your voice, your vote
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YOUR UNION YOUR VOICE
Voter Guide2014 UTLA Presidential Election
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If a leader cannot give it all
he cannot expect his people
to give anything.
Cesar Chavez, Labor Leader
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Contents
Why a Union Voter Guide? 3
How We Engaged the Candidates 4
When to Vote 5
How to Vote 6
UTLA Structure 7
Offices to Be Elected 8
Duties of the UTLA President 9
UTLA Presidential Candidates at a Glance 11
Survey Questions 13
How to Run 29
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3 YOUR UNIONYOUR VOICE
Why a Union Voter Guide?
Union voter turnout has historically been low less than 15 percent of members vote
in some elections. Our unions were designed to be deeply democratic institutions,
to ensure full representation of their diverse membership. Ultimately, what will makefor a strong and representative teachers union is the ability to meet the current and
future needs of its members, most of whom care deeply about the fate of our students,
our schools and our profession. But our unions cant vote for you. Members must be
informed, empowered and represented participants. After all, a democracys greatest
strength is its ability to represent the will of the people. Whether its the will of 15 percent
of the members or the will of the vast majority depends on what you do with your right
and responsibility to vote.
This voter guide is your opportunity to learn more about the candidates, think deeply
about your decision and make your vote and voices heard. We also hope UTLA members
will feel inspired to run in future elections by the stirrings of democracy, civic duty and
leadership that inspire many of us to teach young people in the first place.
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YOUR UNIONYOU
How We Engaged the Candidates
The questions contained in this voter guide reflect education policy issues being debated
locally and nationally and were developed with input from teachers who are union leaders,
grade level and department chairs, school site representatives, and National Board
Certified Teachers.
All presidential candidates who provided contact information to the UTLA Election
Committee received the candidate survey by email and were given at least two weeks to
respond. Candidates who made contact with Educators 4 Excellence after the printing
deadline are included as an addendum. The remaining candidates received the survey and
were also afforded sufficient time to respond. Their responses appear within this guide.
All presidential candidates were informed that they had a limit of 100 words to respondto each question. To ensure fairness, any responses exceeding the word limit were cut at
exactly the 100th word. Candidates who did not submit responses are noted accordingly.
All responses in this guide are printed exactly as written by the candidates, without edits
for content or clarity. The responses submitted solely reflect the opinions of each individual
candidate and not of Educators 4 Excellence. Educators 4 Excellence transmits the
responses without any knowledge, actual or constructive, regarding their truthfulness.
All presidential candidates were invited to a presidential forum hosted on March 4, 2014, by
Educators 4 Excellence.
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5 YOUR UNIONYOUR VOICE
When to Vote
7
18
1614
20
29
25
7
FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY
Deadline to callfor replacement
ballot
First-round
resultspublished in
UNITED
TEACHER
Second-round
resultspublished in
UNITED
TEACHER
Very rarely, a third round
of ballots will be required.
For those dates, please
go to utla.net/system/files/
UTLA_Election_Timeline_
2013REVBOD121813.pdf
Election issue
of UNITED
TEACHER
published
Deadline for
first-round
ballots to bereceived at
Post Office box
listed on ballot
Deadline for
second-round
ballots to bereceived at
Post Office box
listed on ballot
First-roundballots mailed
to membership
Second-roundballots mailed
to membership
http://utla.net/system/files/UTLA_Election_Timeline_2013REVBOD121813.pdfhttp://utla.net/system/files/UTLA_Election_Timeline_2013REVBOD121813.pdfhttp://utla.net/system/files/UTLA_Election_Timeline_2013REVBOD121813.pdfhttp://utla.net/system/files/UTLA_Election_Timeline_2013REVBOD121813.pdfhttp://utla.net/system/files/UTLA_Election_Timeline_2013REVBOD121813.pdfhttp://utla.net/system/files/UTLA_Election_Timeline_2013REVBOD121813.pdf -
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YOUR UNIONYOU
How to Vote
1
2
3
4
5
Make sure your address is accurate!Your ballot will be mailed to your home address on file with
the union, so make sure UTLA has your correct mailing address. Update your information online atutla.net/memberupdateor by calling (213) 487-5560.
Learn about the candidates!Use this voter guide as a start, but you can also reach out to candidates
with specific questions on their platforms or read their statements in the Special Election issue of UNITED
TEACHER, published February 14. You can find this online at utla.net/unitedteacher.
Submit your ballot!Ballots must bereceived at the Post Office box listed on ballotby March 20, so be
sure to put your ballot in the mail at least three to four days prior.
Learn more about a new initiative to improve voter turnout by shifting from mail ballots to electronic
ballots. Contact your chapter chair or visit the Facebook page at facebook.com/utlaonlinevotingto
learn more about this new effort.
Look for your ballot!The deadline to call for a replacement is March 7, so if you have not received one
at your home address three to four days prior call (213) 487-5560 to get a replacement.
All too often voices and votes arent heard because of mail snafus. Here are a few ways to make sure your ballot and vo
are counted in the upcoming election.
http://www.utla.net/memberupdatehttp://utla.net/unitedteacherhttp://www.facebook.com/utlaonlinevotinghttp://www.facebook.com/utlaonlinevotinghttp://utla.net/unitedteacherhttp://www.utla.net/memberupdate -
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7 YOUR UNIONYOUR VOICE
UTLA StructureBelow is a visual representation of the governing structure of UTLA, as outlined in the UTLA constitution.
HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES
350 members / 2-year termDUTIES
Create and vote on policies that impact contracts,
union stances and rules of governance
SUBCOMMITTEES
32 subject-specific groups that write resolutions
that may become union policy
CHAPTER CHAIRSAt least one per school / 1-year term
DUTIESImplement and enforce policies set by governing bodies
OVERSEESand can veto
EXECUTIVE OFFICERSSeven members / 3-year term
DUTIESExecute and share policy with UTLA
membership and the public
RECOMMENDSbut cannot mandate
BOARD OF DIRECTORS50 members / 3-year term
DUTIESRecommend policy to the House
of Representatives
RECOMMENDSbut cannot mandate
Area-specific Subject-specific
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YOUR UNIONYOUR
It is so easy to break down and
destroy. The heroes are those
who make peace and build.
Nelson Mandela, President of South Africa
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11 YOUR UNIONYOUR VOICE YO
UTLA Presidential Candidates at a Glance
NAMECandidates are listed in ballot order,as determined at theJanuary 22 Candidate Orientation andfound online at utla.net/system/files/ListCandidatesFeb11.pdf
Position Race/Ethnicity GenderYears
Teaching
National
Board
Certified
Previous Union
Leadership Positions
David R. GarciaRIFed High School Teacher with
a clear credential
Mexican
American /ChicanoM None
Gregg SolkovitsLAUSD Social Studies
and English TeacherWhite/Caucasian M
UTLA Secondary VP; Valley West Area Chair
9 yrs; UTLA BOD member 27 yrs; Chapter
Chair 15 yrs; Chapter Co-Chair 2 yrs
Bill Gaffney C ur re nt t ea ch er W hi te /C au ca si an M
School-Site Chapter Chair 8 years; House of
RepresentativesMember;AreaRepresentativePACE; Member of House Rules Committee;
Area Steering Committee Member
Saul The Fighter Lankster Current teacherBlack/
African-AmericanM
As a write-in candidate,I was elected
Chapter Chair at Gardena High Schooland re-elected three times with
75 percent of the vote.
