ive been visiting teachers at various sites and nearly everyone is ready for Another focus area is around Building a little R & R. Before you leave for a Strong Union. Many members only your much deserved break, Id like to call on our association when they need leave you with something to think assistance. CTA & PEA want to shift about. from a service union to a
APRIL 2014
rather than only during bargaining or during a crisis. PEA leaders will listen to you and get your input so we can act in a way that supports your goals and your issues. We believe we have common values that should keep us connected. Are you willing to be more active and involved? Will you help transform our profession and our schools? Last weekend I had the pleasure of attending the Region I Organizing Academy with several PEA leaders in order to develop a plan for involving our members more effectively. We analyzed the CTA Strategic Plan and developed ideas that we think will make our local stronger by engaging more of our members more often. If youre thinking I just dont have time for one more thing, at least stay informed, provide feedback when requested, and remember we as professional educators are the voice for ours students and schools. If we dont stand up for our public schools, who will? Have a wonderful spring break!
Our state association, CTA, has been working diligently on a Strategic Plan that addresses goals that are important to our members and to the
In unity, professional union. We want to build an organizing culture where Dawn Cova our members are engaged and involved in an on-going manner,
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UPCOMING 2013-2014 CTA CONFERENCES/EVENTS ALCOSTA Lobby Day April 22, 2014 Sacramento WHO Awards Luncheon April 26, 2014 11:30 a.m. 1:30 p.m. Scotts Restaurant Jack London Square, Oakland
Teachers need to feel they are trusted. They must be allowed some leeway to use their imagination; otherwise, teaching loses all sense of wonder and excitement. -Alan Bennett
Focus on Educators is a publication of the Pittsburg Education Association CTA/NEA 159 East 4th Street Pittsburg, CA 94565 Phone: (925) 432-0199 fax: (925) 432-4854 email: info@peateachers.org website: www.peateachers.org
NEWS .
CTA Region I Organizing Academy
A group of association leaders spent the weekend at the San Jose Marriott April 4-6 working on an organizing plan that would move our association from a service-centered union toward an active, social-justice union. We want our members to be involved in solving problems related to issues in our profession on an on-going basis. The only way we can strengthen our profession is to be active participants in policy-making and problem solving.
Pictured (L to R): Mark Maselli (Hillview JHS), Tammy Carr (Highlands), Danielle Jensen (Marina Vista), CTA President Dean Vogel, PEA President Dawn Cova (Rancho Medanos JHS), Shelly Bascomb (Rancho Medanos JHS)
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Professional Development
If youve never had a chance to hear Dr. Marcia Tate discuss brain-compatible instruction, CTA has made her presentation from Summer Institute available on-line. She has wonderful ideas for engaging students and highlights many strategies from her book Worksheets Dont Grow Dendrites. The video is available under the Common Core Learning Labs at cta.org.
CTA and EdVoice are supporting new legislation by Assembly Education Chair Joan Buchanan (D-Alamo) that is designed to ensure student safety while protecting the due-process rights of educators.
Raise Your Hand for Learning Over Testing! April 2 was a Day of Action, but its not too late to participate!
Beginning April 2, educators, parents and community leaders across the country are raising their hands for students and great public schools. Some will participate in live events across the country while others will participate online. How to participate: Using the hashtag #RYH4Ed, take at least one of the actions below, post about it on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, everywhere and ask your networks to support public education by taking the same action. 1. Post photos from events you attend in person using #RYH4Ed so we can ReTweet them or share on Facebook. 2. Share your story about how your students will benefit if you had more time-to-teach and freedom to teach2learn, not 2test. Use #RYH4Ed so we can see and share. 3. Visit this NEA online Legislative Action Center page and send an email to your member of Congress asking them to reduce the federal role in testing. Share the following link when youre done, asking your friends to do the same: http://bit.ly/1jQbzXl
The introduction of AB 215 follows three years of efforts to streamline the certificated employee discipline and dismissal process to help protect students. The bill specifically speeds up the dismissal and suspension process for certificated employees and reduces its complexity, while keeping the rights of students and educators in balance. The bill balances a fair appeal process for any permanent employee requesting a hearing with the mandate to keep all students and staff safe and ensure every public school classroom is a productive learning environment, said EdVoice President Bill Lucia. EdVoice is pleased to support and join the hard work of the CTA in arriving at these needed and significant improvements to current law. AB 215 expedites the current dismissal process to keep students safe, while also safeguarding the integrity of the profession and protecting the rights of educators, said CTA President Dean E. Vogel. This bill addresses the concerns expressed by parents, education stakeholders and lawmakers over the past few years. CTA is pleased to join EdVoice and Assembly Member Buchanan in demonstrating our shared commitment to this legislation. The measure is expected to gain its first hearing in the Senate Education Committee.
