february 2016 focus

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focusfocus on educatorsis an award winning publication of the Pittsburg Education Association/CTA/NEA www.peateachers.org

California Teachers Association

Statement of Mission

The California Teachers Association exists to protect and promote the well-being of its members; to improve the conditions

teaching and learning; to advance the cause of free, universal, and quality public education; to ensure that the human dign

and civil rights of all children and youth are protected; and to secure a more just, equitable, and democratic society.

FEBRUARY 2016

Volume XXIV, Number 6

Dear PEA Members,

I write this message on February 11 th,my birthday. Not everyone celebrates

or acknowledges their birthday. But allof us mark time in some way and takestock. Some use the sense of how theirbody has changed from one year to theother as a passing of time. I knowpeople who choose to see the growth oftheir children or students as change intime.

So, these are some thoughts Ive hadlately about time and a need of change.

1. It is time for all of us to point out thedifferences in practice, technology,and training that all educatorsshould have access to in PUSD.

2. Build the love of reading in and outof your classroom/work site as anavenue for your students future.

3. Time has come to draw togetherand support efforts as educational

professionals to better our successin our work and our students bysharing bests weve encountered.

4. Mark the days where youve feltencouraged to continue yourjourney in the loves of your lifewhether personal or professional.

5. Seek a sense of calm to advocatefor better opportunities for ourstudents and fellow educators.

6. Notify those around you the

interests that make us movethrough each day with purpose.7. Use your educational gift to further

the great cause to make publiceducation stand out as a must not amaybe.

8. Examine the use of testing throughreading both sides of the argumentand make your own decisions in the

best interests of the children wecome into contact with on a dailybases.

9. Join your colleagues in working tocontinue to display the strength ofPEA.

10. Be open to opportunities,possibilities, and newness of thisprofession.

Through conversations, articles, andexperiences these thoughts came to

me. I know we all have a listsomewhere, physical or mental,representing our hopes.

Please read the winter 2016 NEA Todamagazine articles What Does theNations Report Card Tell Us?, andGood News! Theyare Reading! In thDecember 2015/January 2016California Educator magazine thearticles, Add Your Voice, Friedrichs

CTA and the Case for Fair Share, aswell as Let Every Student Succeed.

I wish you an enjoyable February!

Sincerely,

Tammy CarrPEA President

On educators


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PEA Leadership 2015-2016

President

Tammy Carr

Highlands Elementary/PEA Office

Elementary Vice President

Chris Coan

Willow Cove Elementary

Secondary Vice President

Bertha RamosRancho Medanos

Secretary

Michell Redfoot

Willow Cove Elementary

Treasurer

Vacant

Committee Chairs:

Grievance Committee

John Kleinjans Pittsburg High

Chris Coan Willow Cove Elementary

Negotiations TeamMark Maselli - Chair

Political Action Committee Chair

Chris Coan

Elections Chair

Ruth Foster

Human Rights & Womens Issues Chairs

Yvonne Burton

Najah Perkins

O-Team Chair

Marissa Young-Padilla

CTA State Council RepresentativesMark Maselli PEA

Arthur Pruyn (Alt.) - PEA

Membership Chairs

Lisa Gunderson

Yvonne Burton

Technical Editor

Susan Harrison PEA Office Administrator

Focus on Educators

is a publication of the

Pittsburg Education Association CTA/NEA

159 East 4thStreet

Pittsburg, CA 94565

Phone: (925) 432-0199

email:[email protected]

website:www.peateachers.org

Rep. Council Meeting Calendar (Tuesdays)

February 16

March 15

April 19

May 17

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

School Board Meeting CalendarFebruary 10 & 24

March 16

April 13 & 27

May 11 & 25

June 15 & 29

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Are You Getting Your PEA Information?

Having our Site Reps collect your input, attend the monthly Rep

meeting and then report back to you is vital in the

communication chain of our Association.

Roll call at last January 19 thRep Council Meeting:

Adult Ed. present Stonemanpresent

Foothillpresent Willow Covepresent

Heightspresent MLK Jr. absent

Highlandspresent Hillview - present

Los Medanospresent Rancho Medanos present

Marina Vistapresent PHS- present

Parksidepresent Black Diamondpresent

Reminder: Please send PEA any updated

information such as: change of home address;home email; school site change; name change;

etc., so we have your correct information! Thank

you!
mailto:[email protected]://www.peateachers.org/http://www.peateachers.org/http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjGz-f4mdzJAhVR-mMKHWD0D2IQjRwIBw&url=http://www.springville.org/recreation/newsletters/&psig=AFQjCNEwLRNj2A-PkKZ47inGp-HvZPaA4w&ust=1450211630048725http://www.peateachers.org/mailto:[email protected]


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Announcements

PEA Scholarships

PEA Scholarship Applications will be available forgraduating high school seniors who will be attending aninstitution of higher learning in the fall of 2016.