Marcos Ortega II C urr en t t ea ch er N at iv e A me ri ca n M House of Representatives; as a TA,helpedform local 99; junior senator in high school
Innocent O. Osunwa Current teacherBlack/
African-AmericanM None
Warren Fletcher* n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Leonard Segal Current substituteWhite/Caucasian
LatinoM
3 yrs Subst Comm Chair; 9 yrs BOD; 9 yrsChapter Chair; 3 yrs PACE Rep; 9 yrs NEA
RA Rep; 6 yrs NEA Subst Caucus Chair
Kevin MottusCurrent counselor/school
psychiatrist/social workerWhite/Caucasian M
Very active HHS committee member
and Violence Prevention and SchoolSafety committee
Alex Caputo-Pearl C ur re nt t ea ch er W hi te /C au ca si an M
UTLA positions:Chapter Chair 11 yrs;W Area BOD 6 yrs; Facilitator, Strat
Planning Comm; Educator Supp & DevTask Force; Charter School Task Force;
Electronic Voting Task Force
Does the union need to work to improve
its relationship with district leadership?
Do you support the Common
Core State Standards?
Do you support ending
willful defiance?
Should LCFF dollars be
spent locally or centrally?
Do you support
differentiated
compensation?
Do yo
proce
YES YES YES LOCALLY YES
YES YES NO LOCALLY YES
YES YES YES LOCALLY YES
YES YES NO LOCALLY YES
YES NO NO LOCALLY YES
NO YES NO LOCALLY NO
n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
YES YES YES LOCALLY YES
YES NO NO LOCALLY NO
NO NO YES CENTRALLY YES
14
14
21
28
30
21
33
22
18
*This candidate received the survey but did not submit responses until after the deadline. Therefore, his responses are reflected in the addendum.
http://utla.net/system/files/ListCandidatesFeb11.pdfhttp://utla.net/system/files/ListCandidatesFeb11.pdfhttp://utla.net/system/files/ListCandidatesFeb11.pdfhttp://utla.net/system/files/ListCandidatesFeb11.pdfhttp://utla.net/system/files/ListCandidatesFeb11.pdfhttp://utla.net/system/files/ListCandidatesFeb11.pdf -
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13 YOUR UNIONYOUR VOICE
Bill GaffneyOur Union is at a cross roads and I cannot
back and watch our influence deteriorate.
current officers struggle to accomplish any
for us.As a Chapter Chair and House of
Representatives member for the past se
years, I have witnessed firsthand their
failure to collaborate to meet our needs
have no plan of action to negotiate bette
pay and benefits, develop and impleme
a comprehensive vision for teaching and
learning, and address fast moving chan
in education.It is time for a new leadersh
that is dedicated to meeting the needs of i
members and students.
David R. GarciaThe United States is wasting resources
sending American children to fight in foreign
occupation of third world countries, while
our public schools, libraries and American
infrastructure are literally falling apart.
Endless war and illegal occupation of some
of the poorest countries in the world will
continue until WE have the courage to say
something!!
And dont think this doesnt involve inner
city schoolchildren, because it does! Military
recruitment doesnt happen in San Marino, Bel
Aire, or Beverly HillsInner childrenend up
paying the ultimate price for American foreign
occupation while schools go without librarians,
Nurses and Social Workers
Gregg SolkovitsI am running because I have spent 33 years of
my life building UTLA, the single organization
that has consistently stood up for our schools
in my professional lifetime. It has deteriorated
into an organization where factions fight each
other, and the union has become less able to
fight for the things that students, teachers/
HHS professionals need. My experience/
proven track record in organizing schools/
supporting local school reform efforts, and my
ability to help those with divergent views reach
consensus, make me the one candidate for
president who can make UTLA the powerful
force our schools need.
What inspired you to run for union president?
Q1 Deciding to Run
The opinions expressed herein solely reflect those of the individual candidates and not of Educators 4 Excellence. Candidates are listed inballot order, as determined at the January 22 Candidate Orientation and found online at utla.net/system/files/ListCandidatesFeb11.pdf.
http://utla.net/system/files/ListCandidatesFeb11.pdfhttp://utla.net/system/files/ListCandidatesFeb11.pdf -
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YOUR UNIONYOUR
Saul The Fighter LanksterI am running for President of UTLA because
there is a quiet war against teachers and against
public education. It is undeclared, but it is very
real. I am running because as UTLA President,
I Saul The Fighter Lankster, can lead
teachers to winning this war and provide quality
education for every child in the district. I intend
to do this by restoring a sense of self-respectand value to teachers. I did it as President of the
Police Union in Compton; and I will do it again. I
will fight for teachers and we will win this war.
Alex Caputo-PearlUTLA can be a vehicle for winning excellen
learning and teaching conditions, and resp
treatment of educators. Yet, UTLA has bee
passive, with weak public relations, and wi
insufficient attention to building grassroots
power. We need to change UTLA, through
a contract/community campaign for quality
schools, and through re-orienting towards
organizing, parent/community coalition-bu
pro-active public relations, and strategic
research. Im with the Union Power team, wbrings experience and networks to lead UT
collaboratively. As a 25-year labor/commu
organizer, an award-winning teacher with a
MA in Urban Planning, and a parent of cur
LAUSD students, I can lead this effort.
Kevin MottusIt is time for a change. It is time for a President
who cares.
Everyone within UTLA knows it is time for
a change with so many candidates running
against our current president and his officers
organizing in a slate against him. Clearly our
current President has lost the support of the
officers and organization he must lead. We
are taking whatever the district gives us rather
than being part of the educational solution.
Educational practices are being forced uponusing a top down approach that has proven to
produce poor results in any organization that
has used it.
Leonard SegalI have gone to almost every Union meeting
for over 10 years. I know who knows what
they are talking about, who knows how to do
the job and the problems that have and can
happen when the wrong people get elected.
I will share my knowledge in my candidate
statement in the election issue of the United
Teacher. Running for president also gives me a
platform to share my vision of how to transform
education.You may read the rest of the story at
www.unitededucators.org.
