Sacramento City educators will strike for their students if needed TOMORROW, APRIL 11.

Educators had an agreement with the district during the last bargain to use health plan savings on students including class-size reduction, counselors, nurses, and more. The district is not honoring that agreement. Learn more about their fight for their students on Sacramento City Teachers Facebook page. They have several videos; be sure to like their page to get updates, too. 

Take a minute today to send solidarity to Sacramento educators putting it all on the line for their students. Send a message of support on their website and post on social media with #SCTA4Students.

Take your support to the next level: Post a video of support and share the videos teachers made about why they are choosing to strike if needed. 

#RedForEd Shout-Outs & News

• Sacramento City Teachers to Strike April 11, California Educator
• 600+ March in Support of Dublin Teachers; Hear of Superintendent’s Departure, California Educator
• Coastside parents fight for education funding, Half Moon Bay Review
• Educators Rally at State Capitol for School Funding, California Educator

Resource to share with parents: We know this is the height of testing season across the state. This is a good resource to share with parents hoping to opt their child out of testing: cta.org/optout (guides available in multiple languages)

Day of the Teacher and Education Support Professionals (ESP) Day: We cannot WAIT to celebrate you! Day of the Teacher is May 8 this year and ESP Day is on May 21. We’re already gearing up to honor the most important professions in the world (can you tell we’re biased?). Our theme for Day of the Teacher this year is “Great Teaching is Never Forgotten” and we have a poster available for download.Stay tuned for more details as we get closer to the big days!

Speaking of ESPs, check out this update from NEA: U.S. Senate approves bill recognizing education support professionals and classified school employees

Must Reads from California Educator:

• Building Awareness About Autism for resources to help educators support students with autism spectrum disorder.
• Ethnic Studies: State Council Supports Bill to Make It a Requirement. “At March State Council, delegates voted to support AB 331 (Medina, D-Riverside), which would require each school district that doesn’t already have an Ethnic Studies curriculum to offer a course beginning in 2021-2022.”

Here is the bargaining update

Here is the tentative agreement

Why are you an educator?
I chose to become an educator because I realized I enjoyed helping students learn and gain new information. This has always applied more to the life lessons I can teach them than just the subject content. I began my career as a coach and substitute teacher. There were students when I was subbing that I was able to have positive relationships with, I began tutoring a few of these students and still have contact with them to this day. These experiences early on helped me to see what types of positive relationships I could build as a full time educator.

What do you enjoy most about your career?
The thing I enjoy most is when students tell me that they can’t accomplish something. I enjoy this because inevitably every time this is said, I am able to help show them how to make the impossible possible. Students get discouraged when they can’t find the answer to something right away. I enjoy helping them push through obstacles to accomplish things they thought they couldn’t.

What do you do in your spare/free time?
I have coached volleyball for the past 8 years, which takes a lot of my free time! Other than that,  I enjoy reading and spending time with my family.

What does being a member of the Vacaville Teachers Association mean to you?
Being a member of VTA means support from other teachers. I know that if I have an issue or question that they are there to help me to be successful. I feel confident knowing that my VTA Rep is always available to help me in my role as an educator. I appreciate the support that VTA gives teachers. By taking care of and informing us of political education issues, is allows us to worry less and lets us focus more on our teaching practices and helping students.