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focus

On educators
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 of
teaching and learning; to advance the cause of free, universal, and quality public education; to ensure that the human dignity and civil
rights of all children and youth are protected; and to secure a more just, equitable, and democratic society.
join us in Standing Up for Student
NOVEMBER 2017 And yet, there is so much more we success. There were
want for our students! We want a representatives from schools to
safe place to learn. We want present in this meeting. One of
quality educators. We want to our folks from the Pittsburg Adult
retain our great educators. We Education Center, Elza Hess, gave
want classrooms that support the a strong speech about education.
learning of all students with proper We know that in order for all of us
fitting class sizes. We want to be to Stand Up for Student Success
recognized as professionals and we need the students and educators
experts in our field who want the to be the priority in this District.
best for our students. We want our We know how honorable of a
time to teach to be respected so commitment this will be to help
Volume XXVI, Number 3 our students have the very best of improve students educational
us. We want our time to experience. We want that for all
collaborate honored and the students of Pittsburg!
Presidents Message encouraged. We want the work
we are given to be manageable and In Solidarity,
Thank you so much for all of your reasonable to better what we Tammy Carr
support for the Bargaining Team! provide to our students educational
Standing Up for Student Success is experience. We want efficiency so
the sole purpose of our days as time is not wasted in messages that
educators. Your work every day is email are better suited to. We
valuable to the Pittsburg students. want excellent professional
As it is November, there are other development to hone our craft to
things we can point to in ignite our students learning. We
thankfulness. We can be thankful want this District to know how
that we had time with family and much educators Stand Up for
friends over Thanksgiving. We Student Success.
can be thankful for all the support At the November 15th PUSD
we receive in our daily work. We School Board meeting we
can be thankful for the presented your letters to the school
improvements and great success of board members inviting them to
our students.
PEA Leadership 2017-2018 Rep. Council Meeting Calendar (Tuesdays)
President November 28
Tammy Carr December 19
PEA Office
January 16
Elementary Vice President
February 20
Michell Redfoot
March 20
Willow Cove
Secondary Vice President April 24
Irwin Manangkil May 22
Black Diamond
School Board Meeting Calendar
Secretary
November 15
Nicole Glassel
December 13
Los Medanos
Treasurer January-June TBD
Shelly Bascomb Are You Getting Your PEA Information?
North Campus
Having our Site Reps collect your input, attend the monthly Rep
________________________________________________

Committee Chairs: meeting and then report back to you is vital in the

Grievance Committee communication chain of our Association.

John Kleinjans Pittsburg High Roll call at last October 17th Rep Council Meeting:
Chris Coan Willow Cove
Negotiations Team Adult Ed. present MLK Jr. present
Mark Maselli Chair - Hillview Black Diamond present North Campus present
Political Action Chair Foothill present Parkside present
Jim Vaughan Black Diamond
Heights present PHS - present
Elections Chair
Highlands present Rancho Medanos absent
Sharie Chmura - Parkside
Hillview - present Stoneman present
Human Rights Chair
Andrea McKinney Black Diamond Los Medanos present Willow Cove present
Womens Issues Chair Marina Vista present
Alicia Puzak Pittsburg High
Organizing Chair
Laura Silva - Parkside
CTA State Council Representative
Mark Maselli Hillview
LGBTQ Chair
Marissa Young-Padilla - Parkside
Special Education Chairs
Michell Redfoot Willow Cove
Melonie Sauceda-Flemming Hillview/MLK
Technical Editor
Susan Harrison PEA Office Administrator

Focus on Educators is a publication of the


Pittsburg Education Association CTA/NEA
159 East 4th Street, Pittsburg, CA 94565
Phone: (925) 432-0199 email: info@peateachers.org
website: www.peateachers.org

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GLBT Safety in Schools Grant & Scholarship Meet your PEA Treasurer Shelly Bascomb
Program in Honor of Guy DeRosa
This scholarship program will support self-identified
LGBTQ members enrolled in a teacher/counseling
credential or graduate program who are pursuing a
career in public education and who understand the
importance of LGBTQ educators as role models in our
public schools. Applications for grants and scholarships
must be received online by 11:59 p.m. on Friday,
December 15, 2017. For more information and
applications, please go to: www.cta.org/scholarships
********************************************************************
Hello fellow PEA members!
Pittsburg Teachers CARE!
I am a 20 year veteran of PUSD, starting my tenure teaching
English at Pittsburg High School and then working for the last
Hello PEA Teachers!
6 years as a full-release BTSA/TIP Mentor. In my off-time, I
Its almost winter and we as a union will be enjoy reading, scrapbooking, and hiking. Several years ago I
conducting our 7th annual Winter drive! was active in the Union as a Rep, then the Organizing Team
Chair, then for two years as the Secondary Vice-President. I
Its a great way to support Contra Costa
had to take a couple of years off for health reasons, but now
families in need during the holiday season. Im back, feeling better than ever! Im so proud to be your
Our donations will be going to Shelter, Inc., Treasurer. I pledge to serve with integrity and diligence.
a Contra Costa non-profit organization
********************************************************************
supporting homeless youth and famililies. Meet your PEA Elementary Vice President
Please donate what new items you can, Michell Redfoot
particularly:

socks, hats, gloves, and


scarves
Bins will be picked up by your site reps and
placed in your teacher lounge starting:

November 29-December 19
Thank you so much for your support and Hello fellow PEA members from your friendly neighborhood
Elementary VP!
generosity!
In my 10 years as a teacher I've yet to experience an easy
year. But each year, with its highs and lows, I become a
better teacher, because of you. The advice, support,
collaboration and ideas of my fellow teachers always see me
through. Thank you for all your hard work. I will endeavor to
provide you with the support, representation and assistance
you need.

