focus
On educators
focus on educators is an award winning publication of the Pittsburg Education Association/CTA/NEA www.peateachers.org
The California Teachers Association exists to protect and promote the well-being of its members; to improve the conditions of
teaching and learning; to advance the cause of free, universal, and quality public education; to ensure that the human dignity and civil
rights of all children and youth are protected; and to secure a more just, equitable, and democratic society.
FEBRUARY 2019
Volume XXVII, Number 6
_______________________________________
February has been pretty wet and
cold, but nothing compared to the
winter that the Pacific Northwest,
Midwest, and East Coast are
experiencing. Let’s smile up to the
sky as we wish better weather for all
of us around the globe and celebrate
Black History Month. You can find
some great resources at
http://www.nea.org/tools/lessons/blac
k-history-month.htm.
We are a few days from February
15th, the CTA Day of Action
#RedForEd. Though we may not be
at our work sites on Friday, there is
still an opportunity to be a public
educator in action by wearing red and
posting your support for public
education and Oakland Education
California Teachers Association
Statement of Mission
Association (OEA). Social media
posts to Twitter, Instagram, and
Facebook can help spread the word
that our profession means something
great to us and that we stand in
solidarity with our fellow educators.
Use the hashtags #WeAreCTA,
#RedForEd, #United4OaklandKids,
#WeAreOEA, and/or #UnionStrong
with your posts.
As OEA gears up for their upcoming
strike we stand with them in this
movement. Public education is
constantly under attack. The politics
surrounding our profession dictate
how we do our job. Even though
most of these politicians have not
been educators, they seem to know a
better way. Use your voice to
advocate for the education our
students deserve. Here are some
ways to do just that:
 Run for office. We’ve seen a
bunch of educators win public
offices so they can make a
difference for their districts, state,
and country.
 Write an article to the editor of
a newspaper. Our bay area
newspapers should contain some
opinions on supporting public
education and the work that you
are doing to build the success of
your students and their future.
 Apply for the Institute For
Teaching (IFT) grant! Build a
project that will move students
and education forward, then apply
for the IFT grant to fund it.
Applications and more
information can be found at
http://www.teacherdrivenchange.
org . The deadline for submission
is March 31st.
 Talk to the lawmakers in
support or opposition to bills
that are proposed. We, as
constituents, must let our elected
officials understand the point of
view of the educator when it
comes to those laws that damage
public education or formulate
growth of public education.
 Talk to the people you know!
Speaking about your experience
in the classroom, at a school site,
and in educational settings to
others is always good. The public
needs to learn about what you are
proud of when it comes to
education.
As the old movie quote in Field of
Dreams goes, “If you build it, [they]
he will come.” This rings true for
public education. When we build it,
folks will come to acknowledge and
stand with us once they know our
stories and what we are proud of in
public education.
In Solidarity,
Tammy Carr
 PEA Leadership 2018-2019
Rep. Council Meeting Calendar (Tuesdays)
President
February 19
Tammy Carr
March 19
PEA Office
Elementary Vice President April 16
Michell Redfoot May 14
Willow Cove
School Board Meeting Calendar
Secondary Vice President
Nyssa Ton February 6 & 20
Black Diamond March 6 & 20
Secretary April 3 & 17 (LCAP Workshop)
Nicole Glassel May 8 & 22
Los Medanos June 12 & 26
Treasurer
July 24
Shelly Bascomb
North Campus Are You Getting Your PEA Information?
________________________________________________
Having our Site Reps collect your input, attend the monthly Rep
Committee Chairs:
meeting and then report back to you is vital in the
Grievance Committee
communication chain of our Association.
Jill Wery – Pittsburg High
Chris Coan – Willow Cove Roll call at last January 22nd Rep Council Meeting:
Negotiations Team
Andrea McKinney – Chair – Black Diamond Adult Ed. – present MLK Jr. – present
Chris Coan – Willow Cove Black Diamond – present North Campus – present
Jeff Greco – Rancho Medanos Foothill – present Parkside – present
Alicia Puzak – Pittsburg High Heights – present PHS - present
Melonie Sauceda-Flemming - Hillview/MLK
Highlands – present Rancho Medanos – absent
Political Action Chair - vacant
Hillview - present Stoneman – present
Elections Chair
Sharie Chmura - Parkside
Los Medanos – present Willow Cove – present
Human Rights Chair Marina Vista – present
Andrea McKinney – Black Diamond
Women’s Issues Chair
Alicia Puzak – Pittsburg High
Organizing Chair
Laura Silva - Parkside
CTA State Council Representative
Mark Maselli – Hillview
LGBTQ Chair
Marissa Young-Padilla - Parkside
Special Education Chairs
Superintendent’s Roundtable
Michell Redfoot – Willow Cove
When: Thursday, February 21, 2019
Melonie Sauceda-Flemming – Hillview/MLK
Tuesday, April 9, 2019
Technical Editor
Susan Harrison – PEA Office Administrator
Where: PUSD School Board Meeting Room
Focus on Educators is a publication of the
Pittsburg Education Association CTA/NEA
Every teacher is invited to come and ask questions
159 East 4th Street, Pittsburg, CA 94565 Phone: (925) 432-0199
and make inquiries. No rsvp is necessary.
email: info@peateachers.org
Superintendent Schulze will be present.
website: www.peateachers.org

