Award-Winning Newspaper of United Teachers Los Angeles • www.utla.net Volume XLVII, Number 4, December 22, 2017 Bargaining: Where we are and where we’re going Latest on our healthcare and contract fight for the Schools LA Students Deserve.

Protecting healthcare breakthrough. On October 26, the district started in April, the district has not moved decisions. We build power in 2018 under the Where we started: For years before the made a proposal to fund healthcare for dis- significantly on key economic issues, nor any shadow of the Janus v. AFSCME Supreme current bargaining began, internal and trict employees, retirees, and dependents at of the issues that will make our school district Court case—a formidable threat to our ex- external forces were trying to shape the current levels for the next three years. sustainable in the long run. Our current salary istence as a union and our ability to bargain healthcare narrative to compel employees to Next steps: UTLA and our labor partners proposal is for a 6.5% ongoing salary increase, a good contract. Read more on where we’re accept cuts. LAUSD School Board member continue to push for a path that ensures a retroactive to July 2016. LAUSD has moved going in 2018 and the Janus case on page 11. Nick Melvoin campaigned on a platform reasonable healthcare reserve at the end from an offer of a 2% one-time payment to that said the employee healthcare package of a new three-year agreement to mitigate a 2% ongoing increase. For specifics on pro- was in “crisis.” LAUSD officials sent an future cost increases. The next bargaining posals from both sides, see the side-by-side Critical citywide early warning letter to UTLA that current session with LAUSD is January 10. spread in the November UNITED TEACHER levels of coverage were unsustainable, and (archived online at utla.net). LAUSD has chapter chair meeting the LA Times and other mainstream media Winning a contract for the Schools refused to bargain on a number of items, January 4 outlets took the tack in news pieces that LA Students Deserve including our Common Good proposals, and solid healthcare coverage for teachers and Where we started: UTLA presented overall has demonstrated a lack of vision in Important info and materials on other public employees was an unaffordable LAUSD with a comprehensive package of seizing this moment to take outside-the-box healthcare, contract bargaining, and action to support our schools. liability instead of the essential recruitment proposals to improve the educational op- the anti-union Janus case will be and retention incentives that it is. Next steps: Progress happened on health- portunities of our students and to achieve distributed at a meeting for all UTLA At the first bargaining session with the the Schools LA Students Deserve. From care because we sent a clear message to the chapter chairs on January 4. It’s criti- LAUSD employee unions, district officials increased salaries to lower class sizes, our district that we have the capacity to take cal that every site be represented. stated that they didn’t plan to continue proposals are essential to the sustainabil- collective action. To win a contract agree- funding healthcare at the current levels ity of LAUSD by helping build a school ment in 2018, we will continue to organize, Contreras Learning Complex and pointed toward a package of cuts, in- system that addresses the loss of enroll- build our school-site structures, and move 322 Lucas Ave. cluding eliminating dependent healthcare ment, attracts students, retains educators, toward strike readiness. A healthcare win Los Angeles, 90027 coverage, making employees and retirees and pushes back on privatization. In the would be an essential victory, but it must be pay premiums, and providing full cover- course of negotiations, parents and com- paired with a full contract agreement that Two sessions to choose from: age only for the lowest-cost plan. munity groups joined us at the table to supports students, educators, and parents 10 a.m. to noon Where we are now: The LAUSD employ- present “Bargaining for the Common through smaller class sizes, increasing health 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. ee unions have stayed united at the table, Good” demands on affordable housing, and human services staffing, reducing over- and after UTLA escalated our organizing expanding early education, supporting testing and top-down mandates, instituting Chapter chairs: If you can’t and member actions, including the Septem- immigrant families, expanding green space reasonable accountability for charter opera- make it, please arrange for a desig- ber 26 Big Red Tuesday and the October 11 at schools, and more. tors at co-located schools, and giving teach- nee to attend. Pickets for Power, there was a significant Where we are now: Since bargaining ers and parents a greater voice in school-site

Faces of UTLA’s latest We Are Public Schools campaign Parents, students, and educators stand together for education. Page 5 for more

Snapshot look at 2017 A year of activism for public education Page 6 United Teacher • for the latest news: www.utla.net December 22, 2017 United Teacher President’s perspective

PRESIDENT Alex Caputo-Pearl NEA AFFILIATE VP Cecily Myart-Cruz AFT AFFILIATE VP Juan Ramirez Our connections with each other make us strong ELEMENTARY VP Gloria Martinez SECONDARY VP Daniel Barnhart By Alex Caputo-Pearl morning, when I visited and talked to We will continue building our Contract TREASURER Alex Orozco SECRETARY Arlene Inouye UTLA President chapter chairs and vice chairs—Aaron Action Teams (CATs) at every single Peterson and Mark Woodhouse from school and escalate pressure on the dis- EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Jeff Good I hope you are having a wonderful Verdugo Hills High School, Krystal trict around salary, class size, staffing, and restful winter break, filled with love, Wharton from Vinedale Elementary, charter operator accountability, Com- BOARD OF DIRECTORS happiness, family, and friends. As the Maria Zia and John Lucas from Lassen munity Schools, equity for underrep- NORTH AREA: Karla Griego, Chair (Buchanan ES), people working with our students every Elementary, Sue Crosby from Sepulveda resented groups, and respect for our Mark Ramos (Contreras LC), Rebecca Solomon (RFK day and making great contributions to Middle School, and Kim Uchida from profession, through addressing overtest- UCLA Comm. School), Julie Van Winkle (LOOC Liason) the city and to society, you deserve rest Revere Middle School—it was incredibly ing, lack of support for school discipline, SOUTH AREA: Maria Miranda, Chair (Miramonte ES), Ayde Bravo (Maywood ES), L. Cynthia Matthews and rejuvenation. helpful to get their assessments of the and lack of decision-making power for (McKinley ES), Karen Ticer-Leon (Tweedy ES) 2017 has been an eventful year, full crisis, the district response, the cleanup, educators and parents at schools. The EAST AREA: Adrian Tamayo, Chair (Lorena ES), of our members and our allies taking and more. Please see page 8 for an FAQ district continues to be unresponsive to Ingrid Gunnell (Salary Point Advisor), Erica Huerta (Garfield HS), Gillian Russom (Roosevelt HS) exciting action—please see the end-of- on issues related to the fires. our contract proposals, and we’ve got WEST AREA: Erika Jones Crawford, Chair (CTA Director), the-year review on pages 6 to increase the public pressure. Georgia Flowers Lee (Saturn ES), Noah Lippe-Klein and 7 for some of the high In 2018, we will deepen our (Dorsey HS), Larry Shoham (Hamilton HS) points. 2018 will bring even 20 x 20 campaign—$20,000 per CENTRAL AREA: José Lara, Chair (Santee EC), Kelly Flores (Hawkins HS), Tomas Flores (West more onto the stage. student in school funding by the Vernon ES), Claudia Rodriquez (49th Street) year 2020—which continues to VALLEY EAST AREA: Scott Mandel, Chair (Pacoima The fires and smoke capture people’s imagination Magnet), Victoria Casas (Beachy ES), Mel House remind us across the state. Just in the past (Elementary P.E.), Hector Perez-Roman (Arleta HS) We don’t have to look too far few days, two steps forward VALLEY WEST AREA: Bruce Newborn, Chair (Hale Charter), Melodie Bitter (Lorne ES), Wendi Davis back into 2017 to be reminded were achieved. On December (Henry MS), Javier Romo (Mulholland MS) of the importance of our con- 15, the statewide, community- HARBOR AREA: Steve Seal, Chair (Eshelman ES), nections with each other, in labor Make It Fair coalition for- Karen Macias-Lutz (Del Amo ES), Jennifer McAfee (Dodson MS), Elgin Scott (Taper ES) schools and across schools, mally filed for an initiative to ADULT & OCCUP ED: Matthew Kogan (Evans CAS) and the importance of our be on the ballot in November union to all of us. Very early 2018 (UTLA has been on Make BILINGUAL EDUCATION: Cheryl L. Ortega (Sub Unit) in the morning on Tuesday, It Fair’s steering committee for EARLY CHILDHOOD ED: Corina Gomez (Pacoima EEC) December 5, we started getting three years). If approved by state HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES: Mallorie Evans (Marlton Spec Ed) calls and texts from members voters, the initiative would close who were at schools near the SPECIAL ED: Lucia Arias (Knollwood ES) the loophole that the wealthiest Creek fire in Sylmar and from commercial property owners SUBSTITUTES: Benny Madera even more schools that were have been jumping through, PACE CHAIR: Marco Flores affected dramatically by the tax-free, for decades—to the UTLA RETIRED: John Perez air-quality issues resulting tune of bringing an additional AFFILIATIONS from the fire. $10 billion into the state budget American Federation of Teachers As I hustled to get across for schools and social services. National Education Association Checking on the fire cleanup at Verdugo Hills High School on Decem- the San Fernando Valley, I had ber 11 with chapter leaders Mark Woodhouse and Aaron Peterson. And, our community and STATE & NATIONAL OFFICERS seen nothing like it—there parent partners in Reclaim Our CFT PRESIDENT: Joshua Pechthalt was heavy smoke for miles. As I visited Our connections with each other Schools LA moved us forward a great CTA PRESIDENT: Eric Heins CTA DIRECTOR: Erika Jones Crawford schools in the region, we redoubled our and with our union make us stronger, deal. After sending a letter in November CFT VICE PRESIDENT: Juan Ramirez efforts to advocate to the district, the Air whether regarding school issues, our to a variety of billionaires in Los Angeles NEA PRESIDENT: Lily Eskelsen Garcia Quality Management District, and others healthcare, or responding to natural who have been funding the privatiza- AFT PRESIDENT: Randi Weingarten NEA DIRECTOR: Mel House that schools be closed immediately and disasters like the fires and air quality. tion of public schools, and after showing people be allowed to stay indoors. When up to privatizer-ally Ref Rodriguez’s UTLA COMMUNICATIONS the Skirball fire erupted very early the Our strategy carries us into 2018 court date on December 13 to reiterate EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Alex Caputo-Pearl following morning, it deeply affected Our strategy over the past few years the call for his resignation, these parent COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: Anna Bakalis COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALISTS: Kim Turner, schools that had already been subject has been clear: and community leaders showed up at Carolina Barreiro, Tammy Lyn Gann, Pablo Serrano to incredibly bad air quality emanating • organize every school site to be the offices of billionaires on December ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT: Laura Aldana from the Creek fire. ready for action on school site and city- 19 to get a response to their November Our union, in all its essential compo- wide issues; letter. The questions they posed were EDITORIAL INFORMATION nent parts, worked in this crisis. Members • build strong connections with simple. Why are you funding opportuni- UNITED TEACHER 3303 Wilshire Blvd., 10th Fl., LA, CA 90010 at school sites gave concrete information, parents and community on school issues ties for some students, but not all? Why Email: [email protected] photographs, and more that helped the and social justice issues; UTLA main line: 213-487-5560 are you privatizing and segmenting our advocacy of officers, area chairs, members • use our organized power to shape schools instead of fighting to fund all of ADVERTISING Senders Communications Group of the board of directors, and staff as we bargaining, politics, and elections; and them appropriately? Will you take on the Brian Bullen: 818-884-8966, ext. 1108 pushed for schools to be shut down and • communicate effectively to the real crisis in California public education, UNITED TEACHER accepts paid advertisements from later pushed for a full deep-cleaning of public the real stories of our students which is being 46th out of 50 among outside companies and organizations, including UTLA all impacted sites and for resources to get and members and the real problems the states in per-pupil funding? They sponsors and vendors with no relationship with UTLA. Only approved vendors can use the UTLA logo in their ads. The to our members in need. with the privatizers, the billionaires, and let the billionaires know that if they’re content of an advertisement is the responsibility of the District leadership should have re- those in the district who aren’t willing not willing to do that, they need to be advertiser alone, and UTLA cannot be held responsible for its accuracy, veracity, or reliability. Appearance of an sponded to the calls to shut the schools to confront them. prepared to be called out. This is exciting advertisement should not be viewed as an endorsement down more quickly, and we will make This strategy has been effective over grassroots action. or recommendation by United Teachers Los Angeles. sure that this is remembered the next the past few years, and it was most re- In 2018, we will also be prepared time we face a crisis like this. But, there cently effective in getting the district to for what the Supreme Court, fresh off United Teacher (ISSN # 0745-4163) is published nine times a year (monthly except for February, June, and were also many things the district did move from trying to gut our healthcare Donald Trump having appointed the July) by United Teachers Los Angeles, 3303 Wilshire well. After weekend visits to schools to offering us a three-year agreement swing vote, will give us in June: a deci- Blvd., 10th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90010. Subscrip- that were being cleaned and on Monday, with no increased costs to members. sion on Janus v. AFSCME. This case has tions: $20.00 per year. (Price included in dues/agency fee of UTLA bargaining unit members.) Periodicals December 11, when officers visited 24 While this is tremendous progress, we been funded by a collection of right- postage paid at Los Angeles, California. POSTMAS- schools across the closure zones that are pushing for the best possible agree- wing, anti-union, pro-privatization TER: Please send address changes to United Teacher, were reopening for the first time in days, ment, and we continue healthcare ne- forces, and it overturns decades of estab- 3303 Wilshire Blvd., 10th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90010. Telephone 213-487-5560. we found our members to be impressed gotiations early next month. lished law. It directly undermines unions with the cleanup. On that Monday Now, our strategy carries us into 2018. (continued on next page) 2 United Teacher • for the latest news: www.utla.net December 22, 2017

PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE tively our responsibility and ask their our six-month reaffirmation and recom- gatherings at my family’s house down (continued from previous page) co-workers to handle it for them. Janus mitment plan to ensure that we enter the the street from the school and allow- is a direct attempt to divide us, and crush post-Janus world stronger as a union, a ing opportunities for my co-workers by encouraging people to become “free our union. profession, and a movement, not weaker. to meet my family. December is a very riders.” In other words, people could Yet, we will not be stopped by Donald It is possible, and we will do it. special time. And, now, I feel lucky get the benefits of the union—around Trump’s Supreme Court and the most Some of my favorite times as a to experience these same feelings of healthcare, salary, working conditions, existential threat to unions in a genera- teacher at Crenshaw High School warmth at so many schools across the learning conditions, policy advocacy, tion. Our students, our co-workers, the were at our staff parties right before city. We are so powerful together—in school funding advocacy, member notion of a truly public school system, the winter break. Our students buzzing our relationships with co-workers and rights, and so on—without paying dues and we ourselves depend too much on about the break, my colleagues singing parents, in our collective spirit, and in for it. In essence, the US will become a having a vibrant, fighting union to let that and playing instruments, feeling ac- our union. May you have a holiday “right to work” nation for public sector happen. At a January 4 all-city chapter complishment for the year completed season filled with joy, happiness, and employees, and union members will chair meeting (chairs: please send desig- and planning for the year ahead, our love—and come back rejuvenated for be encouraged to shirk what is collec- nees if you can’t make it), we will review warm conversations spilling over into a crucial 2018!