Marcos Ortega IIIn life, we tend to think, we choose things, the
reality, is, they pick us. Me running for UTLA
president, seems like a surreal dream, yet, I
am a candidate for UTLA president. One of
my greatest joys is teaching, while at North
Hollywood High, I was under a competent and
able administrator Mr. Martinez, life was sweet,
then he retired, I moved to Van Nuys, thereI was afforded an opportunity to work with
Dr. Vanderbok, a superb principal that ranks
up there with Mr. Robert Collins, Mr. Collins
was instrumental in me becoming a teacher.
Unfortunately, I was
Innocent O. OsunwaI am aware of district issues, administrative
issues, UTLA issues and what members ha
to endure. We need to root out the evil in th
system and assure that all stakeholders ab
by the law and our contract when dealing
with one another. Enough is enough! As a
educator who has worked at the university
high school, adult school, and middle schoand as a lawyer, I have what it takes to lead
UTLA, and I am inspired by the drive to ma
change for a better and happy LAUSD, un
and all community stakeholders.
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15 YOUR UNIONYOUR VOICE
If you were to win this election, what would be the first three priorities you would take on as president?
Q2
Bill Gaffney1. Raises: We have not had a raise in ove
six years.Weve given back 8%in furlou
pay and have lost out on 12%in cost of
increases.
2. Transparency:The union wont work u
all members are engaged. I will build a UT
leadership performance framework so me
can track what their dues are doing for th
3. Build bridges:I will work to re-establis
UTLAs influence through developing outcbased joint initiatives with the district and
community-based organizations. This is c
so we can reclaim our powerful voice in w
we do best: educating our students.
David R. GarciaThe current UTLA administration is full
of manipulative individuals who posture
themselves as caring but none of these
individuals has any intention of defending the
rights of teachers or our public school children!
UTLA administration takes your monthly
dues, but dont expect any advocacy for our
profession or the communities we serve.
UTLA can experience a renaissance in its
governance by representing its teachers and
the public with the integrity they deserve.Heres how: 1. Publically condemn U.S. Foreign
Occupation and demand funding for ALL public
schools; 2. Renegotiate/LOWER ALL UTLA
employee salaries; 3. Re-structure UTLA.
Gregg Solkovits1) I would make sure that UTLA has a well
trained and supported chapter chair at every
school site, so that we can bargain pay raises,
reduced class size and full staffing with
strength; 2) I would, along with the other
officers/area chairs, sit down with leaders of a
variety of community organizations across the
city and begin a real and authentic dialogue;
3) appoint a committee representing UTLA
members from ALL factions of the union to
restructure the UTLA Constitution, a documentthat is not meeting the needs of UTLA today.
Top Three Priorities
The opinions expressed herein solely reflect those of the individual candidates and not of Educators 4 Excellence. Candidates are listed inballot order, as determined at the January 22 Candidate Orientation and found online at utla.net/system/files/ListCandidatesFeb11.pdf.
http://utla.net/system/files/ListCandidatesFeb11.pdfhttp://utla.net/system/files/ListCandidatesFeb11.pdf -
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YOUR UNIONYOUR
Saul The Fighter Lankster1) As UTLA president,I will get rid of our
current lawyers, then provide you top-notch
legal representation when anyone threatens to
deny due process to members with allegations
affecting their job, guaranteed.No more
Teacher Jails.
2) I will win a pay raise much like the one I
negotiated for the Compton Police Officerswhich made us the second highest paid
department in the country.
3) I willget a moratorium on Charter Schools
expansion which is designed to destroy public
education in Los Angeles.
Alex Caputo-Pearl
a) Immediate public relations and organizcampaign in support of a significant raise
reduced class size and case loads, an en
to teacher jail, evaluations in a climate
of collaboration not intimidation, nutritiou
Breakfast in the Cafeteria not unhealthy
Breakfast in the Classroom, and restorat
HHS, Adult/Early Ed, and arts/music/PE
c) Member engagement to identify furthe
priorities for the Schools LA Students D
contract/community campaign includin
control over professional development/simprovement, more supplies, a stop to s
destabilizations, challenging abusive cha
and more. c) Immediate re-orienting of U
towards organizing, pro-active public rela
coalition-building, and strategic research
Kevin Mottus
I will restore our PPO coverage to our medicalplan and bring UCLA and Cedars back into
our Blue Cross HMO. I will also fight to have
disability insurance coverage included as
part of our union dues. I will warn and act to
protect our teachers and students from the
harmful microwave RadioFrequency Radiation
being emitted from the WiFi and Ipads in the
new wireless classrooms. The World Health
Organization has classified the microwaves
used by all wireless devices and infrastructure
as a Class 2B Carcinogen. Saferemr.combyUC Berkeley, bioinitiative.org, safeschool.ca
for more information regarding health effects
from wireless.
Leonard Segal
My first priority would be to lower class sizeand get more local control for the budget and
curriculum at school sites.
Id work with the business community to teach
the skills required for our graduates to get
hired in high paying local jobs, and develop
entrepreneurial projects developing products
and services while teaching the standards and
licensing the results like Universities do but
splitting the revenue with all stakeholders.
Id stress voting ed as a classroom and
school-wide culture reaching into the
community to get more voting participation
which would win full funding of education and
other community services.
Innocent O. Osunwaa. I will clean the up the mess in the hous
within UTLA and LAUSD. I will provide su
forums for members to be informed of th
rights and protections under the contract
well as the limitations of the district and i
administrators.
b. I will move for a contract re-negotiatio
der to secure adequate protection for meincluding, but not limited to preserving th
ent tenure system, returning displaced te
reforming and/or eliminating the teache
holding administrators accountable for a
use of authority, and fighting bad policies
undermine students success.
Marcos Ortega IIFirst, I would negotiate a fair and equitable
contract that includes no less than a 22% raise
over three years. Make sure the district adheres
to the contract, hold LAUSD accountable.
Second, change the publics perception of
teachers. Teachers, are being vilified and
crucified in the media, for the actions of a few.
Teacher can do this by instilling clarity andtransparency. Even though my colleagues, dont
agree, this and many other problems would
be resolved by, putting cameras in the class
rooms. Why, shouldnt, parents be able to see
what their child is doing in his class? I assure
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Bill GaffneyAbsolutely. We are a union of profession
but under current leadership, teachers
become objectsof reform rather thana
tectsof it. It is time for us to reclaim our r
the educators entrusted to deliver the pro
of public education for the students of Los
Angeles. I will work to re-establish our infl
As highlighted through the study, Reform
Public School Systems Through Sustaine
Union-Management Collaboration (Cente
American Progress), nationally unions thainstitutionalizeda long-term collaborative
nership with its district have established b
working conditions and pay for its membe
while accelerating student achievement.
YE
S
17 YOUR UNIONYOUR VOICE
Too often, the union is painted in the media as simply an adversary to the district.
Although there are steps both sides can take, as a candidate for the unions highest
office, do you think the union has an obligation to work to improve its relationshipwith district leadership?
If yes, what would you do to proactively improve this relationship?
If no, why not?
