2025-2026 Runoff Election
Note Candidate photos, flyers, statements (pending any revision — form available soon), and links are all added, as well as video statements and Q&As for citywide candidates who participated. Candidate statements/flyers are not UTLA’s statements/flyers. UTLA does not edit, censor, or endorse any of them.
Contested
2025-2026 UTLA Treasurer Runoff
Lourdes Quevedo
I’m the candidate for Treasurer. I know first-hand super-majority organizing wins.During the pandemic, we were told that we’d be starting a new program schoolwide.A program none of us selected & none of us wanted to implement because we knew it wasn’t what our students needed.I spoke out against it & used our contract to prevent the egregious overstep.The proposal was retracted & I won my first contract enforcement.
We have a robust contract that we continue to build & refine as our working conditions evolve.Our contract is only as good as its enforcement.Everything I’ve done as chapter chair, steering committee member & VW BOD to enforce our contract:
- Developed trainings for Chapter Chairs on major sections of our contract;eventually offered citywide
- Grieved & won PD purview at Community Schools with a collective group across UTLA
- Presented at the 2024 Leadership Conference on LSLC
- Fought back & won on budget development advocating for transparency,protecting faculty review & LSLC approval
- Fighting as Immigrant Justice Lead & community patrols for VW
- Led School Board Delegations
- Helped lead an area budget that funded trainings for chapter chairs & CATs, empowering members to fight at schools
As your next UTLA Treasurer,I’ll work to ensure our union remains financially stable, prepared for financial emergencies & has the resources to fight off any attacks headed our way,protects membership data from cyberattacks,maintains our biggest investment (the UTLA building),& fights back against anti-union organizations.
I’m with Educators Organizing for Power. We’ll:
- Win big on salary,healthcare,working conditions,& SPED
- Fight federal attacks & ICE raids
- Enforce the contract,fight mandates & bad principals
- Center racial & social justice
- Include all of you by talking with every member
Join me & former UTLA president Alex Caputo-Pearl in voting for:
Gloria Martinez for President
Alex Orozco for Secondary VP
Lourdes Quevedo for Treasurer
All EOP Board candidatesStatement
Q&A
Denisha Jordan
Denisha Jordan, M.Ed
I have been leading and supporting members as a secondary teacher for 23 years. I’m running for the office of Treasurer because, as an active UTLA member and leader, I believe I can make an even greater difference in supporting our members, which has been one of the most rewarding parts of my current work. I take great pride in my ability to relate to all members, my passion for student advocacy, and my integrity.
My experience within UTLA and CTA has prepared me to serve as your next UTLA Treasurer. As a member of the CTA Budget Committee, I use direct member input to help shape our annual budget. My goal is to create more opportunities for members to engage in decision-making and to better understand UTLA’s internal structures. As Service Center Treasurer, I actively recruited members to attend conferences and conventions, deepening our union’s involvement at both local and affiliate levels. As UTLA Treasurer, I will keep our union financially strong by increasing revenue through member recruitment while ensuring that UTLA’s racial and social justice values are reflected in our budget priorities.
In my current role as UTLA Statewide Organizer for the We Can’t Wait campaign, I’ve visited members across all eight UTLA areas, so I understand that each area has unique needs and challenges. Additionally, this role has also allowed me to build relationships with neighboring teacher unions, community organizations, and elected officials—connections that strengthen our collective advocacy and ensure UTLA’s priorities are supported beyond our membership.
I am proud to be on the Fighting Forward in Unity team with Jen McAfee, Georgia Flowers-Lee, and Maria Miranda. We believe in building relationships, listening to members, and strengthening our union through collaboration. These unprecedented times demand that we move forward together, because a united UTLA is a stronger UTLA.
A vote for me is a vote for Fighting Forward in Unity!
Statement
Q&A
2025-2026 East Area Chair Runoff
Marcela Chagoya *Area Chair Candidate
EXPERIENCE:
Parent - 3 LAUSD Students
Successfully Bargained and WON before LAUSD our PAID Prep Days
10 Years - National Education Association (NEA), Representative Assembly Elected Delegate
9 Years - California Federation of Teachers (CFT), Elected State Delegate
9 Years - California Teachers Association (CTA), State Council Elected Delegate
8 Years - CFT, Special Education Services Committee, Chair
7 Years - UTLA Facebook Page Administrator
6 Years - CTA, Civil Rights in Education Committee Member
5 Years - AFT-Civil, Human and Women’s Rights Committee Appointed Member
5 Years - UTLA, Board Director ~ East
4 Years - AFT, National Convention Elected Delegate
3 Years - UTLA Special Education Committee Member
3 Years -CFT, EC/TK12 Division Council, So CA Region, Vice President
2 Years - UTLA, American Federation of Teachers (AFT)1021 VP
2 Years - UTLA PACE Committee Member
2X - UTLA Bargaining Team Member, (currently serving)
2 Years - CTA, Special Education Committee
Vicky Montes *Area Chair Candidate
I’m running for re-election as East Board and for Area Chair because East is a powerhouse, but the power needs to be felt by all. I will help us use our powerful cluster structures more and lead in a way that improves connections. I am guided by my experience.
