To open the January 2025 State Council of Education, delegates, officers and others sang along to “I Am Willing.” The song, by artist and activist Holly Near, speaks of hope and resilience — and of carrying on together — in the face of suffering and change.

CTA President David Goldberg then led a moment of silence to acknowledge those who lost their lives, loved ones, homes or were displaced by the devastating Los Angeles fires. He expressed his pride in our union members reaching out to support and care for affected colleagues, students and neighbors.

In his speech to delegates, Goldberg noted that as broader changes threaten our schools and communities, “we are prepared to stand up against any attacks on our students, public education and workers’ rights.” These include attacks on immigrants and LGBTQ+ students and educators, and continuing efforts to defund and destabilize public education.

“ I am open and I am willing
To be hopeless would
seem so strange
It dishonors those who go
before us
So lift me up to the light
of change”
From “I Am Willing,”
– by Holly Near

While Goldberg said recent victories, such as the passage of the Social Security Act, wins at the bargaining table and successful actions and strikes, give us hope, much work lies ahead, including the “We Can’t Wait“ campaign that launched in February: “We can’t wait to fully staff our schools, we can’t wait for competitive wages and benefits, and at this moment, more than ever, we can’t wait for safe and stable schools for our students and communities.”

NEA Vice President Princess Moss and CTA President David Goldberg at State Council.

CTA’s African American Caucus played a video in honor of Black History Month in February. Titled “Resilience and Solidarity: Black Women in the Labor Movement,” the video focused on multiple Black women leaders and unionists, including CTA’s own past and present leaders.

On Sunday, special guest NEA Vice President Princess Moss briefly spoke to delegates about the challenging time, especially as wildfires burned. “Your NEA family is with you,” she said. “This is what families do — we stick together. You are not alone, we stand with you.”

African American Caucus Observance

CTA’s African American Caucus, with NEA Vice President Princess Moss, at the caucus’ observance at State Council weekend.

CTA’s African American Caucus held an observance on Saturday evening during January State Council. The presentation continued the theme “Resilience and Solidarity: Black Women in the Labor Movement,” introduced earlier during the general session. Attendees watched a condensed screening of “Invisible Warriors:
African American Women in World War II,” a documentary that featured present-day interviews with a few of the 600,000 Black “Rosie the Riveters.” Filmmaker Gregory Cooke was on hand virtually for a lively Q&A.

State Council election results:

• Erika L. Jones for CTA Secretary-Treasurer
• Matthew Seymour for NEA Board, District 4
• Mallorie Evans for NEA Board, District 6
• Erika Zamora for NEA Board, District 13
• Mark Norberg for CTA/ABC Committee, District I
• Jasper Daleo for CTA/ABC Committee, District P
• Gina Gray for CTA/ABC Committee, At-Large

Council passed the following bylaw amendment:

CTA Bylaw Amendment — Article VII — Officers — Section 3 — Election and Term of Office (CTA Org Handbook)

SECTION 3. Election and Term of Office. The election and the terms of Executive Officers shall be as follows: The President, Vice President and Secretary-Treasurer shall be elected by the State Council of Education at the meeting preceding its Annual Meeting for a three-year term beginning June 26. A person may be reelected to the same office for a subsequent three-year term, but no person shall serve more than two full three-year terms in the same office.

PROVISO: Current Officers, if reelected to a three-year term in 2025, may serve only that single three-year term in their respective offices.

The next State Council takes place in Los Angeles April 4–6.