CTA’s LGBTQ+ Safety in Schools Grant & Scholarship Program in Honor of Guy DeRosa was created to promote human and civil rights by making our public schools safe for LGBTQ+ persons. The program was renamed in 2009 in memory of member and educator Guy DeRosa, a lifelong advocate for civil and human rights and LGBTQ+ issues. Deadline to apply is May 31.

CTA offers many other opportunities to help you, your dependents and your students get support and recognition, from funding for classroom/school projects to assistance in pursuing educational goals. Check them out at cta.org/scholarships.

The June 7 Primary Election is just weeks away. Help elect candidates and local ballot measures that will support public education and help ensure our students, educators and schools have the equitable resources they need to succeed.

CTA recommends Tony Thurmond, pictured above, for Superintendent of Public Instruction. Thurmond has a proven record of standing with our students and educators. He is a trusted ally who will continue to advocate for education funding, work to attract and retain educators, and stand up to those seeking to privatize our schools. Visit stories.cta.org/whytony to hear directly from educators about why they support him.

Find more information on the election, such as how to register and CTA’s recommended candiates, here. Check out CTA’s Voter Guide, where you can enter the address where you are registered to vote and view your personalized Voter Guide.

Find classroom resources at asha.org/bhsm, where you can also search for “Tips for Helping Students With Hearing Loss in Virtual and In-Person Learning Settings.”

Today is California Day of the Teacher and National School Nurse Day. CTA honors all educators on this day and every day. This includes ESPs, celebrated on  CTA Education Support Professionals Day on May 17 (during ESP Week May 15-21).

CTA’s theme for this year is “California Educators: At the heart of communities, powering our future.” Our annual educator appreciation media campaign airs throughout the month, and includes TV and radio spots and a big presence on social media. See a scene from one of the spots, above, and watch/listen to all of them here.

Find resources and ideas to show your appreciation, as well as our special 2022 poster available for download, here. The poster is also included at the back of your April/May Educator magazine, where you can read about  Mary Ambriz , our Paula J. Monroe CTA ESP of the Year.

Whether you are retiring soon, or even if it is still a few years away, the CTA Retirement Workshop will prepare you to confidently make choices that are right for you.  The workshop is FREE.  You’ll get planning materials along with answers to questions you have about retirement. Tuesday, May 3rd  4:00 – 6:00 pm The workshop will cover the fundamentals of CalSTRS/CalPERS, basics of Social Security, CTA member benefits, NEA member benefits and CTA Retired. Register here!