CTA Aspiring Educators (CTA-AE) held its 2025 Spring Event on April 19-20 in Los Angeles, attended by 71 members representing 16 colleges and universities from across the country.

Participants discussed big-picture topics such as the state of public education as well as issues specific to the profession and to the union, including educator residencies, credentialing and chapter organizing.

They also focused on community- and team-building, and elected new officers (see box). Special guest speaker and labor icon Dolores Huerta urged them to use the full spectrum of their skills.

“As a teacher, you are always an organizer in the classroom,” she said. “I know you will all be great teachers and you will all become amazing organizers.”

Newly elected CTA-AE board members: Top row, from left: Elias Antunez, Giselle Reyes, Andrea Guevara, Tiffany Richey, Jennifer Kay Garcia. Bottom row, from left: Queen Udofia, Gabriel Mendoza Jr., Ethan Collier-Moreno.

A panel of CTA Board members that included Angela Der Ramos, Robert Ellis, Margie Granado, Eva Ruiz and DeWayne Sheaffer spoke about their converging paths as educators and unionists, and how critical it has become to fight for fully staffed, safe and stable schools and improved wages and benefits for educators.

Aspiring educators’ energy and enthusiasm were palpable. The future of our profession is looking bright.

CTA-AE

CTA Aspiring Educators (CTA-AE) is for anyone aspiring to be a teacher, school librarian, social worker, school psychologist, school nurse or college faculty member. CTA-AE serves as the collective voice for aspiring educators and advocates for what we believe to be fair and just, not only for ourselves, but for our future students.

The mission is guided by CTA-AE’s four core values — teacher quality, community outreach, diversity and advocacy.

Membership offers opportunities to engage in personal and professional development, increase your voice and have a medium for social change — the ability to fight for what you believe in. For more information about CTA-AE, including member benefits and services, visit cta.org/ctaae.