Corrections The student speaker at the No- vember 16 rally at Monroe High was misidentified. It was Cindy Ruiz who made these rousing remarks: “We are gathered here today for one reason: to fight for what we deserve from the district. Teachers, who want to see successful futures for the stu- dents they teach, are paid little for the jobs they do. Taking away health- care, taking away pay raises, and laying off teachers is no way to thank them for everything they do. How many times have we as students sat in overcrowded classes where it is difficult to learn? How many times have we had to go to the nurse and she wasn’t available? Been forced to take standardized tests and forced to sit in crammed classes? When will we finally get what we deserve?”

Alert us to errors: Please send corrections to UNITED TEACHER by email to [email protected]. Alex on a site visit at Russell Elementary. In this issue

4 Ref’s criminal case widens to include conflict-of-interest charges 4 Co-location issues As Rodriguez goes back to court, parents are there to demand his resignation. 8 UTLA meeting board 5 We are one team fighting for the Schools LA Students Deserve Local 99 members are mobilizing for respect at the contract table. 10 Passings

6 Snapshot of 2017 12 Practical matters Take energy and inspiration from our year of activism together for public schools. 12 Bilingual issues 8 Q&A on wildfire impact on schools Answers on payroll, leave issues, makeup days, and more. 16 WHO awards 11 Five facts about the far-reaching Janus case 18 Committee events page The Supreme Court decision will have sweeping implications for unions nationwide and here in LA. 19 UTLA-Retired

21 STRS retirement workshops

Get connected to UTLA Facebook: facebook.com/UTLAnow Twitter: @utlanow The Amaro family is one of the faces of Phase 3 YouTube: youtube.com/UTLAnow of our media campaign, which also features ed- ucators from LAUSD and UTLA-represented charter schools.

3 United Teacher • for the latest news: www.utla.net December 22, 2017 Ref’s criminal case widens to include conflict-of-interest charges As Rodriguez case goes back to court, parents are there to demand his resignation.

If Ref Rodriguez was hoping to slip to earn his $125,000-a-year salary and control. Because of the widening scope, and Monica Garcia). quietly into an LA Superior Courthouse vote on critical issues for the future of the case has been postponed to February “We call on all the billionaires who for his latest court appearance on Decem- public education in LA. or early March. back Mr. Rodriguez to join us in calling ber 13, a determined group of parents and “We are here because Ref does not rep- The parents also called out Rodriguez’s for his resignation,” Rutkoff said. “Their community members had another idea. resent our values and he is not a good billionaire patrons, such as Reed Hast- extravagant spending in support of local Organized by the Reclaim Our Schools example for our children,” said Karla Gon- ings, who is giving money to Ref’s legal school privatization as well as on Mr. Ro- LA coalition, more than 50 people held a zales, a parent at Marianna Elementary. defense fund, ostensibly to help preserve driguez’s legal fees diminishes our efforts news conference and protest outside the “As parents we are going to be here as the pro-privatization majority on the board to improve our schools for the benefit of courthouse to demand that Ref resign many times as it takes to get Ref to do the (along with Nick Melvoin, Kelly Gonez, all of our students.” from the LAUSD School Board. Parents right thing.” and community members are outraged “Leading our schools requires a par- that in the three months since charges ticularly high level of ethical wisdom,” against him first surfaced, Ref continues said Josh Rutkoff, a parent at Aldama El- Communities organize against ementary. “We support fully Ref’s right to legal due process but believe the facts co-location of the case make him the wrong person to oversee our children’s education. His All-day training at UTLA on January 26 on best trial has become a distraction from the practices and strategies. important advocacy and leadership work that we need from our elected leaders.” The parent protest wasn’t the only The UTLA Prop. 39 Task Force will be tough development for Rodriguez: The holding an all-day training on January court case has now widened to include 26 for charter leaders at sites that may be separate conflict-of-interest charges targeted under Prop. 39, whereby schools related to Partnerships to Uplift Commu- may be offered to a charter operator for nities, the charter network he co-founded. co-location. Rodriguez was already facing three felony charges and 25 misdemeanors linked to Could your school be targeted? alleged money-laundering during his Classrooms at your school that do not 2015 school board campaign. Now the have a register-carrying teacher is space case will also look at the $265,000 worth that is considered “vacant” and available of checks drawn on PUC accounts that Ro- for co-location per Prop 39. Rule of thumb: Parents and community members protest driguez allegedly signed or co-signed that If your school currently has four vacant outside the courthouse where Ref Rodriguez’s were payable to a Partners for Developing classrooms, your site may be a target for legal battles moved forward. Futures, a separate nonprofit under his charter co-location, especially if you expect your enrollment to decrease next school year. Recommendation: Each chapter chair should ask your principal for a copy of Community groups endorse the the school’s E-CAR (Electronic Capacity Schools LA Students Deserve Assessment Review), which is public in- formation. The purpose of the E-CAR is Reclaim Our Schools Los Angeles (ROSLA) is a coalition of parents, educa- to verify the number of classrooms at each tors, students, school staff, and community groups committed to achieving school and how they are used, to calculate the schools Los Angeles students deserve. ROSLA has launched the Schools school operating capacities, and to identify The Arminta Elementary community speaks LA Students Deserve campaign to address the crisis in our public schools. The available classrooms for future use. This united against co-location at a rally last year. following community groups have signed on to ROSLA’s platform to support report will let your school community students, empower communities, defend the teaching profession, and fund the know officially how many classrooms co-location through parent-community- future. Concretely, that means supporting transformational community school- are available and vulnerable to possible educator organizing. ing as the path to improve all our schools and increasing revenue, by taxing charter school co-location. those who have the most, to increase per pupil funding to $20,000 by 2020. Prop. 39 timeline Co-location often negatively November 1: Deadline for charter opera- Advancement Project Los Angeles impacts the home school tors to submit written requests to co-locate Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE) Oftentimes the “unused” space offered on LAUSD school campuses. Alliance for Community Transit LA (ACT-LA) to charter operators houses computer December 1: District reviews charter Black Lives Matter labs, parent centers, and after-school pro- operators’ ADA projections and agrees or Brotherhood Crusade grams, or the spaces are unused bunga- objects and responds with projections the California Calls lows, which could better be removed to district considers reasonable. California School Employees Association (CSEA) restore playgrounds. Co-locations also January 2: Charter operators respond Clergy & Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE) can have an effect on school schedules to district’s ADA projections. Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) and the unfettered use of facilities, such as February 1: District makes preliminary Coalition for a Safe Environment the cafeteria, library, and other common proposals to charter operators with eligible Community Coalition East LA Community Corporation spaces. Potential problems with safety facilities requests. Fannie Lou Hamer Institute arise when the co-located schools have a March 1: Charter operators respond to Heart of the Harbor Helping Those in Need wide grade-level span, and surrounding preliminary proposals. Inner City Struggle schools can be affected when students April 1: District makes final offers to Investing in Place are recruited to and/or counseled out of charter operators. Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE) the charter site. May 1: Charter operators must notify the Meet Each Need With Dignity (MEND) district in writing to accept or decline the final National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Resources and support offer by May 1 or 30 days from its receipt of Pacoima Beautiful If your school has been targeted before final offer. If final offers are accepted, charter San Pedro Democratic Club or you think it is a potential target, chapter operators occupy sites 10 working days prior Service Employees International Union (SEIU Local 99) chairs should contact your UTLA Area rep to their first day of school instruction. Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and attend the January 26 training (see end Strategic Actions for a Just Economy (SAJE) of article). UTLA’s Prop. 39 Committee has To sign up for the Prop. 39 co-location Strategic Concepts in Organizing and Policy Education (SCOPE) put together a range of practical resources training on January 26: Chapter leaders at Students Deserve at www.utla.net/get-involved/issues/ schools that are potential targets or have United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) prop-39. Over the past several years, many been recently co-located (for one or two years) Wilmington Waterfront Forward schools have had success in pushing back are invited to attend. Email Jenny Lam at on co-location or addressing issues after [email protected] to request a release to attend. 4 United Teacher • for the latest news: www.utla.net December 22, 2017

Speaking out We are one team fighting for the Schools LA Students Deserve Local 99 members are mobilizing for respect at the contract table.

By Edna Logan ready for learning. But, quite honestly, that’s Custodian getting harder and harder to do. Esteban Torres High School My school is a relatively new school, and SEIU Local 99 Member I can tell you it has been understaffed since it opened seven years ago. Every night, in When the last school bell rings at the end 480 minutes, I alone am assigned to clean of each day, that’s when I get to work at an entire academy. That’s three floors with Esteban Torres High School. I’m a night cus- 12 restrooms, five offices, a large gym, four todian and I make sure that when students, long hallways that go in different directions, teachers, and other education workers get 18 classrooms, and the girls’ locker room. to school the next morning, the campus is The fact is I have to prioritize. Servicing bathrooms and dumping trash cans are at the top of the list. Custodians do the best we can, but there are some things that just can’t get done. The floors are not swept every day. The classrooms are not mopped. The dusting is not done. There is no time to pick UTLA officers Cecily Myart-Cruz and Juan Ramirez (both in red) link arms with Local 99 up dust bunnies that form on the stairways. members to form a human chain at LAUSD Headquarters on December 12 to send a message: No time to pick up trash from the floors. We are a vital link to education! Local 99 members called on LAUSD to stop stalling and to Children need a classroom that is prop- start negotiating in good faith with their 30,000 members. erly kept. They need a campus without distracting graffiti. They need clean floors levels needed to maintain LAUSD’s own to student learning. And they cannot forget and new trash liners so that the smell and cleaning standards. That is unacceptable! that many of us are parents of LAUSD dirt from the previous day are removed. It’s also unacceptable that workers who students and LAUSD graduates ourselves. This brings a freshness and newness to the create the clean, safe, and supportive en- Low wages and part-time work not only start of the school day so that students are vironment that students need to learn are impact staffing levels—they impact our Edna Logan is the sole night custodian for more receptive to learning. relegated to mostly part-time, low-wage children and our communities. Esteban Torres High School. Her union, SEIU As a member of SEIU Local 99’s bargain- jobs. SEIU Local 99 members are cafeteria I believe that you cannot separate labor Local 99, is in contract talks with LAUSD to ing team, that is what I’m fighting for in workers, custodians, bus drivers, special issues from student issues, teacher issues improve staffing levels and improve pay. By our next contract with LAUSD. One of our education assistants, teacher assistants, from classified employee issues. All of the district’s own admission, custodians are priorities for this contract is to improve and many other dedicated school workers. us who work in schools are part of one staffed at 50% of the levels needed to maintain staffing levels. By the district’s own admis- The district must do more to truly value education team that strives to create the LAUSD’s own cleaning standards. sion, custodians are staffed at 50% of the our work and the contributions we make schools our students deserve. UTLA launches latest round of “We Are Public Schools” Multi-phase campaign drives compelling narrative about public education.

First, we shared what public education ing for all of our schools. The ads point to PHASE 1: What Public Education Means means to us as educators, students, and our updated website, www.WeArePub- parents—like opportunity, imagination, licSchools.org, where the community can and freedom. Then we shared what our get more information about our push to public schools provide—like transparency, build Community Schools and keep the accountability, and student empowerment. “public” in public schools by stopping the Now, UTLA has launched the third phase privatization agenda. of the We Are Public Schools campaign, “We believe that our school board sharing what our schools need and what members should meet high standards of we are ready to fight for. integrity and not take money from bil- Phase 3 includes more than 100 outdoor lionaire privatizers,” said Jennifer Kelly, ads, billboards, and posters in both a parent of two LAUSD students. The English and Spanish as well as a robust family is featured on a billboard in the tion, organize at school PHASE 2: What Our Schools Provide social media campaign that will continue district of School Board Member Ref Ro- sites to improve learning through March 2018. driguez, who is accepting money from conditions, and demand The goal is to showcase to our com- outside donors, like Netflix billionaire charter operator ac- munities and to those in power the great and privatizer Reed Hastings, to fund countability. The We Are need in our schools, as well as the over- his legal fight against charges of money Public Schools campaign whelming support for public education laundering and conflicts of interest. is an amplification of this and for the Schools LA Students Deserve. UTLA is a powerful and effective force great work being done The campaign also takes on those who in getting our message to our communi- by our members, our stu- would privatize public education. ties by building coalitions with parents dents, parents, and com- “We—the parents, students, teachers, and the community to fight privatiza- munity members. and staff of LAUSD—know better what PHASE 3: What Our Schools Need & What We Are Ready to Fight For our children need than a group of billion- aire CEOs,” said Stacie Webster, an LAUSD educator for 20 years and proud UTLA member, who was featured on billboards and in the social media campaign. The billboards break into two main mes- sages: UTLA members declaring “Ready to Fight” and families saying “We Support Our Teachers” and calling for safe, clean schools, lower class size, and proper staff- 5 United Teacher • for the latest news: www.utla.net December 22, 2017 Snapshot look at 2017 Take energy and inspiration from the work we did together.

