Extra Special Tanya Golden Issue
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT UPDATE By Tanya Golden
After twenty years as an ABC teacher, I will be retiring at the end of this school year. Although I am ecstatic about entering a new chapter in my life, I am bittersweet as I reminisce about my career. The first stage of my professional life was in management. Upon reaching my early 40’s, I wanted to spend more time with my school age daughters while searching for a more meaningful profession. I was fortunate to find teaching that fulfills my needs. I am grateful to all of my colleagues, mentors, friendships and the extraordinary memories I have made along my journey as an educator and union leader.
Thank you to my husband of 34 years, best friend and partner since we met in middle school, John Eddy. He has steadfastly been my number one cheerleader and supported me throughout my career. We’ve shared so many incredible experiences over these many years, be it visiting Disney parks for the umpteenth time or traveling the world all while cherishing each other’s company. I am grateful to have him by my side as we enter the final stage of our lifetime together.
Thank you to my ride or die friends, fantastic travel buddies, and union sisters, Rhonda McNutt and Jill Yasutake. As a result of the district Keenan training I am unable to share the details of our numerous antics but just know that no one has ever been arrested or permanently physically harmed, yet. It is remarkable Rhonda and Jill’s willingness to continuously agree to the adventures and escapades that I have roped them into over the years. If there was any hesitation along the way, I would remind them, how we always have fun, it's true, and worst case is we have a good story, well, as long as we don’t die.
Thank you to my dear friends and first team partners, Laura Emmons and my sister from a different mister, Vera Altebarmakian. Their support and guidance not only made it possible for me to survive my first few years of teaching but their grace and patience gave me the space to thrive as an educator.
Thank you to my dear Carver team partners, Ka Yang, Connie Nam, Myong Cho, Edwin Lee, and Mike Smith. Not only awesome grade level partners but true friends. I have such joyous memories over the years as we celebrated one another with our daily communal lunches, poker nights, game nights, parties, sporting events, live theater events, and weekend getaways. I am appreciative of your love and friendship.
Thank you to my union siblings. There are too many to individually name. You each hold a special place in my heart. I am grateful for the opportunities to be the voice of teachers at the state level with my CFT union work. It was my honor and a privilege to have the confidence of ABCFT teachers and nurses who I supported and represented during their most vulnerable and challenging moments in their career. Making personal connections with members was the most fulfilling part of my job as a union leader.
Thank you to my union brothers and dear friends, Ray Gaer and Ruben Mancillas. It’s difficult to find the words to describe the bond we three have built over the last decade. I would not be the person I am today without their non-judgmental guidance, unwavering support, and trust. I will miss the rewarding work of spending countless hours working diligently to find creative solutions, our strategizing sessions, and crafting contract language to name a of the few topics we tackled together. I am filled with pride and humbled with gratitude for the union strength we have built and accomplished at ABCFT. But most of all I will miss our regular therapy sessions chats, belly laughs and playful teasing of one another. Isn’t that what siblings are for anyways?
No matter what I have done in my life both personally and professionally, I truly embraced the work hard, play hard mentality. Maybe it's because my formative years were in the 1970’s or perhaps I just love to laugh with my friends and family and strive to see the best in others. Besides, life is too short to take it or myself too seriously. I hope you discover and enjoy the treasures our challenging profession brings us with the bonds you have built with your students and colleagues along the way. As the 1970’s music group Seals and Crofts once crooned, “We may never pass this way again.”
Cheers to the good times and cherished memories my friends!
Love,
Tanya
KEEPING YOU INFORMED - Negotiations Update By Ruben Mancillas
There are few significant updates regarding negotiations at this time. I attended the school board meeting Tuesday night and the school facilities capacities & declining enrollment ad hoc committee meeting on Wednesday evening. Members of the ABCFT negotiating team are scheduled to attend budget conferences regarding the upcoming May Revise. We are awaiting confirmation from Human Resources whether the retro check and off schedule payment that will be disbursed in June will be in the form of a direct deposit or a paper check.