Applicants must be the son or daughter of a parent whois a current member of the PEA/CTA/NEA. You mayrequest a scholarship application form from the PEAoffice 432-0199 or email [email protected].

Scholarship forms must be returned to the PEA Office(159 East 4thStreet)

no later than Monday, April 11, 2016 by 4 p.m.

Teaching Tolerance Magazine Subscription

A great resource for educators to get lessons, storiesand supporting materials for teaching kids toleranceabout racial, GLBT, cultural and historical civil rightsissues is by subscribing FREE to the TeachingTolerance award winning publication..the best keptsecret in education! Subscribe now attolerance.org/subscribe.

Juan Martinez of Foothill Elementary was the raffle winnerfrom the Raise the Roof Celebration on January 28.

Hope to see you all there for our next event!

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

Read Across Pittsburg isMarch 3rd

We are seeking volunteers to read at variouspreschool and Head Start locations around

Pittsburg! Slots are available!If youre interested in reading to our future

students, please e-mail Chris Coan [email protected]

by Friday, February 26

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Know Your Contract

Progressive Discipline ABCs

You can only get disciplined for JUST

CAUSEis it in the contract? Find it.The progressive part is first a verbal warning, then awritten warning, then a written reprimand, and finallysuspension without pay. There is no such thing as awrite-up from your principalit does not exist.Principals must follow the progressive discipline plan.When accused of a deed, please make sure yourprincipal can show you where in the contract you havenot followed. Always make sure you have a site rep.Even when you love everyone it is always safe to haveyour bases covered and have another soulyour

reppresent as a second set of ears.

25.3.1 First you get a verbal warningverbalnotwritten. Not written, I repeat. Make sure a rep is withyou at this meeting.

25.3.2 If you do the deed again, you get a writtenwarning that will not be placed in your file unless you dothe deed again, and then it will be placed in your file.


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25.3.3 If you do the deed again within 4 years, you geta written reprimand. You may attach your response to it.It is now in your personnel file.

25.3.4 If you do the deed again, you will get suspensionwithout payyou need representationthe president orthe CTA representative to meet with all parties involved.

Respectfully submitted,

Chris Coan, Elementary Grievance Chair

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

Meet your PEA Secondary

Vice PresidentBertha Ramos

Hello fellow PEA members,

I have been teaching Jr. High math in Pittsburg for the past18 years.I was married last October and was blessed with

two children, ages 3 and 6, last July. I am a Pittsburg native

and looked forward to coming back to work in my hometown.

My father worked as a laborer when I was growing up and he

was always an active and proud member of his union, Local

324. So when the need for a site rep was mentioned, I was

happy to step up and get involved. I knew the association

was important for protecting workers' rights and improving

working conditions. Over the years, I've helped out in

different roles and last year decided to run for Secondary VP.

What I have learned from my experience on the executive

board so far is that there is much to be done and volunteers

are few. If everyone takes turns and does their part, the load

is lighter. If you have not participated in the association, I

encourage you to get involved no matter how small a part it

may seem. Working together, learning together, and standing

together we succeed in our daily efforts of providing the best

education in the best learning environment to our students. I

hope to see you at one of our upcoming events!

In solidarity,Bertha Ramos, PEA Secondary Vice President

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

Reminder of the Catastrophic

Leave Bank Addendum

Bargaining unit members, (whom have contributed tothe Bank shall be eligible to draw from the Bank as theyare part of the Catastrophic Leave Bank) must have acomplete and detailed description of factors contributing

to leave. Additionally, bargaining unit members mustacquire a doctors note detailing exactly the nature ofillness or disability. The note must contain specific timeperiod necessary for leave as documented by thephysician. The nature of the illness or disability must beof a kind that makes it impossible for the member toconduct his/her duties. The two documents must be onthe same circumstantial illness or disability. (Thecomplete details of Catastrophic Sick Leave Bank policyis written within the Collective Bargained Agreement7.17.)

Applicants that would like to draw from the Bank mustmake out an application to the Association. Thoseapplicants should follow the steps above as well aslisted in the Collective Bargained Agreement 7.17. Askfor an application by [email protected] the PEA office at (925) 432-0199.

Do:

Incorporate black history year-round,not just inFebruary.

Reinforce to students that black history is Americanhistory,relevant to all students.

Connect issues in the past to current issuesto make

history relevant to students lives.Do Not:

Limit the presentation to lectures and reading.Allow students an opportunity to discuss and reflect.