- 20-year educator (teacher and college advisor)
- Secondary Committee Chair
- East Steering
- Bargaining Team
- Active in CFT and AFT
- Proud parent of 3 current/former LAUSD students in Lincoln Heights
Join officers Gloria Martinez and Alex Orozco, former UTLA president Alex Caputo--Pearl in voting for my team, Educators Organizing for Power.
EOP will:
- Win big on salary, healthcare, working conditions, and special education
- Fight federal attacks and ICE raids
- Enforce the contract and fight mandates and bad principals
- Center racial and social justice
Gloria Martinez for President
Alex Orozco for Secondary VP
Lourdes Quevedo for Treasurer
William Chavez and Rafael Rodriguez for East Board
Cheryl Ortega for Bilingual BOD2025-2026 West Area Chair Runoff
Noah Lippe-Klein *Area Chair Candidate
I have been a teacher at Dorsey for 27 years.
I also bring experience as:
- a chapter chair for 10 years
- a Bargaining Team member
- a key strategist in UTLA’s fights for BSAP and marginalized students
This country is becoming more oppressive and authoritarian. Our movements and unions play a vital role in fighting back.
As a union, we must:
- defend our health benefits
- win the pay raise and contract we deserve
- continue to lead on racial justice; defend our immigrant and Black communities
- fight to expand mental health supports
- protect LGBTQ+ youth & educators
- cultivate leadership from newer teachers
- prepare for statewide actions in 2026 and 2028
I am running with Maria Lopez & Noriko Nakada—2 visionary teachers & organizers.
Cecily Myart-Cruz has endorsed the 3 of us.
Julie Van Winkle (AFT VP) has endorsed our team & me for this West Area AFT position.
Please also vote for:
Georgia Flowers Lee, NEA VP
Jen Mcafee, Secretary
Maria Miranda, Elem VP
Denisha Jordan, TreasurerJennifer Anderson *Area Chair Candidate
I am a 21-year educator in elementary and adult schools. As West Area Chair, I have helped us win in bargaining, against bad principals, and for positive school climate. As we build further, I bring experience:
- Chapter chair
- Board of Directors,11 years
- Bargaining team
- Steering committee
- House of Representatives
- CTA, NEA, CFT, AFT work
I am currently a UTLA salary point advisor helping educators get paid what they deserve.
Join officers, Gloria Martinez and Alex Orozco, former UTLA president Alex Caputo Pearl, West BOD member Marie Germaine, and me in voting for Educators Organizing for Power.EOP will:
- Win big on salary, healthcare, working conditions, and special education
- Fight federal attacks and ICE raids
- Enforce the contract and fight top down mandates and bad principals
- Center racial and social justice
Gloria Martinez for President
Alex Orozco for Sec. VP
Lourdes Quevedo for Treasurer
Beth Clark, Ryan Andrews, Wade Kyle, for West BOD
Cheryl Ortega, Bilingual2025-2026 Central Area Chair Runoff
* indicates that the candidate is also running for Area Chairperson
Claudia Rodriguez *Area Chair Candidate
I am Claudia and have taught in LAUSD for 32 years in K-5 grades. I became a Board of Director to support my Central and learn all about organizing school leaders. During each year I was able to learn and grow in multiple capacities outside of my BOD position.
I am now ready to lead Central and help new leaders learn how organize their school site.
Central Area... we are a powerhouse and cannot let our power diminish. We know that experience is important; we must continue growing our strength with current and new chapter leaders.
We are ready to:
- Fight for lower class sizes, health care, a well-deserved pay raise, Special Ed, Early Ed
- Call for accountability by the district
- Represent and defend the interests of all union members
- Empower and support chapter chairs/members through one-on-one contract discussions, problem solving school sites issues, and organizing against charter colocations and abusive principals.
David Feldman *Area Chair Candidate
Hello Central Area UTLA! My name is David Feldman and I would be honored to serve as your Central Area Chair. I’ve been an activist/organizer inside and outside of UTLA. I have marched against war, for immigrant rights, LGBTQ issues, against police attacks on the Black community and many progressive causes. I have been active at all levels of UTLA; from the school site level, Area level, and citywide. I have participated in statewide/national work with AFT/NEA. I want to bring the activist, grassroots approach that UTLA badly needs. We need experienced leadership that will advocate for issues that are important to our members, and be unafraid to fight against rightwing forces that threaten public education. We need fighters for our schools and communities; bold leadership to advocate for academic freedom and to protect our students from ICE.
Let’s continue to build power and move forward! Elect the team with vision, experience and strength! Vote for EducatorPower2026!