So this week I would like to offer an appreciation for my good friend and colleague, Tanya Golden, upon her retirement.
Tanya Golden is the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful human being I’ve ever known in my life.
(Bonus points for those who can match the quote to the Cold War thriller!)
But seriously, let me take this opportunity to thank Tanya for all of the work she has done for this union. Which means the work that she has done for all of us these many years.
An exhaustive list of every committee, every meeting, every conference, every legislative office visit, every email, every phone call, every document that she has worked on would not even begin to describe the impact she has had. No project was too big, no detail was too small that she could not be counted on to better serve our members. She fought for ABCUSD teachers and nurses every day. And by extension, she fought for educators and students everywhere.
I am grateful to have worked alongside such an inspiring leader who is respected (and perhaps more impressively, well liked) across this entire state. Whoever is bold enough to try and fill her shoes is no doubt in for quite a surprise. Please wish that person luck!
It doesn’t feel appropriate to annotate a retirement announcement…but being inappropriate is part of the Golden brand so here goes:
I love how she proudly points out that Rhonda and Jill weren’t permanently physically harmed. Way to set the bar high. Define permanent. And note the legalistic emphasis on the lack of physical harm. What about the emotional rollercoaster that can come from being in the vicinity of Hurricane Tanya?!? And no arrests. Wow. That’s a resume builder.
I am impressed that Tanya acknowledged the existence of Keenan given that I have seen little evidence of her having learned the lessons presented in said training.
I do, however, appreciate her quoting Seals and Crofts lyrics. By dropping a yacht rock title from 1973 it helps make my 80’s music references that little bit more current.
Ray and I wish Tanya the best in her post retirement endeavors in web based marketing or being an audiobook reader for titles in Spanish.
OK, enough silliness. As she noted, we tease each other from a place of respect and shared mission. Long hours and difficult tasks sometimes lead to a sense of the absurd.
So let me close by once again thanking Tanya for her dedicated service to ABCFT. I deeply admire her for many reasons but in particular am struck by her sense of humor and fierce sense of justice. She is a champion for those who can be overlooked. She can work tirelessly all day and still laugh with abandon afterwards. She is our union sister. And she will be greatly missed.
Best wishes to John and their daughters. Enjoy having her home!
In Unity,
MEMBERSHIP UPDATES - YOUnion Social
It’s time to get social!
Please join members of the ABCFT leadership along with your fellow teachers and nurses for a YOUnion social on May 3rd from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. at B.J.’s near the Cerritos mall. These gatherings were a mainstay of how we connected with each other prior to the pandemic. Those days are behind us, so let's reconnect and enjoy each other outside of work. We hope to see YOU there!
YOUNION SELF-CARE TIPS
What does your musculoskeletal system do?
Your musculoskeletal system supports you and helps you move. It's made up of your bones and joints. It also includes muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
Learning about your Musculoskeletal System
What is ergonomics?
Ergonomics (say "er-guh-NAW-miks") is the study of the kind of work or play you do, the environment you do it in, and the tools you use.
The goal of ergonomics is to avoid physical problems related to your activities. That means knowing the best way to set up a work area, use tools, or use your body to do tasks. Learning about Ergonomics
When you practice good ergonomics, you may:
• Be less likely to have problems such as headaches or eyestrain.
• Reduce neck and back pain.
• Prevent muscle or tendon problems that are linked to doing the same task over and over.
What is low back pain?
Low back pain is pain that can occur anywhere below the ribs and above the legs. It is very common. Almost everyone has it at one time or another. Low Back Pain
Low back pain can be:
Acute. This is new pain that can last a few days to a few weeks—at the most a few months.
Chronic. This pain can last for more than a few months. Sometimes it can last for years.
Monthly Health Tip #2: Stress Management Flier
MEMBERSHIP UPDATE -
Teacher Leaders Program Returns to ABCFT! By Tanya Golden
Have you ever seen a news report or talk show discuss issues around education, social and emotional issues, equity, or learning and thought to yourself or said to your colleagues, “Why don’t they just ask a real educator about ___________?”
