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focus focus on educators  is 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.

JUNE 2015

Volume XXIII, Number 10

In this Issue

- Site Rep Job Description

- Retirees

- Teachers in Action

- Day of the Teacher Photos

- 2014-2015 Successes

Dear Colleagues,

It’s hard to believe that we’re

already at the end of the schoolyear and this month marks the endof my first term as our Association

President. I have been incredibly

honored and proud to represent all

of you over the past two years. Ithas also been a very rewardingexperience for me. I have enjoyed

the opportunities to get to knowmany of you and to collaborate

with you, as well as with site anddistrict administrators to improve

teaching and learning conditions in

our schools. It has been obvious tome that Pittsburg educators are

dedicated, hard working, and

deeply committed to educatingPittsburg students.

My work with all of you has also

strengthened my belief in publicschools and public school teachers.

We have such an important

 profession and it often goes

unrecognized. Never forget thatexcellent education can improve

children’s lives and communities,

so teachers must continue tochampion and be the guardians ofquality public schools for all.

As I think about next year , I’mvery excited about the

opportunities we will have to be

leaders of our profession in our

district. Our Superintendent has

 been committed to working wiPEA teachers and she has carefulchosen new district administrato

who share her values and who aalso interested in collaboration an

innovation.

Congratulations on all that yo

have accomplished this schoyear. Enjoy the time with yo

friends and family this summer.

hope you come back well resteand rejuvenated as there will bmuch to do to continue advancinour profession and improvin

 public schools in our communiwhen you return.

Have a wonderful summer! Se

you in August!

In Solidarity,

Dawn Cova

On educators 

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PEA Leadership 2014-2015

President

Dawn Cova

Rancho Medanos/PEA Office

Elementary Vice President

Tammy Carr

Highlands Elementary

Secondary Vice President

Shelly BascombBTSA

Secretary

Chris Coan

Willow Cove Elementary

Treasurer

Gale Higgins

Willow Cove Elementary

Committee Chairs:

Grievance Committee

John Kleinjans – Pittsburg High

Chris Coan–

 Willow Cove ElementaryNegotiations Team

Mark Maselli - Chair

Political Action Committee

Jim Vaughan - Chair

Elections Chair

Ruth Foster

Human Rights & Women’s Issues Chairs 

Yvonne Burton

Michell Redfoot

O-Team Chairs

Shelly BascombBertha Ramos

CTA State Council Representatives

Mark Maselli – PEA

CTA Director District C

Terri Jackson

NEA Director for California, District 3

Greg Bonaccorsi

Technical Editor

Susan Harrison – PEA Site Secretary

Focus on Educators  

is a publication of the

Pittsburg Education Association CTA/NEA

159 East 4th Street

Pittsburg, CA 94565

Phone: (925) 432-0199 

fax: (925) 432-4854

email: info@peateachers.org

website: www.peateachers.org 

Rep. Council Meeting Calendar

June 1

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School Board Meeting Calendar

June 3 & 24

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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 May 18th Rep Council Meeting:

Adult Ed. – present Stoneman – absent

Foothill – present Willow Cove – present

Heights –   absent MLK Jr. – absent 

Highlands – present Hillview - present

Los Medanos – present Rancho Medanos –present

Marina Vista – present PHS - present

Parkside – present Black Diamond –present

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Site Reps Wanted!

   Attend 1 meeting per month at the PEA office  $20 stipend per meeting  Hold 1 10-minute meeting at your site per month  Raffle & prizes for attendance and for holding your

10-minute meeting  Stay informed & be the first to know what’s 

happening!  Be selected for joint PEA/PUSD committees and

interview panels  Hear what the hot topics are at all the school sites  Become a strong advocate for Pittsburg public

schools, teachers, and students  Site rep training provided!

mailto:peatchrs@att.nethttp://www.peateachers.org/http://www.peateachers.org/http://www.peateachers.org/mailto:peatchrs@att.net

