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Award-Winning Newspaper of United Teachers Los Angeles • www.utla.net Volume XLVI, Number 11, July 21, 2017

Summer prep for big year aheadAll roads lead through our contract campaign for the Schools LA Students Deserve.

UTLA is gearing up for major collective action in the new school year, when everything will be on the line for our schools and our profession. This year, the path forward for public education runs right through our contract campaign for the Schools LA Students Deserve.

• By fighting for a fair pay raise and protection of active and retiree health benefits, we support educator retention and recruitment and help address the looming teacher shortage.

• By advocating for lower class sizes and bringing more staff and support for our students, we hit back at the billionaire privatizers who would dis-mantle public education by starving schools and recklessly expanding unregulated charters.

• By organizing collective action, we increase school-site power to rep-resent members, enforce the contract, and address school-site concerns that impact educators daily.

• By escalating our actions, we create leverage at the local, state, and na-tional level for increased school funding, accountability for charter operators, and support for the Community Schools model.

Our current collective bargaining agreement expired in June, and UTLA is at the table with a comprehensive package of proposals for the Schools LA Students Deserve that hits on a wide span of critical issues, including competi-tive pay, class size, staffing, testing, school climate and student discipline, and enhanced professional rights. UTLA’s salary demand is for a 7% permanent salary increase, retroactive to July 2016. On June 20, LAUSD responded with an unacceptable 2% one-time salary payment.

Escalating actions build the power to winAs we did together in 2014-15, when UTLA members won a great pay

raise and improvements for our schools, we will be engaging in escalat-ing collective actions in support of our contract proposals. The goal is to settle a contract that meets our demands without a strike, but we must be prepared for one. Our actions will be powered by an aggressive organiz-ing plan being finalized at the UTLA Leadership Conference and in other sessions before school begins in August.

California must do better with school fundingOur strategic plan will fold in all the elements critical to success, includ-

ing continuing our coalition-building with parents, community groups, and labor allies and launching a major media campaign. That media effort will drive a wider public focus on the dismal level of per-pupil funding in California, which is currently 46th in the nation. With such shamefully low funding, there is only so much we can do to achieve the resources, staffing, and support that our students deserve. Educators know only too well that per-pupil funding in the state is among the lowest in the nation, but most Californians have no idea that school funding is so meager. According to a 2012 survey by the Public Policy Institute of California, only 36% of Cali-fornians think that the state’s per-pupil spending for K-12 public education is below average compared to other states. Our media campaign will move the message about the need to raise revenue and commit a greater slice of our state’s sizable economic resources to our neighborhood public schools.

Stay updated: Latest bargaining developments posted at www.utla.net/mem-bers/bargaining. UTLA “News to Use” emails to members restart in August. If you didn’t receive these emails last school year, go to www.utla.net/members/update-your-information to submit your current information and non-LAUSD email address.

Star educators win Platinum ApplesUTLA honors excellence in education

Page 4

Charter accountabilitylegislation Page 7

Advocating for Community Schools Page 5

UTLA contract bargaining Page 6

Inside stories

United Teacher • for the latest news: www.utla.net July 21, 2017

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President’s perspective

Gearing up for an epic yearBy Alex Caputo-Pearl UTLA President

Summer is an essential time for relax-ing and recharging—but the reality is that many UTLA members find ways to keep working. From teaching summer school to retooling lesson plans or taking learn-ing vacations at historic sites, the whole “summers off” thing may be an outdated concept.

If you’re a UTLA Board member, you’ve spent a good chunk of your break working with UTLA staff on our aggressive organiz-ing plan to win a new contract and enforce the current one.

If you’re a UTLA site leader, you’ve likely cleared the last weekend in July to attend the UTLA Leadership Confer-ence, where you’ll be getting practical support for organizing for our contract campaign and defending members’ rights on uniform staffing procedures, class sizes, and other issues.

Our bargaining team also has been hard at work, meeting with LAUSD officials for multiple negotiation sessions and putting additional proposals from our Schools LA Students Deserve campaign on the table (read more on page 5).

Community organizations have been key partners in our strategic planning over the summer. We’ve had joint sessions on “bargaining for the common good” to look at how community concerns can be linked with our contract demands. Many more of these meetings will be held in the coming months. At the School Board, the voices of parents, educators, and students, organized by Reclaim Our Schools L.A., were the deciding factor in the unanimous passage in June of a resolution supporting Community Schools (see page 5). Expand-ing and strengthening our network of com-munity/labor partners—locally, statewide, and nationally—is critical to building the power we need to succeed.

Part of my summer has been spent talking with Superintendent Michelle King and LAUSD School Board members. This is not the School Board lineup we wanted, but it is the board we have, and it is the board that will be voting on our contract and health benefits.

During the break, the new UTLA Board of Directors came on board, and two great people from our 2014-17 team, Betty For-rester and Colleen Schwab, left office. Betty was an unstoppable force at the bargain-ing table, helping negotiate our 10% pay raise in 2015 and protecting our health benefits from cuts year after year. Colleen was unstoppable in resolving school-site issues, notably holding LAUSD’s feet to the fire during the MiSiS crisis and winning victories for teachers who had been un-justly pulled from their classrooms. Theirs will be tough shoes to fill, but we have a dynamic new team on board, and both Betty and Colleen are staying active in UTLA. You can read more about the new lineup of officers on this spread and see all the names of the new UTLA Board of Di-rectors on the updated masthead to the left.

Our work over the summer means we will be ready to hit the ground running

when school begins. Our driving priorities: • A good contract agreement that

makes our schools great places to work and learn by achieving pay increases, pro-tecting active and retiree health benefits, improving class sizes and staffing, invest-ing in Community Schools, improving school climate and student discipline, and enhancing professional rights, including academic freedom relative to standardized tests and mandates.

• Fighting for more funding from the state for public education.

• Pushing back against privatization and bringing accountability to the unregu-lated charter school market.

• Resisting the anti-immigrant, anti-woman, anti-Muslim, anti-LGBTQ, anti-worker, anti-public education policies coming from D.C. that target our com-munities, our students, and our union.

We will not be able to win—at the bargaining table, at school sites, in Sac-ramento, and beyond—without escalat-ing collective action. With our contract having expired in June and our health benefits expiring in December, we will bargain as hard as we can to reach an agreement and avoid a strike, but we must be ready and organized for all possibilities.

We have an intense year ahead of us. No doubt about it. But we have each other to lean on, to take inspiration and energy from, as we take on this incred-ibly important work. Have a great rest of the summer.

Meet the new officer team

periodic assessments to protest excessive testing. During the RIF layoff crisis, she led “Red Hot Monday” actions, at which UTLA members “pink-slipped” LAUSD bureau-crats. As the UTLA/NEA Vice President, she has engaged members in affiliate activities and worked with community partners to bring resources to schools, like Honey Shine Inc., a mentoring and self-esteem program for young girls of color. She has helped shape racial justice within the work of the union through critical dialogue and forums, with student voices front and center.

Cecily’s message to members: “We have intense work ahead of us. Privatization schemes, union-busting efforts, threats to our profession, and attacks on people for race, religion, gender, and immigration status are on the rise. Together we as educators can make a difference in these fights. As affili-ate president, my goals over the next three years include creating leadership opportu-nities for ethnic minorities, broadening the community/partner work of our affiliates, and building strength for UTLA through state and national relationships. There is much work to be done, so let’s get to it!”

(continued on next page)

United Teacher PRESIDENT Alex Caputo-Pearl NEA AFFILIATE VP Cecily Myart-Cruz AFT AFFILIATE VP Juan Ramirez ELEMENTARY VP Gloria Martinez SECONDARY VP Dan Barnhart TREASURER Alex Orozco SECRETARY Arlene Inouye

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Jeff Good

BOARD OF DIRECTORSNORTH AREA: Karla Griego, Chair (Buchanan ES),

Mark Ramos (Contreras LC), Rebecca Solomon (RFK UCLA Comm. School), Julie Van Winkle (LOOC Liason)

SOUTH AREA: Maria Miranda, Chair (Miramonte ES), Ayde Bravo (Maywood ES), L. Cynthia Matthews

(McKinley ES), Karen Ticer-Leon (Tweedy ES)

EAST AREA: Adrian Tamayo, Chair (Lorena ES), Ingrid Gunnell (Salary Point Advisor), Erica Huerta

(Garfield HS), Gillian Russom (Roosevelt HS)

WEST AREA: Erika Jones Crawford, Chair (CTA Director), Georgia Flowers Lee (Saturn ES), Noah Lippe-Klein

(Dorsey HS), Jennifer Villaryo (Grand View ES)

CENTRAL AREA: José Lara, Chair (Santee EC), Kelly Flores (Hawkins HS), Tomas Flores (West Vernon ES), Claudia Rodriquez (49th Street)

VALLEY EAST AREA: Scott Mandel, Chair (Pacoima Magnet), Victoria Casas (Beachy ES), Mel House (Elementary P.E.), Hector Perez-Roman (Arleta HS)

VALLEY WEST AREA: Bruce Newborn, Chair (Hale Charter), Melodie Bitter (Lorne ES), Wendi Davis

(Henry MS), Javier Romo (Mulholland MS)

HARBOR AREA: Steve Seal, Chair (Eshelman ES), Karen Macias-Lutz (Del Amo ES), Jennifer McAfee

(Dodson MS), Elgin Scott (Taper ES)

ADULT & OCCUP ED: Matthew Kogan (Evans CAS)

BILINGUAL EDUCATION: Cheryl L. Ortega (Sub Unit)

EARLY CHILDHOOD ED: Corina Gomez (Pacoima EEC)

HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES: Mallorie Evans (Marlton Spec Ed)

SPECIAL ED: Lucia Arias (Knollwood ES)

SUBSTITUTES: Benny Madera

PACE CHAIR: Marco Flores

UTLA RETIRED: John Perez

AFFILIATIONS American Federation of Teachers National Education Association

STATE & NATIONAL OFFICERSCFT PRESIDENT: Joshua Pechthalt

CTA PRESIDENT: Eric Heins CTA DIRECTOR: Erika Jones Crawford CFT VICE PRESIDENT: Betty Forrester

NEA PRESIDENT: Lily Eskelsen Garcia AFT PRESIDENT: Randi Weingarten

NEA DIRECTOR: Mel House

UTLA COMMUNICATIONS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Alex Caputo-Pearl

COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: Anna BakalisCOMMUNICATIONS SPECIALISTS:

Kim Turner, Carolina Barreiro, Tammy Lyn GannADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT: Laura Aldana

EDITORIAL INFORMATIONUNITED TEACHER

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UNITED TEACHER accepts paid advertisements from outside companies and organizations, including UTLA sponsors and vendors with no relationship with UTLA. Only approved vendors can use the UTLA logo in their ads. The content of an advertisement is the responsibility of the advertiser alone, and UTLA cannot be held responsible for its accuracy, veracity, or reliability. Appearance of an advertisement should not be viewed as an endorsement or recommendation by United Teachers Los Angeles.

