Leading the way to improve learning and teaching conditions
Drawing from diverse professional experiences that include non-profit work, and teaching from Central Europe to Southern California, career educator Denise Bradford brings decades of leadership and advocacy experience to her role as CTA Board Member District N.
With an undergraduate degree in German from University of Southern California, Ms. Bradford began her career in the mid-eighties and was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to teach English in Vienna, Austria. Upon her return she obtained an emergency credential and taught in LAUSD, later a transfer to Orange county led her to begin work as a colleague and advocate in the Saddleback Unified School District.
Bradford has worked at the elementary, high school, adult school levels; giving her a unique perspective of students and educators and their changing needs and challenges they face at all levels of the public education system.
In her professional work, Ms. Bradford has been drawn to positions that enable her to support fellow teachers on improving instruction skills, including work as an English Language Development Specialist, Student Teacher Mentor, Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment (BTSA) support provider, Technology coordinator, School curriculum leader and both CTA Teacher Leadership Cohort member and Instructional Leadership Corp member.
As a local leader and volunteer, Bradford has held positions in Saddleback Valley Educators Association from site representative to president of one of the largest chapters in Region 4.
Serving as a YMCA volunteer and Program director, Bradford has understood the power of activating the community to create sustainable community supports. She has worked on issues of creating, promoting, and staffing to provide childcare access at local elementary school sites.
In her work as an elected CTA state council delegate, Ms. Bradford has served as the chair of the Retirement Committee, leading to her election to represent K-12 teachers as a Trustee for the California State Teachers Retirement System.
These volunteer and professional leadership experiences have filled Ms. Bradford with a passion for curriculum and those educators who deliver it.
Denise Bradford is serving her second three-year term on the Board and CalSTRS; beginning January 2024.
Contacting Denise Bradford
California Teachers Association, P.O. Box 921
1705 Murchison Drive
Burlingame, CA 94011-0921