Q3
David R. GarciaUnited Teachers Los Angeles bares the
responsibility of defending the rights of teachers
and our public school children. LAUSD and
UTLA have, together ignored the needs of
our inner city public school children, to the
detriment of both organizations.
Once I am elected President of UTLA, I will
fight to defend our public school children from
disproportionate recruitment into the Armed
Forces, and ensure that realistic alternativesare in place to afford students options in their
futures which benefit our city locally and ensure
safety, purpose, and well being.
YE
S
NO
Gregg SolkovitsIf the district is willing to work collaboratively
with UTLA, UTLA will work collaboratively with
the district under my leadership. This means
regular meetings with the Superintendent of
Schools, and regular meetings between the
Superintendents cabinet and our officers/
area chairs, so that we can work out problems,
discuss ideas for improving education, and
model the collaboration that we need principals
and chapter chairs to practice at our school
sites. I would push the district funding for
training EVERY school council in making
decisions by consensus. Research shows that
schools in which adults work collaboratively
perform better.
YE
S
NO
Union-District Collaboration
The opinions expressed herein solely reflect those of the individual candidates and not of Educators 4 Excellence.Candidates are listed in ballot order, as determined at the January 22 Candidate Orientation and found online atutla.net/system/files/ListCandidatesFeb11.pdf.
97.5%
of E4E teachers vot
issue as import
or critical
Based on survey to selectteacher-leaders representinleadership roles within theirdistrict (41 respondents). EdExcellence,E4E-LA LeadeDecember 2013.
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YOUR UNIONYOUR
Alex Caputo-PearlUTLA needs a relationship with LAUSD, an
the UTLA president should regularly meet w
the superintendent. These must happen fr
a position of UTLAs strength built throug
organizing around a contract/community
campaign for quality schools. The interests
of the LAUSD bureaucracy often conflict w
those of students and educators. For exam
at Crenshaw High, we built a nationally-rec
nized, educator-, youth-, and community-le
improvement model that was showing resu
The superintendent aggressively attacked model, and the unionists leading it, becaus
threatened his political priorities. We shou
constantly engage LAUSD as productively
possible but with strength, and no illusion
YES
Saul The Fighter LanksterI will challenge the district to cease fire in its
war against teachers that is being orchestrated
by Superintendent Deasy on behalf of his
former boss Bill Gates. I will challenge the
district leadership to co-sponsor town hall
meetings with UTLA in a joint attempt to save
public education and stop the charter school
take over.
YES
NO
Leonard SegalImproving relations with district leadership is
important but a minor part of the problem. All
District administrators and Union educators
what to see successful schools. LAUSD is one
of the largest business and economic engines
in LA County. The problem stems from the
opposing view of the educational employees
who view education as a process that develops
and empowers human beings versus very
powerful corporate interests and pressures
that look at education from a mechanistic,business oriented profit model. I think we need
to educate and improve relationships with those
powerful business interests.
YES
NO Kevin Mottus
I would insist on weekly meeting with the
Superintendent to discuss issues and work
through problems. I would reopen contract
negotiations and hire professional negotiators
to achieve a long overdue cost of living salary
increase retroactive to our last increase. I would
improve our health benefits by reinstating our
PPO coverage. I would insist that the district
redirect its wireless classroom program to a
safe and healthy wired program of internet
access to protect the health of all of ourstudents and teachers.
YES
NO
Marcos Ortega IIMost definitely, the union has an obligation
and a responsibly to get the most benefits for
its members and defend them, this cannot be
accomplished unless there is collaboration with
LAUSD. So it should be the job of the president
to be a mediator and find solutions that benefit
both parties. We must stretch out the olive
branch and work together for the benefit of ourcustomers, students. We shouldnt see LAUSD
as an enemy, but as a mother that wants her
children to grow up strong. We have one
unifying theme and thats childrens education,
together we can accomplish
YES
NO Innocent O. Osunwa
The media impression is out of touch with
the reality and not in furtherance of academ
excellence. UTLA owes no allegiance to th
media and must serve UTLAs lawful purpo
regardless of what the media impression is
the contrary, if the district leadership come
with unclean hands, UTLA has a duty to pr
its members.
YES
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19 YOUR UNIONYOUR VOICE
The Common Core State Standards were adopted in California in 2010, and yet many
teachers feel under-prepared and under-resourced for this transition.
Do you support the Common Core State Standards?
What role, if any, should the union take in the transition to Common Core?
Q4
Bill GaffneyYes, I support CCSS. It is essential that a
nation we can hold stakeholders account
for ensuring that all students are equippe
with 21st century skills no matter where t
live. UTLA is a professional union and it is
our responsibility to develop joint initiative
that support all teachers during the trans
process. However, both district and union
leaders have failed to develop an effectiv
system to scale the talent of their greates
resource: accomplished educators in the
LAUSD. I will work to build out a dynam
and evolving database of teacher-gene
lessons and resources right away.
YESDavid R. Garcia
As your acting president, I will focus on
supporting the enforcement and implementation
of all state mandates required of educators in
our profession. I support the new common core
curriculum, as required by California law, just
as I will uphold and support ALL state required
mandates.
I will consider it MY civic duty to report
suspected criminal activity to the appropriate
law enforcement agencies and punish those
who fail to meet the LAUSD high standards ofconduct, which includes LAUSD leadership
and its Superintendent. If you do something
wrong, like NOTreporting suspected child
abusers, you will be fired.
YES
NO Gregg Solkovits
But NOT the way that our district has rolled it
out. Like other district initiatives, the district
has rolled out Common Core in a top down,
unilateral manner, without UTLAs input. In
other California districts, unions and districts are
working together at a deliberate pace to insure
that ALL stakeholders understand Common
Core. In the LAUSD, implementation is being
rushed, as if to say we are the first in California
to do it! whether or not it was done well. This
MUST stop -- the district must look to its
teachers, and UTLA, as educational partners
and experts, NOT vassals.
YES
NO
Common Core
The opinions expressed herein solely reflect those of the individual candidates and not of Educators 4 Excellence.Candidates are listed in ballot order, as determined at the January 22 Candidate Orientation and found online atutla.net/system/files/ListCandidatesFeb11.pdf.
87.8%
of E4E teachers votissue as import
or critical
Based on survey to selectteacher-leaders representinleadership roles within theirdistrict (41 respondents). EdExcellence,E4E-LA LeadeDecember 2013.
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YOUR UNIONYOUR
Innocent O. OsunwaUTLA should assure teachers well prepare
and adequately equipped with the necessa
information, tools, and materials needed fo
transition. Furthermore, UTLA should work
getting LAUSD to lower class sizes and ho
all stakeholders, including students accou
for the standards, not just teachers.