United Teacher (ISSN # 0745-4163) is published monthly (except for an extra election issue in January and a com-bined June/July issue) by United Teachers Los Angeles, 3303 Wilshire Blvd., 10th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90010. Subscriptions: $20.00 per year. (Price included in dues/agency fee of UTLA bargaining unit members.) Periodical postage paid at Los Angeles, California. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to United Teachers Los Angeles, 3303 Wilshire Blvd., 10th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90010. Telephone 213-487-5560.

Cecily Myart-CruzUTLA/NEA Vice President

Cecily Myart-Cruz has taught for 22 years, at both elementary and middle school levels. As a UTLA Area leader, she worked with educators, parents, and the community to oust 24 “lemon” principals and collaborated with schools to boycott

Juan RamirezUTLA/AFT Vice President

Juan Ramirez has 20 years’ teaching experience in kindergarten and grades second through fourth. He also taught adult education for nine years. As UTLA Elementary Vice President, he worked with teachers, parents, and community members to counter Parent Revolution as well as standing up for teachers harassed by administrators and the district. He also served as vice president for the CFT’s Early Childhood/K-12 committee, which ad-vocates for educators and students at the state level. As part of his commitment to working with the community, he has hosted a Spanish radio show and written for a Spanish-language newspaper.

Juan’s message to members: “My pri-ority in the coming years is to work in sync with our state and national affili-ates to support the work we are doing to push back on the privatizers who would dismantle public education. Whatever happens in LA will affect the rest of the nation. Every school should feel sup-ported and connected to UTLA, and I will continue working toward that end, as well as advocating for authentic re-lationships with our parents and com-munities. I look forward to working with a dedicated group of officers who will work hard to make sure that these goals are accomplished.”


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Get connected to UTLA Facebook: facebook.com/UTLAnow

Twitter: @utlanow

YouTube: youtube.com/UTLAnow

4 Staff stars recognized with UTLA Platinum Apples Colleagues honor their own for excellence in education.

5 School Board takes stand on Community Schools Members unanimously pass resolution in support of the model.

6 UTLA Bargaining Flash Latest on contract talks and our bargaining priorities.

7 Charter accountability legislation update Progress on the bills to bring transparency to charter operations and support for Community Schools.

Roosevelt High School students signed a banner to demand the release of alumna Claudia Rueda, who was seized by border patrol last month. See page 5.

In this issue

PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE (continued from previous page)

Daniel BarnhartUTLA Secondary Vice President

Along with National Board certification in science, Daniel Barnhart has a math cre-dential to go with his 13 years in the class-room. He has served as UTLA chapter chair, UTLA/PACE vice chair, North Area chair for six years, and UTLA Secretary for the past three years. At the school site, he has served as a lead teacher, peer mentoring sponsor, Local School Leadership Council chair, and technology coordinator. Barnhart is also a trainer for the AFT’s Education Re-search & Dissemination (ER&D) program.

Daniel’s message to members: “Thank you for giving the new officers the most important gift a leadership team can have: the trust and aspirations of our members so that we can help continue the revival of our union and of public education in a city where powerful interests have put our profession and the lives of the children we serve under attack. As your Secondary Vice President, I’ll be focused on making connec-tions between members and schools across the city, around issues affecting youth and our diverse membership. As one of your instructional vice presidents, along with Gloria Martinez, we will connect classroom issues to community concerns, pedagogy, and professional rights as well as student and parent dreams, and we will organize our members to ensure our voices are heard, at the school site, at Beaudry, and beyond. I’m excited to continue this work with you.”

Gloria MartinezUTLA Elementary Vice President

Gloria Martinez, a National Board Cer-tified Teacher in Special Needs, has been teaching for 16 years and holds credentials in general and special education. A long-time chapter chair, she has also served on the UTLA Board of Directors for East Area. In 2014, Gloria went to the bargain-ing table to hammer away at LAUSD’s implementation of MiSiS and its impact on ELL and special needs students and the educators who serve them. She has been a key member of UTLA’s Organizing Team, which planned the escalating actions and the Stand at Grand rally at City Hall in 2015, and she played a key role in the systematic organizing behind the Build the Future, Fund the Fight campaign.

6 Accolades

6 Passings

7 UTLA Retirement Dinner Dance

8 Practical matters: Predesignating your doctor

14 UTLA-Retired

15 Bilingual issues

16 UTLA election financial statements

18 Classified

19 Grapevine

Financial Sustainability Task Force, he played a key role in the historic Build the Future, Fund the Fight initiative from its inception and assisted in shaping funding priorities, both at his school and on his neighborhood council. As an immigrant child growing up in poverty in the Valley, Alex understands the power of being part of a school community and will bring these foundations, along with proven leader-ship, to his role as UTLA Treasurer.

Alex’s message to members: “I am very honored and excited to have the opportu-nity to build on the successes of my prede-cessor, while preparing us for the battles that await us. I want to make sure that our finances continue to be transparent and reflect the direction of our union in the fight for the Schools LA Students Deserve!”

Arlene InouyeUTLA Secretary

Arlene Inouye is a proud Health and Human Services professional, having served as a Spanish bilingual speech and language specialist for 18 years in the East and North areas. In her two terms as UTLA Treasurer, she was a lead advocate for the Build the Future, Fund the Fight initiative to invest in the union by fixing UTLA’s

structural deficit and creating a solid fi-nancial foundation for the years to come.

Arlene’s message to members: “I am humbled and honored to have had the op-portunity to be your UTLA Treasurer for the past six years and to begin a new term as your UTLA Secretary and co-chair of the UTLA Bargaining Team. I believe that the fight for public education and workers’ rights is critical for the future of our democracy and is a pressing civil rights issue today. And because of this, I feel the deep privilege and challenge to be fighting with you for the Schools LA Students Deserve and against the Trump/DeVos/California Charter Schools Association privatization agenda. As UTLA Secretary, I will continue the ground-break-ing work that Daniel Barnhart began and ensure that our union governance structures run democratically and efficiently. I look forward to connecting with you personally at school sites, UTLA meetings, or electroni-cally. I am continually inspired by your dedi-cation to your students, profession, and the promise of public education for all.”

CorrectionsIn the list of School Board elec-

tion volunteers in the May UNITED TEACHER, Scott Mandel was listed in the wrong UTLA Area. He should have appeared in the Valley East Area, where he is currently serving as Area chair. The list should have also included UTLA member Josefina Trujillo-Gomez, who precinct walked with her husband, Luis Gomez. We regret the errors.

Alert us to errors: Please send cor-rections to UNITED TEACHER by email to [email protected].

Gloria’s message to members: “Thank you for the responsibility you have be-stowed on me and this group of officers. Your trust and support matters; it allows us to not only work collectively but push each other as a team. I am grateful to hold this position, which encompasses two of my passions: teaching and community work. The excitement in the UTLA building is un-deniable as we plan for a stronger union and make strides to push the labor movement to stand against corporate interests, and I look forward to working with our members to continue the fight against privatization and holding our district accountable to the students and communities we serve.”

Alex OrozcoUTLA Treasurer

Alex Orozco has been teaching at Madison Middle School since 2000. In his many years as chapter chair, he organized against co-location and led efforts to in-crease enrollment and build relationships with parents and the community. Alex was a leader in the “Repairs Not iPads” campaign. As a UTLA Board member, Alex has organized against bad principals, led training for chapter chairs, and organized multiple events. As a member of UTLA’s


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Colleagues honor excellence in education.

What makes a great teacher? The answer is complex and often elusive, but one thing is certain: Educators can be the best judge of excellence in the classroom and in our schools. Every year, UTLA members get a chance through the UTLA Platinum Apple awards to single out a staff member—a classroom teacher or health and human services professional—for special recog-nition. Educators are nominated by their colleagues for their achievements such as developing an innovative curriculum or an outstanding program or for exhibiting exemplary instructional techniques. The winners are then selected by the UTLA Platinum Apple Committee.

Here’s a look at the accomplishments of this year’s winners, who were celebrated at a May 19 dinner with friends, colleagues, and family.

Maria ArreolaCamellia Avenue Elementary

Maria Arreola attended Camellia Avenue Elementary and was an exemplary student. She joined our staff in 1997 and has served the school for the past 20 years. Maria is a dedicated teacher who helps her students overcome the barriers we see so often in our neighborhood. Whether guiding them through the challenge of learning in a second language or working through the constrict-ing effects of poverty, Maria always provides her students with a meaningful education. She also makes it a point to be aware of the issues in their personal lives. She reaches out to the families of her students to make sure the children are ready and able to take a seat in her classroom and learn. Her compassion-ate approach is reassuring, and in itself is a quiet act of resistance during difficult times.

—Cristina SalasChapter Chair

Lauren Frazier-DespartMartin Luther King Jr. Elementary

Mrs. Frazier-Despart is one of our most respected and highly regarded colleagues at our school. Mrs. Frazier-Despart has repeat-edly shown that not only does she have the

ability to excel in several areas of her own career, but she also has a passion for helping and assisting colleagues excel to promote student advancement and overall school improvement. Mrs. Frazier-Despart has re-ceived recognition for her ability to creatively teach all students. When entering her room, you can see evidence of the many projects and creative learning opportunities that her students have experienced. As a result of her work as the GATE coordinator, King Elemen-tary was designated a school for advanced studies. She has had meetings with parents of fifth-graders to help students qualify for the USC Neighborhood Initiative, a program that helps students enter a program that could allow them full scholarships to USC.

—Valerie AcharaChapter Chair

Aura LopezSecond Street Elementary

Mrs. Lopez makes each child feel special. She is that remarkable teacher who can reach students who act like they don’t want to learn or act like they don’t care. She is also that teacher who makes students reach for the stars. She breaks down concepts and teaches in a nonthreatening way. She is calm in her demeanor yet firm. Mrs. Lopez lets students know that they can learn and she will teach them. She cares. She has worn many hats—starting as an educational aide and then a living skills counselor, preschool teacher, administrator trainee, bilingual teacher, OCR literacy coach, ELD/RTI coordinator, and presently our ETK teacher. “Dedication” must be Mrs. Lopez’s middle name. She works tirelessly into the night at home to improve student achievement. Her niece asks her, “Why do you work so hard, Tia?” Her response, “Because they are my kids.”

