JUNE / JULY 2021 VOLUME 25 ISSUE 6 2106 Educator cover v2.indd 1 6/3/21 1:42 PM We focus on what’s important so you can do the same. CTA-endorsed Disability and Life insurance is designed for educators like you. Between storming castles and rescuing maidens, chances are you don’t have time to research and find an insurance plan that works for you. That’s why CTA offers CTA-endorsed Disability and Life insurance plans from The Standard, making it easy for you to get quality coverage you can trust at group rates. Suit up with your CTA member benefits! For coverage that will be there when you need it, turn to CTA-endorsed Disability and Life insurance. Visit CTAMemberBenefits.org/TheStandard. For costs and further details of the coverage, including exclusions, any reductions or limitations and the terms under which the policies may be continued in force, please contact The Standard’sDear dedicated Colleague, CTA Customer Service Department at 800.522.0406 (TTY). For more than 100 years we have been dedicated to our Standardcore purpose: Insurance to help Company, peopleEach 1100 achieve year, SW financial Sixthyou andAvenue, allwell-being California Portland, Teachers OR 97204 Association members dedicate your GP190-LTD/S399/CTA.1and peace of mind. We have GP190-LIFE/S399/CTA.3time earned and aenergy national to reputationpreparing SI 21443-CTAvol the children (04/20) of California for the future. You are for quality products and superioroften serviceasked to by develop always creativestriving approaches to new and unique challenges. to do what is rightEnrolling for our customers. is easy. Visit us online at CTAMemberBenefits.com/Disability. Eric C. Heins With the passion and commitment you bring to your students, it can seem like Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, The Standard is a President, CTA there isn’t enough time to look after your own needs. nationally recognized provider of group Disability, Life, 2106 Educator cover v2.indd 2 6/3/21 1:42 PM Dental and Vision Insurance.To We help provide you get insurance the protection to nearly you deserve, CTA offers Voluntary Disability and 23,000 groups covering moreLife than Insurance 6 million through employees Standard Insurance Company (The Standard). These nationwide.24 Our first groupplans policy, were written specifically in 1951 designedand still to meet the needs of CTA members. They offer in force today, stands as a testamenthigh-quality to ourcoverage commitment that you to and your loved ones can depend on. building long-term relationships. CTA endorses only one provider of Disability and Life Insurance – The Standard. For more information about They’veCTA-endorsed been protecting Disability theirand customers for more than 100 years and are Life Insurance from The Standard,highly regardedcall our dedicated for their service CTA and integrity. With their history of strength and Customer Service Departmentreliability, at 800.522.0406 we are confident (TTY), The Standard is a partner you can trust. 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Pacific Time, Monday through Friday. This brochure contains information about Disability and Life insurance from The Standard, and the forms you need to enroll. More details and convenient online 24 As of December 31, 2015, based on internal data developed by Standard Insurance Company.enrollment are also available at CTAMemberBenefits.org/TheStandard. We take pride in offering benefits that members like you value. That’s why over 76,0001 of your peers have chosen to protect their way of life and families with The Standard. Please consider taking a moment to get the peace of mind you deserve. Sincerely, Eric C. Heins President, CTA Standard Insurance Company 1100 SW Sixth Avenue Portland OR 97204 www.standard.com 1 As of 3/31/2016, based on data developed by The Standard. GP190-LTD/S399/CTA.1 GP190-LIFE/S399/CTA.3 SI 13565-CTAvol 05/16 60K June / July 2021 VOLUME 25 ISSUE 6 #WeAreCTA OUR VOICE, OUR UNION, OUR PROFESSION WHAT’S HAPPENING NOW MAGAZINE DIGITAL PROFESSIONAL MEMBER DEVELOPMENT BENEFITS MY UNSUNG HERO CTA PRESIDENTS ACCESS TO SAVINGS Teachers name lesser-known CONFERENCE Find discounts on historical figures who influ- Essential learning for leaders. theme parks, dining, enced them and now live on PAGE 9 cta.org/conferences vacations and more. in classroom lessons. PAGE 16 CTAMemberBenefits.org/ PRIDE MONTH CTA SUMMER INSTITUTE access OUTDOOR CLASSROOM Be true, be brave, be proud. Unparalleled professional High school’s new SOLE PAGE 8 cta.org development, skills-building, RETIREMENT PLANNING (Sustainable Outdoor Learn- plus networking with peers It’s never too early or too late ing Environment). PAGE 37 TECH TOOLS FOR TEACHERS and leaders. Virtual and to take advantage of CTA’s Free, lesser-known programs free. PAGE 9 Retirement Savings Plan, TEACHING TO INSPIRE that boost efficiency and cta.org/conferences exclusively for educators. Tracy Ruiz’s ties to true-crime engage students. PAGE 44 CTAMemberBenefits.org/ podcast get students’ atten- ISTE LIVE 2021 rsp tion. PAGE 50 VACCINES FOR ADOLESCENTS CTA