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We are not just teachers, we are the managers of the worlds greatest resource: children! -Robert John Meehan 5
Are you an ethnic minority member of CTA? Are you interested in broadening your knowledge of the association and exploring the possibility of a role in leadership?
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Program Design
The Ethnic Minority Early Identification and Development Program has been created to identify ethnic minority members who are interested in expanding their roles in the organization. Once identified and accepted in the program, participants are paired with a coach who assists them in defining goals and identifying appropriate steps to achieve those goals. The program builds on existing CTA/NEA programs, trainings, conferences, events as well as incorporates interaction and coaching with Local Chapter, CTA, and NEA leadership and CTA Staff.
Grievance Update
There was a Level I Grievance filed on behalf of Resource Specialists who serve students with IEPs as well as general ed students. The contract limits their caseload to 28; however, the district was not counting general ed students as part of their caseload. The association argued that the contract language was written at a time when Resource Specialists were not supporting general ed students and therefore the district was violating the intent of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Furthermore, Ed Code states Resource Specialists shall not be teaching regular classes while providing services to students with disabilities. We were able to come to an agreement for two of the teachers; however there is one teacher who is still affected. The executive board is reviewing the issue with our CTA primary contact staff and will decide whether to pursue further redress. Additionally the district has acknowledged they are willing to work with the Education Specialists / Special Ed Teachers and the association to plan for next year. An additional Level I Grievance was filed at PHS due to grossly unbalanced class sizes within the math department. Some teachers have 35+ students while others have 25. The association requested that the classes be balanced per the CBA. The teachers were willing to work with administration to balance the classes. There was no change at the end of the 10 days; therefore the grievance was moved to Level II. ************************************
NOTICE !
Bargaining Update
We had our first bargaining session with the district on Monday, April 7th. The district bargaining team only brought one of their 13 Articles to the table. They proposed that we eliminate Article 17 regarding Childrens Center since it no longer exists. PEA put forth three proposals. First, we proposed changes to staff meeting language, shortening the amount of time principals can hold teachers after the contractual day, and getting back some of those adjusted days for teacher-driven collaboration. The district team has not yet responded to this article. We also proposed changing leave language to allow more days for paternity leave and adoption leave. The district countered with something close and we will continue to work toward an agreement at our next session. Additionally, PEA proposed changes to safety language that would force the district to take action on correcting dangerous situations at sites in a timely manner. The district was receptive to the idea and is willing to work on improving this language. The district was also open to looking into streamlining the procedure for providing teachers the information on students with violent histories. We feel there are possible resolutions to these articles in the near future. Neither the district nor PEA put forth any monetary proposals at the first session. We will be looking at the May revise from the governor that will give us a better idea of the financial situation within the state and district. Our next bargaining session will be April 15th and we have numerous bargaining dates set with the district for the beginning of May so be sure to keep your eyes out for more updates! Respectfully submitted, Mark Maselli Bargaining Chair 7
Calendar
APRIL 2014
2 PEA Executive Board PEA Office 159 East 4th St. 3:45 PM 13 Palm Sunday 14 Passover Begins at Sundown 16 PEA Rep Council PEA Office 159 East 4th St. 3:45 PM 16 PUSD School Board Meeting 2000 Railroad Ave. 7:30 PM 18 No School/Good Friday 20 Easter 21-25 Spring Recess 22 Earth Day 23 Administrative Professionals Day
MAY 2014
5-21 7 7 11 14 21 21 26 PEA Executive Board/State Council Elections PEA Executive Board PEA Office 159 East 4th St. 3:45 PM PUSD School Board Meeting 2000 Railroad Ave. 7:30 PM Mothers Day Day of the Teacher La Piata, 95 Bliss Ave., Pittsburg PEA Rep Council PEA Office 159 East 4th St. 3:45 PM PUSD School Board Meeting 2000 Railroad Ave. 7:30 PM Memorial Day (Holiday No school)
Next Deadline for Articles is Monday, May12, 2014
STAY INFORMED @
peateachers.org
cta.org & nea.org
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