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PEA Teachers Showcase Work at FullanLearning Fair 

 Over the past few years, teachers, principals, and districtadministrators from Pittsburg, Napa Valley, and SanLorenzo School Districts have been participating in theFullan System Transformation Collaborative. Michael

Fullan is a researcher and worldwide authority on effectivestrategies that can be used to improve schools. He saysthe wrong drivers will not change our schools so “ jettisonblatant merit pay, reduce excessive testing, don’t dependon teacher appraisal as a driver, and don’t treat world-class standards as a panacea.” On the other hand, theright drivers can positively reform our schools, so weshould focus on the “learning-instruction-assessmentnexus, social capital to build the profession, pedagogy(with technological innovations), and systemic synergy”.Furthermore, Fullan’s research has established “teachers are key to improvement and can only work effectivelywhen they are supported.”

The May 20 Learning Fair showcased what teachers andprincipals from all three districts are doing to transformschools. Many great ideas were shared as each schoolteam presented their work. It was a good opportunity forthe participants to highlight some of their successes andchallenges and to hear what others have been trying aswell. The main principles from the Fullan Collaborativeshould continue to be embedded in our work to improveeducational opportunities for kids.

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2014-15 PEA Successes

  Reelected Superintendent of Public

Instruction Tom Torlakson

  Held evaluation training for new teachers

  Participated in Farmers’ Market Community

Outreach

  Continued per diem pay for teacher Common

Core collaboration time

  Organized Winter/Sock Drive Community

Outreach

 

Planned Read Across Pittsburg literacy event

  Held joint AEA/PEA “Social Justice for Black

and Latino Males” Class and “Spruce Up Your

Presentations” Class 

  Negotiated MOUs to pay resource specialists

for caseload overages and to pay school

psychologists for excessive initial assessments

  Settled numerous grievances

  Increased PEA participation on our Facebook

page

  Increased participation in Constant Contact

safe email for member communications

  Awarded $1600 scholarship monies to high

school seniors

  Began PEA member “listening campaign” 

  Passed resolution to support Alameda

Community Learning Center Educators’ Strike

Fund  Contributed to Fullan Learning fair along with

Napa Valley EA and CTA

  Honored Shelly Bascomb as 2015 WHO (We

Honor Ours) winner

  Attended CTA Summer Institute, Region I

Leadership Conference, Good Teaching

Conference, Political Academy, and Organizing

Academy

  State Council elected PEA teacher Eric Heins

as CTA President!

 

Organized and negotiated for a 9% SalaryIncrease and a strong Collective Bargaining

Agreement with PUSD!

Our working conditions are our students’ learning

conditions! Let’s keep organizing and advocating for

the best schools possible!

 

PEA Executive Board Officers 2015-2016Election Results

PEA President – Dawn Cova

PEA Vice President – Elementary – Tammy Carr

PEA Vice President – Secondary – Bertha Ramos

PEA Treasurer – Vicky KrywokulskyPEA Secretary – Michell Redfoot

Currently the PEA President serves a two-year term andthe other officers serve one-year terms. The PEARepresentative Council voted at the May meeting tochange the By-laws so that all officer terms will increase tostaggered two-year terms, beginning in the spring of 2016.

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California’s Day of the Teacher has its roots in the community and is patterned after the celebration of the traditional “ElDia del Maestro,” which is observed in Mexico and Latin American countries. Our California’s Day of the Teacher aroseout of legislation co-sponsored by CTA and the Association of Mexican American Educators in 1982. This year’s themewas “California Teachers: Where School Innovation Begins.” 

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Calendar 

JUNE

1 PEA Rep Council – PEA Office – 159 East 4th St. – 3:45 PM3 PUSD School Board Meeting – 2000 Railroad Ave. – 7:00 PM9 Last Day of Instruction10 Last Day of School21 Father’s Day 21 Summer Begins24 PUSD School Board Meeting – 2000 Railroad Ave. – 7:00 PM

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

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