member Leticia Citizen What you need to know as an is a featured voice at this GROW YOUR MONEY TIME-TRAVELING PIRATES educator and parent. PAGE 13 “technology in education” vir- Use our calculators to see Retired member’s script schools.covid19.ca.gov tual conference, July 26-30. how to maximize your funds. made into a movie. PAGE 47 conference.iste.org/2021 CTAinvest.org/tools Photos: Top, Mi Pham; inset, Stavrialena Gontzou; both Unsplash. JUNE / JULY 2021 1 2106 Educator draft v4.indd 1 6/3/21 6:58 PM June / July 2021 CONTENTS The union renaissance DEPARTMENTS Educators organize to build back better as the labor movement is reborn across the country In the Know 8 Calendar 10 News & Notes 26 12 Quotes & Numbers Spotlight 13 VACCINE: Naomi Bardach on shots for youths ages 12-15 14 TRAVEL: Members’ summer plans Advocacy 33 BUDGET: May surprise has big dollars for education 34 LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: Ethnic studies, parity for ESPs 35 BARGAINING: Statewide roundup Teaching & Learning 37 OUTDOOR CLASSROOM: Science teacher’s dream come true 40 WOMEN AND GENDER STUDIES: New course is on the map 21 42 UNCONSCIOUS BIAS: Who do Silver you call on? Linings 44 TECH TIPS: Lesser-known online How the pandemic teaching tools made educators better, stronger, kinder CTA & You 46 WHEEL LUCKY: Teacher wins a house on Wheel of Fortune 47 MOVIE: Retired teacher makes a swashbuckling adventure 48 HONORED: Presidential awards for excellence in STEM teaching 50 ENGAGEMENT: True-crime podcast inspires students 16 52 LIT FROM WITHIN: Works by our members My unsung hero Lesser-known historical figures who inspire educators and changed America Cover illustration by Bob Venables. This page, clockwise from top left: Coalition of Educators for Change’s Victoria Albaracin and Paola Zamudio; San Benito High science and math teacher Isabel Garcia; childhood photo of CTA member Mary Levi (lower right) with her unsung hero, her grandfather Fred Kabotie (center), along with her brother, her grandmother, and Dr. Harold Colton. 2 cta.org 2106 Educator draft v4.indd 2 6/3/21 6:58 PM UP FRONT LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK. We accept signed email and letters; we excerpt user posts from CTA social media platforms and cta.org/educator. Content subject to editing for clarity and space. Photos must have permissions. Opinions expressed by writers are not necessarily those of CTA. [email protected]; #WeAreCTA + = The Renaissance of Rosie WHAT DO YOU GET when you cross Rosie the Riveter’s grit and persistence with Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus? Why, our cover, of course. The artwork is the perfect illustration for our feature “The Union Renaissance” (page 26). The story explores how California educators are organizing for better as the labor movement is reborn nationwide. What’s on Your Mind? As you finally(!) have a short break to step back and reflect on an extraordinarily challenging 15 months, we want to know: What are your most pressing thoughts about your students, schools, education? As you get ready to go back to school, what do you need Kudos to Educators to be the best educator Kate LaBarbera (Union District possible? Tell us at Education Association) tweeted about [email protected]. Laurie Roberts (United Teachers of Richmond), who was featured in “Filling Gaps and Healing Hearts” in our April/May issue. youtube.com/californiateachers facebook.com/wearecta @WeAreCTA @WeAreCTA WeAreCTA For our full social media directory, see cta.org/social. #OurVoiceOurUnion #WeAreCTA JUNE / JULY 2021 3 2106 Educator draft v4.indd 3 6/3/21 6:58 PM MISSION STATEMENT The California Teachers Association exists to protect and promote the well-being of its members; to improve the conditions of teaching and learning; to advance the cause of free, universal and quality public education for all students; to ensure that the human dignity and civil rights of all children and youth are protected; EDITOR IN CHIEF Katharine Fong and to secure a more just, equitable and democratic society. STAFF WRITER Julian Peeples EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Craig Hamilton EDITORIAL INFORMATION WEB ASSISTANT Gladdie Cabral California Educator is published for the information and edification of CTA members. CTA ELECTED OFFICERS The editorial philosophy is governed by the policies of CTA. Articles and advertising reflect PRESIDENT E. Toby Boyd that philosophy. Letters to the editor may be sent to [email protected]. VICE PRESIDENT David B. Goldberg SECRETARY-TREASURER Leslie S. Littman Publication of advertising in the California Educator does not indicate CTA approval of the product or of the companies that purchase advertising. BOARD OF DIRECTORS For advertising rates and information, contact Carol Nettles, Greg Abt, Jesse Aguilar, Joe Bartell, Gayle Bilek, Greg Bonaccorsi, Denise Bradford, Advertising Sales Representative, AdBoom Advertising, 404-347-1755 Christopher Bushée, Jerry Eaton, Robert Ellis, Margie Granado, Shelly Gupton, Mel House, [email protected] Erika Lynn Jones, Sergio Martinez, Angela K.