JANUARY FEBRUARY • 10,000 people stand up on January • UTLA members complete survey 19 across LAUSD to #SchoolTrump to determine priorities in contract and to shield our schools from hate, bargaining. anti-immigrant policies, and privatiza- • The UT recognizes the 33 educators tion of public education (photo right). earning prestigious National Board • Teachers and parents from the certification, keeping up our tradition of Accelerated Schools take on turnover having among the highest number of crisis by leafleting school families and NBCTs in the country. holding parent meetings to talk about • UTLA launches Phase 2 of our “We the impact high teacher turnover has Are Public Schools” media campaign to on student learning. spread the positive message about public education while taking on those who would privatize it (graphic above). • UTLA sends open letter to Eli Broad calling out his connections to Betsy DeVos. SPEAK OUT: • School psychologists hold the first in a series of Listening Tours for health and human services profession- Immigrant rights als to build their power in the union.

“Education really is the key SPEAK OUT: Social justice to life, and Arleta has really great teachers to help us “As educators, we have a responsibility to examine the political and cultural meet our goals. I’m not go- landscape and to further social movements—and not only through our teaching ing to change the way I live of young people. We think we do this by being who we are, teachers committed my life. I’m not going to live in fear. I am going to live with the hope and aspira- to students, and through them committed to bettering the world around us. But tion for a better future, for all of us.” if one really takes a look at what is happening, this is clearly not enough.” Pedro Reyes, student & DACA recipient Mark Gomez, Teacher Arleta High School Hawkins High School

MAY JUNE • UTLA members join massive May Day march in downtown LA to #Resist • At Roosevelt High, the education com- the ongoing assault on labor and the anti-immigrant, anti-woman, anti-LGBT, munity rallies to “Free Claudia” and stand anti-Semitic, and anti-Muslim policies coming out of DC (photo right). against immigration raids and deportation • Faced with outsider spending on school board campaigns that hit historic threats (photo right). levels, UTLA members volunteer in unprecedented numbers for Steve Zim- • After parents, teachers, and university mer and Imelda Padilla. Though the losses were tough, we are driving the professors spoke passionately in support active resistance to the new privatization-allied board. of Community Schools, the LAUSD School • Demonstrating the power in collective bargaining and united action, Board unanimously passes a resolution on UTLA members at four charter schools—Ivy Academia, Montague Charter, June 13 endorsing the model and creating a Birmingham Community Charter, and El Camino Real Charter—reach Community Schools Implementation Team. strong contract settlements in the spring, scoring hard-fought wins on In testimony before the School Board, advo- competitive salaries, health benefits, and more. cates talked about how Community Schools • Parents, students, and educators bring the fight for Community Schools are much more than a program—they’re a and charter accountability to legislators’ front doors on May 12 with four fundamental shift in what a school can be and a powerful way to bring resources and support to students. energetic rallies to support bills before the legislature. SPEAK OUT: Community Schools SPEAK OUT: Transparency “We need funding for Community Schools. To me, a Community School is a “We’ve seen scandal after scandal in the unregulated charter school industry, like fully funded, diverse school that serves the needs of every student and their the FBI raid on Celerity and the charter operator recently charged with embezzle- families. Having fully funded Community Schools would inspire students to ment and money laundering. Who can be against common-sense legislation to come to school every day. When we come to a school where our needs are bring transparency and stop practices that steal money from students?” provided for, where we feel cared about, we will want to be here. We will want Marcela Chagoya, Special Education Teacher to learn. We will reach beyond what is expected of us.” Stevenson Middle School Christabel Ukomado, Student Dorsey High School

SEPTEMBER OCTOBER • From the Harbor to the • At the October 11 #Picket4Power city- Valley, from our Early Ed wide school-site leafleting, thousands of Centers to K-12 to HHS and educators step up our actions to show Adult Ed, the massive Big Red we are mobilized to fight for healthcare, Tuesday on September 26 at to fund our schools, and to stand up for hundreds of schools across our students (photo right). LAUSD sends a message • UTLA joins students and com- of unity and resolve to fight munity activists at the LAUSD School together for what our students Board meeting to call for an end to need (photo right). the criminalization of our students • In a first for UTLA, com- through LAUSD’s flawed policy on munity groups join UTLA at the random searches. bargaining table to present a • On October 26, the district makes significant movement on their initial proposal intended to gut our health- package of “Bargaining for the care and proposes funding at current levels for the next three years through 2020—a result of our growing Common Good” proposals on more green space, affordable housing, fare-free ridership for students on MTA, solidarity with our labor partners, our school-site organizing, and our escalating actions. early education programs, immigrant rights, and more. • At news conference at LAUSD, UTLA announces donation to community groups to help fund DACA renew- SPEAK OUT: Healthcare als in support of our colleagues and our students. “My daughter was born two months premature and spent a total of six weeks in SPEAK OUT: Collective action the neonatal intensive care unit. The school district wanted to cut the depen- dent healthcare coverage that has enabled my daughter to become the thriving “I wear red today in solidarity with the union who supports teachers like me one-year-old she is today. Had she not been covered, the cost would have every single day.” been financially devastating for my family.” Angela Knapp, Teacher Aprille Abram, Teacher Burroughs Middle School Miguel Contreras Learning Complex

6 United Teacher • for the latest news: www.utla.net December 22, 2017

MARCH APRIL • Parents and educators at more than 20 schools, • UTLA and seven other teachers’ union locals form the Cali- including Arminta ES, Liberty Blvd., Hubbard, fornia Alliance for Community Schools to support each other’s Wilson HS, and Glassell Park, organize against bargaining and to push for increased state funding. the potential loss of programs and resources to • Organizing campaign saves important program for deaf co-location by a charter operator. adults, and Adult Education teachers and students are empow- • Labor rights icon Dolores Huerta (photo right) ered for future fight-backs in defense of their programs (photo holds news conference and pens op-ed calling on right). Alliance management to end anti-union campaign. • At LCAP budget forums at San Fernando HS and Maya • UTLA and our campaign volunteers help power Angelou CS organized by Reclaim Our Schools LA, hundreds of Steve Zimmer and Imelda Padilla into LAUSD parents, students, and teachers testify to LAUSD officials what School Board runoff. Charter lobby and billionaire privatizers respond by pouring more than $10 million into resources and support their schools need. general election. • State audit shows Alliance charter management raised $1.7 • Arleta HS, Harry Bridges, Sylvan Park, Evans Adult, and Webster MS host UTLA Educator Workshops million from private donors for anti-union campaign against its on Immigrant Rights to share resources for families in the wake of stepped-up ICE raids and anti-immigra- own teachers. tion policies coming from DC. SPEAK OUT: Freedom to unionize SPEAK OUT: Co-location “Charter schools are substantially funded by public taxpayer dollars with ad- “The district is under the impression that these are empty rooms, but at Third ditional private contributions. Whether public or private, that money should be Street, they house music and drama, before-school and after-school child care, used in our classrooms, helping students learn. I’m offended that my employer and services for special education children, including IEPs and occupational, solicited money for a propaganda campaign to misinform, manipulate, and physical, and speech therapy. If we lose this space, we lose these programs silence teaching professionals who are organizing a union to improve the quality and services.” of our schools.” Claudia Rips, Parent Alisha Mernick, Charter Educator Third Street Elementary Alliance Gertz-Ressler High School

JULY AUGUST • More than 650 UTLA site leaders power up for • More than 100 educators, students, STEM graduates, and parents the new school year and our campaign for the rally on the steps of the STEM Academy at Bernstein High (photo right) Schools LA Students Deserve at the UTLA Leader- on August 28 to protest AB 1217, the bill to create a boutique STEM ship Conference from July 28 to 30. Core trainings school in LAUSD that would have drained resources and support from during the conference cover how to organize existing schools. The bill was defeated despite intense lobbying by effective work-site structures (including building billionaire privatizers. Contract Action Teams) to enforce the contract, • Legislation on equity and access for charter students (AB 1360) defend members’ rights, and build a successful passes. The bill will help prevent discriminatory admission and suspen- contract campaign. sion practices by charter operators. • UTLA lays out strategic plan for 2017-18 to • Teachers and parents from Aurora ES, Trinity ES, West Adams Support Our Students, Empower Our Communi- Prep, 49th Street ES, and West Vernon ES walk neighborhoods in ties, Fund the Future, and Defend the Teaching the weeks before school starts to build deeper ties between our Profession (graphic right). We introduce a bold schools and the community. concept—20 by 20—to fund LA schools at $20,000 • UTLA chapters start forming Contract Action Teams (CATs) to build per pupil by the year 2020. organizing power at school sites to improve working and learning conditions and address members’ issues.

SPEAK OUT: Public education SPEAK OUT: Parent organizing

“They starve our schools, call them failing, and then blame teachers and say “As a school teacher, I’m interested in connecting the school to the community that private interests are the way forward. We didn’t pick this fight but we’re and the community to the school. What better first step than finding out what ready to fight, and when you fight for public education, you are fighting for kids the community concerns are and what the community is dealing with? These to get a fair shot and that is worth everything.” are things we can take back and work on as a community. It begins with listen- ing. What the community has to say may not be what you think it will be. Only Keron Blair, Executive Director by learning community concerns can you figure out a path forward together.” Alliance to Reclaim Our Schools Jesus Torres, Chapter Chair Trinity Elementary

NOVEMBER DECEMBER • Parents and educators hold news conference • UTLA launches Phase 3 of the We outside LAUSD headquarters on November 7 to Are Public Schools media campaign demand that criminally indicted board member with more than 100 outdoor ads, Ref Rodriguez resign and to call out charter billboards, and posters in both lobby’s push to decrease basic accountability English and Spanish as well as and oversight requirements. a robust social media campaign • Thousands rally to “Save Our Schools” at six loca- (graphic right). tions across the district on November 16 to send • On December 19, parents, educa- a message about what’s at stake if we don’t stop tors, school staff, and students starving our schools and start supporting educators. caravan to the offices of two of the • Schools continue to use Contract Action city’s billionaire privatizers, asking them to stop advancing a privatization agenda and instead work with us Teams (CATs) to organize school-site power behind pressing local issues, grievances, parent organizing, and on a strategy that can serve all of our students. citywide priorities. Plummer ES uses CAT structure to distribute educator-created flyer to parents. • At Ref Rodriguez’s latest court appearance, parents and community members rally outside to demand that Ref resign and to call out donations by privatizers like Netflix CEO Reed Hastings to Ref’s legal campaign. SPEAK OUT: Charter operator accountability • YEAR-ROUND: School-site organizing around critical issues such as dysfunctional administrators, contract enforcement, rollout of Schoology, and overload of new elementary school programs, including progress “The California Charter Schools Association wants to deregulate district practices that report cards. govern charter operators, and they don’t want the inspector general to investigate claims of fraud and abuse. I can tell you that deregulating schools is a bad idea. In SPEAK OUT: Community voices my community I have witnessed firsthand what deregulating charter operators has “We—the parents, students, teachers, and staff of LAUSD—know better what resulted in. I have witnessed the return of students from local charter schools who are our children need than a group of billionaire CEOs.” now my students, and I can tell you that safeguards were not in place to ensure that these students were receiving the services that guarantee their success in schools.” Stacie Webster, Chapter Chair West Vernon Elementary Ayde Bravo, teacher and UTLA Board member Maywood Elementary 7 United Teacher • for the latest news: www.utla.net December 22, 2017 Q&A on wildfire impact on schools Answers on payroll, leave issues, makeup days, and more.