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 The 8th Annual Winter Drive Read Across Pittsburg
is March 1st
We are seeking volunteers to
read at various preschool and Head Start
locations around Pittsburg! Slots are available!
If you’re interested in reading to our future
students, please e-mail Michell Redfoot at
michellsuzannredfoot@gmail.com
by Friday, February 22rd

***********************************************
CTA Good Teaching Conference North
By Danielle Jensen
PEA Rep for Marina Vista Elementary

Andrea Smith, Willow Cove (pictured)

“This year’s donations were awesome! So many

winter items and lots of beautiful hand knitted
hats! Thank you so much for supporting the
needy in our community and county! And
thank you to member Andrea Smith for helping
transport all those donations to Shelter Inc.”
By Michell Redfoot, PEA Elementary V.P.

***********************************************

PEA Scholarships

PEA Scholarship applications are available for

graduating high school seniors who will be attending an
institution of higher learning in the fall of 2019.
Applicants must be the son or daughter of a parent who
is a current member of the PEA/CTA/NEA. You may
request a scholarship application form from the PEA
office at 432-0199 or email susan@peateachers.org. First off, I would like to express my appreciation to President
Tammy Carr and PEA for sponsoring me to go to CTA’s
Scholarship forms must be returned to the “Good Teaching Conference North” pre and main
PEA Office (159 East 4th Street) conferences last weekend down at the Fairmont Hotel in San
Jose. What a wonderful experience I had!
no later than Monday, April 8, 2019 by 4 p.m.
The pre-conference I elected to attend was entitled
“Retirement Savings Made Easy” and it focused on showing
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a comparison between various types of retirement savings
plans and investment options. It also gave specific
information on how to set up a 403b retirement account
through CTA’s Retirement Savings Plan, which is thankfully
now available for PUSD teachers and staff members.
Finally, there was an opportunity for any attendees to sit
down for 15 minutes with a CTA Retirement Plan
Representative to ask any lingering questions they had. To
find out more information about CTA’s Retirement Savings
Plan and to see some side by side comparisons of various
403b plans, check out these helpful websites:
https://www.ctamemberbenefits.org/Financial-Services/CTA-
Retirement-Savings-Plan & www.403bcompare.com
The main conference was really fabulous! On top of the fact
that they feed you all throughout the day and evening like
royalty, there was an abundant selection of workshops you
could attend. These workshops offered helpful tips, tools,
project ideas and samples, links to free useful websites, and
even take-home resources for educators at every level and
on a huge range of subjects. Some were more academia
focused (Math, Science, ELA, Technology, Art, Music,
SPED, etc.). Others were centered on improving our overall
health and well-being. Still others were geared toward topics
like diversity, classroom management, school climate, and
social justice.
Other highlights included a dance party social one night
(complete with a DJ and strobe lights), tons of booths geared
toward educators with items for sale, as well as many free
samples and informational reading material, and a chance to
listen to some terrific keynote speakers. This year we heard
from CTA President, Eric Heins, as well as CTA Vice
President, Theresa Montano.
Thanks to the CTA Go! App, that we were advised to
download on our phone prior to the conference, navigating
through the weekend was simple. We could create our own
conference workshop schedule, read specific workshop
descriptions on the go if needed, receive daily event
reminders, and many presenters made their PowerPoints
and other handouts available as downloadable PDF files so
you could access them during and after the conferences.
This was especially nice to have for those workshops you
were interested in, but unable to attend.
As if all of this isn’t reason enough to sign up for the next
conference(s), an added bonus of attending is the fact that
you can register to receive 1-2 semester units through CSU
Chico (1 unit if you attend just the pre-conference and 2 units
if you attend them both). No write up is required, just your
attendance and payment for the units. In other words, not
only will you learn a great deal of valuable information at
these conferences that you can take back and use in your
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education profession and to plan for the future, but you can
also earn units to help you slide up the pay scale. In my
opinion, it’s a win-win situation!
With all of this being said, I highly recommend for all PUSD
Educators to attend “The Good Teaching Conference North”
when it comes around again next year! Just be sure to
download the CTA Go! App beforehand, bring your laptop if
possible (iPads and Tablets were not recommended at most
of the tech workshops), and absolutely, whatever you do,
don’t forget to bring your dancing shoes and some stretchy
pants!
Have a great rest of the school year, everyone! 
***********************************************
CTA Issues Conference
By Alicia Puzak, PEA Rep for Pittsburg HS
By Karina Valenci, Pittsburg HS
The weekend of Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday, Alicia and
I were fortunate enough to board a plane to Las Vegas for
the Issues Conference. The TSA workers got us through the
line in less than half an hour knowing that they were not
receiving a paycheck that day due to the government shut
down. That same week, tens of thousands of people, some
leading conference workshops, had walked in the rain to
support education which led to the approval of a tentative
agreement between UTLA and LAUSD.
A workshop facilitator mentioned that he finds it hard to hear
of "apathetic union members" because he believes that
anyone working in schools has a personal value that they
believe in that keeps them in education yet they are
disengaged in union activities. He found success engaging in
conversations with folks, asking them why they teach, getting
to know their personal stories and finding ways for the union
to give place for those values in their actions. It's in this way,
by listening to members and engaging them authentically,
that UTLA was able to move from member engagement to
organizing and have the support of tens of thousands of
people who share common values.
Reflecting on the conference weekend and the events after,
there's an idea that people are willing to take action and
organize to defend their shared values - whether it be the Stand in Solidarity with Oakland
ability to put food on the table with a living wage, the ability to
feel safe at work with good working conditions, or social Students and Teachers!
justice and equity - but only if they feel engaged.