Alex Caputo-Pearl
Union Power supports the goals of CCSS make curriculum and instruction more criti
thinking-rich for our students. However, CC
is fatally flawed when it is implemented wit
adequate support and tied to high-stakes
standardized testing. UTLA must aggressiv
organize against high-stakes testing, espe
cially when tied to evaluations. UTLA need
to demand, as part of a contract/communi
campaign, more educator control over pro
sional development and school improveme
As we support members to shape professdevelopment and school improvement, thi
re-asserts our expert role in schools and
us leverage to demand more resources, an
adequate preparation time, for both.
YES
Saul The Fighter LanksterI have used Common Core Standards in my
classroom; but I reserve judgment on the
imposition of an assessment system that is yet
to be defined, implemented and/or validated.
No implementation of Common Core Standards
will be successful without systemic Professional
Development for teachers and that ought to
include protected time during the school dayfor this effort. Instead of investing on electronic
devices, money should be invested in creating
protected time opportunities for teachers
to grow professionally. Most industrialized
countries that have high measures of student
academic achievement have invested in their
teachers first.
YES
NO
Leonard Segal
The Union should work with business and othercommunity organizations to teach life and job
skills and integrate the standards into those
lesson plans. Math should never be taught as
disembodied numbers. Math describes the
world. Warren Buffett, one of the richest men
in the world, bought his first stock when he was
in elementary school. Most of the students in
LAUSD come from poor homes. An example of
how to make school fun and relevant is teaching
students how to use math and other skills to
do extreme couponing which would save their
families thousands of dollars.
YES
NO Kevin Mottus
The consensus from teachers is that CommonCore represents a dumbing down of the
curriculum, which can be expected when you
use a program which has a goal of making
instruction uniform. This kind of system
naturally seeks to serve the average rather than
the excellent. In our new economy, we need
a focus on achieving real excellence utilizing
higher learning which emphasizes concept
formation, ingenuity, problem solving and team
work. The reality is that if students of the future
are going to have a satisfying and well paying
job they are probably going to have to create
it themselves.
YES
NO
YESMarcos Ortega II
What, I think, about common core is not
important, what is important is the district has
adopted it, thus we must implement it. So
our likes dont matter the ones that matter
are children. We wouldnt be trying Common
Core, if what we had in place was working.
So, as president, would request training and
work close with the experts, so we can meetthe challenges of the future. The Union should
never resist and be part of the solution. We
must embrace change and expect it to benefit
our students, ones tested we can determine
whether it was beneficial
YES
NO
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21 YOUR UNIONYOUR VOICE
Currently, teachers accused of misconduct are housed in alternate locations
with no teaching assignment and full pay.
Do you support reforming this process?
If yes, describe one significant change youd like to see in this process. If no,
why not?
Q5
Bill Gaffney
We must reform the time it takes to reaa just decisionfor the innocent and guilt
The issue has turned into a blame game
that is blurring the image of the vast majo
of educators who work relentlessly to pro
students a quality education within a safe
environment. The process is broken, but
dependent upon reforming outdated edu
codes. As President, I would reach out to
elected representatives directly, rather tha
solely relying on state-affiliate leaders, to
LAUSD leaders representing stakeholder
table to develop a collective vision to refo
this process.
YESDavid R. Garcia
Receiving full-pay while an investigation ofimpropriety is taking place needs to be re-
examined and dealt with in a timely manner.
Once elected, I will ensure accusations of
inappropriate conduct, sexual harassment, or
any other behavior not found to represent the
values of the Los Angeles School District would
face an immediate and swift condemnation!
No one will be exoneratedfor inappropriate
conduct such as sexually harassing co-
workers in a ranch in Kern county, suggesting
subordinates read explicit magazines orpornographic materials; falsifying professional
credentials, titles, doctoral work; or failing to
comply with mandated reporting to appropriate
law enforcement agencies.
YES
NO Gregg Solkovits
Dismissal laws should be changed, to shortenthe time needed to investigate, BUT due
process is a Constitutional Right and should
remain. The Buchanan bill passed last year was
so good, but it was vetoed. The Miramonte/
Telfair scandals were the result of LAUSD NOT
following its own protocols. Some wrongly
seize on these rare/horrible cases as a pretense
to strip educators of their constitutional rights.
LAUSD needs to follow its policies, investigate
accusations, and if the investigation turns up
evidence, then prosecute/fire perpetrators.
Those who are cleared by the police/DA, belong
back in the classroom.
YES
NO
Housed Teachers
The opinions expressed herein solely reflect those of the individual candidates and not of Educators 4 Excellence.Candidates are listed in ballot order, as determined at the January 22 Candidate Orientation and found online atutla.net/system/files/ListCandidatesFeb11.pdf.
85.36%
of E4E teachers vot
issue as import
or critical
Based on survey to selectteacher-leaders representinleadership roles within theirdistrict (41 respondents). EdExcellence,E4E-LA LeadeDecember 2013.
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YOUR UNIONYOUR
Innocent O. OsunwaI would like to see timely and thorough
investigation of each and every allegation
against each and every concerned individu
and I will work hard to see that justice prev
I will also like to see a limit placed on the
amount of time a teacher will be housed or
benefits without a hearing, and if no hearin
is conducted within that period, the chargeshould be dropped and the teacher returne
to his or her former position or similar posi
under the circumstances and free from any
of hostility at the location returned.
Alex Caputo-Pearl
Fighting for student safety and educators process must happen simultaneously. The
tricts current mass housed teacher strat
is a cynical attack on the profession and u
creating a climate of fear and draining unio
resources. UTLA must aggressively and pu
fight this while simultaneously taking the
on ensuring student safety and supporting
ucators professional conduct. Coalitions m
be built with communities organizing again
unjust teacher removals that have led to sc
destabilization. Coalitions must be built witopinion leaders who support professional c
duct and student safety, and who also dee
question LAUSDs motives with its housed
teacher strategy.
YES
Saul The Fighter LanksterI marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
andBull Connors Birmingham jailwas no
match for him. As UTLA President,I will close
John Deasys Teacher Jails. I will get rid
of our current lawyers and get topnotch legal
representation for every member of UTLA.
It is unjustifiable and indefensible to keep
professional educators in teacher jails. Theyare there without explanation or charges for
indefinite periods of time until they either
choose to resign, retire or be fired. A teacher is
guilty and removed from practice without due
process until proven innocent. This practice will
not be tolerated.
YES
NO
Leonard Segal
First I think something should be done aboutthere being no consequences for students
who traumatize a teacher by lying. A massive
outreach should be done for students about the
important role and hard work of teachers and
the importance of honesty and respect to all
school stakeholders. We should try to prevent
bullying of students and teachers. When there is
a need to investigate a teacher their time should
be used in professional development of helping
to grade papers, tutoring online, etc.
YES
NO Kevin Mottus
We need to give these teachers due processand either discipline them or return them to
the classroom and we need to do it in a timely
manner. There should be a time limit set and
if not met teachers should be returned to the
classroom.
