Advocacy for ALL Students is Theme Of ‘California Day of the Teacher’ Wednesday
Events Set Statewide – CTA Launches TV Ads About Public Schools Building Communities and Students’ Futures
CTA contacts: Northern California: Mike Myslinski at 650-552-5324.
Southern California: Frank Wells at 562-708-5425.
Central Valley: Cynthia Menzel at 650-380-8553.
CTA social media: @WeAreCTA, #DayOfTheTeacher, www.cta.org/DayOfTheTeacher
BURLINGAME – Highlighting the theme this year of educators as advocates of schools all students deserve, the 35th annual “California Day of the Teacher” kicks off Wednesday, May 10, with local events statewide that honor and thank educators. A CTA television ad campaign launching today focuses on public schools as creative centers that unite and build our communities.
The theme this year: “California Teachers: Advocates for the Public Education ALL Students Deserve.” It’s based on CTA’s research-driven Advocacy Agenda to provide every student with the quality public education they deserve.
“We’re celebrating the fact that California’s educators are deeply committed to the success of every student, regardless of their color, gender, ethnicity or immigration status,” said Eric C. Heins, president of the 325,000-member California Teachers Association. “Teachers are natural advocates for social justice for all. Our students are at the center of everything we do. We continue to advocate to make public schools safe havens for all students and to open the doors of opportunity they need to thrive.”
Reinforcing the safe haven themes are CTA television ads that started airing today statewide about how public schools build communities. Contrasting images of walls at public schools with more ominous-looking walls, the narrator says of the school structures, “Some build walls to keep people out. But these are walls that welcome you in.” Shots of students in classrooms doing artwork and other teaching scenes are featured, with messages of how schools create safe places for “every student to learn and grow.” Kids on playground climbing walls are shown. “Some build walls to divide us,” the narrator says. “But the California Teachers Association knows these walls are walls that bring us together.” Watch the 30-second ads in English and Spanish. The campaign includes print ads in ethnic newspapers as well.
A current radio ad campaign is about educators asking the public to take the CTA pledge to support public education by signing the petition at www.cta.org/ForAllStudents. The pledge is also inspired by CTA’s Advocacy Agenda to provide all students with the quality education they all deserve. Listen to the radio ads in English and Spanish.
California’s Day of the Teacher stems from legislation co-sponsored by CTA and the Association of Mexican American Educators in 1982.
***CTA PRESIDENT BAY AREA MEDIA AVAILABILITY*** A media availability with CTA President Eric C. Heins is from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday at CTA headquarters, 1705 Murchison Drive, Burlingame, 94010. Heins is meeting with the CTA Board of Directors that day, but can do interviews about the Day of the Teacher ad campaigns and themes. Call Mike Myslinski at 650-552-5324 to schedule.
Here is a sampling of California Day of the Teacher events Wednesday, May 10, unless other dates are noted:
Southern California
LONG BEACH: The Teachers Association of Long Beach (TALB) will be holding a parking lot barbecue to celebrate Day of the Teacher, School Nurses Day and Better Hearing and Speech Month. A performance by Children’s Theater of Long Beach will be featured. The union family festivities are after school at the TALB offices, 4362 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach, 90807. Contact: TALB President Barry Welsch at 562-426-6433.
COMPTON: The Compton Education Association (CEA) will honor Compton Unified School District educators with a reception from 2:30-5 p.m. at the CEA offices, 333 South Santa Fe Ave., Compton, 90221. Contact: CEA President Emmanuel Taton at 310-638-8576.
SAN DIEGO: A picnic is planned by San Diego Education Association (SDEA) members to recognize the amazing work of San Diego educators on Thursday, May 11th. The San Diego Unified School District board decided to schedule a special board meeting on SDEA’s Day of the Educator to vote on final decisions concerning the potential layoff of hundreds of educators. The picnic – with food, live music and games for kids – is honoring educators from 3:30-5:30 p.m. Thursday at the district’s offices, 4100 Normal St., San Diego, 92103. Educators will then pack the school board meeting at the same location. Contact: SDEA President Lindsay Burningham at 619-283-4411.
CALEXICO: Association of Calexico Teachers (ACT) empowered school site representatives to create locally-determined, meaningful, site-based events at each Calexico Unified School District school site (i.e. parent teacher assemblies, food trucks, small gifts for educators). Contact: For details on specific activities at each school site, contact ACT President James Taylor at answeringquestions@gmail.com or 760-356-0514.
CHULA VISTA: The CTA South County Teachers United (SCTU) group is hosting a Day of the Teacher dinner celebration from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday at the Eastlake Country Club, 2375 Clubhouse Drive, Chula Vista, 91915. Hundreds of educators from six CTA chapters in the SCTU are invited: Sweetwater Education Association, Chula Vista Educators, Southwest Teachers Association, San Ysidro Education Association, Sweetwater Counseling and Guidance Association, National City Elementary Teachers Association. Contact the SCTU at 619-427-1371
Northern California
SAN FRANCISCO: On Tuesday, May 9, San Francisco Unified teachers are holding a mass rally before packing the school board meeting to press for stable, safe and supportive schools as educators continue to be priced out of the city by soaring rents and home prices. The rally is 4:15-6 p.m. Tuesday at the district offices, 555 Franklin St., San Francisco, 94102. Educators will then address the school board. Contact: Matthew Hardy at 415-513-3179.
