BURLINGAME — A new California Teachers Association (CTA) leadership team takes office today as Los Angeles teacher David Goldberg begins a two-year term as the 57th president of the 310,000-member CTA, Santa Clarita AP US History, Economics and Government Teacher Leslie Littman becomes CTA Vice President, and Los Angeles elementary teacher Erika Jones becomes CTA Secretary-Treasurer. All three are currently serving on the CTA Board of Directors, with Goldberg ending two terms as CTA Vice President today and Littman ending her two terms as CTA Secretary-Treasurer.

Goldberg, 51, is an elementary teacher spending most of his career as a bilingual teacher at Murchison Elementary in the Los Angeles Unified School District. As CTA Vice President, he has been leading CTA’s effort to support educators, students, and families to re-imagine public education through the expansion of Community Schools in California.

“I’ve been an educator and activist my whole life and I’m honored to be the incoming president of the California Teachers Association. I’m proud to lead the struggle for the public education our students and educators deserve,” said Goldberg. “We must deal with ongoing funding for our schools and colleges and build respect for the education profession. Respect means paying educators a salary that reflects their education and expertise. It means providing educators, students and families with affordable housing and healthcare in their communities. It means bargaining for the common good around issues that impact educators and students in their daily lives. And it’s why Community Schools hold such promise for our future to reimagine public education through shared leadership and decision making.”

Littman, 54, of Santa Clarita in Los Angeles County, has taught AP US History, Economics and Government at Hart High School in the William S. Hart Union High School District for 29 years.

“Public education is experiencing an unprecedented educator shortage and it’s wreaking havoc on our schools and colleges. Students of every color, background, and ZIP code deserve qualified, diverse, and caring educators who are dedicated to connecting with them and have the resources to uncover their passions and potential,” said Littman. “I’m honored to serve as the next CTA Vice President and I look forward to working with David, Erika, the CTA Board of Directors and staff to address this crisis beginning with competitive salaries and support, paid induction and student teaching, smaller class size, teacher preparation programs, just to name a few.”

Jones, 44, has taught kindergarten through fifth grade for 17 years in Los Angeles Unified School District. She is a civil rights activist who has been serving on the CTA Board of Directors representing United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA).

“I am the product of public education and believe in our public schools. I am excited to lead in this new position and look forward to continuing the great legacy of CTA,” Jones said. “Our work toward social justice and racial equity has been transformational and I’m hopeful for the future as we continue to work together, and with our communities, for the sake of our students.”

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The 310,000-member California Teachers Association is affiliated with the 3 million-member National Education Association.