2020 Election Candidates
See the results of this election.
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Candidates for Citywide Officer
Candidates for Citywide office need to win with a 50% plus 1 majority vote. If no candidate has a majority, there will be a run-off in the Second Round.
Contested
2020 UTLA President
Marisa Crabtree
Hello, I’m Marisa Crabtree and a candidate for President of UTLA. I’ve lived in California for almost my entire life and attended public schools throughout. For the last several years I’ve lived in Lincoln Heights, which is the same community as the school that I work in, Lincoln High School. I’m running because I want to elevate teacher and student voice as well as the voices of our school communities in Los Angeles.
I want to advocate for Lincoln and schools like Lincoln that lack access to the resources they need to be successful. These are schools that are overlooked, students that are under-served, and teachers that lack access to adequate resources. I want to be able to speak up for the neediest schools and students in LAUSD. I want to organize for increased funding for all schools. I want to advocate for mental health resources for our students that are deeply in need and I want to expand these services for our teachers as well, because they will help stabilize the teaching profession and build morale among our members.
The challenges facing our District are a multi-tiered problem and deserve a multi-pronged solution.
I will lead UTLA by ELEVATING...
--DIVERSITY, not division.
--HONESTY, not hostility.
--ADVOCACY, not apathy.
--THE PROFESSION, not politics.This means I will work to bring...
- A focus on Equity rather than equality. We need to reduce class sizes for our highest need students to have a greater impact on the district as a whole.
- more paid preparation time before and after the school year.
- increased mental health resource access for both students and teachers on campus now.
LA has the greatest students, parents, teachers and families anywhere on the planet. Our strengths lie in our diversity and our thoughtful and effective teachers. I know that our teachers are prepared, passionate, and caring and I want to harness that power to improve outcomes for all. I ask that you vote for me and Team ElevatED for UTLA Leadership in 2020!
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Cecily Myart-Cruz
I have taught at both the elementary and secondary level for over 24 years, 22 of those while being actively involved in the union. I have served in various union roles including chapter chair, steering committee member, cluster leader, board of director, Area Chair, Negotiations team, Class Size Reduction Taskforce and Racial Justice Taskforce Chair and most recently as your NEA VP, where I am the acting local president for our NEA/CTA affiliates. Experience matters and as part of the Union Power team, I am asking for your vote for UTLA President.
I want to build on the foundation we have created over the last five years. We have become a fighting union, changing the outlook for public education nationally, building coalitions with other locals, creating power within the state and making significant strides with our contract. However, we still have much work to do together.
We need real investment in our educators, students and schools. My priority as your next President, will be organizing for Empowered School Communities, where educators feel supported and respected. This means securing your healthcare and a significant pay raise, but it also means increasing student support, shifting school site power and becoming community powerhouses.
We saw firsthand our strength during the Strike when communities stood with us and we need to continue to cultivate those relationships. We cannot back down from calling out the critical disinvestment of our public schools serving predominately Black and Brown students and we must fight back against all privatization efforts.
Through our historic strike, we have made unprecedented gains at the bargaining table, but we are still a long way from winning the schools our students deserve. Now we must continue to build power at the school site, in the district, and in the state-to defend what we won and to make further gains for our students and ourselves.
Vote for the entire Union Power Team.
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Innocent Osunwa
Candidate for UTLA PRESIDENT
Innocent Osunwa, B.A.,M.A.,M.A.Ed.Admin.,J.D.As a Lawyer and a 26 year LAUSD educator with experience covering university, adult, high, and middle schools, I know what educators go through, and I am angry. “Where is UTLA?” I sometimes wonder. It’s enough! No more empty promises. Elect a candidate who understands the issues and can deal with them.