We'd like to take this moment to propose a new PEA

committee here to serve you, the Engagement Committee.
There's a myriad of ways for members to be engaged which
are all funded by CTA with the dues we pay.

Some of these services range from financial workshops on

how to read our paychecks and retirement, workshops to
inform educators and community members on the rights that
undocumented immigrants have, equity workshops on
cultural competency such as the Unconscious Bias
Committee Program members engaged in this past week.
The possibilities are endless as we continue to have
conversations with each other to uncover our shared values
that keep us supporting students day after day.

***********************************************
CTA State Council
By Mark Maselli, State Council Representative, Hillview JHS
CTA State Council was a great time for teachers to celebrate
victories in labor clashes with districts. We met the last
weekend in January after teachers in L.A. concluded their
strike. We also looked at supporting Oakland in their
upcoming strike. When teachers strike we win!
We also got a chance to listen to Tony Thurmond speak to
the teachers, laying out his plans for education in California
public schools. It is great to have such a pro-teacher person
running schools in California.
We also held elections for NEA board positions. Our own
Alcosta Chair, Robbie Kreitz, won a board position.
Congrats to her! My committee, “Credentials and
Professional Development,” met and discussed what we can
do to get more teachers of color to enter the profession. It
was a very positive meeting overall.
Donate to BREAD FOR ED!
Oakland teachers are gearing up for a likely strike.
Public education in Oakland is in a state of crisis – classes
are overcrowded and the Oakland Education Association
(OEA) has been without a contract for over a year to win
the schools their students deserve!
Oakland students and teachers need your support to
win this fight! Bread for Ed is an effort to provide food for
those during the strike that will not have access to such
resources if they do not cross the picket line. There are
37,000 students and around 3,000 members of the
Oakland Educators Association in this fight to defend the
public school in Oakland. The vast majority of these
students depend on free or reduced lunches, so this
food fund is a critical show of solidarity with the
Oakland community.

OEA teachers are fighting to defend public education by

campaigning for a new contract that provides:

1) Smaller class sizes

2) More student support
3) A living wage
CTA President Eric Heins (R) introduces Supt. of Public
Instruction candidate Tony Thurmond to Council
4) Halt to school closures

go to donorbox.org/breadfored for more information

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 Calendar
February 2019
1-3 Good Teaching Conference – Fairmont Hotel, San Jose, CA
5 PEA Executive Board – PEA Office – 159 East 4th St. – 3:45 PM
6 PUSD School Board Meeting – 2000 Railroad Ave. – 6:30 PM
14 Valentine’s Day
15 Holiday – Lincoln’s Day – No school
18 Holiday – Presidents’ Day – No School
19 PEA Rep Council – PEA Office – 159 East 4th St. – 3:45 PM
20 PUSD School Board Meeting – 2000 Railroad Ave. – 6:30 PM
21 Superintendent’s Roundtable – 2000 Railroad Ave.
23 School Board Breakfast – Doubletree Hilton, Pleasanton, CA

March 2019
1 Read Across Pittsburg – 2:30-5:00 PM
5 PEA Executive Board – PEA Office – 159 East 4th St. – 3:45 PM
6 PUSD School Board Meeting – 2000 Railroad Ave. – 6:30 PM
6 Ash Wednesday
6-19 PEA Exec. Bd. & NEA-RA Election
17 St. Patrick’s Day
19 PEA Rep Council – PEA Office – 159 East 4th St. – 3:45 PM
20 PUSD School Board Meeting – 2000 Railroad Ave. – 6:30 PM
20 Spring begins

Next Deadline for Articles is Monday, March 11, 2019

STAY INFORMED @ peateachers.org
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