This month, our region experienced un- wildfires will be paid for their regular precedented wildfires that impacted thou- work hours. sands of families and closed down more than 260 LAUSD schools. Throughout it Will educators be paid for auxiliary all, UTLA members played an invalu- periods? able role, keeping school communities Employees at sites that were closed due calm, giving up lunches and free periods to the wildfires will only be paid for aux- to monitor students, and demonstrating iliary periods that they worked; in other commendable flexibility and diligence words, there will be no pay for auxiliary in getting schools back on track when periods while schools were closed. doors reopened. Members at school sites gave concrete Will substitute educators who had information, photographs, and more that assignments be paid for the days that helped the advocacy of officers, area chairs, schools were closed? members of the board of directors, and If a substitute educator had an assign- staff as we pushed for schools to be shut ment in the system, he or she will be paid. down and later pushed for a full deep- All substitute educators with long-term cleaning of all impacted sites and for re- assignments also will be paid and there sources to get to our members in need. will be no break in service, but the days Wildfires as seen from a school playground. A critical priority in the coming weeks will not count toward the 21 days needed to is for LAUSD to not be financially pe- qualify for the extended substitute pay rate. at a school that was closed by LAUSD. If through Labor Community Services 501(c) nalized for this unprecedented natural you have already filled one out, be sure (3) nonprofit, is working to assist in relief disaster, and we are working with LAUSD Can we be docked for being late during to check your pay stub to make sure time efforts and in coordination with govern- officials and State Superintendent Tom the first part of the week, before schools was not deducted for those days. ment and nonprofit agencies. If you, or Torlakson to advocate for state and were closed? someone you know, are in need of support federal support. Many employees were late to school Resources for members for basic needs—including housing, The closures generated many areas of due to increased traffic, personal concerns food, or connection to others services— concerns for members; here are answers about their homes, or family issues related What resources are there if I suffered please contact Margarita at Margarita@ to some of the issues. to the wildfires. Staff Relations has been personal damage to my home or property? theLAFED.org informed not to dock employees in the Our union affiliates offer resources for • The CFT may be able to provide ad- General issues wildfire-impacted areas for being tardy members personally impacted by the fires. ditional relief resources. If you are in per- that week. If you have been docked, please • The CTA Disaster Relief Fund (www. sonal need, email UTLA AFT Vice Presi- Will additional school days be scheduled contact your UTLA Area Representative. ctamemberbenefits.org/drf) offers grants dent Juan Ramirez at [email protected]. to make up for the lost time? for members who have suffered significant We do not have a definitive answer Leave issues losses due to the fires. Send questions to UTLA Treasurer Alex on whether makeup days will be sched- • The LA County Federation of Labor, Orozco at a [email protected]. uled. We continue to have regular and What are our leave options during the constructive conversations with the district wildfires? and the state of California on this issue. We Here are guidelines for various sce- are arguing that scheduling makeup days narios. UTLA meeting board is not the most logical path to take, and For medical reasons you had to leave school we believe that is the direction the district before it was closed by LAUSD: Use Illness is headed. We will keep working on this leave. Upcoming meetings and will update you as soon as we know JANUARY 24 For medical reasons you did not report to a The following committees meet on anything. non-closed school: Use Illness leave. the same day as the House of Repre- You work at a school that remained open sentatives from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. What should I do if my personal property JANUARY 4 but you needed to be at home to protect your Citywide chapter chair meeting. Two (unless noted) in the UTLA building: at the school site suffered damage from property: Use Personal Necessity leave. sessions: 10-12 or 2-4 Contreras LC. Arts Education Committee, Asian-Pa- smoke or ash? Your school was not ordered closed, but your cific Education, Bilingual Education UTLA is talking with LAUSD Labor Rela- child’s school was and you needed to stay home: Committee, Chicano/Latino Educa- tions about issues related to property loss and JANUARY 10 Use Personal Necessity leave. tion, Gay & Lesbian Issues, Health & fire-related damage. Please email your indi- Unjustly Housed Teachers Committee: You are a non-school-based itinerant who Human Services, Human Rights, Inner vidual concerns to our point officer, UTLA UTLA building, 4:30 p.m. did not report to the alternative site that you City, Instructional Coaches, Kinder- Treasurer Alex Orozco, at [email protected]. were directed to: If you were not able to Elementary Committee: 4 p.m., UTLA building. garten Teachers, Library Professionals report because of a medical issue, use (4:45-6 p.m.), Middle Schools, Multi- What should I do if there are still cleanup Illness leave. For other issues, use Per- Secondary Committee: 4 p.m., UTLA building. Track/Year-Round Schools, Non- issues in my classroom or school? sonal Necessity. NOTE: If the alterna- Classroom/Non-School Site, Options Please let your chapter chair know and tive site you were directed to ended up African-American Education Commit- tee: 4 p.m., UTLA building. Committee, Physical Education Action he or she can contact your UTLA Area rep being closed by LAUSD but your time is and Dance, Professional Rights & Re- for support. being docked, contact your UTLA Area PACE Committee: 6:30 p.m., UTLA building. sponsibilities, Pre-Retirement Issues, Representative. Salary & Finance, School/Community Is there general recognition that schools Capably Disabled Committee: 4 p.m., UTLA building. Relations, School Readiness Language should have been closed much earlier? I had previously requested time off for Tech Committee: 4 p.m., UTLA Development Program, Secondary The days before schools were closed days that my school ended up being building. School Counselors, Special Educa- were very tough at many sites, with sig- closed. Will my leave time be docked? tion, Substitutes, Violence Prevention nificant smoke and ash in the air affecting UTLA is pressing LAUSD not to deduct & School Safety, Women’s Education. many students and employees. We are leave time for employees who put in re- JANUARY 19 pushing for the district and other officials quests for Illness or Personal Necessity UTLA-Retired General Assembly to learn from this, so that schools can be Meeting: UTLA building. FEBRUARY 7 leave for days that their schools ended up UTLA Area Meetings: See times and closed sooner if something like this should closed. We will share information as soon happen again. locations at utla.net. as we have it. JANUARY 22 Early Childhood Education Committee: UTLA/NEA Service Center Council My office manager and principal asked 7 p.m., UTLA building. Payroll issues Meeting: UTLA building. me to fill out an absentee form for the days my school was closed “just in case” Will educators be paid for the days that Upcoming conferences schools were closed? they need it. Yes, employees with regular assign- Do not fill out an absentee form if you See committee events on page 18. ments at sites that were closed due to the are an employee with a regular assignment 8 MIND/BODY WELLNESS

LET’S LIVE IN THE MOMENT

Your mind and your body have more to do with each other than you might think. If one is hurting, the other could hurt, too. Rediscover the links between your mental and physical health and listen to your body for better overall health.

Channel your inner Om Unplug and reconnect Breathe easy

Want to get fit, fight stress, and Heavy tech users are more likely The way you breathe affects your stay healthy? Try yoga. Some to report sleep, stress, and mood whole body. Deep breathing classes can be pricey, but once problems. But time spent with is a relaxation tool you can do you know a few poses, you can people you enjoy can bust stress anytime — even right now — to practice almost anywhere. and boost well-being. feel clear, calm, and centered.

Stay true to you and keep moving in a healthy direction. Visit kp.org/mindbody and follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/kpthrive.

Services covered under a Kaiser Permanente health plan are provided and/or arranged by Kaiser Permanente health plans: Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., in Northern and Southern California and Hawaii • Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Colorado • Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Georgia, Inc., Nine Piedmont Center, 3495 Piedmont Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30305, 404-364-7000 • Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc., in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., 2101 E. Jefferson St., Rockville, MD 20852 • Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Northwest, 500 NE Multnomah St., Suite 100, Portland, OR 97232. Self-insured plans are administered by Kaiser Permanente Insurance Company, One Kaiser Plaza, Oakland, CA 94612. Please recycle. February 60531214 2017 United Teacher • for the latest news: www.utla.net December 22, 2017 Passings Patricia Morales, cherished colleague best friend, Odis Brown, whom everyone and chapter chair at Sally Ride Elementary, knows as OB. passed away on August 11. Patricia and OB eventually made their Trying to sum up the life of Patricia way to Hermosa Beach. Patricia, who had in a few paragraphs is a near-impossible worked in hospitality in San Antonio, task. Her depths of love, compassion, and changed career paths, eventually finding generosity were boundless, and are best her calling as an elementary school teacher. measured in the smiling faces of those she She taught with passion, dedication, and left in her path. In her presence, the term a whole lot of love for more than two “stranger” only lasted about 10 seconds decades. Her dedication to the education because she dove right in—offering an of young, at-risk students was a testament opinion, helping someone in need, or just to her generous and loving nature. making a new friend. In the Los Angeles public school system, Her profession was that of a schoolteach- Patricia taught at several different campus- er, but she was so much more in so many es including Hoover Elementary, Lizarraga ways. For the students she taught for more Elementary, and Sally Ride Elementary. than two decades, she imparted a wisdom Her colleagues recall fondly her enthu- and character far beyond the curriculum siasm and spirit, fully immersing herself and instilled the values of courage, convic- into the campus community. Not a day Patricia Morales tion, and compassion. Her enduring legacy goes by that her colleagues at Sally Ride lives in the people whose minds have been aren’t reminded of her. She was the UTLA shaped by her lessons and whose hearts chapter chair for seven years at Lizarraga have been touched by her love. and five years at Ride ES. She was in charge she gladly joined in and made it all the name it the Patricia Morales Library. Patricia had a zest for life that made of the Mentos Rocket Take-Off simula- more festive. Patricia will always be remembered her a beacon to which others were drawn. tion every year at the Night Under the Many students return to visit their for her indefatigable spirit, her pursuit of When there was work to be done, she was Stars event. She collected the lost sweaters former teachers after culminating. Every social justice, and of course, her infectious in the middle of it. When there was a crisis with her students and placed them on the single one that entered the Main Office laughter and enthusiasm when doing what that demanded attention, she was at the yard for pick up throughout the year. She came to find Ms. Morales. In fact, a student she enjoyed—especially when watching heart of it. And, of course, when it was visited students’ homes regularly, and if of hers who had graduated high school her beloved Spurs. Her passion for the time to celebrate, she was always ready any family at school had suffered a loss and was about to enter Columbia Uni- Spurs was renowned, and although she to get the party started! or been in an accident, she visited the versity visited her last June along with lived in California and not Texas, this did Born in San Antonio, Texas, the fourth family and made sure they were mending. her mother to thank her for being such a not keep her from proudly showing her child to a firefighter and his homemaker Her celebration of Kwanzaa during the great teacher, for motivating her, and for colors and cheering them on. She was most wife, Patricia was nurtured in a loving school’s winter entertainment program is making everyone feel that they could truly at home surrounded by children, friends, home and learned a sense of duty and legendary: “Whatcha want to sing about?... make their dreams come true. and family watching the Spurs march to purpose. After graduating from the Uni- KWANZAA!” She actively participated in The Sally Ride community looks victory, always ending her conversations versity of Texas–San Antonio in 1982, it every committee, council, event—and, if forward to honoring her relentless posi- with “Go, Spurs, go!” was in Texas—in fact, right behind the you asked for help with last-minute count- tive spirit, dedication, and altruism when We thank Patricia Morales for being Alamo—that Pat met her husband and ing, decorating, supervision, adjudicating, they dedicate the school library to her and (continued on page 17)