In sum, as UTLA President I will empower
our teachers. I will give them a voice. I will
fight for their health and well being. I will
be their champion. I will demand that our
teachers get the respect, protection andcompensation they deserve for all they do
and sacrifice to serve our children.
YES
NO
YESMarcos Ortega II
I am in this predicament, they dehumanize
you, allow you no access to any of their
equipment, I thought I was still an employee,
and the equipment was the districts? We
should have access to a library, teaching
peraphanelia and other things needed. We,
in this process would love, for something to
do. We cannot even water the trees, that bythe way of dying of thirst. We want to work,
we need help, some one has to take a closer
look, and its humiliating.
YES
NO
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Bill Gaffney
I support differentiated compensation onlyit is tied to a career pathways system fo
accomplished classroom educators. We s
pay teachers who take on challenging and
additional roles more that impact teaching
learning. I support financial incentives as o
means to get master teachers into hard-to
schools or to take on roles as mentors. UT
and district leaders have failed to develop
vision for pathways for teachers to advanc
teaching and learning. Any such vision mu
also rely on a multiple measure evaluat
system built on observations and multip
forms of student learning.
YES
23 YOUR UNIONYOUR VOICE
The president of the National Education Association recently released a statement in
support of differentiated compensation.
Do you support differentiated compensation?
If yes, based on what factors? If no, why not?
Q6
David R. Garcia
I believein differentiated compensation!! Weneed to calculate an effective manner to reward
those who go above and beyond the call of
serving our public school children
I will promote district accountability for all Board
of Education members and the LAUSD Superin-
tendent. These people need to be paid accord-
ing to their qualifications and effectiveness, and
be recognized for their integrity and steward-
ship; financially rewarded for their academic
and professional qualifications and commended
for their honesty which we can maintain by
asking the L.A. County District Attorney to mon-
itor the LAUSD board of educations financial
expenditures and all campaign contributions.
YES
NO Gregg Solkovits
It depends on what you call DifferentiatedCompensation. I oppose merit pay. But I
DO believe educators who take on greater
responsibilities on a campus should be paid
more. For 18 years as chapter chair at a School
Based Management School, I helped run the
school in collaboration with the administrative
staff. My pay NEVER reflected the additional
work I did co-chairing the schools PD
Committee AND School Leadership Council.
Differentiated compensation for work of value
to the school/school community, but NOT
differentiated compensation based on test
scores, which were NEVER designed to provide
the basis of pay scales.
YES
NO
Differentiated Compensation
The opinions expressed herein solely reflect those of the individual candidates and not of Educators 4 Excellence.Candidates are listed in ballot order, as determined at the January 22 Candidate Orientation and found online atutla.net/system/files/ListCandidatesFeb11.pdf.
80.19%
of E4E teachers vot
issue as import
or critical
Based on survey to selectteacher-leaders representinleadership roles within theirdistrict (41 respondents). EdExcellence,E4E-LA LeadeDecember 2013.
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YOUR UNIONYOUR
Alex Caputo-Pearl
Union Power supports differentiatedcompensation based on earned degrees a
study, years of experience, and additional
duties taken on (for example, grade level o
department chair). Differentiation based on
student test scores, or on other elements
substantially outside of educators control
serves to amplify, not ameliorate, chronic
inequalities in public education. Moreover,
this type of differentiation undermines the
collaboration between educators that is at
core of building quality schools.
YES
Saul The Fighter LanksterI support differentiated compensation in limited
cases governed by agreed upon criteria and
objectively determined and implemented.
YES
NO
Leonard Segal
I do not support differentiated compensationlinked to student performance. There are
too many variables outside of the control of
teachers and it becomes too easy to manipulate
the impact on teachers. I think pay should be
linked to the workload involved in continuing
education and classroom responsibilities. If you
want to add students to a classroom, increase
program requirements or require more training
and preparation then pay the teacher more for
the extra work involved.
YES
NO Kevin Mottus
No but I do believe in providing bonuses orincentives for teacher achievement like we pay
for additional education, training, or additional
duties on site. I do not believe in evaluating
or rewarding teachers based on test scores
because there are simply so many factors
affecting student achievement outside of school
and outside of a teachers control. By focusing
on test scores we would be encouraging
teachers to vie for the highest achieving
students. We would be encouraging new
teachers to go to other school districts who do
not feel the need to use such a biased testing
based system.
YES
NO
Marcos Ortega IIAny one, that has ever taught, knows its much
more work, for the same pay, logic alone
should resolve this. The hardest thing is trying
to teach when kids are at different levels, this
requires different curriculum, different style,
and is extremely consuming. If, we cannot
make our classes homogeneous as far as
level or skill, then teaching them requires morework=more pay.
YES
NO Innocent O. Osunwa
It appears to be discriminatory and has a
potential to be unfairly applied. Furthermo
it fails to take into consideration any and
all other factors that contribute to or affect
students success.
YES
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Bill Gaffney
Yes. In fact, educators at hard-to-staff schohave been utilizing Restorative Justice for ye
It still stands as a shiny policy that has not
led to a holistic set of measurable outcomes
In order to put teethbehind the policy, UT
must do more to negotiate for an effective
system of wraparound services for at-risk
students. Although I applaud the decrease
the number of suspensions, especially of ou
African American youth, we are far from plac
the right resources into the hands of school-
site stakeholders to implement and sustain
restorative justice practices in all schools.
YESDavid R. Garcia
Willful defiance is not an objective violation ofclassroom rules and pedagogy. Students should
not be punished for subjective classroom infrac-
tions, but suspended for legitimate violations
that cannot be refuted and can be substantiated
by facts. Under my leadership, willful defiance
will be limited to egregious violations of the law,
such as falsifying professional credentials, asso-
ciations with federally convicted felons, failing to
report alleged child abusers to the appropriate
authorities in Sacramento, embezzlement, or
misappropriation of district funds. Willful defi-
ance should only be limited to serious offenses,
and no one should be exempt from obeying the
law, including LAUSD leadership.
YES
NO
25 YOUR UNIONYOUR VOICE
LAUSD recently moved to end suspensions for willful defiance and utilize
Restorative Justice practices by 2020.
Do you support this new district direction?What role, if any, should the union take in this shift to end student suspensions for
willful defiance?
Q7
Gregg Solkovits
The goal of reducing suspensions and keepingstudents in the classroom is an important
goal. As a 28+ years teacher who did NOT
send students out of a classroom much, I
understand how a flat policy of NO suspensions
for Willful Defiance makes it harder for to
maintain discipline in what are among the
most crowded classrooms nationwide. When
one students misbehavior takes away the
opportunity for other students to learn, that
is wrong. A top down approach to instituting
change was NOT the right way to go about
dealing with the issue of too many suspensions.
YES
NO
School Climate
The opinions expressed herein solely reflect those of the individual candidates and not of Educators 4 Excellence.Candidates are listed in ballot order, as determined at the January 22 Candidate Orientation and found online atutla.net/system/files/ListCandidatesFeb11.pdf.