—Rananah LubovitchChapter Chair

teacher who is well loved by her students. She is kind and funny with a deadpan sense of humor. She cries every time she reads To Kill a Mockingbird and Les Mis-erables. The kids know and love this. Ms. Shulman has brought survivors from the Darfur Genocide for her students to meet. She brought to campus an organization that sets up mock refugee camps and began the “End Genocide Now” club at our school. She has engaged students meaningfully in global issues through lit-erature and local activism. She opens the hearts of her students to a world that is bigger than them. She is as fired up about education now as she was 29 years ago.

—Jennifer RitzChapter Chair

Samantha SpencerEl Camino Real Charter High School

Samantha Spencer has been an in-spiration to both her students and col-leagues. She has shown herself to be an innovative, engaging teacher who works tirelessly to meet the needs of all her students, at all levels. Early in her teaching career at El Camino, Ms. Spencer instituted the 80-20 project. This was a student-centered, standards-based curriculum that encouraged stu-dents to complete projects that had a direct impact on the community. Eighty percent of classroom time was teacher led, and 20 percent was completely student directed. Students’ final projects were presented to the entire El Camino community, a school of more than 3,600 students, and served as an inspiration to students and teachers alike. Ms. Spencer, without a doubt, excels in every aspect of our profession.

—Jason KinsellaChapter Chair

Erin Fitzgerald-HaddadSan Fernando Institute of Applied Media

Mrs. Fitzgerald-Haddad helped write the proposal to establish the San Fernando Institute of Applied Media

pilot school and was one of its found-ing teachers. When the school first opened and many things were in a state of flux, she worked hard to keep the new school running smoothly, even taking on unpaid tasks. She has been the Leadership Teacher for three years and in that capacity has supervised her class in organizing, preparing for, and running events such as dances, extra-curricular activities, lunch-time school spirit activities, and fundraisers. Mrs. Fitzgerald-Haddad connects students’ prior knowledge, life experiences, and interests with learning goals in a variety of ways. She strives for excel-lence in herself, expects excellence in her students, and helps create excel-lence within the school. Mrs. Fitzgerald-Haddad is a remarkable teacher.

—Denise NoahChapter Chair

Darrell WarrenLos Angeles Academy Middle School

Mr. Warren is an excellent classroom teacher who uses a wide variety of resources to engage his students. He spends the weekends combing commu-nity resources such as libraries, factories, cultural sites, museums, websites, and businesses to find interesting materials that he brings to class and connects to the standards to get students reading, writing, discussing, and thinking at a college level. He runs essay and art con-tests and funds the prizes with his own money. He does book giveaways three to four times a year. He hosts school-wide events such as Literacy Night and Law Day. He also runs a variety of clubs—Movie Club, Radio Club, and Space Club—that engage students in meaningful ways. He never rests.

—Arthur LopezChapter Chair

The Platinum Apple Committee is Martha Bayer (Chair), Juanita Garcia, Shirley Hardley, and Carolina Saucedo. The secre-tary is Princess Sykes. Thanks to our corpo-rate sponsor for the event: National Teachers Associates.

Staff stars recognized with Platinum Apples

Tobey ShulmanSan Pedro High School Marine/

Math/Science Magnet

Tobey Shulman is a dedicated English


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Students and educators stand against immigration raids and deportation threats.

Parents, teachers, and education experts unite behind the model.

Education community rallies to “Free Claudia”

LAUSD School Board endorses Community Schools vision

The education community rallied on June 8 in support of Claudia Rueda, a Roosevelt High School graduate and Cal State L.A. student. The undocumented im-migrant rights activist was seized on May 18 by U.S. Customs and Border Protection while outside her family’s home in Boyle Heights. Rueda’s detention raised accusa-tions of retaliation because she helped lead a successful campaign to free her mother, who had been wrongfully detained in April in a border patrol raid.

The rally at Roosevelt High was or-ganized by the school’s UTLA chapter in collaboration with the Immigrant Youth Coalition (IYC), which Claudia is

a member of. The action added voices of educators and students to the demand to “Free Claudia” and end immigration raids. Following weeks of pressure from numerous community groups, including the IYC and the National Day Laborers’ Organizing Network, Claudia was re-leased on June 9.

“I see myself when I look at Claudia,” said Edna Galaviz, president of the Roo-sevelt High MEChA club. “Fighting for her mother, fighting for a better education, and helping lead her classmates against discrimination and attacks of ICE.”

Roosevelt High teacher Mariana Ramirez taught Rueda in her Advanced Placement U.S. History class during the 2011-12 school year.

“As educators it is our responsibility to ensure that students can learn and live without fear,” Ramirez said. “Claudia was one of my most exceptional students and a role model for the next generation. Her dedication to her community is exceptional, and I truly believe that her future contribu-tions as a soon-to-be college graduate will greatly benefit our society and our world, if she is allowed to continue on her path.”

Speakers at the Roosevelt rally included Luz Borjón Montalvo, coordinator of the Dreamers Resource Center at CSULA; Jazmin Hernandez, organizer with the Im-migrant Youth Coalition; Jason Yan, math teacher at Roosevelt; Enrique Ochoa, Latin American Studies professor at CSULA; and UTLA Secretary Arlene Inouye.

After her release, Rueda held a news con-ference and described her time in custody as “dehumanizing” and a “nightmare.”

“I just want to say thank you to every-

one across the state that has been helping me,” Rueda said, “and to not forget about other people who are detained, who are in my shoes, and that we need to keep fight-ing for everyone who’s being detained in this unjust immigration system.”

Rueda, who has been in the U.S. since she was six years old, said she will apply for protection under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program in the hopes of avoiding deportation. The fate of the DACA program remains uncertain; President Donald Trump repeatedly vowed to end the program during his campaign.

Rueda’s case underscores the threats to education posed by the immigration seizures happening across the country. When her mother was detained, Rueda

Roosevelt High School teacher Mariana Ramirez says that educators must ensure that students can “learn and live without fear.”

With a theme of “Education Not Deportation,” the education community rallied at Roosevelt High School on June 8 to demand an end to immigration raids.

After parents, teachers, and education professors spoke passionately in support of Community Schools, the LAUSD School Board unanimously passed a reso-lution on June 13 endorsing the model and creating a Community Schools Im-plementation Team. The motion passed under the leadership of outgoing LAUSD Board President Steve Zimmer.

In testimony before the School Board, advocates talked about how Community Schools are much more than a program—they’re a fundamental shift in what a school can be and a powerful way to bring resources and support to students.

“A lot of times the response we get is that there isn’t enough money, but what

about the money that’s being invested in privatization?” student Odalys Martinez told the School Board. “We should instead use that money to invest in more college counselors. We should use it to have smaller class sizes and health services. In our school, if you want to get any medical treatment, you have to wait until Wednesday because that’s the only time the nurse is available.”

The resolution creates a pathway for schools in the district to become Community Schools if they choose and establishes the six basic characteristics of what Community Schools should look like in Los Angeles:

1. Enriching curricular and extracur-ricular experiences that support the holistic development of students.

2. School-based health, mental health, and social services that offer essential sup-ports for students and their families.

3. Community-centered curriculum that engages youth in social inquiry and civic action.

4. Restorative justice programs that build a non-violent, respectful, and justice- enhancing community.

5. Professional development programs that link educators with families and commu-nity partners and provide educators with the knowledge and skills necessary to support community-based curriculum and school-

Trinity Elementary parent Alejandra Del-gadillo urges the School Board to support Community Schools.

Members of Reclaim Our Schools L.A. celebrate the passing of a resolution endorsing Community Schools. The group testified in May when the motion was introduced and came back in June to advocate for its passage.

stopped attending classes and began staying at a relative’s house because she didn’t feel safe at home.

In another prominent local case, Romulo Avelica-Gonzalez was arrested while drop-ping his daughter off at her Highland Park School. Seizing parents on their way to or from their children’s schools will lead to students staying home, disrupting their education and negatively impacting our learning communities. Documented or not, all students have the right to a public education free from fear and intimidation. UTLA will continue to work with parents and community groups to spread resources on immigrants’ rights and to stand united in the face of these unconscionable seizures, detentions, and deportations.

community partnerships. 6. Inclusive and demo-

cratic leadership structures that engage family members and community partners alongside educators and school staff as vital members of community school teams.

The resolution mandates that a working group, made up of district staff, com-munity schools experts and school stakeholders, prepare a roadmap for im-plementation and report to the Board within 180 days.

The speaker group at the Board meeting was organized by one of our coalition partners, Reclaim Our Schools L.A., and the resolution was endorsed by Advancement Project California, Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE), Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles (AAAJ), Brotherhood Crusade, California School Employees Association (CSEA), Clergy & Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE), Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA), Com-

munity Coalition (COCO), InnerCity Struggle (ICS), Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE), One LA, Schools LA Students Deserve, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 99, Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), Strategic Actions for a Just Economy (SAJE), and UTLA.


6

Sun

Shin

ing

neg

oti

ationS

impaSSe mediation

Fact-Finding

UTLA and LAUSD present the topics they intend to bargain.

If no agreement is reached, LAUSD can

legally and unilaterally impose its last, best, and final

proposals. UTLA can legally hold a job action, including a strike.

Both sides sit down, with a legal obligation to bargain in good faith

to attempt to reach an agreement.

A fact-finding panel will issue a report

with recommended terms of settlement,

but the parties do not have to agree to it.

Either side can declare that talks are deadlocked,

which leads to mediation.

A state-appointed mediator tries to get the two sides to reconcile their differences. If not successful, the mediator will send the parties to fact-finding.

District can im

pose

utLa

ca

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ike

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here

A tentative agreement can be reached at any time in the process.

On the table: 7% raise plus comprehensive package of proposals.Our UTLA bargaining team continues

to meet with LAUSD during the summer, holding sessions on June 1, June 20, and July 7, with another scheduled for late July. Among the proposals made over the summer:

• UTLA proposed a permanent and ongoing 7% salary increase retroactive to July 1, 2016. This is a fair demand that rec-ognizes the district’s financial position and will help retain qualified educators during a growing shortage of teachers and HHS pro-fessionals. On June 20, the district counter-proposed a one-time 2% off-schedule (not permanent) salary payment for 2017-18.