10 United Teacher • for the latest news: www.utla.net December 22, 2017 2018: Building a sustainable future for public education From the UTLA officer team. In 2017 our schools and our communities our short-term goals (such as saving health- ing big oil, tobacco, were under threat in new and insidious ways. care and wining a fair contract) and our and developer inter- We are proud that UTLA was a leader in the long-term ones (getting education off of a ests—on state legis- active resistance to the unjust and inhumane starvation budget and attracting families to lative races. They’ll policies coming from D.C.; to the privatiza- our district schools) so that public educa- be back again in the tion that would decimate public education; tion can survive and thrive. highly competitive and to the attempts to deprofessionalize UTLA will hit the ground running in races for governor teaching by lowballing your pay, eliminating 2018 on these and other priorities: and state superin- secure healthcare and retirement, and taking Taking healthcare over the victory line: tendent of public in- away your right through your union to have As a direct result of our organizing and es- struction in 2018. Our a collective voice at your school. calating actions, LAUSD no longer is trying endorsed candidate 2017 can be measured both by what to gut our healthcare. In early January we for superintendent, UTLA members faced and by how we and the other LAUSD employee unions Assemblymember fought back, with parents and community will make a concerted push to finalize a Tony Thurmond, by our side. Our work together affirmed solid agreement that would fund health- is running against that our movement is resilient and our care for the next three years and protect Marshall Tuck. Tuck’s movement is growing. our reserves. An early healthcare win in agenda is straight With two key events aligning in 2018— 2018 would free us to step up our fight for from the privatizers’ our ongoing contract bargaining and the all the other issues we care about. playbook: attack teacher tenure and due the Make It Fair ballot initiative to close high-profile statewide elections—next year Building power for a post-Janus world: process, defund schools through the unreg- tax loopholes on the wealthiest corporate is full of potential to make meaningful The Janus v. AFSCME case before the ulated expansion of charters, and promote commercial property owners and getting progress for our schools. Woven through Supreme Court is the most existential threat high-stakes testing over teaching. Tuck was the promised and decades-overdue federal all of our priorities will be the issue of to unions in a generation (read more on the defeated in 2014 by a coalition of educators, and state funding for special education. sustainability: the absolute need to achieve case on this page). We will proactively fight parents, and community groups, and we’ll As UTLA officers, we are energized its impact through an all-in campaign to do it again in 2018. about heading into this critical new year have all of us reaffirm our commitment to Continuing to build strike readiness and with you, our members, who inspire our The Schools LA our union by filling out new membership school-site power: Last year we kicked off students—and inspire us—every day. Our Students Deserve cards. This is how we protect our union, our our push to achieve UTLA-wide strike best wishes for a restful holiday season, pay, our benefits, and our contract. readiness in 2018, knowing that being and we’ll see you in 2018. We can make our schools great Escalating pressure on LAUSD through ready and willing to strike is one of our places to educate, work, and learn by: targeted issue campaigns: Since bargaining most powerful tools. Our great CATs Alex Caputo-Pearl • Achieving pay increases and pro- started in April, LAUSD has not moved (Contract Action Teams) at school sites are PRESIDENT tecting health benefits on key economic issues nor on any of the playing a critical role. Being strike ready Cecily Myart-Cruz • Improving class sizes and social/ issues that will make our school district not only builds power for bargaining; it UTLA/NEA VICE PRESIDENT emotional supports for students sustainable in the long run and help build also creates the kind of organized, engaged • Advancing Community Schools the Schools LA Students Deserve. To create UTLA chapters that can effectively address Juan Ramirez and other successful school new pressure points, we’ll conduct tar- school-site issues such as enforcing the UTLA/AFT VICE PRESIDENT models geted campaigns on key issues: salary, contract, fighting co-location, and dealing Gloria Martinez • Improving working conditions co-location, increased health and human with dysfunctional administrators. ELEMENTARY VICE PRESIDENT & learning conditions services staffing, smaller class sizes, ac- Making 20 x 20 a reality: Last year, Daniel Barnhart • Enhancing and defending profes- countability for charter operators, overtest- UTLA and community allies launched SECONDARY VICE PRESIDENT sional rights at LAUSD schools ing and top-down mandates, site decision- the 20 x 20 campaign to reach $20,000 in and UTLA-represented charters making, and building Community Schools. per-pupil funding by the year 2020. This Alex Orozco • Organizing against privatization Electing Tony Thurmond state superinten- bold concept is getting traction across TREASURER • Working for social justice dent: In the last election cycle, the charter the state, and in 2018 we’ll push several Arlene Inouye lobby outspent all other groups—includ- strategies for getting to 20 x 20, including SECRETARY Five facts about the far-reaching Janus case The Supreme Court decision will have sweeping implications for unions nationwide and here in LA. 1. The case is an existential tions, and drive down pay and benefits to have already lost agency fee, right-wing threat to unions enhance company profits. In the 28 states groups like the Freedom Foundation created The Janus v. AFSCME lawsuit—like the that already have eliminated agency fees, cable TV ads and websites to instruct union Friedrichs v. CTA case before it—seeks to wages are lower and the poverty rate is members how to quit paying dues. make the entire public sector “right to higher. Curtailing unions’ political power work” in one fell swoop. It challenges the is the dream project of some of the na- 4. UTLA is a prime target for long-standing right of unions to collect tion’s biggest right-wing activists, includ- membership drop campaigns “fair share” or “agency” fees from em- ing the Koch brothers, the Lynde and UTLA has been a powerful and effective ployees who do not want to be members Harry Bradley Foundation, and the State force in building coalitions with parents of the union but who still benefit from the Policy Network, a consortium of 66 ultra- and the community to fight privatization, pay, benefits, and other improvements that conservative think tanks. For years these organize at school sites to improve learning the union negotiates. Janus is scheduled groups have poured money into anti-union conditions, and demand charter operator to be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court causes in the belief that union-backed accountability. In a post-Janus world, it is next year, and a ruling is expected in June candidates stand in the way of cutting only logical that our enemies will try to 2018. Donald Trump’s appointment of Neil government spending and of privatizing use coordinated membership drop cam- reaffirming our commitment to our union Gorsuch to the Supreme Court virtual- education through more charter operators paigns to weaken us—forcing us to cut and our profession by filling out a new ly guarantees that the court will rule to and school voucher programs. back on staff, representation, legal services, membership card with updated language declare agency fees unconstitutional. The and contract and organizing campaigns. A for the post-Janus world. To protect our impact on unions would be immediate. 3. The attack on unions won’t strong UTLA is the only defense against the union, our pay, our benefits, and our con- end with the court decision privatizers who want to take our jobs and tract we all have to re-commit to our orga- 2. Janus is funded by the usual In the aftermath of a pro-Janus decision, our benefits, turn public education into a nization. Members will hear more about right-wing suspects right-wing forces will launch campaigns business, and eliminate our ability to ad- the “all-in” campaign, which was endorsed Janus is the culmination of decades of to get public-sector workers to leave vocate for our students and communities. by the House of Representatives and the attacks on unions and working people their unions, and some organizations Board of Directors, when schools are back by corporate CEOs, the National Right to have already included the promise of 5. We have a plan to counter Janus in session in January. UTLA members have Work foundation, and others who want membership drop campaigns into their To proactively fight the expected Janus united before to protect ourselves and our to break unions, privatize public institu- fund-raising pitches. In some states that decision, in 2018 UTLA members will be professions. We will do it again. 11 United Teacher • for the latest news: www.utla.net December 22, 2017 Practical matters Bilingual issues Is Your CalSTRS Beneficiary Designation up to date? Facts on the expansion of dual-language in LAUSD.

By Ed Kaz The beneficiary designation is separate Dual-language is growing in LAUSD: For • LD NW: 4 programs (2 Spanish, 2 UTLA Compensation and from your option beneficiary, who receives the 2016-17 school year, there were 78 pro- Korean) Benefits Specialist an ongoing monthly allowance when you grams. In 2017-18, there were 101, and • LD NE: 8 programs (6 Spanish, 2 Ar- die. You may designate the same person we are on track for 139 programs in the menian) CalSTRS pays a lump-sum death benefit for both the lump-sum benefit and the 2018-19 school year. • LD S: 14 programs (13 Spanish, 1 to your designated beneficiary when you monthly allowance. If you do not have The benefits of dual-language: There are Korean) die. The sum varies depending on whether a beneficiary designation in effect on the five advantages of dual-language programs, • LD W: 20 programs (12 Spanish, 4 you have Coverage A or B (your Retirement date of your death, the benefit is paid to in short: Cognitive development, academic Korean, 3 Mandarin, 1 French) Progress Report shows which survivor cov- your estate and may be subject to probate. advantage, economic advantage, intercultur- • LD E: 25 programs (21 Spanish, 3 erage you have) and whether you die before A valid beneficiary designation, with al awareness, and family heritage connection. Mandarin, 1 Arabic) or after retirement. The Teachers’ Retirement current addresses and phone numbers, The six language programs and their • LD C: 30 programs (25 Spanish, 4 Board usually adjusts the sums periodically. eliminates the need for a lengthy search goals: Each program has a different student Korean, 1 Mandarin) Currently, if you die before retiring or for beneficiaries and reduces the amount makeup and different goals. How to get a program at your school: while on a disability allowance and have of time it takes to process and distribute • Dual language (ELs and EOs): bilin- Twenty parents of a single grade or 30 in Coverage A, the lump sum payment is the payment. A beneficiary designation gualism and biliteracy the school must request it. Under Prop. $6,163; if Coverage B, it is $24,652. If you received by CalSTRS after January 1, 1987, • Maintenance bilingual (all ELs): bi- 58, the school must implement it “to the die after retiring, the lump sum payment is remains valid until you revoke it. Mar- lingualism and biliteracy extent possible.” the same for both Coverage A and B: $6,163. riage, dissolution, or annulment after that • Foreign language immersion (all EOs): Whom to contact: EL coordinators at To report the death of a member or benefit date does not automatically invalidate a bilingualism and biliteracy Local District offices, the Multilingual recipient to CalSTRS, you can either write beneficiary designation. If the most recent • Transitional bilingual (all ELs): Multicultural Education Dept., Cheryl to CalSTRS at P.O. Box 15275, Sacramento, beneficiary designation was received English literacy Ortega at [email protected], or UTLA Board CA 95851-0275 or call the toll-free number before January 1, 1987, and a marriage, • Structured English Immersion (all member Tomás Flores at [email protected]. at (800) 228-5453. You will need to provide dissolution, or annulment occurred after ELs): English literacy Join us on January 24, 2018, at 4:30 p.m. the deceased person’s name and Social Secu- the designation was received and before • Mainstream English (ELs and EOs): in Room 828 for our next Bilingual Education rity number or CalSTRS Client ID number; January 1, 1987, the designation is invalid. English literacy Committee date of death; their status (retired, disabled, Your CalSTRS Retirement Progress Report Where dual language programs are found: —Cheryl Ortega active, whether they are an option benefi- identifies your designated beneficiary. It Here’s the breakdown by LAUSD Local UTLA Director of Bilingual Education ciary or other benefit recipient); death cer- pays to keep that designation up to date. District. [email protected] tificate; and the name, address, and phone number of a contact person. Additional For additional information: Contact the information or documentation may be re- CalSTRS automated telephone system at quested. I strongly recommend that you cut 800-228-5453 to request a beneficiary desig- Share your school’s good news! out this article and keep it in your files along nation form or download it from the CalSTRS Send details on awards, honors, special events, and with your will and other documents so that website at www.calstrs.com. Click on “Mem- your family will have the information they bers” in the top banner, then type “Beneficia- great schoolwide programs to [email protected]. need to begin the process. ry Designation Form” in the search field.

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Presented by Insurance Facebook coverage.com/UnitedHealthcare provided by or through UnitedHealthcare Twitter.com/UHC Insurance Instagram Company.com/ UnitedHealthcareor its affiliates. Administrative YouTube.com/ servicesUnitedHealthcare provided by UnitedMT-1162223.0 HealthCare Services, 12/17 ©2017Inc. or theirUnited affiliates. HealthCare Health Services, Plan Inc. coverage 17-6500-C provided by or through a UnitedHealthcare company. Facebook.com/UnitedHealthcare Twitter.com/UHC Instagram.com/UnitedHealthcare YouTube.com/UnitedHealthcare MT-1162223.0 12/17 ©2017 United HealthCare Services, Inc. 17-6500-C 12 GIVE YOURSELF THE CHANCE TO WRITE THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION.

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the highest number of votes (by a plurality) will have an opportunity for a three-year Involvement opportunity term at the local level. One-year terms are available for state delegates. 2018 NEA Convention set for Minneapolis Election process for delegates The process for the NEA Representa- UTLA holding elections for convention delegates. tive Assembly delegate elections will be as follows: Voting for local delegates will take place at the February 7 UTLA Area By Debby Schneider and Laura Carls The NEA Representative Assembly will locations affiliated with the Department meetings. The top vote-getting candidates UTLA/NEA Election Committee meet in Minneapolis, June 30 to July 5, of Defense, will give input, gather in- will be named as delegates following the 2018, during which delegates represent- formation, and formulate and update counting of votes on February 9. Ready to become involved in education ing their local unions from throughout NEA’s positions on various legislative The UTLA/NEA election committee issues at a national level? the United States, including overseas and policy issues. will then formulate the state candidates’ Educational concerns affecting local, ballot from those names of people who state, and national unions may be brought turned in self-nomination forms for only to the floor by any delegate. The excite- the state delegate ballot (a one-year term) NEA Representative Assembly Annual ment of deliberation and voting begins and those who self-nominated for both the each day at 7 a.m. during the California state and local delegate but did not receive Convention slated for July 2018 in Minneapolis state caucus and never slows down. This top votes in the local delegate election. excitement, plus the numerous CTA- and The voting for the one-year state del- Would you like to become a UTLA/NEA delegate to the 2018 Representative NEA-sponsored activities, serves to enter- egate term will take place at the UTLA/ Assembly Annual Convention in Minneapolis? From June 30 to July 5, 2018, UTLA tain and educate exhausted but inspired NEA Service Center Council meeting on members affiliated with the NEA/CTA will be in attendance at that convention. delegates. April 3, from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., and the UTLA/NEA members who run for the counting of the votes will follow on April 5. For a member to be eligible not only to become a delegate, but to serve in the 2018 Representative Assembly and receive Any teacher on dues-paying leave, year- UTLA/NEA Representative Assembly, a self-nomination form must be complet- ed and returned to Cecily Myart-Cruz, UTLA/NEA President, by 5 p.m., January 4, 2018. There will be two categories of delegates: local and state. Local del- egates will be elected on Wednesday, February 7, 2018, at the eight UTLA Area UTLA/NEA RA election meetings. State delegates will be elected Tuesday, April 3, at the UTLA/NEA Service Center Council meeting from 3:30 to 6:30. A complete set of election absentee ballots available rules will be sent to each person submitting a self-nomination form. UTLA/NEA members on formal leave will be able to vote in the 2018 Term of office for local delegates is three years, beginning July 2018. State NEA Representative Assembly election by absentee ballot. The ballots delegates are elected yearly. are available to any teacher on formal leave from a school or worksite and can be obtained by completing an absentee ballot request (below) UTLA/NEA Representative Assembly Self-Nomination Form and submitting it to UTLA by U.S. mail (no faxes/email) by January 4, Please Print 2018, no later than 5 p.m. All ballots will be due back at UTLA by 5 p.m. on the appropriate date (use timeline). Name

Employee Number UTLA/NEA Members on Formal Leave Request for Absentee Ballot for UTLA/NEA Representative Assembly Elections Mailing Address Please Print

Name Home Telephone Employee Number Non-LAUSD Email Address Mailing Address School

UTLA Area (Circle One) N S E W C VE VW H Name of School Ethnicity (Circle One) Non-LAUSD Email Address Asian/Pacific Islander African American UTLA Voting Area Caucasian (not Spanish origin) Chicano/Hispanic Check one: CTA/NEA Board member Formal LAUSD leave I wish to have my name placed on the (check one): I am requesting an absentee ballot for the following election: Local and state ballot Wednesday, February 7, 2018 (ballots due back 2/7—Local) Tuesday, April 3, 2018 (ballots due back 4/3—State) Local delegate ballot only State delegate ballot only All above information must be completed for this request to be valid. If my name appears on the local delegate ballot, and I am elected as a local delegate, I hereby give my permission to have my name removed from I hereby declare that the above information is accurate. the state ballot.

Signature I certify that below is the signature of candidate whose name appears above. This request is due by 5 p.m., January 4, 2018, at UTLA, 3303 Wilshire Blvd., 10th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90010, Attn.: Cecily Myart-Cruz. Until 5 Signature p.m. on January 4, forms may also be dropped off at UTLA headquarters This request is due by 5 p.m. by mail (no faxes or emails) by January 4, 2018, (see the receptionist on the 10th floor) during regular business hours from at UTLA, 3303 Wilshire Blvd., 10th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90010, Attn.: Cecily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Myart-Cruz. Until 5 p.m. on January 4, forms may also be dropped off at UTLA headquarters (see the receptionist on the 10th floor) during regular business All absentee ballots will be due back to UTLA by 5 p.m. on the appropriate hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. date (see timeline).

