CTA Director At-Large Telly Tse, a special education teacher who believes his job as an educator is about what he does inside and outside the classroom to advocate for his students, colleagues, and profession, is serving his first three-year term on the Board, which expires on June 25, 2023.
Tse grew up in Alhambra, CA and graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a degree in History. While teaching at a nonpublic school in Los Angeles working with students with severe emotional disabilities, he earned his teaching credential and masters degree in Special Education.
It was at his current district, the Beverly Hills Unified School District, that Tse became actively involved in his local union, the Beverly Hills Education Association, where he has served as lead site representative, bargaining team member, Organizing Chair, Secretary, and President.
At the regional and state level, Tse has served in many leadership roles including Bay Valley Service Center Secretary, Chair of the Diversity Advisory Panel, Vice Chair of the Pacific Asian American Caucus, CTA State Council Representative, CTA Budget Committee Member, Racial Equity Affairs Committee (REAC) member, 7-time NEA Representative Assembly delegate, and NEA Director, District 5.
For his work in CTA over the years, Tse was recognized by his peers with a local and state WHO (We Honor Ours) Award both in 2019.
Tse lives in Southern California with his wife Tonia and two daughters Sophie and Chloe. Outside of education, Tse enjoys coaching his daughters’ soccer teams and participating in running events.