• As part of our ongoing effort to reduce class sizes, the district was notified that UTLA will not agree to renew Article XVIII, Section 1.5 in our new contract.

This section of the current contract, agreed to many decades ago, is a waiver of our statutory right to bargain over class sizes, and the district has abused it for years. It allows the district to unilaterally violate the class-size averages and maximums in our contract, but it expired with our current contract on June 30, 2017.

• Our bargaining team also proposed changes to contract language on trans-fers, student discipline, Adult & Career Education, Early Education centers, and substitute employees. These join earlier proposals on assessments, standardized testing, Educator Development & Support, assignments/matrix, leaves and absences, and more (all proposals at www.utla.net/members/bargaining).

Our priority is to get all the propos-als from our Schools LA Students Deserve platform on the table by August 21 so we are ready to hit the ground running in the new school year with our campaign of escalating collective actions to win a fair contract. The goal is to settle a contract that meets our demands without a strike, and the best way to do that is to be prepared for one.

Health benefits is bargained separately, together with all the employee unions in LAUSD. That bargain-ing may be especially contentious because LAUSD is likely to press for concessions. The health benefits agreement expires December 31.

Summer bargaining update

LAUSD honors 22 educators as “Teachers of the Year.”

Accolades

Twenty-two teachers have been se-lected as the LAUSD’s 2017-18 Teachers of the Year, an honor that recognizes their excellence, creativity, and ability to make a difference in the lives of their students. Ten of the District’s winning teachers are now qualified for the Los Angeles County Teachers of the Year competi-tion, which is part of the California and National Teachers of the Year programs.

The winners and a little about them:Youko Amemiya teaches kindergar-

ten, first, and second grades at Carson Street STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) Academy School. She previously taught English at a private high school in Torrance.

Carmen Ayala teaches English, Spanish, and seventh-grade Leader-ship at Audubon Middle School. She has been a teacher for eight years.

Michele Bethune teaches Honors English at Dodson Gifted/Highly Gifted/High Ability Magnet. She has been teaching middle school English since 1994.

Roxana Brock teaches special-needs children ages 3 to 5 at Telfair Elemen-tary School. She has been teaching for 20 years.

Dana Brooks teaches U.S. History and Government at John H. Francis Poly-technic High School. A former lawyer, she has been teaching for 10 years.

Daniel Buccieri teaches U.S. and World History at Venice High School. He has been teaching since 2003.

Kirsten Farrell teaches Sports Medicine, Sports Therapeutics, and Medical Termi-nology at Venice Adult School. She previ-ously taught in Japan and Switzerland.

Robert Garrett teaches fifth-grade at Chandler Learning Academy. He has been teaching since 1989.

Marina Henderson teaches third grade at Garvanza Elementary School. She worked as a journalist before becom-ing a teacher in 1994. For the past 20 years, she has mentored new teachers at UCLA’s Center X.

Misti Kemmer teaches fourth grade at Russell Gifted/Highly Gifted/High Ability

Magnet. She also is the school’s Gifted and Talented Education coordinator.

Grace Maddox teaches high school art at UCLA Community School, part of the Robert F. Kennedy Community Schools complex. She has been teaching for 12 years.

Carrie Merrihew teaches third grade at Seventh Street Elementary School and also is the student government and yearbook sponsor. She has been a multi-subject teacher for 17 years.

Heather Penrod teaches English and Social Studies at Reseda High School. She has been a teacher for 20 years.

Caroline Rhude teaches all grade levels of English, including Advanced Placement English and Composition, at Hamilton High School.

Lisa Robles teaches fourth and fifth grades at Lucille Roybal-Allard Ele-mentary School. She has been teaching elementary school for 27 years.

Ximena Rodriguez-Miller teaches English and also coaches the Academic Decathlon team at Monroe High School. She has been teaching for 17 years.

Jonathan Rubio-Garcia teaches Math, Statistics, and Probability and Ad-vanced Placement Statistics at Arleta High School.

Randi Seligson teaches English and Social Studies at Hale Charter Academy. She has taught middle school for more than 20 years.

Rachel Timsit teaches special-edu-cation students and English-language learners at Hazeltine Avenue Elemen-tary School. She has been teaching el-ementary school for 24 years.

Pauline Wain is a speech and language pathologist at President Elementary School, supporting preschool students with severe speech and language im-pairments.

Jennifer Wakefield teaches kindergar-ten at Vintage Math/Science/Technol-ogy Magnet. She previously taught first and second grades.

Pauline Werthwin teaches third grade at Bushnell Way Elementary. She has been teaching for 21 years.

Passings

Rene Parola, artist, author, and longtime art teacher at John Marshall High School, passed away in February.

Rene was born in New York City in 1931, and his family moved to California in 1939. He went to LAUSD schools from start to finish, attending Fletcher Drive, Irving Junior High, and Franklin High School. He earned a BS in art, an administrative/supervisory credential, and an MA in art, all from Cal State LA.

Rene began teaching art at Hollenbeck Junior High, where he met his future wife, Zoe. In 1962, Rene’s teaching career at Marshall High began and he continued there until he retired in 1992.

During his tenure at Marshall and with the help of his colleagues, he built a strong and inspirational art program that received many awards and commen-dations, starting when he and Beatrice Thompson published books showcas-ing the high-quality art works of their students in 1966 and 1969 respectively

Rene Parola, 1931-2017

This infamous “Fat Cat” was one of the many images that Parola created for UTLA during the 1980s.

UTLA’s bargaining team: Front row, Daniel Barnhart (UTLA officer), Art Lopez (LA Academy MS), Arlene Inouye (UTLA officer), L. Cynthia Matthews (McKinley ES), Javier Romo (Mulholland MS), Jeff Good (UTLA executive director). Back row: Adrian Tamayo (Lorena ES), Julie Van Winkle (LOOC liaison), Gloria Martinez (UTLA officer), Erika Jones Crawford (CTA director), and Matthew Kogan (Adult Education). Not pictured: Victoria Casas (Beachy ES) and Elgin Scott (Taper ES). Jose Lara (Santee LC) will be replacing Lopez in the new school year.

(continued on page 13)


7

Progress on bills to bring transparency to charter operations and support for Community Schools.

UTLA honors departing colleagues.

Charter accountability legislation update

A happy sendoff to new retirees

The package of bills to bring much-need-ed accountability, transparency, and equity to charter schools has seen action, with one bill passing the Assembly floor and three other bills moving to two-year status, which means they will be active in the 2017-18 legislative session as UTLA escalates orga-nizing for our contract campaign.

To win a fair contract and better teach-ing and learning conditions, we need to have a strong legislative package to fund our demands, build toward Community Schools, keep charters accountable, and protect public school districts from finan-cial destabilization through the unmitigat-ed growth of unregulated charter schools. Here’s an update on the legislation.

SB 808: Local control of charter authorization

What it would do: Give local school boards final say in denying a charter au-thorization without appeals to the county or state. Right now, charter operators can go above the local school board, as Celerity Educational Group did after its approval was rejected by the LAUSD School Board in the wake of the FBI investigation for fraud and fiscal mismanagement.

Status: SB 808 is now a two-year bill, allowing time for a major Senate Education Committee hearing on charter account-

How do you honor soon-to-be retired educators and health and human services professionals for the thousands of stu-dents’ lives that they touched? Truly, there is no adequate way to recognize a lifetime of making a difference, but UTLA makes sure new retirees have a happy sendoff with our annual retirement dinner dance. The event was held this year on May 13 at Luminarias restaurant in Monterey Park.

The Dinner Dance Committee is Rosa Beasley, Susie Chow, Betty Forrester, Michael Kaplan, Bruce Lee, Stacey Michaels, John Perez, Billy Tyler, Princess Sykes, Chuck Vaughn, and Stacie Webster.

ability in Los Angeles in the fall. UTLA will be organizing with parents and com-munity groups in support of local control at the hearing and to ensure parent and educator voices are heard on the negative impact of unregulated charter expansion on neighborhood public schools.

AB 1478: Accountability and transparency

What it would do: Hold charters to the same conflict-of-interest laws and disclo-sure regulations that public schools follow and limit inappropriate profiteering that drives so many of these corporate charter companies.

Status: Bill cleared Assembly Education and Assembly Judiciary committees and is on a two-year cycle. Some language being added to make it more pertinent to Los Angeles and to ensure regulations apply uniformly to charter management organizations throughout the state.

AB 1360: Equity and access for charter students

What it would do: Prevent discrimina-tory admission and suspension practices at charters and require charters to serve high-needs students at the same level as

public schools to ensure equity and access for all students.

Status: Passed Assembly floor on 69-2 vote. Passed Senate Educa-tion Committee on 7-0 vote and referred to Appropriations Com-mittee. Bill supporters are pushing for Senate vote before legislature recesses on July 21.

AB 842: California Community Schools Act

What it would do: Make invest-ment in a Community Schools model, with culturally relevant curriculum, wraparound ser-vices, more teaching and less testing, increased staffing, posi-tive behavior support, and par-ent-community engagement.

Status: Passed Assembly Ed-ucation Committee and is on a two-year cycle. Focus is on making sure legislation as written does not undermine Local Control Funding Formula. Also ex-ploring other options under Prop. 47 and 64 to fund a Community Schools model.

The California Charter Schools Associa-tion, the charter school lobby funded by billionaire privatizers, is spending millions to oppose the accountability bills. The call for the accountability legislation has been

bolstered by a recent report, “Spending Blind,” from In the Public Interest that finds that hundreds of millions of dollars have been misspent on charter schools that underperformed nearby traditional public schools; were built in districts that already had enough classroom space; were found to have discriminatory enrollment policies; and in the worst cases, engaged in unethical or corrupt practices.

One last communal hurrah.

As a longtime elementary teacher and UTLA chapter chair, Harvey Abram served his students and his colleagues.

Tough goodbyes: UTLA is losing to retirement longtime UTLA officer Betty Forrester (center), under whose leadership in bargaining our members gained significant pay raises and protected health benefits. Joining her in retirement is former UTLA Board member John Horta (second from left), being congratulated by UTLA President Alex Caputo-Pearl, UTLA/NEA VP Cecily Myart-Cruz, and retired East Area Chair Chuck Vaughn.

Maria Dolores Swayne is welcomed with a corsage from UTLA Secretary Arlene Inouye.