72.5%
of E4E teachers vot
issue as import
or critical
Based on survey to selectteacher-leaders representinleadership roles within theirdistrict (41 respondents). EdExcellence,E4E-LA LeadeDecember 2013.
O OS O
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YOUR UNIONYOUR
Innocent O. OsunwaUTLA should seek to ascertain whether thi
shift is reasonable and/or will have a detrim
effect in the classroom and/or school as a
whole. I believe there is a need to challeng
this move if there is evidence to show that
the benefits of such shift outweigh its burd
On the contrary, UTLA should work with
LAUSD to find better ways of handling thepotential burdens posed by the shift. Such
may include but not limited to lowering cla
sizes, increasing support services and prov
reasonable alternatives to suspension.
Alex Caputo-Pearl
Alternative discipline necessitates dramatimore staffing restorative justice builds co
nections between students and adults. As
of the Schools LA Students Deserve con
community campaign, UTLA should fight f
more HHS personnel decimated by LAUS
cuts along with lower class size, and edu
training/support. Educators need to be ab
guide students having difficulties to produc
tive, well-staffed places within school. LAU
has failed before, passing Positive Behavio
Support in 2007, but inadequately resourcit. Recently, sadly, the superintendents pr
interest around willful defiance has been
make headlines our interest, with parents
and students, is to actually make alternativ
discipline work.
YES
Saul The Fighter LanksterI do not agree with eliminating suspensions for
willful defiance. The individuals who came out
with this proposal have never stepped a foot
into todays inner city public school classrooms.
Teachers need to have options when willful
defiance can quickly escalate into other more
serious situations.
YES
NO
Leonard Segal
Suspension hurts the family and doesnt helpthe student. Classroom suspension where the
student is diverted to a campus program is ok.
Willful defiance is a call for help. The Impact
Program should be restored. More help and
services should be provided for parents and
family. We need to focus on programs and
services that heal people and prevent problems.
The Union should work with all stakeholders to
facilitate implementation of these programs.
YES
NO Kevin Mottus
I believe in focusing on the needs of the victimand the offender inherent to a Restorative
Justice approach because I understand that
there are real psychological, cultural and
societal issues that contribute to the reasons
that offenders offend and these issues need
to be addressed. However in the school
environment, there also has to be a definite limit
set for egregious offenses which suspensions
provide. The two do not have to be mutually
exclusive and ideally they can work together
in an environment that provides emotional and
physical safety for all while addressing the
needs of victims and offenders.
YES
NO
YESMarcos Ortega II
Spare the rod (suspension) spoil the child, is
what, I say. The union Should aggressively fight
this. As stated, I am in teacher jail; I Noticed a
young man sexually assault a young lady with
a foreign object. He wasnt suspended or even
arrested, I was moved to the Compound (we
inmates call it this), ECS North. The female
school police officer, said I should, walk aroundwith blinders, I became livid, thus they said I
was the problem, for I overreacted, really. My
daughter went to my school, my son goes to
this school, I was appalled.
YES
NO
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27 YOUR UNIONYOUR VOICE
The Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) provides an opportunity for LAUSD to
invest differently in students and schools.
Should the majority of those dollars be spent locally by staff and parents at schools,or centrally by UTLA and LAUSD leadership?
Please explain your selection.
Q8
Bill GaffneyLCFF dollars must be spent locally on
student-focused initiatives. School-site
must be granted the autonomyto stab
class sizes for core classes that directly
student populations under the LCFF law
at the same time be held accountable to
implement additionalintervention progr
wraparound services, and resources for
students that are tied to their Single Plan
Student Achievement. The districts LCA
enough for parents to assess the impact
LCFF law. Parents should be able to eas
whether or not their tax dollars are servin
students needs at individual school site
LDavid R. Garcia
The billion dollar question really being askedhere is, can local control of budgetary spending
be more effective than district wide oversight?
Under LAUSD, there has been a continued
mismanagement of funds, everything from over
156 million dollars missing from a free lunch
programto the 2 billion dollar iPad experiment
and debacle unfolding before us.
The truth of the matter is, neither of these ideas
will ever work independently of themselves. A
new paradigm must be considered and that is,
both local budgetary control and centralized
oversight must be realized to effectively ensure
academic achievement and student success.
L C Gregg Solkovits
A combination. For 34 years I have advocatedfor local control. Shared Decision Making,
School Based Management, Pilot Schools,
Expanded School Based Management
AND the LIS model are ALL ideas UTLA
either suggested OR supported from the
start. HOWEVER, not all schools work in
collaboration, and not all schools Councils
work well. Often spending decisions at
school sites have resulted in basic services
NOT being funded at schools, services that
parents EXPECT our schools to provide for
their students, and yet, they dont. I would have
these services centrally funded, with other
spending decisions at the local school sites.
L C
School Funding
The opinions expressed herein solely reflect those of the individual candidates and not of Educators 4 Excellence.Candidates are listed in ballot order, as determined at the January 22 Candidate Orientation and found online atutla.net/system/files/ListCandidatesFeb11.pdf.
72%
of E4E teachers vot
issue as import
or critical
Based on survey to selectteacher-leaders representinleadership roles within theirdistrict (41 respondents). EdExcellence,E4E-LA LeadeDecember 2013.
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H t R
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29 YOUR UNIONYOUR VOICE
How to Run
Before filing,
make sure youve been ingood standing (with your
dues up to date) for the last
24 months, and in good
standing with your affiliate
(NEA or AFT) for the last 12
months. To inquire about your
standing, contact the UTLA
Membership Department at
(213) 487-5560.
File a Declaration
of Intent to Run Form
by the deadline (this
election cycles deadline
was January 17, 2014)
via mail or in person
(fax and email are not
acceptable).1
Submit one statement
and photograph to
UTLA for free distribution
on your behalf (but
check online to make
sure you meet all
conditions for
distribution).
Get the word out!
You can recruit volunteers to
help spread the word abou
your campaign,
collect donations to cover
the cost of the campaign an
distribute materials to
tell people what you
stand for and aim to
accomplish.
1utla.net/system/files/Declaration_of_Candidacy_Revised.pdf
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YOUR UNIONYOUR
For far too long, education policy has been created without a critical voice
at the tablethe voice of classroom teachers. Educators 4 Excellence (E4E),
a teacher-led organization, is changing this dynamic by placing the voices
of teachers at the forefront of the conversations that shape our classrooms
and careers.
E4E has a quickly growing national network of educators united by our
Declaration of Teachers Principles and Beliefs. E4E members can learn
about education policy and research, network with like-minded peers andpolicymakers and take action by advocating for teacher-created policies
that lift student achievement and the teaching profession.