OAKLAND: Oakland Education Association (OEA) members will join parents and community supporters who will be protesting proposed Oakland Unified School District cuts to personnel and programs. The 5 p.m. protest is at the school board meeting being held in the Oakland City Council chambers. Contact: OEA President Trish Gorham at 510-332-9103.
RICHMOND: Members of United Teachers of Richmond will hold a rally and then pack the school board meeting to discuss social justice issues such as making the district a “destination district” by improving school culture, revitalizing school communities, and providing competitive salaries for educators in the West Contra Costa Unified School District. The rally starts at 6 p.m., before the 6:30 p.m. school board meeting at Lovonya DeJean Middle School, 3400 Macdonald Ave., Richmond, 94805. Contact: UTR President Demetrio Gonzalez at 510-222-5112 or 760-500-7044.
CONCORD: The envelope, please? On Thursday, May 11, the fifth annual Employees “Academy Awards” for Mt. Diablo Unified teachers, parents and all education stakeholders will take place, continuing the innovative celebration started by the Mt. Diablo Education Association (MDEA). More than 200 people have been nominated for awards in 12 categories, and at least 350 education community members will attend the sold-out gala event. The 5-9 p.m. event is at Centre Concord, 5298 Clayton Road, Concord, 94521. Contact: MDEA President Guy Moore at 925-286-2556.
SAN RAMON: With San Ramon Valley School District educators feeling “behind the 8-ball” due to an ongoing fight for fair salary increases, they decided to celebrate Day of the Teacher at a pool hall. The event is 2-5:30 p.m. at Crown Billiards, 2416 San Ramon Valley Blvd., Suite 100, San Ramon. Hosted by San Ramon Valley Education Association. Contact: SRVEA President Ann Katzburg at 925-413-9258.
PITTSBURG: In a solidarity event, Pittsburg Unified School District educators will gather from 3:30-5:30 p.m. Wednesday at La Piñata restaurant, 95 Bliss Ave., Pittsburg. Hosted by the Pittsburg Education Association. Contact: PEA President Tamara Carr at 925-432-0199.
ANTIOCH: Local educators will gather for an Antioch Education Association (AEA) celebration from 3:30-5:30 p.m. Wednesday at Skipolini’s Pizza, 901 Fitzguren Road, Antioch. Raffle prizes will be given away. Contact AEA President Robert Strickler at 925-864-1243.
YUBA CITY: Local CTA chapters in and around Yuba City and Marysville will be honoring teachers for education excellence and their dedication to the profession. The WHO (We Honor Ours) awards to be presented include Outstanding New Educator, Outstanding Teacher and Advocate for the Association. Educators will also recognize CTA members for community outreach, and public officials who showed leadership in advocating for education and students. The event is hosted by the CTA Feather River Service Center Council. It’s 5:30-8 p.m. Wednesday at Ting’s Refuge Restaurant, 1501 Butte House Road, Yuba City. Contact: Feather River Service Center Chair Mike Greer at 530-755-2082.
Central Valley
SACRAMENTO: At 9 a.m. Thursday, May 11, a state Senate resolution in support of California’s Day of the Teacher will be presented in the Senate chambers at the Capitol by Senator Tony Mendoza. CTA Board member Toby Boyd will be accepting the resolution. CTA contact is Claudia Briggs at 916-325-1550.
MERCED: The annual Day of the Teacher awards banquet honoring local educators and education supporters is Wednesday. The event is hosted by the CTA Merced/Mariposa Service Center Council and will start at 5 p.m. at the Merced Senior Community Center, 755 W. 15th St., Merced, 95340. Keynote speaker is National Education Association Executive Committee member Earl Wiman. The event honors local educators’ union activism and community leaders who support public schools. The WHO (We Honor Ours) awards honor teachers for their contributions to local CTA chapters, while the Gold Awards are presented to honor public officials, individual citizens and local organizations for their support of public schools. In the name of local teachers, the Merced/Mariposa Teachers UniServ Council donated $2,000 to both the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Ronald McDonald House. Contact: Marc Medefind at 209-723-8871.
FRESNO: The Fresno Teachers Association (FTA) has events on May 9 and 10. The FTA is celebrating teaching and the expertise of their members in a May 9 family-friendly event that will include food, music and raffle prizes at 4105 W. Figarden Drive, Fresno. On Day of the Teacher on Wednesday, FTA is hosting a 5 p.m. “Tele Town Hall Conference Call” to discuss the status of contract negotiations. With contract talks now in their 11th hour, members will decide if the Fresno Unified School District is offering respect for educators and a real commitment to Fresno students’ career and college readiness. Contact FTA President Tish Rice at 559-224-8430.
BAKERSFIELD: Hundreds of Kern County educators will attend a picnic of free food, music and games for the kids from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday at Yokuts Park, corner of the Truxtun Exchange and Empire Drive, in Bakersfield. The annual event to honor the teaching profession is hosted by the CTA Sierra Service Center Council. Contact: Sierra Service Center Council Chair and Arvin Teachers Association President Michael Flores-Castaneda at 661-587-1366.
VISALIA: The Visalia Unified Teachers Association (VUTA) will host a celebration of current and retired teachers from 3:30-5:30 p.m. Wednesday in downtown Visalia at the Cellar Door, 101 West Main St., Visalia, 93291. Raffle prizes and food are included. Contact: VUTA President Greg Price at 559-799-5455.
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The 325,000-member California Teachers Association is affiliated with the 3 million-member National Education Association.