The dance is a time to celebrate career memories with friends and family.

Alex with La Vonda Denise Reed (retiring after 18 years), Liz Giosa (23 years), and Veronica Hernandez (32 years).

In May, educators, parents, and community members rallied outside local legislators’ offices for the account-ability legislation package. All three Assembly members whose offices we targeted (Matt Dababneh, Autumn Burke, and Miguel Santiago) voted for AB 1360 when it reached the Assembly floor. They had abstained on a similar bill in the previous session.


8

What to do if you want to be treated by your own doctor should you suffer a workplace injury.

As you finalize your back-to-school list of things to do, you may want to add another item: “File pre-designation physician form.” In the unfortunate event that you suffer a work-related injury, you can only be treated by your personal physician if you notify your employer prior to your injury. If you have not predesignated a doctor, you will be required to receive workers’ compensation medical care through

LAUSD’s Medical Provider Network, and you will have to select a treating doctor from the network’s approved provider list.

To pre-designate your doctor, have your physician complete the LAUSD “Pre-designation of Physician Form” and return it to your work site (or to your direct supervisor, if you are an itinerant employee). This form must be completed prior to any work-related

injury for which you seek treatment. A “personal physician” includes a medical group of licensed doctors of medicine or osteopathy. You can use the form on this page or the fillable PDF at lausd.net. Be sure to keep a copy for your own records (if you transfer schools, you will need to give your new site a copy).

To be eligible for workers’ compensa-tion benefits under the care of your own doctor:

• You must be enrolled in one of the LAUSD medical group health plans.

• Your personal physician must agree in advance to treat you for any work-related injuries or illness.

• Your physician must be your regular physician and surgeon.

• Your physician must have previ-ously directed your medical treatment and retains your records, including your medical history.

Practical matters: Pre-designating your physician

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Use at least 1 ounce of sunscreen — that’s about the size of a golf ball — if your arms, legs, chest, back, and face will be exposed.

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10

Staying active in uncertain times.

From the Secretary

UTLA in solidarity with immigrant families

In these uncertain times, standing in solidarity with our students and im-migrant families has taken on a deeper meaning. As immigration enforcement has increased, educators have to ask our-selves: What happens when a student doesn’t make it to school because im-migration agents accost her father on the way there? What happens when an un-documented immigrant student becomes an organizer in her neighborhood and im-migration agents come after her for fight-ing deportations with her community?

Following Donald Trump’s inflamma-tory campaign rhetoric, his presidency has moved swiftly into an anti-immigrant direction with new and changing policies on deportation and detention, including

By Arlene Inouye UTLA Secretary

a travel ban on specific Muslim-majority countries, plans to build a wall on the U.S./Mexico border, and increased ICE raids in communities across the nation.

Among the serious concerns are increased physical, verbal, and bullying attacks on im-migrant and Muslim students and commu-nity members, as well as attacks on students who appear to be immigrants regardless of their status. There have been letters threat-ening violence sent to Muslim mosques and swastikas painted on school grounds and religious centers. We have seen an increased

level of requests for immigration services and information from students, educators, and community members.

As UTLA educators, we humbly support actions to stop deportations of our students and their families. I keep UTLA “Shield Against Immigrant Deten-tion and Deportation” signs in the trunk of my car to show that I am ready to go into action and respond to community-based organizations’ call for action on crucial deportation cases.

UTLA’s work is built on the founda-

January 19 #SchoolTrump actions

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tion of the Dream Allies Network, a group formed three years ago by UTLA and our partners (see names in box on this page). Funded by an NEA grant, the goal of the Dream Allies Network is to empower ed-ucators to advocate for undocumented/immigrant students and families while providing a safe space for students.

Post-Trump, we held a series of edu-cator workshops at UTLA and at school sites to provide information about how to respond to students’ and educators’ concerns and fears, as well as information about educators’ First Amendment rights in light of the presidential election. There were more than 150 participants at the first gathering on December 1 at UTLA.

On January 19, the day before Trump’s inauguration, 10,000 parents, students, ed-ucators, and community members across

LAUSD rallied in front of schools and took to Twitter to #SchoolTrump and send a message of resistance and power to fight injustice, including immigrant deportation and detention.

UTLA has also taken a strong stand in support of LAUSD campuses as safe zones for immigrant students and families by working with the school district, and we have participated in citywide actions such as the massive May Day community and labor mobilization in support of immigrant and workers’ rights.

The issue of ICE raids also became very close to us as we supported two immigration deportation cases—Claudia Rueda, a former student at Roosevelt High, where we held a news conference and rally, and Romulo Avelica-Gonzalez, a father who was picked up after drop-

ping off his daughter to school. We have been encouraged by our collaborative efforts that have at least delayed the deportation proceedings and possibly stop their deportations.

We have had an active year during very uncertain times under the Trump administration. We will continue to make adjustments and strategic decisions in how to support our undocumented and

immigrant students and families in the coming months. But I join many UTLA members who have told me that they are proud to be part of a union that is taking a strong stand in support of our undocumented and immigrant students and their families and for schools that are safe zones for all students to learn. Indeed, this is what the Schools All Stu-dents Deserve is about.

Post-Trump election recap• Series of executive orders on immigration, including a travel ban and

refugee suspension, increased immigration enforcement, and reversal of De-ferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA).

UTLA’s work• Campaign for the Schools LA Students Deserve to support all students

and their families.• Dream Allies Network grant with partners from Asian Americans Advanc-

ing Justice, the California Faculty Association at California State University at Northridge, and the Alhambra Teachers Association to work on immigration issues affecting students.

• Immigration workshops for educators, students, and parents at UTLA, Arleta High, Harry Bridges SPAN School, Sylvan Park Elementary, Evans Community Adult School, and Webster Middle School.

• #SchoolTrump L.A.-wide school-site actions at hundreds of schools to send a message of resistance and power to fight injustice, including immigrant deportation and detention.

• UTLA reiterates support for the resolution to reaffirm LAUSD campuses as safe zones for immigrant students and families.

• UTLA supports two immigration deportation cases—Romulo Avelica-Gonzalez and Claudia Rueda—by supporting community-based organizations working on these deportation cases. UTLA attended rallies and media events and submitted letters of support. In addition, UTLA leaders at Roosevelt High held a news conference for a RHS alumna Claudia Rueda.

The immigration landscape: Rising up

Roosevelt High #FreeClaudia news conference


12

CTA State Council Unexpired Term election notice

CTA State Council Unexpired Term election timeline

CTA State Council Year-Round Absentee Ballot Request

Are you interested in representing UTLA/NEA members at the state level? CTA (California Teachers Association) State Council, a policy-making body that meets quarterly, has openings for representatives to fill unexpired terms. If you wish to run for one of these positions, complete and return the self-nomination form by U.S. mail to UTLA/NEA VP Cecily Myart-Cruz at UTLA. The form must be received by 5 p.m. on September 8, 2017. The election will be held at the September 27, 2017, Area meetings. For those members who cannot vote at their Area meetings, voting will also be held at the UTLA building from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on September 27, 2017.

Self-Nomination Form

Name

Employee number

Address

City Zip

Home phone

Non-LAUSD email address

School

School Phone

I certify that below is the signature of the candidate whose name appears above.

Signature Date (Required)

Return this request to UTLA/NEA VP Cecily Myart-Cruz by 5 p.m., September 8, 2017, via U.S. mail to UTLA, 3303 Wilshire Blvd., 10th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90010. Forms may also be dropped off at UTLA headquarters on the 10th floor during regular business hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (attention: Cecily Myart-Cruz). NO FAXES OR EMAILS.

Form must be received by UTLA by September 8, 2017.

Involvement opportunity

CTA Unexpired Term electionsBy Laura Carls & Deborah Schneider-Solis UTLA/NEA Election Committee

UTLA/NEA members will elect CTA State Council representatives for unex-pired terms at elections scheduled this year for the September 27 Area meetings. These delegates will join the other UTLA representatives when the council begins for the 2017-18 school year.

The State Council acts as CTA’s pol-icy-making body, meeting four times a year. Each representative is expected to serve on a standing com mittee, which debates business items involving aca-demic freedom, retire ment, civil rights, political action, teachers’ rights, and state-wide nego tiation issues. State Council represen tatives also vote for CTA’s state-wide officers. In the 2017-18 school year, all State Council meetings will be held in Los Angeles. All necessary expenses

for represen tatives are covered by CTA, including hotel, mileage, and food costs. Meetings begin at 9 a.m. Saturday, 7:15 a.m. Sunday, and usually end around 4 p.m. both days. Subcommittee meetings on Friday evenings and voluntary caucus meetings before and after the general weekend meeting times can enrich the representative’s knowledge of issues facing California educators. UTLA del-egates are rewarded for their time and effort by getting a chance to make a state-wide difference in education.

If you find the idea of participating on a statewide level intriguing, fill out and mail in the self-nomination form on this page to run for CTA State Council. Forms are due by September 8 via U.S. mail (no faxes or emails). Forms may also be dropped off at UTLA headquar ters on the 10th floor (attention: Cecily Myart-Cruz, UTLA/NEA VP) during regular business hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

I am requesting an absentee ballot for the CTA State Council Election for the unexpired term.

My vote will correspond to CTA’s election guidelines, which allow for voting by mail for CTA members on formal leave. This request must be received by 5 p.m., September 8, 2017, by U.S. mail to UTLA, 3303 Wilshire Blvd., 10th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90010, Attn: Cecily Myart-Cruz, UTLA/NEA VP. I understand that my request will be checked for accuracy by election committee members. Absentee ballots will be mailed September 20, 2017, and must be received via U.S. mail by 5 p.m., September 27, 2017.

Name

Employee number

Address

City Zip

Home phone

Non-LAUSD email address

School

School Phone

UTLA area (Circle one) N S E W C VE VW H

Absentee ballot requested for:

CTA State Council

September 27 November 1

Check one: CTA/NEA Board member Formal LAUSD leave

I hereby declare that the above information is accurate.

Signature Date

July 21, September 1: Nomination forms, timeline, and absentee ballot request forms in UNITED TEACHER.

September 8: Self-nomination forms and absentee ballot requests due to UTLA building by 5 p.m. by U.S. mail (no faxes or emails). Forms may also be dropped off at UTLA headquarters (see the receptionist on the 10th floor) during regular business hours, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

September 11: Letters sent out acknowl-edging receipt of nomination forms.

September 20: Absentee ballots sent out.