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Meet your PEA Secretary Nicole Glassel

IEP BEST PRACTICES


Here are some ways you can make the IEP process
more meaningful & productive

1. General Ed teachers Stay for the entire meeting


if possible. Many services, goals, and
accommodations that are discussed take place in
your classroom and you need to give valuable
feedback. This also falls under the general
education teachers responsibility to assist in the
Hello PEA Members! development of the entire IEP. CA Ed Code 56341
2. Ask for training (supports & services) if you feel
Im elated to be your union secretary again for the 2017-2018 you need it to help you fully implement a childs
school year! I am making sure all your thoughts being IEP. CA Ed Code Sec. 56345(a)(4)
passed to your reps are heard and efficiently recorded on a 3. If you feel an IEP isnt working, you may call for a
monthly basis! Heres a little bit more about me (in case you review IEP. Be prepared to document the
didnt know or were doing a diary entry tonight). accommodations and any other research-based
practices you have been using with that student.
This is my 16th year at Los Medanos Elementary where I If an IEP isnt working, ask the special education
started as a 1st grade teacher, but am currently teaching teacher on your campus for additional ideas or
2nd grade. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from other accommodations you can try. CA Ed Code
University of Oregon and returned to California where I Sec. 56343
4. You must be knowledgeable of the IEP contents
attended Chapman University for my Teaching Credential
and your responsibilities to assist the student in
and Masters of Education in Curriculum & Instruction. In
meeting their goals. If you dont have access to
addition, I completed my Administrative Credential last
this, ask your Special Ed teacher for a copy and
spring. keep it in a secure location. CA Ed Code Sec.
56347
Prior to going into education, I worked in Hollywood at a 5. You have the right to speak up to assist a parent
post-production facility and in San Francisco at an or guardian of a special education student to
advertising agency. I have loved it all, but know my heart is obtain services and accommodations for that
truly in education. student. This means that no district employee
may directly or indirectly use their influence to
As educators (and union members), we are the voices who intimidate, threaten, and coerce a teacher in order
advocate for our students every day, but we must remember to prevent you from helping that person. CA Ed
to speak up for ourselves as well. For this reason, I wanted Code Sec. 56046(a)
to become more involved with our union (not just when its
contract negotiation time) and hope you will too! Please read WHAT IF I DONT AGREE?
your contract, be aware and informed, and know your rights!
Even if you dont agree with everything in the IEP, you
CHEERS! still need to sign that you were in attendance. If you
feel strongly about noting this in the IEP, have the
recorder document the specifics about your
disagreement in the notes. The IEP meeting is a legal
meeting and therefore, accurate documentation is very
important.

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WHAT IF I CANT MAKE THE MEETING? Senate Bill 915
(Carol Liu, D-La Canada Flintridge)
The parent and district can agree in writing to Re-establishes the California Center on Teaching Careers
dismissal of an IEP member, however, the member still
(Cal Teach) to recruit qualified individuals into the profession.
needs to submit IEP feedback in writing prior to the
meeting. (CA Ed Code Sec. 56341(f)&(g)
Senate Bill 933
(Ben Allen, D-Santa Monica)
USEFUL RESOURCES: Creates a California Teacher Corps program that provides
BEHAVIORAL SUPPORTS: www.pbisworld.com, matching grants to local school districts to create or expand
www.pbis.org residency programs.
ACCOMMODATIONS: www.pent.ca.gov;
www.udlcenter.org Senate Bill 62
ADVOCACY: www.disabilityrightsca.org (Fran Pavley, D-Agoura Hills)
Reinstates and improves a state program that offers students
************************************************************************ loan forgiveness to new teachers.

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Know Your Contract
By, Chris Coan
Grievance Chair
Article 6.1.11 DUTY FREE LUNCH

Bargaining unit members at the elementary level are entitled


to one duty free lunch period of no less than 50 minutes, and
bargaining unit members at the junior high and high school
levels are entitled to one duty free lunch period of no less
than 30 minutes.
You cannot be asked to do yard duty, watch over students,
tutor students or perform any assigned work task during your
lunch period. This is your personal business time. Please do
not do paid intervention during your duty free lunch, as this is
a federal crime. The district and your principal should know
this. You cannot be paid twice for the same amount of time.
That is why it is considered a federal crime.
Also you should not be required to sign in and out if you
choose to leave campus during your lunch time. We grieved
this as a union twice and we prevailed.
Enjoy. Relax. It is YOUR time.

************************************************************************

A precipitous drop in enrollment in the states teacher


preparation programs since the Great Recession, along with
layoffs and budget cutbacks, means California is looking at a
severe teacher shortage. CDE projects the need for schools
to hire 22,000 teachers in the near future.

Several bills are pending that address the shortage among


them:
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Calendar
November 2017
5 Daylight Savings Time ends
7 PEA Executive Board PEA Office 159 East 4th St. 3:45 PM
8 Election Day
10 Veterans Day Holiday No school
15 PUSD School Board Meeting 2000 Railroad Ave. 6:30 PM
20-24 Thanksgiving Recess
23 Thanksgiving
28 PEA Rep Council PEA Office 159 East 4th St. 3:45 PM

December 2017
5 PEA Executive Board PEA Office 159 East 4th St. 3:45 PM
12 Hanukkah begins at Sundown
13 PUSD School Board Meeting 2000 Railroad Ave. 6:30 PM
19 PEA Rep Council PEA Office 159 East 4th St. 3:45 PM
21 Winter begins
24 Christmas Eve
25 Christmas Day
25-5 Winter Recess
26 Kwanzaa begins
31 New Years Eve

Next Deadline for Articles is Friday, December 8, 2017

STAY INFORMED @ peateachers.org


cta.org & nea.org
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