14 United Teacher • for the latest news: www.utla.net December 22, 2017 round teachers who are off track, and early the facing page instead of the form sup- childhood education teachers who are off plied by CTA. No faxes or emails will be track may vote by absentee ballot, accord- accepted. As a delegate, it is your respon- ing to CTA election rules. sibility to attend all Service Center Council LAUSD HUMAN RESOURCES Ballots can be requested by complet- meetings (January 16, April 3, and May 29). ing the form below. Note: Our timeline is UTLA/NEA election committee members set in accordance with CTA submission are Laura Carls and Deborah Schneider- LAUSD is hiring school nurses requirements. Solis (co-chairs), Fredrick Bertz, Andrew UTLA/NEA members running for the Carrillo, Marcela Chagoya, Wendi Davis, 2018 Representative Assembly must be Karla Griego, Rosa Melendez, Loren Scott, Openings available district-wide. sure to use the self-nomination form on and Yolanda Tamayo. Position offers competitive salary, paid time off Delegates with terms expiring in 2017 (including summer), and fully paid benefits.

Ricardo Abreu Cecilia Flores-Adams Juan Diego Montemayor Shelita Shelley To apply or for more information, visit Jose Aguilar David Goldberg Mark Muskrath Alfreda Soriano go.teachinla.com/nurses or call (213) 202-7580. James Anderson Leonard Goldberg Didi Obi Adrian Tamayo Wannetta Ashton Cassandra Grady J.C. O’Gabahann Yolanda Tamayo Gwen Baker (Richards) Adrian Hernandez Juan Ramirez Don Tarquin Robin Branch-Scott Kirsten Johnson Mary-Janice Rodriguez Mary Tello Marcela Chagoya Andrea Jones Narciso Rodriguez Lillian Thompson Jose Delgadillo Michael Jones Ana Marcela Rubio Zulma Tobar Improve your vIsIon Lisa Dinwiddie Gloria Martinez Thomas Rubio Margarita Vargas Veeda Fernandes L. Cynthia Matthews Colleen Schwab Sylvia Wolf Improve your lIfe! Tomas Flores Rosa Melendez Elgin Scott Hal Wolkowitz Kelly Flores Stacey Michaels Paulette Shelley Marc Wutschke Special Discount For UTLA Members CALL NOW! UTLA/NEA RA 2018 election timeline

NEA/RA Local Delegate election ™ AMERISIGHT INSTITUTE • Free Consultations November 17, December 22: Nomination forms, timeline, and absen- • Financing Available tee ballot request forms in UNITED TEACHER.

January 4: Self-nomination forms and absentee ballot requests due to 14914 Sherman Way • Van Nuys, California 91405 888-999-4202 UTLA building by 5 p.m. by U.S. mail (no faxes or emails). Until 5 p.m. on January 4, 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.

January 5: Letters sent out acknowledging receipt of nomination forms.

January 22: Absentee ballots sent out.

February 7: Local RA delegate elections at all UTLA Area meetings and at UTLA headquarters from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

February 7: Absentee ballots due back to Cecily Myart-Cruz, UTLA/NEA Vice President, at UTLA building, 10th floor by 5 p.m. by U.S. mail only (no faxes or emails).

February 9: 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.

February 19: Deadline to submit election challenge in writing to Cecily Myart-Cruz, UTLA/NEA Vice President, provided a runoff election is not re- quired. Please contact Vivian Vega for appropriate form at 213-368-6259.

NEA/RA State Delegate election March 12: State RA delegate absentee ballots sent out.

April 3: State RA delegate election at UTLA/NEA Service Center Coun- cil meeting at UTLA headquarters, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.

April 3: State absentee ballots due back to Cecily Myart-Cruz, UTLA/ NEA Vice President, at UTLA building, 10th floor, by 5 p.m. by U.S. mail only (no faxes or emails).

April 5: Election Committee meets at 9 a.m. to count all ballots. Let- ters sent to winners and results will be posted at www.utla.net by the end of the next business day.

April 15: Deadline to submit election challenge in writing to Cecily Myart- Cruz, UTLA/NEA Vice President, provided a runoff election is not required. Please contact Vivian Vega for appropriate form at 213-368-6259. 15 United Teacher • for the latest news: www.utla.net December 22, 2017

GRAPEVINE ships” aims to reduce toxic stress experi- fulness designed specifically for public online course. Please email Kelly Wood for (continued from page 23) enced by teachers. Educators constantly find school students and teachers. Kelly Wood, details: info@ school-yoga.org or call 323- themselves in stressful situations at home, experienced kids yoga teacher, has taught 240-8711. View details on www.schoolyoga. the work of a human rights defender. Entry on the freeway, and at work, and this course weekly in LAUSD schools for more than 16 org/about-teacher-training. deadline is March 3, 2018. Visit www. speak- helps teachers make their classrooms “stress years. Upon completion of the training, ed- truthvideo.com for more information. free” environments for better learning. Enroll ucators gain tools of simple movement and Salary point class on at www.education4equity.com/lausd. inclusive language for improved physical, cultural competency Salary point course on mental, emotional, and social well-being “Valuing Difference” is an interac- healthy relationships SCHOOL Kids Yoga & Mindfulness for students and themselves. The course tive seminar on cultural diversity, family The new self-paced three-salary point Teacher Training reaches all Pre-K-5 ages (modifications for history, media and societal impacts, and course “Creating a Conducive Environ- Learn the classroom-proven calming secondary students). No prior yoga expe- effective communications. The salary ment Through Building Healthy Relation- methods of SCHOOL Kids yoga and mind- rience is required. SCHOOL Kids Yoga & point workshop covers the important Mindfulness techniques meet Common role your own culture plays in day-to- Core Standards and enhance academic day interactions and includes interactive achievement, listening, focus, and harmony exercises in which participants review Support for housed teachers in students. The next session is January 17, various issues from a variety of view- 24, and 31 and February 7, 21, and 28 (six points. The next session is January 21 Under former superintendent John Housed teachers are not kept informed Wednesdays) from 4 to 6:30 p.m. One salary and 28 (two Sundays). The fee is $95. Deasy, many educators were victims of the status of these investigations. No point available. Fee is $200. Classes take Location: 8339 W. Third Street, L.A., CA of the “teacher jail” system. Caught formal hearing takes place until the place at Milagro Charter School, 1855 N. 90048. One multicultural salary point off guard and often falsely accused, district reaches its verdict, so accused Main St., 1st Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90031. available. For more information or to they were left to suffer alone, under teachers have no chance to influence Limited scholarships are available. Call for register, call Kari Bower at 323-653-3332 house arrest and unsure of what to do. the process. more details regarding the in-person or or email [email protected]. LAUSD’s abuse of “teacher jail” has UTLA’s Standing Committee for Un- lessened since the departure of Deasy, justly Housed Teachers meets monthly but we still need to be vigilant about at the union to support these teachers. each and every case. From time to time the committee in- WHO awards: A chance to honor Some things that UTLA members troduces motions at House of Repre- may not be aware of: Teachers who run sentatives meetings. The committee afoul of their administrators no longer also represents “reassigned teachers”— someone you know get sent downtown to be “housed.” teachers arbitrarily relocated to other Instead, every day between 8 a.m. and schools. The next meeting is January Nominations due March 1. 2:45 p.m., they’re restricted to their own 10 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in Room 904. houses and obligated to call in to the The UTLA building is located at 3303 Ever wonder how you can recognize a • The WHO State Award is for active district twice daily. They’re paid their Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90010. colleague or chapter chair who has shown UTLA/NEA members who have given out- regular salaries, but they’re forbidden true leadership by going above and beyond standing service in support of UTLA/NEA all contact with their schools, which If you’ve been recently removed from the call of duty to help members at your and its members at the state or national can make mounting a defense difficult. the classroom, please contact Luis Vicente site? Or maybe a member who is involved levels of UTLA, CTA, and NEA. In the meantime, district personnel in- Ovalles, staff rep for housed teachers, at in the Area steering committee or House of • The UTLA/NEA Community Gold Award vestigate the cases of these teachers. [email protected]. Representatives and has dedicated time to may be awarded to any person or organiza- speak to our members, help where needed, tion whose leadership, actions, and support and walk that mile or two for the good of all have demonstrated that the person or orga- our members? Or what about that colleague nization is a true friend of public education, who has spoken about professional matters educators, or students and merits UTLA/ at the state or national level to make sure NEA recognition of their accomplishments. our voices are heard? The WHO Awards Committee looks forward Here is your chance to recognize them to honoring special members who you know by nominating them for the We Honor are doing what it takes to make us stronger, Ours (“WHO”) awards, which are given keep us united, and stand for the good of all. annually in these categories: • The WHO Local Award is for active Deadline for nominations is Thursday, UTLA/NEA members who have given March 1. Nomination forms will be posted outstanding service in support of UTLA/ next month at utla.net. Recipients will be NEA and its members. honored at a dinner on April 23.

UTLA online store is open with lower shipping

UTLA online store is stocked. We have redesigned the store to be mobile friendly and updated the shipping method to lower delivery cost to you. You can still order online and pickup at the UTLA building or have the items delivered via USPS.

Go to www.utlastore.com, or you can access the store from our main website at www.utla.net (red arrow shows where you can access from main site.)

16 United Teacher • for the latest news: www.utla.net December 22, 2017

PASSINGS with her teacher colleagues and the parents (continued from page 10) of her students. She teamed with those parents in educating their children and herself—unabashedly—and for guiding always welcomed them to visit and observe every child who passed through the the vibrant activities taking place in her schoolroom doors to recognize in himself classroom. Additionally, Ela taught numer- or herself the joy in knowing how valuable ous parents who didn’t have the opportu- each one is. No matter what, Ms. Morales nity to attend school to read by guiding is on our side and cheering us all as we them joyfully through the same successful reach for our stars. processes she used with her students. She took great pride and interest in each Ela Felisa Ferre was born in Spain in of her students, who were mostly Spanish- 1935 and passed away on August 8, 2017, speaking, and motivated them to share in Los Angeles at the age of 82. the stories of their various cultures, just As a teacher and colleague, Ela Ferre was as she shared with them the customs and a fount of positive and limitless energy in celebrations of her native Spain. her classroom and in her school, Magnolia Though more senior in age than most of Avenue School, in the Pico Union area of the faculty, few colleagues could match her Los Angeles. She taught there from 1989 determination and enthusiasm for teach- until retiring in 2010. Ela was also an author, ing. She happily embraced and mentored an artist, and an illustrator. She held a Ph.D. many newer teachers. in psychology and an M.A. in literature. Above all fiercely dedicated to the in- She was completely dedicated to her terests of her students, she was a strong young students and did not consider their supporter of UTLA in defending the teach- being only five or six years old a serious ing profession against the encroachments limitation to what they could learn. of politics and bureaucracy. Never pleased with the idea of simply Her smile, her spirit, her warm embrace, pouring a fixed curriculum into the heads and cheering words are her lasting legacy. of passive recipients, rather she considered She leaves behind three daughters, one each student as a unique human being, son, and seven grandchildren. Her teacher worthy of being listened to and encour- daughter, Isabel Ferre, collaborated con- aged; she broadened the focus of learning structively in the classroom next to her to include anything that could be of benefit mother with classes of kindergarteners to a formative young mind, especially in the for over a decade. Ela is affectionately realm of music and the arts. For Ela, teach- remembered by the hundreds of students, ing was an act of collaborative creation, a parents, colleagues, and family members project of continual refinement carried out whose lives she touched. with both love and serious reflection. An intellectual and a writer, Ela was Send news of passings to UTnewspaper@ steeped in educational and bilingual theory utla.net. Photos welcome. For questions, call and enthusiastically shared her insights Kim Turner at 213-368-6252.