September 27: Elections at all UTLA Area meetings and UTLA headquar-ters from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

September 27: Absentee ballots due back to UTLA by 5 p.m. by U.S. mail only (no faxes or emails).

September 29: Area and absentee ballots counted, 9 a.m. Letters sent to winners and results will be posted at www.utla.net by the end of the next business day.

October 9: Deadline to submit election challenge in writing to Cecily Myart-Cruz, UTLA/NEA Vice President, pro-vided a runoff election is not required.

October 18: Absentee ballot for runoff sent.

November 1: Runoff election, if needed, at Area meetings and at UTLA head-quarters from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

November 1: Absentee ballots due back to UTLA by 5 p.m. by U.S. mail only (no faxes or emails).

November 3: Election Committee meets at 9 a.m. to count all ballots. Letters sent to winners and results will be posted at www.utla.net by the end of the next business day. Those who are not elected delegates will become alternates.

November 13: Final date for challenges to be submitted in writing to Cecily Myart-Cruz, UTLA/NEA Vice Presi-dent, provided an additional runoff election is not required. Please contact Vivian Vega for appropriate form at 213-368-6259.

Return this request to UTLA/NEA VP Cecily Myart-Cruz by 5 p.m., September 8, 2017, via U.S. mail to UTLA, 3303 Wilshire Blvd., 10th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90010. Forms may also be dropped off at UTLA headquarters on the 10th floor (attention: Cecily Myart-Cruz, UTLA/NEA VP) during regular business hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. NO FAXES OR EMAILS.

Form must be received by UTLA by September 8, 2017.


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We’re with you all the way.We’re with you all the way.

(Beatrice Thompson, Drawings by High School Students, and Rene Parola, Optical Art: Theory and Practice). Later as chair of the Art Department and working with his colleague Dorothy Lee, he built an AP art program that was second to none. Letters from visiting educators and college pro-fessors from all over the country testified to the impressive artwork that Marshall students consistently created under the teacher they affectionately called “Com-mander Art.” An extraordinary number of those students have gone on to careers in the arts working as studio artists, commercial and graphic designers, and art educators. Many of those art educa-tors also took advantage of his work as a master teacher taking students from several university and college programs in the Los Angeles area over the years.

While doing all of this, he continued to lead teacher workshops for LAUSD; serve on many committees for the arts; mount exhibitions of student artwork in the district office, local banks, and gal-leries around the city; and produce his own art for exhibition and commercial use. Rene’s book Optical Art: Theory and Practice was not only a milestone for his students, it was, in fact, the first book ever

published on optical art. It is a compila-tion of his work, student work, and work from the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Other published articles include several in American Artist, Harper’s, and Graphis. These works were picked up by other authors, and he and his students were published again in many articles in national and international publications and in several mathematics textbooks. He exhibited his work both nationally and internationally, and his artworks are in many public and private collections.

Rene was very active in UTLA and worked as the designer for campaign posters for UTLA presidents, including Helen Bernstein. He designed humorous and poignant strike posters for those who “walked the line” in two strikes, along with a variety of pins, T-shirts, and other posters for UTLA. His particularly striking poster of the eaten apple for Teacher Ap-preciation Day shows both his humor and his skill. His dedication to public education and the rights of teachers and students was at the forefront of all that he did.

His legacy lives on in generations of student professionals and his daughters and granddaughter, who became teachers and carried on his tradition.

PASSINGS (continued from page 6)

Check out the Grapevines on page 19:

Workshops, exhibits, and more


14

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Anything on your mind?

Send letters by email to [email protected] or by fax to (213) 487-3319.

Share it with UTLA members by writing a letter to the editor.

Report of the May 19 General Assembly Meeting.

Why are they doing this?

By Mignon JacksonUTLA-R Secretary

President’s report: UTLA-Retired President John Perez invited UTLA El-ementary Vice President Juan Ramirez to address the meeting. He extended greet-ings from the UTLA officers and spoke about the results of the tough LAUSD School Board elections from May 9. He said that going forward, teacher partici-pation is important to get positive results and that “a quiet teacher will never be heard.” UTLA officers Arlene Inouye and Dan Barnhart also addressed the General Assembly briefly.

Perez said the loss of two seats on the LAUSD Board makes protecting health benefits a more serious issue than if the UTLA-endorsed candidates had won. With the new Board majority, the forces of the billionaires and oligarchs who want to privatize education will now have strong support for the creation of even more un-regulated charter schools.

Perez also stated that UTLA-Retired members currently experiencing any prob-lems with health benefits should email him at [email protected].

Treasurer’s report: UTLA-R Treasurer Mike Dreebin reported that as of May 19, the balance is $38,176 in the UTLA-R budget. Members are reminded to submit the required documentation and reim-bursement forms in a timely manner if they

want reimbursement for their expenses while attending conferences.

Health benefits report: Loretta Toggen-

burger reviewed the health benefits FAQ from the LAUSD Health Benefits Com-mittee that addressed the question “How Does Gender Affect Your Health?”

PACE report: Cecelia Boskin announced that 30 UTLA-Retired members signed up for PACE, UTLA’s political action committee. She also stated that UTLA-Retired members should continue with their participation in the UTLA political process either by volunteering or donating. UTLA-R member PACE contributions may be mailed to Cecelia Boskin, 3547 Federal Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90066.

Legislative report: Mary Rose Ortega, our legislative reporter, was not present but sent a written report that stated that most of the bills and plans for initiatives submitted to the California state legislature on pension reform would be detrimental to both retired members and those retir-ing in the future. She also stated that Jen-nifer Baker, CTA lobbyist on retirement issues, would be the featured speaker at the August 11 UTLA-Retired General As-sembly meeting.

Guest speaker: Jackie Wiley from the California Department of Business Over-sight spoke at length on the schemes and

fraud that target seniors. She highlighted specific activities such as frauds of many types including credit cards, payday loans, telemarketing calls, mail thieves, Medicare fraud, debt collection schemes,

and misinformation plots. She offered several tips to help you not become a victim. If you have any questions or would like websites for more informa-tion, call 866-275-2677.

Retirees’ corner

Note from UTLA-R President

Under former superintendent John Deasy, many educators were victims of the “teacher jail” system. Caught off guard and often falsely accused, they were left to suffer alone, under house arrest and unsure of what to do. LAUSD’s abuse of “teacher jail” has lessened since the departure of Deasy, but we still need to be vigilant about each and every case.

Don’t be a victim of unfair job actions and false charges. UTLA wants you to know: You are not alone. We are here for you. Call or email the UTLA officer listed below and attend the Unjustly Housed Teachers Commit-tee Meeting to get the assistance and support you deserve.

UTLA officer contact: If you’ve been recently removed from the class-

room, please contact UTLA Secretary Arlene Inouye (213-368-6218, [email protected]).

Unjustly Housed Teachers Com-mittee: UTLA provides support, guidance, and assistance to all re-housed teachers through the Unjustly Housed Teachers Committee. The com-mittee meets monthly at the UTLA building.

The next meeting is August 8 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in Room 904. The UTLA building is located at 3303 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90010 (213-487-5560).

UTLA is ready, willing, and able to help its falsely accused and unfair-ly treated members. Make the call, attend the meeting, and let UTLA help you.

UTLA support for housed teachers

By John PerezUTLA-Retired President

The Republican-supported plan to do away with the Affordable Care Act reminds me of an early scene in Dickens’ “A Christ-mas Carol.” Ebenezer Scrooge is asked for donations to help the poor and is told that many people would rather die than go to jail or the workhouse. Scrooge’s answer: “If they would rather die, they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.”

In attempting to explain away the Con-gressional Budget Office’s report that 22 million Americans would lose insurance under the Republican plan, U.S. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan said that the Repub-lican House and Senate plans would not deny these people insurance. Americans would not “lose” their insurance, he said—they would simply voluntarily choose not to purchase health insurance because they would no longer be required to. What an incredibly skewed take on the CBO report.

What exactly did the CBO report say about the Senate bill? It said that the expan-sion of Medicaid has allowed tens of mil-lions of poor and working-class Americans to purchase health care for the first time in

their lives and that the rollback of Medicaid will cause 15 million Americans to lose the health plans they now have. Of the other 7 million who will lose health care, the vast majority are working-class Americans who in order to afford health care would have to choose between buying expensive health insurance and paying for housing and food, and the CBO predicts that medical care will lose out in this Hobson choice.

Of the small number of people who would actually choose not to have health insurance, almost all will be young and healthy. The two repeal bills give the rich and the health corporations a $660 billion tax cut over the next ten years—tax cuts paid for by cuts from Medicaid and Medi-care of $1 trillion.

Who relies on Medicaid? Fully 20% of Americans have health care because of Medicaid, and 40% of America’s children are on Medicaid as are 65% of Americans in nursing homes. Clearly the Republican plans are attacks on the poor and working classes. Nearly the entire American health care industry—doctors, hospitals, and the insurance companies—are opposed to these repeal plans. For us retirees, the cuts to Medicare will increase our medical costs.


15

Why are Republicans doing this? I briefly touched on the answer in my last column. The Republican members in Congress truly believe in a 19th-century laissez-faire economic philosophy that says that government should be limited and taxes should be low so that government can only take care of national defense and internal improvements, such as roads and railroads (things that help the oligarchy because they own the companies that build weapons and transportation systems).

Prior to the Great Depression, our govern-ment was small and the taxes collected could only pay for a small defense industry and improvements to the economic infrastruc-ture. The Great Depression led to a change in philosophy. The New Deal and the Great Society reforms showed people that govern-ment programs—Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, unemployment insurance—can help not only the rich, but all Americans. To do this, government became larger and col-lected more in taxes. Since 1933 the Repub-lican Party has fought against this change in philosophy, and that is why they want to repeal Obamacare and do harm to Medicaid and Medicare. They consider programs that directly help the poor, the working class, and the middle class an illegitimate use of government power—which is why they are doing what they are doing.

Oh, in case you forgot, Scrooge was redeemed by the three ghosts and made many contributions to help the poor. Perhaps someone should send Ryan a copy of “A Christmas Carol” before he decimates all the critical programs that Americans count on.

John can be reached at [email protected].

Prop. 58: LAUSD says “¡Vámonos!”