The AFT Teacher Leaders Program is a union-sponsored program designed to help prepare YOU to be that classroom teacher, nurse, or speech and language pathologist facilitating discussion of the issues that affect our profession both here in ABC Federation of Teachers and nationally.
We are seeking teachers and nurses who would like to take an active role in influencing educational policy in, for example:
Promoting children’s well-being
Supporting powerful learning
Building capacity
Fostering collaboration
We will provide participants with opportunities to develop the knowledge and skills to influence policy locally, statewide, and nationally. This will include framing practical policy positions that relate to improved student achievement; conducting research in classrooms and schools; engaging the public and elected officials in community conversations about education; participating on advisory boards, panels, and task forces; developing policy recommendations based on research conducted; and publishing and disseminating findings and recommendations nationwide. Click here to apply.
Members selected for the program will:
∙ Increase their knowledge of major challenges facing the teaching profession through readings and discussions with leading policy experts
∙ Improve leadership skills
∙ Be recognized by the public and media
∙ Represent teachers nationwide as spokespersons and become members of a nationwide community
∙ Participate in conducting action research and using it in influencing policy
∙ Be awarded up to a $1500 stipend upon completion of the program
We are seeking a diverse group of teacher leaders who are active in their school community and have a track record in working to improve their school. This program will take place monthly, from September 2024 to April 2025.
The Teacher Leaders application is due no later than Friday, May 3, 2024. If you have any questions or would like additional information, please contact Tanya at Tanya.golden@abcusd.us
Make a difference and join the 45 veteran ABCFT Teacher Leaders today!
ACADEMIC SERVICES UPDATE
This month’s academic service update is vital for all teachers. We hope you will take a moment to look at this monthly report, which discusses changes in academic services that could impact your classroom. This document provides the union with a means of giving the District feedback on the many programs or changes they are proposing at any time. Without your feedback or questions on these changes, it is harder for ABCFT to slow down and modify the district’s neverending rollout of new projects. Please submit your comments and questions to the appropriate ABCFT liaison.
For Elementary curricular issues, please email Megan at Megan.Mitchell@abcusd.us , for Secondary curricular issues, please email Catherine at Catherine.Pascual@abcusd.us, for Secondary PAL topics please email Megan at Megan.Harding@abcusd.us , Special Education PAL topics please email Brittney at Brittney.Parker-Goodin@abcusd.us if you have any questions or concerns.
Click Here For This Month’s Full Report
KEEPING YOU INFORMED-Elementary Update by Megan Mitchell
“Everybody knows, almost doesn’t count.”-Brandy
We are ALMOST to summer break….
This has to be the longest shortest school year ever, but we are in the final home stretch. This means that sleeping in until 8:30 am is on the horizon, but we are also gearing up for the busiest time of the school year, CAASPP testing, 3rd trimester benchmarks, end of year activities, and everything else that we know is going to be thrown on our plate until last minute.
At this week’s YOUnion Chat, there were questions brought up about summer school, specifically how students were selected to participate in the summer program. I shared at my school site what our process was, and two other members shared what happened at their site. Unfortunately, at the time, we each had three different experiences and were left with even more questions, specifically what was the criteria that was used and why did some school sites give input and others were left in the dark. After connecting with Dr. Balbuena, all of those questions were answered! *insert herkie jump of excitement*.
At the March 6th board meeting, Elementary Academic Services presented their 2024 Summer Extended Learning Opportunities plan. In an effort to stay aligned to the California’s Eight State Priorities, priority enrollment in the summer learning opportunities was centered around our unduplicated pupils (UDP) for current students enrolled in TK-5th grade. Academic Services pulled a query of all enrolled UDP scholars at each elementary school site, and disaggregated this data further to separate UDP scholars that received a 1 or 2 on their trimester 2 report card, and these students were given first priority. In an effort to ensure all students with academic support needs were included, there were additional lists created to include any student that received a 1 or a 2, and our multilingual learners (EL students). These numbers vary site by site, so some sites needed to include teacher input or recommendations to ensure their scholars were able to take advantage of this summer learning opportunity.