17 United Teacher • for the latest news: www.utla.net December 22, 2017 COMMITTEE EVENTS

UTLA 37th ANNUAL UTLA Pre-Retirement Luther King, Jr. Conference Dr. Martin Fundraiser Scholarship Learn About Sponsored by • LAUSD Career Milestones and Retirement Education Committee • Health Benefits after Retirement / African American UTLA • CALSTRS Benefits , 201 o How they are earned and calculated , January 25 8 Thursday o What the Heck is the Defined Benefit Supplemental Account? § 4:30 How to build it 3:30 to § How to spend it (sort of ) Contest • How to Supplement your retirement with smart 403b and 457b Kings Kids Talent investment choices Speeches, Dance, Musical th Fundraiser and Program Saturday February 24 (2018) 5:00 to 8:00 8AM to 12PM United Teachers Los Angeles 3303 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles UTLA Building Corner of Wilshire and Berendo, two blocks west of Vermont. 3303 Wilshire Blvd. (Parking structure off Berendo) Los Angeles, CA 90010 8AM to 12PM (Check in begins at 7:30AM) Door Prizes - D.J. “James” - Food, Drinks, Entertainment. Admission $5.00

Pre-registration is recommended Tickets available now or at the door. For additional information call Debbie Reid at (213) 368-6232 thru the UTLA website calendar TALENT CONTEST APPLICATION of events KINGS KIDS decisions by the AAEC 8. All judgements and is Wednesday, January 17, 201 Deadline for submissions For more information, please contact judges are final. Evy Vaughn UTLA Conference Admin. 213 -487-5560 Student Name______Grade______Phone #______Sponsored by UTLA’s Pre-Retirement Issues Committee The Committee meets School______School from 4:30—5:30 before the House of Representatives meeting All are welcome and invited to attend and participate in the Committee. . Home Phone #______Parent’s Signature

Will submit in the following category (check one): Dancing Speech Music Singing Other Musical Instrument

nference featuring a: ITTEE’S Mulitcultural PD Co ASIAN PACIFIC COMM “BUS TRIP TO MANZANAR” Saturday, April 28, 2018 6 AM – 10:30 pm (details below)

WORKSHOP SESSIONS-4 pm (3): Saturday, March 10, 2018 8am (Includes light breakfast, & instructional materials) , 2018 4 pm - 9:30 pm Monday, April 23 (Includes light dinner & instructional materials) am – 4 pm UTLA African Saturday, May 5, 2018 8 American Education Committee & instructional (Includes light breakfast, lunch materials) UTLA Headquarters Presents the 3303 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles Parking structure is off Berendo Forty-Fifth Annual Community Conference 2 blocks west of Vermontth Ave. at Berendo. 49 Anniversary Pilgrimage Asian Pacific Committee:

NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE BUS TRIP TO MANZANAR Saturday, February 3, 2018 snacks, charter bus transportation, conference materials & point credit information) (Includes lunch/dinner, th 6 AM – 10:30 pm 7:30 AM to 4:3 Saturday, April 28 , 2018 Time: 0 PM el Plaza SE corner of Laur Bus pick up: UTLA Parking Lot St, east of 170 frwy OR @ Oxnard 3303 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles - Deadline: April 13, 2018 UTLA Building .00 (2 salary points) or $75 (Pilgrimage only) Cost: $150 points. Bus max: 47 participants. 3303 Wilshire Blvd. Enrollment: Min. 20 participants for salary 8 Room 815 No bus trip refunds after April 13, 201 . Article 3.3 Multicultural Specific Conference. Los Angeles, CA 90010 LAUSD Approved, two salary points available and Pre-trip workshop Monday, must attend the Pilgrimage on Saturday April 28, 2018 . To qualify for salary points, you Contact presenters (below) for any questions regarding salary points/payment April 23, 2018 4 pm – 9 pm Presenters, *check to register me in Panel Discussion, Pacific Committee’s Manzanar Conference. Enclosed is my Entertainme Please enroll me in the UTLA Asian ick enroll. Be sure to check box below and nt, type in the search bar “manzanar” cl Sign up: go to utla.net, White Elephant Sale your conference. ______pay appropriate amount. See presenters (bottom of flyer) to pay by credit card Name______Employee#______Continental Breakfast and Lunch Address______

______School Phone______Home Phone ______Early Registration before January 24, 2018 $20 ______E-Mail______Register on Saturday, February 3, 2018 $25.00.00 Enclose $75 YES Enclose $150 NO (Pilgrimage only) SALARY POINTS NEEDED Parents free! Pacific Committee.⎕ Send check and this form to Jenny Lam, c/o UTLA, 3303 Students free with ID! Please make check payable to UTLA⎕ Asian nar” in the subject bar, Wilshire Blvd., 10th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90010 via U.S. Mail [email protected] proper postage Put affixed. “manza For information contact Presenter contact: Diane Newell: Contact Presenters! Jenny Lam at: [email protected]. *Want to pay by credit card? 0981 Rosie Van Zyl: [email protected] *Teachers, or text: 818 642- you can use AAEC Conference hours to build point Please Post credits.

For more information contact: UTLA Conference Secretary: Debbie Reid at UTLA (213) 368 Janice L. Lee Conference Chair (818 -3686232 4846 ) Updated!

18 United Teacher • for the latest news: www.utla.net December 22, 2017 Note from UTLA-R President By John Perez California. The bills will also make it harder been able to contribute by asking people for UTLA-Retired President for school districts to refinance bond debt, thus checks or cash at meetings or through my Get hurting local school districts countrywide. As column. None of us can contribute as much The rich get richer and the poor pay for I said, these tax bills are hard to contemplate. individually as Eli Broad and his billion- connected it: At the time of this writing, the Republican 2018 elections: The election season is aire friends, but collectively if every UTLA tax bill that passed the Senate has to go to well underway, and both our state organi- member—active and retired—was a member the House of Representatives to reconcile the zations are interviewing candidates for the of PACE, UTLA could raise upward of $6 to UTLA two Republican versions of the tax bill, but various state offices. The most important million for every school board election and whatever version makes it to Trump and is for us are governor and superintendent of contribute money to defeat the enemies of signed by him will hurt millions of people. public instruction. We know that neither of public education like Villaraigosa and Tuck. The negative effect on most Americans of these our state organizations or UTLA are going to tax bills is hard to contemplate. But let’s look endorse Antonio Villaraigosa for governor. John can be reached at [email protected]. at some of the things these bills do. First, re- Villaraigosa, who once worked for UTLA, tirees (us) depend on Medicare, and these sold out to Eli Broad and the privatizers a bills will cut $25 billion a year from Medicare long time ago, and he would increase the funding. The Republicans tried and failed to number of unregulated charter operators ESTATE PLANNING repeal the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), in California. The more charter operators Want to avoid probate? but in these tax bills they attack a number of in the LAUSD, the more pressure there is Seeking peace of mind? provisions of the ACA, and that will cause on our healthcare and the greater impact Don’t do it yourself. Let a fellow teacher be 13 million Americans to lose their insurance. on our neighborhood public schools. In the your lawyer. Sheila Bayne is a full time Americans making less than $30,000 a year superintendent’s race, both our state organi- teacher with LAUSD and has been an active will, collectively, pay $2.6 billion more in taxes zations have endorsed Assemblyman Tony member of the California Bar for over 30 years. while those making more than $200,000 a Thurmond, who is running against Marshall Complete Estate Planning Package: year will pay an amazing $118.6 billion less Tuck, who ran against Superintendent Torlak- n Living Trust in taxes! The Republican plans could cause son four years ago. Like Villaraigosa, Tuck is n Living Will/Advance Health Care Directives as much as $100 billion in cuts to health and a privatizer and beholden to Eli Broad and the n Power of Attorney human services. Our grandkids will also be people who would take the “public” out of n Trust Transfer Deeds hurt. Interest on student loans will no longer public education. Think about this: Two inde- n Pour-over Will and supporting documents n Personal consultation be tax deductible, and currently 44 million pendent financial studies, one of the LAUSD Americans have student loans. The bottom and the other of the Philadelphia city schools, Discount for UTLA Members: Facebook: 40% of tax filers will see their taxes go up; the showed that more charter operators in these facebook.com/UTLAnow top 1% of tax filers will see their taxes go down. schools districts would put them on the road The Republican tax plans cost $1.4 trillion, and to bankruptcy. The LAUSD going bankrupt $750 Twitter: @utlanow two-thirds of that goes to the top 1% of taxpay- does not seem to worry Villaraigosa or Tuck. (Joint trust for spouses: $ 1095) ers. For people who itemize deductions, the PACE update: So far, 212 of our UTLA- Also: n Probate n Conservatorships CONTACT THE LAW OFFICES OF SHEILA BAYNE YouTube: Retired members have signed up for PACE. Senate version curtails the current ability of at 310-435-8710 people to deduct state and local taxes on their That means that from now on, UTLA-R will or e-mail: [email protected] youtube.com/UTLAnow federal income tax, while the House version be contributing at least $21,200 per year to State Bar #123801 is worse. This will negatively affect us here in PACE. That is three times as much as we have

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19 United Teacher • for the latest news: www.utla.net December 22, 2017 Be UTLA’s voice at the AFT UTLA/AFT 1021 delegates to CFT Convention in July 2018 Convention to be elected January 25

UTLA/AFT members will elect convention is the most important policy- CFT to hold annual convention in Costa Mesa, March delegates at the January 25 General making body of the national federation. 23 to 25. Membership Meeting (UTLA building, All AFT-affiliated UTLA members are 6 p.m.) to represent the union at the eligible to be elected delegates to this National Convention of the American event; delegates who fulfill their official UTLA members will elect delegates the coupon below to nominate themselves. Federation of Teachers in Pittsburgh, obligations will receive a stipend to cover at the January 25 General Membership The coupon must be returned by July 13 to 16. a portion of their expenses. Interested Meeting at UTLA to represent the union at January 12. At the convention, AFT members from members can fill out the coupon below to the statewide convention of the California around the country will gather to debate nominate themselves. Federation of Teachers. Motions for the meeting: All motions and vote on important resolutions and con- The coupon must be returned by At the convention, CFT members from must be submitted to UTLA/AFT 1021 four stitutional amendments. The biennial AFT January 12. around the state will gather to debate and weeks prior to the general membership vote on important resolutions and con- meeting on January 25. Motions can be sent stitutional amendments. The annual CFT to AFT 1021 President via fax at 213-251-9891, Convention is the most important policy- mailed to 3303 Wilshire Blvd. 10th Floor, Los 2018 AFT Convention self-nomination form making body of the federation. Angeles, CA 90010 or emailed to jramirez@ All UTLA members are eligible to be utla.net by December 28, 2017. Please indi- Name elected delegates to this event; delegates who cate “AFT 1021 motion” in the subject line. Employee No. fulfill their official obligations will receive Motions submitted prior to the meeting will a stipend to cover a major portion of their be posted on the UTLA/AFT 1021 link at least Home address expenses. Interested members can fill out two weeks prior to the meeting. City/Zip Email School 2018 CFT Convention self-nomination form Phone # to contact you Name I hereby declare that I am a fully paid member of UTLA. I wish to nominate myself as a delegate to the 2018 AFT Convention to be held in Pittsburgh from July 13 to 16. Employee No.

Signature Home address This form must be returned by January 12 to UTLA/AFT Vice President Juan Ramirez at 3303 Wilshire Blvd., 10th floor, Los Angeles, CA 90010 during regular business hours (9 p.m. -5 p.m.) or by mail. Nominations City/Zip will not be taken from the floor or by fax/email. Elections will be held at the general membership meeting on Thursday, January 25 at 6 p.m. at UTLA. Email

School

Phone # to contact you SPRING 2018 I hereby declare that I am a fully paid member of UTLA. I wish to nominate myself as a delegate to the 2018 CFT Convention to be held in Costa Mesa from March 23 to 25.

Signature This form must be returned by January 12 to UTLA/AFT Vice President Juan Ramirez at 3303 Wilshire Blvd., 10th floor, Los Angeles, CA 90010 during regular business hours (9 p.m. -5 p.m.) or by mail. Nominations will not be taken from the floor or by fax/email. Elections will be held at the general membership meeting on Thursday, January 25, at 6 TRANSFORMING PRACTICE p.m. at UTLA.

Join us at our beautiful campus for five fun and engaging workshops for K-12 classroom teachers and teaching artists. LAUSD HUMAN RESOURCES SATURDAYS EXPERIENTIAL WORKSHOPS IN: 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM Visual Arts | Ceramics | Playmaking Dance | Drama | Poetry | Music MARCH 10 & 17 Dual-Language APRIL 7 & 21 Common Core Connections | ELD Strategies Community Building | Restorative Practices MAY 5 Integration of the Arts Across the Curriculum Teachers Needed Social-Emotional and Trauma-Informed Focus

Work study available. The District is currently seeking candidates to staff EARN 2 LAUSD OR 2 MSMU FEE: SALARY POINTS EXTENSION UNITS $225 To register please visit: INNER-CITYARTS.ORG/CITC Arabic, Armenian, French, Korean, Mandarin, and Spanish bilingual programs at the Elementary and

GROUP Secondary levels. REGISTRATION DUE DISCOUNT FEBRUARY 28TH SPECIAL: There are current vacancies, as well as expected $180 fee for REGISTER SOON! groups of 3 or more! future growth in these programs. Space is limited If interested, please email Jacob Guthrie, Talent Acquisition Specialist, Human Resources Division, at Jacob.guthrie@lausd. INFORMATION | [email protected] | (213) 627-9621 ext. 114 net for more information.

20 United Teacher • for the latest news: www.utla.net December 22, 2017

STRS preretirement workshops NEGOTIATIONS Free workshops are open to all CalSTRS members. All UTLA members are encouraged workshops for this school year. Infor- to attend a preretirement workshop at mation will be provided regarding the LABOR MOVEMENT least three times during their career calculation of retirement allowance, in order to plan for retirement secu- LAUSD 457(b) supplemental savings rity: early in their career, again just plan, post-retirement information, and prior to age 50, and one year prior to more. Time will be provided at the end retirement. of the workshop presentation for ques- BARGAINING CalSTRS (the California State Teach- tions and answers. See reservation in- ers’ Retirement System) and the District formation below. The workshops are are sponsoring a series of preretirement individual meetings (not a series). Dates and locations 26th Annual Collective All workshops are from 4 to 5:30 p.m. How to register: CalSTRS is asking that you register for the Bargaining Institutes for workshop you wish to attend through their website: http:// resources.calstrs.com/workshop_registration/index.aspx. LAUSD High School Students January 18, 2018 (Thursday) March 1, 2018 (Thursday) Hazeltine Elementary Bell HS (Auditorium) (Room TBD) 7150 Hazeltine Avenue 4328 Bell Ave. Be one of the lucky teachers to bring UTLA’s award-winning Van Nuys, CA 91405 Bell, CA 90201 Collective Bargaining Education Project to your school site February 1, 2018 (Thursday) March 8, 2018 (Thursday) this school year! Caroldale Avenue Sheridan St Elementary (Auditorium) (Auditorium) At our Collective Bargaining Institute, your students will spend 22424 Caroldale Ave. 416 North Cornwell Street several exciting hours learning about the labor movement by Carson, CA 90745 Los Angeles, CA 90033 participating in a hands-on simulation of contract negotiations, aligned to content and Common Core standards. February 15, 2018 (Thursday) March 22, 2018 (Thursday) Burbank Middle School Eagle Rock High School (Room A-106) (Student Dining Room) The Collective Bargaining Institute engages ALL students. They 6460 North Figueroa Street 1750 Yosemite Drive will be grouped into small (4 students) union and management Los Angeles, CA 90042 Los Angeles, CA 90041 teams, and each student will be responsible for a different bargaining issue. And it gets better! All teams will be mentored by labor relations professionals who volunteer to “coach”!