Bilingual issues

On November 9, 2016, one day after Proposition 58 passed with almost 73% of the vote, the Multilingual Department of LAUSD was ready to act. Executive Director Hilda Maldonado gathered her team and began planning how to im-plement language learning in LAUSD. From the start, it was determined that broad collaboration with learning part-ners was the way to ensure success. In January 2017, the Prop. 58 Transi-tion Team was born, meeting biweekly throughout the semester. UTLA was a significant element on the transition team. The goals:

1. Collaborate with various depart-ments, including administrators, teach-ers, parents, labor partners, and external experts on implementation of the Califor-nia Multilingual Education Act (Prop. 58).

2. Engage community and stakeholder input.

3. Consult California Department of Edu-cation regulations to align to District policy.

4. Develop policies and a communica-tion plan to implement Prop. 58.

Language programs offered through the LAUSD Master Plan are: Dual Lan-guage (EOs and ELLs taught in two lan-guages), Maintenance (ELLs taught in two languages), Transitional (ELLs taught in primary language until transition to English-Only), Foreign Language Immer-sion (EOs taught in two languages), and Structured English Immersion.

The significant changes that the Multi-

lingual Education Act brings are: • Annual parental exception waivers

for participating ELLs are no longer re-quired. Instead, parents will sign a one-time Program Participation form.

• The 30-day English immersion program for students enrolled in multi-lingual programs is no longer required.

• If 20 students in a grade level or 30 in a school (ELLs and EOs combined) request a program, the school must explore the feasibility of providing such a program. This would include the avail-ability of qualified bilingual staff, materi-als, and a properly thought-out timeline for implementation.

• There must be significant collabora-tion of parents and community in formu-lating the appropriate Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP).

Some of the most exciting aspects of the implementation plan are the devel-oping of working relationships with in-stitutions of higher learning to create and/or expand bilingual credentialing departments, expanding district train-ing programs, and incentivizing teach-ers through reimbursements for training and robust expansion of the differential stipend to teachers.

Here’s what LAUSD Chief Academic Officer Frances Gipson and Hilda Mal-donado shared with local district super-intendents and administrators of instruc-tion in a “Proposition 58 Implementation Update” on June 9: “LAUSD is in a unique

position to implement this new Califor-nia Education law and become a state and national leader in dual language and bilingual education. This is especially important given the students and families in our large multicultural district that we proudly serve. It is recommended that school administrators take the following steps in preparation: Attend informal ses-sions to find out about dual language/bi-lingual programs; engage the community to determine their interest in programs that lead to bilingualism and biliteracy; [and] take inventory of teachers on site that hold a bilingual authorization or may be interested in pursuing a bilingual authorization.”

UTLA encourages our members to look into expanding language learning at all sites. Chapter chairs could play a signifi-cant role in encouraging administrators to begin planning ahead. The Bilingual Education Committee will be presenting a workshop on “How to Start a Dual Lan-guage Program at Your School” at our annual UTLA Leadership Conference on Sunday, July 30.

Prop 58: UTLA says “¡Vámonos!” Note: For assistance regarding Master

Plan differential payments, please contact the Master Plan Verification Office via [email protected] or by calling 213-241-5862.

—Cheryl OrtegaUTLA Director of Bilingual Education

[email protected]


16

13604 Whittier Blvd.Whittier, CA 90605

ESTATE PLANNINGWant to avoid probate?Seeking peace of mind?

Don’t do it yourself. Let a fellow teacher be your lawyer. Sheila Bayne is a full time

teacher with LAUSD and has been an active member of the California Bar for over 30 years.

Complete Estate Planning Package: n Living Trust n Living Will/Advance Health Care Directives n Power of Attorney

n Trust Transfer Deeds n Pour-over Will and supporting documents n Personal consultation

Discount for UTLA Members:

$750(Joint trust for spouses: $ 1095)

Also: n Probate n ConservatorshipsCONTACT THE LAW OFFICES OF SHEILA BAYNE

at 310-435-8710or e-mail: [email protected]

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ABC CAUTION

Custom ‘Tools’: TIGER/tigre, TURTLE/tortuga

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CITYWIDE OFFICERS

PresidentLisa KarahaliosSee Sisterhood Slate

Alex Caputo-PearlSee Union Power

NEA Vice PresidentCecily Myart-CruzSee Union Power

Dr. Frances CopelandExpenses: $2,517Income: $2,000

AFT Vice PresidentLinda GuthrieSee Sisterhood Slate

Juan RamirezSee Union Power

Elementary Vice PresidentIngrid VilledaExpenses: $24,084.71Income: $26,480

Gloria MartinezSee Union Power

Robin PotashSee Sisterhood Slate

Secondary Vice PresidentCat ProctorSee Sisterhood Slate

Colleen SchwabExpenses: $1,602.70Income: $822.50

Daniel BarnhartSee Union Power

TreasurerAlex OrozcoSee Union Power

Gregg SolkovitsExpenses: $3,000Income: $3,350

SecretaryLorena t. ValenzuelaSee Sisterhood Slate

Arlene InouyeSee Union Power

Greg RussellExpenses: $216Income: $216

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

North AreaNEAJulie Van WinkleSee Union Power

Karla Griego See Union Power

Rebecca Solomon See Union Power

AFTMark Ramos See Union Power

South AreaNEAKaren Ticer-LeonExpenses: $0Income: $0

Maria MirandaExpenses: $94.80Income: $100

Ayde BravoExpenses: $0Income: $0

AFTL. Cynthia MatthewsExpenses: $0Income: $0

East AreaNEAIngrid GunnellSee Union Power

Adrian TamayoSee Union Power

Erica HuertaSee Union Power

AFTGillian RussomSee Union Power

West AreaNEAGeorgia Flowers-LeeSee Union Power

Erika JonesSee Union Power

Noah Lippe-KleinSee Union Power

AFTJennifer VillaryoSee Union Power

Central AreaNEAKelly FloresExpenses: $0Income: $0

Claudia RodriguezExpenses: $0Income: $0

UTLA citywide election financial statementsTomas FloresExpenses: $0Income: $0

AFTJose Lara Expenses: $0Income: $0

Valley East AreaNEALeonard GoldbergExpenses: $250Income: $250

Victoria CasasSee Union Power

Scott MandelExpenses: $250Income: $0

Hector Perez-RomanSee Union Power

AFTMel HouseExpenses: $0Income: $0

Valley West AreaNEAMelodie BitterExpenses: $0Income: $0

Wendi DavisExpenses: $0Income: $0

Bruce NewbornExpenses: $0Income: $0

Hal WolkowitzExpenses: $0Income: $0

AFTJavier RomoExpenses: $0Income: $0

Harbor AreaNEAJennifer McAfeeSee Union Power

Elgin ScottSee Union Power

Karen Macias-Lutz See Union Power

AFTJennie DugganExpenses: $0Income: $0

Philip H. Gross, MBANo report filed

Steve SealSee Union Power

BOARD OF DIRECTORS, SPECIAL CATEGORY

Adult and Occupational EducationMatthew KoganSee Union Power

As required by the UTLA Election Rules, all spending on UTLA elec-tion campaigns must be reported to the election committee and printed in the UNITED TEACHER. Statements are in ballot order, beginning with the citywide officer positions.


17

Bilingual EducationCheryl OrtegaExpenses: $0Income: $0

Early Childhood EducationCorina GomezSee Union Power

Health and Human ServicesMallorie EvansSee Union Power

Ginger Rose FoxExpenses: $235Income: $0

Linda ShieldsExpenses: $0Income: $0

Norlon DavisExpenses: $0Income: $0

Special EducationLucia AriasExpenses: $0Income: $0

SubstitutesBenny MaderaSee Union Power

Francisco MartinezExpenses: $835Income: $435

Registered political committees

As required by the UTLA election rules, all political committees campaign-ing for a candidate must register with the UTLA Elections Committee and their names and the candidates they support must be printed in the UNITED TEACHER.

Sisterhood SlateExpenses: $5,353.51Income: $5,353.51

Representing candidates Lisa Karahali-os, Linda Guthrie, Cathy Proctor, Robin Potash, and Lorena t Valenzuela.

Union PowerExpenses: $44,147.67Income: $59,421.73

Representing candidates Alex Caputo-Pearl, Cecily Myart-Cruz, Juan Ramirez, Gloria Martinez, Daniel Barnhart, Alex Orozco, Arlene Inouye, Julie Van Winkle, Karla Griego, Rebecca Solomon, Mark Ramos, Ingrid Gunnell, Adrian Tamayo, Erica Huerta, Gillian Russom, Georgia Flowers-Lee, Erika Jones, Noah Lippe-Klein, Jennifer Villaryo, Victoria Casas, Hector Perez-Roman, Jennifer McAfee, Elgin Scott, Karen Macias-Lutz, Steve Seal, Matthew Kogan, Corina Gomez, Mallorie Evans, and Benny Madera.

Date:

Union Night atDodger Stadium

Friday, August 11

7:10 p.m.

Join us for Union Night at Dodger Stadium as the Dodgers face the San Diego Padres. We also will be honoring graduates from the LA Fed’s ‘Second Chances’ jobs program!

SAVE THE DATE

Time:

Present

&

For more information contact: [email protected]

Purcha

se 40+

tickets

to get 1

rep on

the fie

ld!

To buy tickets: www.Dodgers.com/union

And It’s Fireworks Night Too!

Tickets: $32Includes a Limited Edition

Union T-shirt


18

UTLA Classifieds

How To Place Your UT Classified Ad

Print your ad from your computer or use a typewriter. If you’re using the coupon below, please print clearly. Count the number of words in your ad. Area code and telephone number count as one word. Email and web address count as one word. Street address counts as one word. City and state, including zip code, count as one word. Abbreviations and numbers are considered words and are charged individually. The classified ad rate is $1.50 per word for each time your ad runs (there is no charge for LAUSD job share/employment available ads). Mul-tiply the number of words in your ad by $1.50. This is the cost for running your ad one time in UNITED TEACHER. If you’re running your ad in more than one issue, multiply the one-time total by the number of issues you wish the ad to appear. We have a ten word minimum ($15). All ads are payable in advance by check or money order. Please make check payable to UTLA. The deadline to receive your classified ad at the UTLA Communications Dept. is noon on the Monday that falls two weeks prior to the publication date. Any questions? Call (213) 637-5173.

CLASSIFIED AD COPY FOR UNITED TEACHER PUBLISHING

____ September 1 (due date: Aug. 14) ____ October 6 (due date: Sept. 18)

Name:

Street Address:

City: State: ZIP:

Ad Copy: Attach your typed copy to this form or print clearly here:

Total number of words: _____ @ $1.50 = $_________ per run date

Number of run dates ____ X $____ each run date = $_______

No credits or refunds on canceled ads. Mail with payment to UNITED TEACHER Classifieds,

UTLA, 3303 Wilshire Blvd., 10th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90010. Ads may also be dropped off at this address.