While this is a new practice, the thought is that this alleviates the burden of teachers to have to choose students, we’re providing stability and academic support to our most vulnerable demographic of scholars, and create a tangible and transparent criteria for the selection process for scholars to attend the Summer Extended Learning Opportunity.
Lastly, some teachers brought up concerns about the STAR benchmark window beginning in the thick of CAASPP testing. We ALL know testing fatigue is a real thing, (*cough, Trimester 2 STAR scores, cough*) and the A.S. team not only heard our concerns, but they did something about it. To provide teachers the flexibility to complete Tri 3 benchmark testing prior to state testing, the testing window will open earlier than May 13th and an email will be sent with the updated benchmark window timeline.
For Elementary Education Issues please email Megan at Megan.Mitchell@abcusd.us if you have any questions or concerns.
ABCFT PRESIDENT’S REPORT - Ray Gaer
Consistent and regular communication is a union’s most important tool for advocating for its members at the bargaining table. Every conversation with members is focused on the end result of negotiating for the future prosperity and well-being of ALL ABCFT members. This weekly report informs members about issues impacting their working/learning conditions and mental well-being. Our work as a Union is a larger conversation and united we make the YOUnion.
I’m at a leadership conference out of state at the moment and it would be rude for me to have my laptop out but I wanted to report on the topics. The topics are centered around working relationships, teaching practices, MTSS, system analysis and the process of system change, needs assessments, capacity building, workloads, and strategic planning. Ugh.
I hope you take a moment to read Tanya and Ruben’s pieces this week. Congratulations on each of their new adventures. Next week I’d like to share the ABCFT strategic plan for the next three years with an emphasis on what our timeline is for the coming school year surrounding contract negotiations and overall changes within your union. More to come…
Have a good weekend!
In YOUnity,
Ray Gaer
President, ABCFT
CALIFORNIA FEDERATION OF TEACHERS
The latest CFT articles and news stories can be found here on the PreK12 news feed on the CFT.org website.
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS
Follow AFT President Randi Weingarten: http://twitter.com/rweingarten
----- NEWS STORY HIGHLIGHT-----
----- STATE NEWS -----
California Teachers Association calls for elimination of Teaching Performance Assessments
The California Teachers Association (CTA) is sponsoring Senate Bill 1263 to eliminate Teaching Performance Assessments (TPAs), which are seen as unnecessary hurdles for aspiring educators. TPAs have been criticized for being long, time-consuming, and full of low-value tasks. It is also claimed that they disproportionately impact educators of color and require candidates to pay $300 out-of-pocket. The CTA argues that aspiring teachers can better learn the craft in real-world settings, working with mentors and developing quality lesson plans. The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) recently adopted a secondary passing standard for educators who did not complete the TPA requirement, allowing them alternative paths to a credential. The CTA believes that removing barriers like TPAs will improve the educator pipeline and better equip teachers to serve California's diverse students. Other states, including New York, New Jersey, Georgia, and Texas, have already eliminated the TPA requirement.
California goes to court to settle proposed name of parental notification ballot initiative
Supporters of a proposed November ballot initiative that would require schools in California to notify parents if a child changes their gender identity are suing the state, the Los Angeles Times reported.
According to the Times, supporters of the proposition wanted the proposed ballot initiative to be called “Protect Kids of California Act” but Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office chose “Restricts Rights of Transgender Youth” — the name signature gatherers must use.
Supporters are arguing the state’s description of the proposed bill is hindering their efforts to gather signatures and claim the initiative was “branded with a misleading, false, and prejudicial title,” the news organization reported. May 28 is the deadline to submit signatures.
A hearing is scheduled for Friday.
