“Our Union, Our Future” to guide organization
After two years of meetings, input from more than 30,000 members, discussions and debate by the 100-plus-member Strategic Planning Group, the State Council of Education unanimously approved CTA’s Long-Term Strategic Plan during its Sunday session. The plan, “Our Union, Our Future,” will be CTA’s road map for the next four years and is intended to result in a more vibrant, inclusive, strong and engaged union that will take back the teaching profession.
Voice of public education
“I am most excited by the future of CTA, as proposed by the Long-Term Strategic Plan,” said Theresa Montaño, CTA’s higher education Board member who served on the planning committee. “CTA is always in the forefront of progressive change and when implemented CTA will become the voice of public education and not just the voice of public school teachers, faculty, ESP and future teachers – but, of the broader community of educational activists – interested in what is best for a diverse group of students. Issues like social justice, organizing and community engagement will become not concepts to be embraced, but the foundation of our work.”
Following a directive from State Council three years ago, CTA’s leadership engaged the Labor Education Research Center at the University of Oregon to help coordinate and facilitate a process that brought together rank-and-file members, leaders and CTA staff to craft strategies to meet the challenges ahead. Representing the voices of community college faculty on the planning committee were CCA President Lynette Nyaggah, and CCA board members Elizabeth Maloney and Julius Thomas.
The plan was completed last fall and presented to Council for review during its October meeting. The plan was then vetted during CTA conferences and during a telephone town hall that reached out to 30,000 members. State Council also conducted a forum Saturday evening in advance of its final vote on Sunday. Members can read more about the plan on the CTA website, view comments by CTA President Dean E.Vogel to Council on the plan, or watch a brief video that provides highlights of the plan.
Now that Council has approved the plan, an Implementation Workgroup consisting of members and staff will be appointed to advise and make recommendations to the CTA Board of Directors about how to implement these goals and how to align governance structures. It will be up to local chapters to determine how they engage in the plan and engage with faculty. The workgroup will monitor the progress being made, constantly review the plan, and make adjustments as needed. And then, of course, ultimate responsibility for implementation and oversight lies with the CTA Board of Directors.