LAUSD EMPLOYMENT

Job share/employment

available ads in LAUSD

employment section are FREE.

LAUSD POSITIONS AVAILABLE

Fairfax Magnet Center for Visual Arts is now ac-

cepting applications for the position of Counselor/

Dean.

Minimum Qualifications:

• valid Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) and sec-

ondary teaching credentials

• 3 years secondary counseling experience

• MISIS literacy

Applicants should submit the following:

• a resumé

• two letters of reference, one from a current ad-

ministrator

• a statement expressing your interest in becom-

ing the counselor/dean at Fairfax Magnet Cen-

ter for Visual Arts

Please send these items as soon as possible to:

Kelly Cohen, Coordinator, Fairfax Magnet Center

for Visual Arts, 7850 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles,

California, 90046. Phone (323) 370-1230, fax (323)

370-1273, email [email protected].

APT FOR LEASE

For lease: $1,295 a month, 1 bedroom/1 bath, 700

sq. ft. apt. in fourplex. Completely renovated—LA

area—close to 60/10 freeways. One-year lease

minimum. Security deposit: $1,250. No pets. Call

213-880-0264.

BOOKS

A must-read, “Obama, the Jackie Robinson Presi-

dent,” by Frank Palacio. Now at Amazon.com.

CONDO FOR RENT

Spacious, one-bedroom condo, Northwest Glen-

dale. Available in June. Pet okay. 818-795-4482

HOUSES FOR SALE

L.A. County, Los Angeles area. Homes 2br 1ba, 3br

2ba recently refurbished. Call Broker Office at (323)

299-4881 or cell (323) 419-6914.

Lawrence Gifted Magnet seeks a full-time math teach-

er for the 2017-18 school year. Must have experience

teaching gifted students. Single-subject math creden-

tial required. Please email cover letter, resume, and let-

ters of recommendation to [email protected].

Polytechnic High School’s Math, Science, and Tech-

nology Magnet anticipates an opening for a talented

math teacher for the next school year. Our magnet

supports 400 9th- to 12th-grade students. We offer

a rigorous college prep program designed to pre-

pare students for university studies in fields that re-

quire a strong background in math and science. We

are looking for an individual able to teach Algebra

through AP Calculus. Must have a desire to chal-

lenge and support students. Please send inquiries or

resumes to Jayne Couchois at [email protected].

Saturn Street Elementary is looking for a fifth-grade

teacher who works well in a collaborative environ-

ment. Applicants should be willing to work as part

of a team, creating a Common Core curriculum

that is filled with technology, differentiated instruc-

tion, and project-based learning. As a member of

the team, applicants will engage in extra-curricular

activities for the fifth grade students. Applicants

should be flexible and interested in creating life-

long learners. Interested applicants please contact

Tiffany Cullen at Saturn Street (323) 931-1688.

Various positions are open and available for quali-

fied teachers at Birmingham Community Charter

High School. Join a vibrant community of educa-

tors at BCCHS. Apply on EdJoin.org.

CLASSIFIED AND DISPLAY AD POLICY: UNITED TEACHER will not accept ads for legal services in the areas of worker’s compensation or personal injury; nor

advertising for tobacco or alcoholic beverages; nor advertising deemed misleading or offensive to members; nor advertising inconsistent with the programs and

purposes of United Teachers Los Angeles.


19

U N I T E D T E A C H E R

GRAPEVINESalary point class on “Cars and Stars”

Earn salary points and expand your knowledge of local history by enrolling in “Cars and Stars: L.A.’s Transformation Into a Metropolis.” The class will visit the Petersen Automotive Museum and the Paley Center for Media and take a walking tour of L.A.’s Union Station. This district-approved class is open to all K-12 educators and is worth two salary points. It will also expose par-ticipants to exciting resources and Common Core-based strategies that can supplement their teaching. Class will meet at Francis Polytechnic High School on August 12, 19, and 26 and September 9. From Francis Poly-technic High, participants will commute to the three locations (one each class day, except for September 9). The course fee is $175 for two units, pre-registered ($185 on the first day), which includes breakfast, materials, and museum admissions. Enroll-ments will be accepted until—and includ-ing—the first day of class (August 12), or until cap is reached, whichever happens first. For further information, email [email protected], visit www.en4ed.com, or call/text Larry Carstens at 818-645-4259.

Salary point class on engaging all students

“Engaging All Your Students: A New Ap-proach to Designing Lessons & Activities That Accommodate Students’ Innate Learn-ing Differences” is a new LAUSD salary point

course. This course is based upon a body of knowledge called Human Dynamics that identifies innate differences in how people naturally think, learn, communicate, and develop. Learning these skills will offer es-sentials tools for accommodating students’ innate learning needs. The course will take place on two Saturdays, September 9 and Sep-tember 16, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Glendale. The fee is $169. For more information or to sign up, go to humandynamics.com/lausd.

Character Day 2017: September 13The fourth annual Character Day is Sep-

tember 13, 2017. Character Day is a global initiative where groups around the world screen films on the science of character development and dive into conversation about the importance of developing and im-proving character (qualities like empathy, curiosity, grit, humility, bravery, social re-sponsibility, and many more). Character Day is sponsored by Let It Ripple, a non-profit organization, and all materials are available on their website (www.letitripple.org/character-day) at no cost to school sites. In 2016, the LAUSD School Board resolved to support districtwide implementation of Character Day activities, and more than 100 LAUSD schools participated. This is an opportunity for your schools to access free materials to help them to incorporate social-emotional learning into instructional practice and for our students to participate in a global event celebrating good character.

Please contact Dr. Lori Vollandt at [email protected] or Susan Ward Roncalli at [email protected] for more information.

Dance performances for schoolsThe TuTu Foundation will be offering ed-

ucational dance performances on October 13 at the Armstrong Theatre in Torrance. In a guided presentation, students appre-ciate various dance styles and learn about cultural diversity. Free admission and bus transportation for registered fifth- to 10th-grade Title I school groups. Special needs students are particularly welcome. More information is available at www.tutudance.org. Email to apply: [email protected].

Training on Trauma-Informed Compassionate Classrooms

Echo Park Parenting & Education is holding a summer training on “Trauma-Informed Compassionate Classrooms.” This training provides two days of practical support for K-12 teachers with information about the brain, trauma, and social-emo-tional learning. The workshop will cover how childhood trauma impacts the brain and body, skills to help both teachers and students remain emotionally grounded and focused, communication and conflict reso-lution skills, strategies to increase student engagement and motivation, and classroom management skills that build relationships. Documentation of professional develop-ment hours available upon request. LAUSD salary point credit available upon comple-tion of 30 hours of homework. Dates: Satur-day, September 16 and 23, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost: $225 per person; $195 group rate (minimum of 3 people). Location: Echo Park United Methodist Church, 1226 N. Alvarado Street, Los Angeles, 90026. Register online at www.echoparenting.org. For questions contact Dominique Sánchez at [email protected] or 213-484-6676, ext. 319.

Marine science course for K-12 teachers

The American Meteorological Society (AMS) offers a semester-long course for K-12 teachers to help brush up on marine science. DataStreme Ocean, supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad-ministration, is a 13-week course that offers K-12 teachers solid subject knowledge to teach about the ocean in any science cur-riculum. This course is delivered online in weekly installments with access to mentors; all materials and texts are provided at no cost to participants; and there are two re-quired face-to-face meetings locally each semester. DataStreme Ocean focuses on the study of the ocean through the use of online data and learning materials and trains you as an Ocean Education Resource Teacher to promote the teaching of science, mathemat-ics, and technology using the ocean as a vehicle across the K-12 curriculum. After completion of the course, you will have access to a network of education resources to help you build the ocean into your cur-riculum. You can receive free graduate credit in science through the California University of Pennsylvania. The only cost to you is

your time—time to complete the weekly investigations and current ocean studies and time to attend the two meetings. For an application and additional informa-tion, go to www.ametsoc.org/ams (click on “Education & Careers”). The fall semester begins August 21. Return the completed DS Ocean application to Steve LaDochy, Data Streme Ocean So Cal Local Implementation Team (LIT), at [email protected]; email or call for more information (626-274-2796).

Free salary point seminar on “Rise of East Asia”

A complimentary seminar, “Rise of East Asia: East Asia Since 1800,” will offer in-depth presentations on the history and culture of the region as well as help K-12 educators incorporate these learnings into their curriculum. The course consists of six Monday evening sessions (5 to 8 p.m.) and three Saturday sessions (9 to 3:30 p.m.) at USC from September 9 to October 30. On-campus parking and refreshments pro-vided. This program is sponsored by the USC U.S.-China Institute and the National Consortium for Teaching about Asia. A $250 stipend and two LAUSD salary points are available if all seminar requirements are met. Rolling acceptance until August 31, 2017. See china.usc.edu/seminars for full schedule and how to apply.

Salary point class on ukuleleMusicians and non-musicians are

welcome at “Ukulele for Teachers,” Bartt Warburton’s workshop taught at the Coffee Gallery Backstage in Altadena. The class is a fun, basic introduction to ukulele, taught by an LAUSD Teacher of the Year and ukulele virtuoso. You’ll learn a few songs within minutes and learn to use ukulele in your lessons, for every grade level and every content area. The class meets on three Saturdays, September 9, 16, and 30, from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The fee is $149 and you can earn one salary point. The instructor will provide lessons, begin-ner chord/song charts, booklets, instru-ments (with prior arrangements), video lessons, a webpage to share ideas, and lots of support. Register online at Bartt.net, where you’ll also find a lot more info about this class. Email Bartt with questions at [email protected]. You can also call or text Bartt at (818) 568-3595.

Free salary point course on the “ABCs of Conflict”

The “ABCs of Conflict” is a conflict resolution training for educators and youth-service providers. K-12 educators can apply for the training to learn how to integrate conflict resolution into your classes, schools, and youth-serving or-ganizations. Learn concepts and skills to enhance your ability to resolve conflicts with youth, students, colleagues, and com-munity members. Applicants must attend all full days of training to be eligible for LAUSD multicultural salary point credit. Space is limited. To apply, go to http://bit.ly/2017abcs. For more info, email emily@ westernjustice.org or call 626-584-7494.*Invisalign discount is applied to regular full price treatment and may not apply to contracted insurance plans.

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