School facilities funds cut as part of agreement to reduce California’s budget shortfall
An agreement between California Governor Gavin Newsom and the state Legislature that will reduce the state’s budget shortfall by $17.3 billion also will mean less money for school facilities.
The Early Action Agreement, signed April 4, cuts the state School Facility Aid Program by $500 million, reducing the funding from $875 million to $375 million. The program provides funds to school districts for school construction, deferred maintenance and emergency repairs.
The new agreement also delays the $550 million in funding that was budgeted for the Preschool, TK and Full-Day Kindergarten Facilities Grant Program until 2025-26. Districts can apply for funds through the program to build classrooms or retrofit existing facilities for preschool, TK or kindergarten classes.
The agreement also defers $499.1 million in funding to the University of California and California State University, and reduces funding for the UCLA Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy Project by $300 million.
----- DISTRICTS -----
Murrieta Valley will no longer report transgender students to their parents
The Murrieta Valley Unified School District will no longer enforce a policy that requires teachers and other school staff to notify parents if their children identify as transgender.
Last week the California Department of Education ordered the district to stop enforcing the policy, after an investigation found it to be illegal because it singled out and adversely impacted one group of students, according to Patch. Two days later, on April 12, the district sent emails to parents to notify them the policy would not be enforced, according to the article.
The district has 30 days from the date of the order to ask that the CDE finding be reconsidered.
The investigation by the state was launched after Murrieta Valley Unified’s school board passed a policy last August that required parents and guardians to be notified in writing, within three days of learning, if their child asks to be identified with a gender or name different from what was assigned at birth and if their child uses a bathroom or participates in activities that do not align with the gender provided on their student record.
The policy had previously been passed by the Chino Valley Unified school board on July 20.
----- TECHNOLOGY -----
AI teaching assistant cuts grading time in half for computer science teachers
Code.org, in collaboration with the Piech Lab at Stanford University, has developed an artificial intelligence (AI) teaching assistant that can significantly reduce the time it takes for computer science teachers to grade coding projects. In a limited pilot project, the tool's assessment closely matched that of experienced computer science teachers. Code.org plans to invite an additional 300 teachers to test the tool and hopes to make it widely available by the end of the year. While some educators see the potential benefits of AI in grading, others are concerned about outsourcing subjective tasks. The AI tool is particularly useful for grading coding projects, as it can quickly and accurately determine if certain requirements are met.
----- CLASSROOM -----
Over 90% of school leaders concerned about academic recovery
A survey from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) has found that, even though school buildings have long since reopened from their pandemic closures, 92% of public school leaders are still concerned to some extent about their students meeting academic standards. Out of those, 25% said they are moderately concerned, and 16% said they are extremely concerned. A third of administrators said that the pandemic will have a “large negative impact” on their students’ performance on state-mandated testing this school year. “We know that the job of public school leaders has become increasingly complex and there is a constellation of challenges that keep them up at night,” said NCES Commissioner Peggy G. Carr in a Tuesday statement. “It’s a Herculean task to manage all these challenges, and we hope that understanding what school leaders are facing will identify essential areas of support.” To address this, at least 13 states including Louisiana, Florida, Texas and Montana are exploring through-year assessment models, which proponent say have a quicker turnaround time for results and a better ability to inform educators of student progress.
----- HEALTH & WELLBEING -----
Teachers at reduced risk of cognitive decline
People with mentally stimulating jobs, such as teachers, are less likely to experience cognitive decline in later life, according to a study from Norway. The research found that jobs involving creative thinking were better at preventing cognitive decline than those involving repetitive tasks. The study, published Wednesday in Neurology, the journal of the American Academy of Neurology, examined 7,000 people and 305 occupations, measuring the level of cognitive stimulation in each job. After adjusting for other factors, the study found that those in the lowest group of mentally stimulating jobs had a 66% higher chance of mild cognitive impairment. The researchers suggest that education and challenging work throughout one's career play a crucial role in lowering the risk of cognitive decline.
No comments:
Post a Comment