President's Update Oct. 13, 2022

I was told yesterday during training that we are now one quarter of the year through our school year. That thought both filled me with happiness and a little dread (there’s still way too much to do).

Happy Thursday TEA! I was told yesterday during training that we are now one quarter of the year through our school year. That thought both filled me with happiness and a little dread (there’s still way too much to do). No matter how that makes you feel, please remember to stop and support each other. Remember that you are the ones that make the difference every day for TUSD students and you are the superstars! Thanks for being you and for everything that you do! Here’s the latest from TEA:   TEA’s First Social in Three Years - Thank you everyone who came out and joined TEA at our first real social since 2019. We joined together at the BJ's and enjoyed pizza, pasta and pizookies, along with getting to socialize with fellow friends from other sites. My apologies, but I only took a few pictures. I had much more fun getting to talk and meet so many members that I forgot during the whole middle portion of the night. To access the photos from that night please click on this link. If you have any photos from the event that you would like to share, please click on this link to share.   TEA Human Rights and Special Ed. Committees- both will be meeting on Wednesday, October 19 at 3:45/4 pm in the TEA office (4940 Irvine Blvd, Suite 205, Irvine, CA 92620), if you are interested in joining and help TEA build and work on Human Rights or further work on special ed. issues, please let us know - or just show up and come find out in person. Special Enrollment Opportunity for TEA Members          TEA and CTA have made it possible for you to apply for CTA-endorsed Disability and Life insurance with Standard Insurance Company (The Standard) starting October 31, 2022. Disability insurance plan can help replace income when you are unable to work due to illness, injury, pregnancy or childbirth. Benefits are paid directly to you to help pay for items health insurance doesn’t cover, like utilities, mortgage/rent, groceries and child care.  Life insurance protects your loved ones to help with final expenses, mortgage payments and replacing lost income. Learn more and apply online at https://www.standard.com/cta/tustin BARGAINING Our TEA Team meets again with TUSD Friday, October 14. They last met two weeks ago. The following is still being discussed and we will have information out to you as soon as we have it. Health and Welfare - this is always the time that we discuss what is happening with our health insurance. Induction - an ongoing topic and concern from TEA. TEA has researched and proposed along with the discussions, the costs that other new teachers around the county have to pay to clear their credentials through their districts. We continue to work on behalf of our newest members. Special Ed caseloads - Another continued discussion as TEA is hoping to ensure that Ed. Code is followed as it pertains to the caseloads of SAI teachers. We also have discussed caseloads as it pertains to SDC and other areas of special ed. Education. I encourage you to keep in touch if you are over the Ed. Code (And teach SAI) of 28. I encourage you to let TEA know as soon as you are at that cap. We may be kept informed by reaching out to Myself, Our Special Ed. Committee and our offices. Secondary Minutes - We are continuing work on this before negotiations because the MOU, out of a shared interest of both TUSD and TEA, was due to move into the contract, but we have found that we still do not have equity in minutes. It is being brought back to negotiations on Friday. More information will follow after Friday.  Additional Items: Thank you for the sites that have completed the interactive bargaining survey. It’s great to see the results of your work and the posters will help to drive the work that our negotiations team is doing. This coming Tuesday, October 18 is a Site Rep Meeting. Please make sure that you connect with your site reps if you have any issues or concerns that you feel need to be discussed. Elementary - There have been some issues involving elementary music and TEA wants to make sure that you understand any of the changes have not been decisions made by the elementary teachers themselves. It was brought to TEA’s attention that our elementary music teachers had some additional time in between some classes at some sites. They desperately need more time to tune and fix violins, as they have at a minimum 120 per site to work on (and each takes about five minutes minimum to maintain weekly). Instead, they were pushing into elementary K-2 classes. TEA understands and supports the value of having a K-2 music program, but only if it is rolled out equitably across all elementary schools and if it isn’t adding more to our music teachers.  If you were lucky enough to have them push in for those 20 minute every few weeks, our apologies, but they should not be doing that any longer. If you were not lucky enough to get that, well, now it is equal and across the board is also providing our music teachers time to work on and repair the instruments that they use with every one of our 3-5 grade students. TEA hopes that TUSD will see the value adding K-2 music would bring to all students and will eventually roll out a program to every elementary site, adding more music teachers to the program as well. CTA Data - What we all already know… On Tues., Sept. 27, CTA and partners released findings from a comprehensive statewide survey of more than 4,600 teachers, "Voices From the Classroom: Teaching in the Golden State." The survey, conducted in partnership with UCLA's Center for the Transformation of Schools and Hart Research Associates, focused on teacher retention and recruitment issues as the state struggles with severe teacher shortages. Results confirm that teachers find their work fulfilling, but many urgently need more resources, pay, support and respect. Many are also stressed and exhausted. "Students deserve high-quality teachers that are paid a professional salary, can afford to live where they teach and are supported in the classroom," said CTA President E. Toby Boyd at the press event. "We can solve this educator recruitment and retention crisis, but it’s going to take acknowledgement, commitment and collaboration.” Educators suggested solutions: More than 88 percent of respondents identified better pay as what state and local officials should prioritize, followed by smaller class sizes, stronger discipline policies for disruptive students, better staffing and a more manageable workload, and more support services for students. The survey also examined issues of diversity and inclusion and found that many current teachers of color, especially Black teachers, have experienced discrimination and do not feel comfortable expressing themselves at their school site. Click here for the executive summary and full report. October is:           Breast Cancer Awareness Month - One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime — that’s one person every 12 minutes in the U.S. October is devoted to educating everyone about breast cancer, and the importance of early detection and timely, high-quality care. This year, the National Breast Cancer Foundation  is behind RISE: “We RISE to ensure every woman has access to the screenings she needs and the support she deserves. When we RISE, we Rally in Screening Everyone." The goal: education, empowerment, action and hope.    