Talk about black history in solely feel-goodlanguage,or as a thing of the past.

Shy away from controversial, ambiguous orunresolved issues. Share the real-life experiencesabout racial realities in developmentally appropriateways.
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=imgres&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjqr4HYo4zLAhVsk4MKHXHQDTUQjRwIBw&url=http://nonprofitvote.blogspot.com/2012/02/black-history-month-voting-facts.html&psig=AFQjCNE53zNa2ZEgeG0qKPP93TJX7f9DzQ&ust=1456261691261825mailto:[email protected]


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A Shared HistoryBlack History Month is for all of us

THERE HAVE BEENcalls over the years to abolish

Black History Month (as well as other race-and-

culture-specific months). As recently as January,

actress and Fox News commentator Stacey Dashsaid that Black History Month should be eliminated,

arguing that is counter to American values of

inclusiveness and integration.

Most educators would agree that black history is

part of American history and should be

incorporated into the curriculum year-round. But

Black History Month affords an opportunity to focus

with more depth on history, events, people and

culture in a way that informs, brings awareness

and instills pride. As such, it is a period during the

school year that helps underscore every individuals

contribution to, and connection with, our countryshistory.

I appreciate all cultures throughout the school

year, said George Mejia, Corona-Norco Teachers

Association, responding to our Facebook query on

how educators approach Black History Month.

During February, I enjoy teaching a unit on Martin

Luther King, Jr. and Jackie Robinson.

I teach black (and Mexican, and Native American,

and Chinese, etc.) history throughout the year

because black history is American history, said

Vanee Smith-Matsalia, San Bernardino TeachersAssociation. However; we celebrate African

American culture in February.

Caitlin Dennehy, a New Jersey Educator who

teaches a predominately black class of middle

school students, told MSNBC that the month offers a

break from textbooks that largely focus on dead

white males. I dont think black role models are as

predominant as they should be in curricula, shesaid. Black History Month is useful in introducing

conversations about where history has brought us

and how we see racial dynamics in our communitytoday.

Black History Month, and similar months, can help

unify students and communities. For lesson plans

and resources that cover a variety of subjects and

can be adapted to fit multiple grade levels, see

cta.org/awarenessand nea.org/tools/Lesson

Plans.html.

Quotes & Numbers

46thRanking of California nationally in per-pupil statefunding, as of 2013, according to Education Weeks

annual Quality Counts report released on January 7.California had the same dismal ranking last year.

TheFriedrichscase is fundamentally about

something we teach our students every day:fairness. Since 1977,Aboodhas provided a fair

compromise. The court should preserveAbood,and fairness for students, educators, and the

middle class.

-CTA President ERIC HEINS

$3,451How far California is below the national average for per-pupil spending, according to the same Education Weekreport.

The damage from potentially eliminating Fair

Share fees isnt limited to students and schools.

Any decision inFriedrichswill apply not just to

teachers, but to all government employees,including firefighters, nurses and social workers.

Essentially, taking away Fair Share fees would

have broad consequences affecting all publicservice workers, their communities and the middleclass at large.

-LI NDSAY BURNIGHAM, president of the

San Diego Education Association

13.9%Decline in the number of California students expelledduring the 2014-2015 academic year. The number ofstudents suspended declined 12.8 percent comparedwith the year before, the California Department ofEducation announced on January 13.

- Quotes & NumbersFebruary 2016 edition of California Educator


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Calendar

FEBRUARY 2016

2 PEA Executive BoardPEA Office159 East 4thSt.3:45 PM2 Groundhog Day10 PUSD School Board Meeting2000 Railroad Ave.6:30 PM

10 Ash Wednesday12 Lincolns Day (no school)14 Valentines Day15 Presidents Day (no school)16 PEA Rep CouncilPEA Office159 East 4thSt.3:45 PM16-15 NEA/RA PEA Delegates Election24 PUSD School Board Meeting2000 Railroad Ave.6:30 PM

MARCH 2016

1 PEA Executive BoardPEA Office159 East 4thSt.3:45 PM3 Read Across Pittsburg3:30-4:00 PM4 Equity & Human Rights ConferenceMarriott Hotel, Torrance, CA13 Daylight Savings Time begins15 PEA Rep CouncilPEA Office159 East 4thSt.3:45 PM16 PUSD School Board Meeting2000 Railroad Ave.6:30 PM17 St. Patricks Day20 Palm Sunday24 Caesar Chavez DayNo school25 Good Friday/Board holidayNo school27 Easter

28-1 Spring Recess

Next Deadline for Articles is Monday, March 7, 2016

STAY INFORMED @peateachers.orgcta.org & nea.org

february 2016 focus

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