There is no cost to your school. Our UTLA Collective Bargaining Education Project is co-sponsored by the L.A. County Federation of Labor AFL-CIO and the Labor and Employment Relations

Association, with support from LAUSD.

Deadline: ASAP. Scheduling a CBI day requires three weeks in ADVANCEMENT OPPORTUNITIES

advance to recruit the team “coaches” from the L.A.-area labor Are you ready for a new challenge? movement. Also in advance, students need to be released from Are you ready for a position outside the classroom? classes for the CBI (with a “trip” slip), to a large space with tables Are you interested in administration?

for 3 to 4 hours. Earn a Master of Arts in Educational Administration plus a Preliminary Administrative Services Credential . . . Contact Linda Tubach, Collective Bargaining in LESS than two years! Education Project teacher, ASAP at (626) 233-2284 NEW COHORTS CLOSE TO WORK OR HOME STARTING or email [email protected]. January 22, 2018 Spring Semester

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21 United Teacher • for the latest news: www.utla.net December 22, 2017 UTLA Classifieds

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.

BOOKS JOB SHARE Job share partner wanted for the 2nd semester Polytechnic High School’s Math, Science, and Tech- 2017/18 school year and beyond. Your school or nology Magnet anticipates an opening for a talented California Missions, Secondary Teaching Techniques, I am interested in a Job Share position in Secondary mine- Harbor Area preferred. I have enjoyed my pre- math teacher for the next school year. Our magnet Stories, Computers, Quit Smoking: PaulRallion.com. Physical Education for the 2018-2019 school year. vious job share experience. If interested please con- supports 400 9th- to 12th-grade students. We offer Northwest Valley; prefer near Camarillo. I would like tact me at 310-918-4163 or [email protected]. a rigorous college prep program designed to pre- to split the week, or split the year. Contact me at pare students for university studies in fields that re- MOVIE [email protected] quire a strong background in math and science. We LAUSD POSITIONS are looking for an individual able to teach Algebra I am a hardworking, personable second-grade teach- 8 Days Carlo starring James Faracci (LAUSD Sub) AVAILABLE through AP Calculus. Must have a desire to chal- er, with experience in TK-2, looking to job share at live on iTunes, Google Play, Amazon. lenge and support students. Please send inquiries or your elementary school. I have taught at one school The Humanitas Magnet for Interdisciplinary Studies resumes to Jayne Couchois at [email protected]. for the past seven years. Classroom management is located on the Grant High School campus is antici- Various positions are open and available for quali- a strong area for me; my partner should be structured pating various positions available for the 2018-2019 RENTAL fied teachers at Birmingham Community Charter but friendly, as well. Punctuality is also very impor- school year. Come be a part of a brand-new magnet tant. I am looking for someone whose principal has High School. Join a vibrant community of educa- Several beautiful one & two-bedroom apartments where collaboration is key. Please send inquiries or already approved them to job share. Job sharing at tors at BCCHS. Apply on EdJoin.org. in Historic Leimert Park, ranging from $1,200.00 to resumes to Ronald Arreola at [email protected]. my location is, unfortunately, not an option. I will work $1,600.00 monthly. For more information, contact M-F morning shift, but will attend all staff meetings. I Joyce Vaughn, 323-294-3808. am hoping to job share, with you, beginning in the Fall of 2018-2019 school year and beyond. This is a long- term arrangement for me, and must be for you, too. How To Place Your UT Classified Ad TAX SERVICES Please only contact me if you are in the Northeast, or Northwest schools near the Northeast border. I prefer FREE 2016 tax reviews & 2017 filing DISCOUNTS Print your ad from your computer or use a typewriter. If you’re using the coupon to work at a school very near Burbank or Glendale for UTLA members! UTLA-R Andy Griggs, certified below, please print clearly. Count the number of words in your ad. Area code areas. If interested, please get in touch ASAP. The tax preparer, specializes in taxes for educators deadline to apply is April 15. 818-939-8498. and telephone number count as one word. Email and web address count as one and offers year-round consulting. 310-704-3217 word. Street address counts as one word. City and state, including zip code, [email protected] Job Share need for 2018-2019 school year in count as one word. Abbreviations and numbers are considered words and are Northwest District. Afternoon position, teaching charged individually. The classified ad rate is $1.50 per word for each time your first grade, great school, awesome faculty. Must be ad runs (there is no charge for LAUSD job share/employment available ads). Mul- a team player. Contact Guadalupe, 661-309-3041. LAUSD EMPLOYMENT tiply the number of words in your ad by $1.50. This is the cost for running your ad

Job share/employment I’m a loyal, dedicated, hardworking second-grade one time in UNITED TEACHER. If you’re running your ad in more than one issue, available ads in LAUSD teacher. I would like to work the morning shift for multiply the one-time total by the number of issues you wish the ad to appear. employment section are FREE. any grade K-5. I will come to your school. Please We have a ten word minimum ($15). All ads are payable in advance by check or contact me 818-939-8498 ASAP to job share this money order. Please make check payable to UTLA. The deadline to receive your Spring (2018) and beyond. 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.

LAUSD HUMAN RESOURCES CLASSIFIED AD COPY FOR UNITED Presents TEACHER PUBLISHING REDUCED WORKLOAD _____ January 26 (due date: Jan. 8) _____ March 2 (due date: Feb. 12) Name:

INFORMATION MEETING Street Address: 9:00 A.M. TO 10:30 A.M. City: State: ZIP: Ad Copy: Attach your typed copy to this form or print clearly here: SATURDAY, February 24, 2018 BEAUDRY BUILDING, 15TH FLOOR Reduced Workload is a leave granted by LAUSD and CalSTRS.

All new applicants must meet the following minimum requirements by July 1, 2018: • 55 years of age • 10 years of full-time service with LAUSD, Total number of words: _____ @ $1.50 = $______per run date the last five of which are continuous Number of run dates ____ X $____ each run date = $______• HR and CalSTRS approval No credits or refunds on canceled ads. Space is limited to 25 participants. Please email Karen Castro at karen. Mail with payment to UNITED TEACHER Classifieds, [email protected] to RSVP and you will receive an email confirmation. UTLA, 3303 Wilshire Blvd., 10th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90010. Registration deadline is February 21, 2018. Ads may also be dropped off at this address.

22 United Teacher • for the latest news: www.utla.net December 22, 2017 UNITED TEACHER GRAPEVINE Math for America Los Angeles Arroyo Seco.” This is an educational ex- artists, craftsmen, and community orga- Movement, which was a watershed moment now accepting Master Teacher perience that encourages the use of expe- nizers and listen to their stories. In the af- for our nation. This seminar will explore Fellowship applications riential learning to help foster community ternoon they learn about the Ethno Botanic ways to engage students in this moment The Master Teacher Fellowship is a five- through a sense of place. Conducted by Gardens at the Southwest Museum, learn in history by using a lens of how iden- year program designed to help exceptional retired LAUSD teacher Carmela Gomes about the exhibit of pottery from the ar- tity, group membership, ethics, and moral math/computer science teachers become and assisted by master teacher Yim Tam, chivist who helped create it, and sit with judgements have influenced historical leaders by supporting them as they design the place-based education workshop holders of Chumash and Tongva traditions events. The seminar combines online and and orchestrate an improvement project involves the participation of Wilderness for a hands-on workshop. To receive one traditional face-to-face learning. Class will focused on student-centered results. Ap- Way magazine, the Arroyo Seco Founda- salary point credit for the workshop, teach- meet in person on January 23 and February plicants apply as a team, with one to two tion, the Audubon Center at Debs Park, ers are required to use the information they 6. In between, participants will continue to other teachers at their school site. Teachers Los Angeles Department of Recreation acquire to create lessons for their class- read, share from their teaching experiences, selected for the fellowship receive $10,000 and Parks, Friends of the Los Angeles rooms that reflect Charles Lummis’ view and dive deeper into the history via an annually in salary support, funding to River, Highland Park Heritage Trust, the of the Southwest to support the Common online platform. Participants are expected attend math conferences, an additional Autry, and the Tongva/Gabrielino and Core. The workshop will take place on to spend approximately five to seven hours planning period during the school day to Chumash/Tatavia Tribes. On Day One two Saturdays, February 17 and 24, 2018. with the online activities during that two- carry out their project, and more. Selection participants walk in the “wilds” of the Registration is $85 per participant and week period. Participants will: criteria includes five-plus years of experi- restored area of the Arroyo Seco River closes on February 10. To register log on to • Learn how to use Facing History’s ence teaching math/computer science in through the communities of Pasadena and www.lummisday.org/educational-work- rigorous and engaging teaching strate- grades 7-12 in a high-need public/charter Highland Park. Audubon Center natural- shops, complete the information and use gies and primary sources to help align school in the greater Los Angeles area and ists and volunteers introduce concepts that a credit card to pay the registration fee, with California Common Core State Stan- exemplary teaching and leadership skills. emphasize creating a sense of place in all or send a check made out to Lummis Day dards and the new History/Social Studies Applications are due February 12, 2018. For disciplines. A knowledgeable docent wel- Community Foundation, Inc., and mail to Framework for California. more information, visit http://mfala.org. comes participants to the Lummis Home Lummis Day Community Foundation, • Receive a free copy of Facing Histo- and Garden, after which they get “up close P.O. Box 50543, Los Angeles, CA 90050. ry’s “Choices in Little Rock and Common February workshop on Charles and personal” with the Los Angeles River Registration limited to 20 participants. For Core Writing Prompts” and “Strategies: Lummis and the culture of with Friends of the Los Angeles River at questions, contact Carmela Gomes at gom- A Supplement to Choices in Little Rock.” the Arroyo Seco the confluence of the Arroyo Seco and the [email protected] or 818-429-8755. Face-to-face meetings are January 23 Teachers, grades K- 12, are invited to get Los Angeles River. On Day Two expert and February 6 (8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.). The involved in the professional development docents lead a walking tour of the Syca- Salary point class on online engagement platform is open from workshop, “The River Runs Through It: more Grove community. They encounter Human Dynamics January 23 to February 6. Recommended Charles Lummis and the Culture of the the owners of historic homes who are New course dates have been announced for 11th-grade U.S. History, American Lit- for “Engaging All Your Students: A New erature, and Government teachers. Fee is Approach to Designing Lessons & Activi- $325. Scholarships are available. Reserve ties That Accommodate Students’ Innate your spot at facinghistory.org. Learning Differences.” In this LAUSD salary point course, you will learn a new Salary point class on approach to engaging all your students “Becoming a Boomtown” that will turn your classroom into an active Earn salary points and expand your learning environment for everyone. This knowledge of local history by enrolling in course is based upon an extensive body “Becoming a Boomtown.” Class will visit of knowledge called Human Dynamics the Huntington Museum, the Banning that identifies innate differences in how Residence Museum, the Lummis Resi- people naturally think, learn, communicate, dence, and Heritage Square. This district- relate, and develop. Learning these skills approved class is open to all K-12 edu- will provide you with essentials tools that cators and is worth two salary points. It will help you to accommodate students’ will also expose participants to exciting innate learning needs. Compensation for resources and Common Core-based strate- this series is one salary point, which will gies that can supplement their teaching. be granted upon completion of 15 course Participants will meet at Francis Polytech- hours (two 7.5-hour classes) and 30 hours nic HS, on January 27 and February 3, of homework. The course will take place on 10, and 24, with an optional half-day on

Saturday, January 13, and Saturday, January March 3, 2018. From Francis Polytechnic Meet the needs of every student. Advance your 20, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Los Angeles. For High, the class will commute to the three more information, check out the website locations (one for each of the first three skills and strategies with a 2018 Summer Gifted at humandynamics.com/lausd. Saturdays). The course fee is $175 for two Institute. units, preregistered ($185 on the first day),

Civil Rights movement seminar: which includes breakfast, materials, and Doctors Sandra Kaplan and Jessica Manzone present Choices from Mendez to museum admissions. Enrollments will the 2018 Summer Gifted Institutes: be accepted until—and including—the Little Rock to Today first day of class (January 27), or until cap Facing History and Ourselves is holding • Summer Institute and Demonstration School is reached, whichever happens first. For a seminar on the American Civil Rights (Grades K-6) further information, visit: www.en4ed.com

• Gifted Education in Primary Grades or call/text Larry Carstens at 818-645-4259. BINGO

(Identification And Curriculum) LATINO KDGN • How to Coach Colleagues to Differentiate Speak Truth to Power video contest Curriculum and Instruction Custom ‘Tools’: for student filmmakers

• Back to School: Are You Ready to Start The TIGER/tigre, TURTLE/tortuga In partnership with the American Federa- tion of Teachers and the Tribeca Film Institute, School Year? —PAN AMERICAN POSTER FREE the 8th Annual Robert F. Kennedy Human REE! ! F —WINNER’S TOOL KIT*— Rights Speak Truth to Power Video Contest For more information email Colleen Dietz at ABC CAUTION [email protected] invites middle and high school students to www.phonicsforlatinos -abcsincommon.com create short three- to five-minute videos about (continued on page 16)

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