After a four-year wait CTA’s Region IV Leadership Conference took place in Costa Mesa, giving many presidents and other chapter officers a first-time opportunity to connect in-person with local leaders throughout the southland. The weekend’s theme, Fight for the Present-Shape the Future, included seminar and training opportunities for interaction and deep learning on a host of topics meant to strengthen local chapter effectiveness. 

Keynote speaker CTA President E. Toby Boyd addresses R-4 leaders in Costa Mesa

On Friday evening’s reception, CTA hosted Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond who spoke about the fight for a Cost-of-Living Adjustment to blunt the effects of increased inflation and to move us up from 37th in the nation in per-pupil funding. Saturday’s keynote speaker CTA President E. Toby Boyd shared the need to reinvest in our locals by standing up to extremist attacks where they surface-building strength site-by-site.  

On Saturday and Sunday, leaders chose from dozens of electives meant to strengthen member engagement, advocacy, and involvement to help shape that future. Topics included Effective E Boards, Bargaining Rights and Obligations, Educator Free Speech Rights, Engaging the Community, Organizing for Racial and Social Justice, Member Recruitment and Engagement, Teacher-Led Professional Development and Special Education Advocacy. 

For veteran leaders like Temecula Valley Educators Association President Jeff Kingsberg who served through the pandemic, sharing space with fellow chapter members proved just as valuable; “Region IV Leadership Conference provided the opportunity to bring our executive board members to deepen those relationships.”

“We build power by building strong relationships.”

–TVEA Jeff Kingsberg

Riverside County Office Teachers Association executive board members enjoyed the chance to strengthen local power at R-4

Educators and support professionals were thankful for a conference setting that, while masks were strongly recommended, gave member-leaders time to connect with one another in a professional setting; Riverside County office Teachers Association President Angela Tenneriello who brought 13 executive board members explained, “As leaders we’re glad to reconnect and learn from one another both in and out of the class offerings. I think we missed each other.”