Filipino American History Month -The month commemorates the first recorded presence of Filipinos in the continental United States, which took place in October 1587 in Morro Bay. Today, Filipino Americans are the second-largest Asian American group in the U.S. and the third-largest ethnic group in California. Resources to teach students about the Filipino American experience include theFilipino American National Historical Society and Filipino American Education. National Bullying Prevention Month - One out of five students report being bullied at school or online; these students are at increased risk for depression, anxiety, lower academic achievement and dropping out of school. Educators, students, parents and community all play vital roles in preventing bullying. In October, National Bullying Prevention Month, promote kindness, acceptance and inclusion among your students. On Unity Day, Oct. 19, supporters can wear orange. The PACER Center offers K-12 activity kits and lesson plans. Find more at stopbullying.gov. Teen Read Month - Please follow the following links for more information provided by the National Education Association (NEA). Deadline: Last year, the Biden Administration temporarily expanded eligibility for the federal PSLF program - but borrowers must apply for a waiver by Oct. 31.(This waiver is separate from the one-time student loan forgiveness plan President Biden announced in August.) The PSLF program cancels any remaining federal student loan debt for eligible government and nonprofit workers, including many teachers, after they have made 120 qualifying monthly payments. While some federal loans and payment plans did not qualify under earlier PSLF rules, under the waiver all payments are eligible. Eligible borrowers may be required to consolidate their debt by Oct. 31 in addition to submitting a PSLF waiver application. Conferences, Trainings, Workshops: 2022 LGBTQ+ Issues Conference, Oct. 28-30, Palm Springs. The 14th annual conference addressing LGBTQ+ issues involving educators, students and the community. Theme: “Connected by LOVE: The Threads of Our Community.” Sessions will focus on diversity, inclusion and belonging and LOVE! Register here. Grant Writing 101 - Have a project idea and need funding? Want to become a better grant writer? CTA's Institute for Teaching’s virtual “Grant Writing 101” workshop provides an overview of how to write a grant proposal, prepare a practical budget and develop a reasonable timeline. Register at cta.org/ift for one of these dates: Mon., Nov. 7; Thurs., Nov. 10; or Mon., Nov. 14. All times 4-6 p.m. Elections - Election Day is Tuesday, November 8th Are you ready for the General Election? The voter registration deadline is Oct. 24; register at registertovote.ca.gov.  All registered voters will receive a vote-by-mail ballot. You can make sure you're prepared to vote by following a few simple steps here. If you live in TUSD - or you have friends that ask for your advice as teachers - please remember that TEA has endorsed incumbent School Board member Lynn Davis. But even if you don’t live in Tustin, you can still help support the TEA endorsed candidate Lynn Davis. We will be holding events at our TEA offices: 4940 Irvine Blvd., Suite 205, Irvine, 92620. We would love to have you attend and fill out some postcards being sent to Area #3 of Tustin. Each event will offer a meal and the chance to win raffle prizes. Bring a friend (or two).   If you would like to help by walking or posting a campaign sign at your house you may go to the following links: To volunteer for the walk:  https://tinyurl.com/LynnDavisWalk Saturdays October 15, 22 or 29 - three different times each day to choose from. Meeting at Valencia Park - the park in front of Myford Elementary at Trevino and Jamboree. If you have time it is a great way to get out and not only help our candidate, but get steps in and speak to all sorts of people who love educators (studies prove we are still the most respected when it comes to discussing education issues and candidates). To sign-up for a lawn sign:  https://tinyurl.com/LawnSign-Lynn If you live outside of the Tustin area and are interested in the Teacher endorsed candidate for your area please follow this link to a list prepared by local presidents. HERE You should always vote your own conscience but if you are interest and would like to vote with California educators and CTA recommendations on candidates and important initiatives, Visit cta.yourvoter.guide for customized recommendations on your ballot. California Reads - Since 1998, the National Education Association has celebrated Read Across America to raise awareness about the importance of reading. In 2013, CTA launched the California Reads program. Rather than celebrate reading on just one day, California Reads promotes reading year-round with teacher-approved book recommendations for multiple age groups. California Reads also promotes reading through a yearly list of teacher-recommended books in five age categories: Pre K/TK/K, Grades 1-2, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8 and Grades 9-12. As the new chair of the California Reads committee I need your help, and the help of your students, or from anyone who has great ideas of books that may encompass the theme for the year and that you love enough to recommend to other teachers around California. We are currently in the collection process of books that fit the theme- FREE TO READ, READ TO BE FREE. We always start with the process of collecting suggested titles. Please help me if you know of any books Book Recommendations CTA California Educator Magazine is out: Click the picture below to access. TheOctober/November issue is out, and you can read how locals in Santa Cruz County are collaborating to improve conditions for educators and students – and building a movement. Their recent successes come in a county with an extremely high cost of living and a history of underpaying educators. Also featured: Digital citizenship - teaching young people to use their digital power with care; fighting the fentanyl epidemic; CTA-endorsed members running for local school boards ; and more.   Have a wonderful rest of your week!   In Unity, Lisa Hickman President, Tustin Educators Association