Learn more at Educators4Excellence.org.
http://educators4excellence.org/http://educators4excellence.org/ -
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YOUR UNION YOUR VOICE
Voter Guide
2014 UTLA Presidential Election
Addendum
NAME Position Race/Ethnicity GenderYears
Teaching
National
Board
Certified
Previous Union
Leadership PositionsDoes the union need to work to improve
its relationship with district leadership?
Do you support the Common
Core State Standards?
Do you support ending
willful defiance?
Should LCFF dollars be
spent locally or centrally?
Do you support
differentiated compensation?
Do y
proc
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Warren FletcherEnglish Teacher on 3-year leave
to serve as UTLA PresidentWhite/Caucasian M
Board of Directors; House of Representa-
tives; Chapter Chair; East Area Treasurer;UTLA Parliamentarian; PACE Steering
Committee; State Council of Education
29
What inspired you to run for union president?
Warren Fletcher
I ran for UTLA President in 2011 because I
believed that the organization had drifted away
from its core mission and its core priorities:
protecting member pay, securing quality
benefits and safeguarding the professional
rights of teachers. In 2011, we all saw that
the union was in freefall. I chose to run for
president because I understood that LAUSD
teachers (and HHS professionals) needed and
deserved to have a union that is a serious
and credible advocate for them and for their
students. Since taking office, that belief has
animated and informed all of my work as
president.
Warren Fletcher
My core priorities, and those of the union will
remain what they always have been: salaries,
benefits and protecting member rights. But, in
the aftermath of the Great Recession, and with
the dollars from both Proposition 30 and the
LCFF now arriving, restoring full staffing must
be priority number one. This means bringing
class sizes back down to pre-recession levels,
most immediately in Middle and High Schools.
It also means restoring the vital library, nursing,
mental health and arts services that were sav-
aged. We cant allow the slashed staffing of the
last six years to become the new normal.
Warren Fletcher
Yes, but a qualified yes. UTLA and the District
both have an obligation to do what they can
to avoid counterproductive behavior, and to
interact in an efficient and adult manner. But
that can never be achieved by the union alone.
Respect is always a two-way street, and when
the senior leadership of the District intentionally
and deliberately pursues a policy of marginal-
izing the input and opinions of teachers, UTLA
must respond accordingly. UTLA will always
seek productive outcomes with the District, but
only within a relationship informed by respect
for our profession.
Too often, the union is painted in the media as
simply an adversary to the district. Although there
are steps both sides can take, as a candidate for
the unions highest office, do you think the union
has an obligation to work to improve its relationship
with district leadership?
If yes, what would you do to proactively improve
this relationship?
If no, why not?
If you were to win this election, what would
be the first three priorities you would take on
as president?
YES
NO
YOUR UNIONYOUR VOICEADDENDUM
YES n/a* n/a* n/a* n/a*
Warren Fletcher
CCSS will be a success or failure based on
whether teachers believe in them. The new
standards are being heralded as a revolution-
ary new magic bullet. They are not. They are
in some ways better than, and in some ways
inferior to, the standards they are replacing.
Nonetheless, they are upon us, and, as educa-
tors, it is our responsibility to make them work
for our students. Sadly, LAUSD has consistent-
ly treated CCSS implementation as a top-down
bureaucratic compliance activity, rather than as
an opportunity for teachers to collaboratively
improve instruction. UTLAs job is to reverse
that direction.
Warren Fletcher
The Housed Teacher system has, during the
era of John Deasy, devolved into an inefficient
and deeply unfair, illogical system. Unlike in
the past, teachers who are housed today can
expect to languish for months or even year
without even knowing what they are even
accused of. A nd, as the Districts own statistic s
have shown, the system now overwhelmingly
targets older, high earning teachers. In light of
this new statistical information, I have directed
UTLAs attorneys to initiate the filing of federal
and state age discrimination complaints.
Warren Fletcher
Differentiated compensation
column and NBCT differen
for many years. However,
compensation has, in recen
bling turn. It is one thing to
compensation for additiona
students and the school. B
ed compensation becomes
to leverage teacher pract
well-rounded curriculum, a
prep model of instruction, it
speak out against that tren
The president of the Natio
Association recently relea
support of differentiated c
Do you support di fferentia
If yes, based on what fact
Currently, teachers accused of misconduct
are housed in alternate locations with no
teaching assignment and full pay.
Do you support reforming this process?
If yes, describe one significant change youd
like to see in this process. If no, why not?
The Common Core State Standards were
adopted in California in 2010, and yet many
teachers feel under-prepared and under-
resourced for this transition.
Do you support the Common Core State
Standards?
What role, if any, should the union take in the
transition to Common Core?
YES
NO
YES
NO
*Candidate did not answer due to current position as acting UTLA President. YOUR UNION
*
LAUSD recently moved to end suspensions The Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) How We Engaged the Candi
-
8/12/2019 Your Voice, Your Vote
34/34
for willful defiance and utilize Restorative
Justice practices by 2020.
Do you support this new district direction?
What role, if any, should the union take in this
shift to end student suspensions for willful
defiance?
provides an opportunity for LAUSD to invest
differently in students and schools.
Should the majority of those dollars be spent
locally by staff and parents at schools, or
centrally by UTLA and LAUSD leadership?
Please explain your selection.
Warren FletcherThe debate over suspensions and willful
defiance ignores an important fact: while
Restorative Justice practices can, in the right
environment, foster good outcomes, they cant
do so in a vacuum. Since 2008, student coun-
seling and mental health services have been
slashed at every campus in the District, with the
deepest cuts coming at inner city schools. Sus-
pension should never be the first response, but
when counseling and supports are eliminated,and when it then becomes the only available
response, all students are harmed. UTLAs role
is to advocate for students, which means the
restoration of HHS professionals.
Warren FletcherDistribution must be balanced between local
funding and central funding. Over the last
decade, both UTLA and the District have placed
greater emphasis on local budgeting autonomy.
As we learned during the recession years, this
sometimes had unintended negative conse-
quences, as school communities were faced
with the painful choice of which vital functions
and services to save, and which to jettison.
There must be a Districtwide guaranteed base-line of services, like Arts instruction, libraries
and nursing, that every student, at every school,
has access to, regardless of local budgetary
decisions. Autonomy is important, but it cannot
trump student needs.
All presidential candidates who provcontact information to the UTLA ElectCommittee received the candidate suby email and were given at least two
weeks to respond. Candidates who mcontact with Educators 4 Excellence athe printing deadline are included in addendum.
All presidential candidates were infothat they had a limit of 100 words torespond to each question. To ensurefairness, any responses exceeding th
word limit were cut at exactly the 10word.
All responses in this addendum areprinted exactly as written by thecandidates, without edits for contentclarity. The responses submitted solereflect the opinions of each individuacandidate and not of Educators 4Excellence. Educators 4 Excellencetransmits the responses without anyknowledge, actual or constructive,regarding their truthfulness.
YES
NO L C
g g
* *
*Candidate did not answer due to current position as acting UTLA President.
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