If am elected UTLA President, I will start where UTLA failed and continue where it succeeded until all my mission is accomplished! I will fix the areas of nightmare for educators that UTLA has long ignored. I will expand UTLA Constitution for extra protection, have the contract amended to remove all loopholes subject to abuse, end favoritism, nepotism, and other forms of discrimination with impunity, including reprisals, bullying, displacements, lack of trust and support for educators, false accusations, administrative overreach and corruption in the system, lack of transparency and patronage, unfair and inequitable system of promotion, delayed investigations and indefinite teacher jail, unfair method of school scoring, onerous, capricious, and arbitrary evaluations and witch hunt.
I will advocate for more school safety, Charter school scrutiny, pay raise, more technical and vocational education, reasonable class size reduction, adequate number of nurses, counselors, social workers, librarians, and psychologists, more security for school safety, differentiated and fair means of scoring schools because every school is different, protected healthcare, if not expanded, reduction in time spent for professional development and meetings per session, deferred evaluation to eliminate conflict of interest for up to ten years or to the extent the code permits for Chapter Chairs, increased pay rate for Development /Early childhood and adult educators and general pay increase for all educators, and transparency in LAUSD Budget and Spending. Let’s make it happen!
Your Vote is the only way!
Greg Russell
Officer candidate debates @ UTLA Feb 1 noon-2pm & Feb 12 after HoR.On YouTube, search UTLA & debate.Please don’t mail your ballot until you’ve seen all 3 debates!Have you heard from leadership that UTLA is in crisis? United Teacher issues have been reduced from 8 to 4/year because we no longer receive Agency Fees.Our webmaster has been replaced with temps and Benefits has been added to the duties of a secretary.Our constitution is being ignored and altered without members' knowledge!I defended UTLA membership for educators fighting dismissal but UP Monopoly took it away by fictional motions.I fought to get legal defense funds to educators fighting dismissal but UP ignored them or voted them down.I brought transparency but UP ignored it for 3.5 years and got it rescinded 2 months ago.We are bargaining for a bilingual stipend but refused the same for UTLA staff.We expect open meetings from charters but our BoD mostly meets in secret.My attempts to have recordings of the HoR available for members to view at UTLA have been defeated.We want a say in electing our BoE and hiring the superintendent but UP did away with our debates and hides proof of their existence.UP says they are member-driven and want bottom-up leadership but they ignore our bylaws, ex: online voting for all citywide ballots.I remember chairs being asked to return their signed endorsements of BFFF before they’d had a Q&A or even time to read it.You paid for my arbitration of the 2017 race for UTLA Secretary.My attempts to have you hear it have been defeated.With that knowledge, I wrote the best version of our Election Manual, but it’s never been voted on.The version we are using is the worst it’s ever been.It allows for candidates to lie, cheat, steal, etc, if it isn’t in our bylaws and doesn’t affect the election results–very difficult to prove.So, we condone lying, cheating, stealing, etc.But if you are effective, then we don’t want you!Vote Francisco Martinez, Sub Director & Diane Newell, VW Director!
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Soni Lloyd
Under my leadership we will take our union back from disconnected labor bureaucrats who stifle dissent, allow working conditions to deteriorate and abet the privatization of public education. Every year additional duties are imposed on teachers, support decreases, admin become increasingly unaccountable and LAUSD approves more private charters-they are now the #1 charter authorizer in the nation. Despite our strike these injustices continue. As UTLA president I will democratize our union and organize us to:
WIN A TRUE TEACHER'S CONTRACT
- Just wages with annual cost of living adjustments and paid maternity leave
- Secure healthcare and retirement
- Reduce work load
- Increase staffing
- PD system that works for all teachers
- Strengthen due process and stop discrimination
- Open negotiations of contracts
END PRIVATIZATION
- School Board that proactively address needs of communities instead of authorizing charters
- Collect ALL fees from charters
- Pursue legislation to abolish private charters
- Stronger contract language to address privatization
ACHIEVE FULL FUNDING FOR OUR SCHOOLS
- Use the now $2.2 billion dollar reserve to increase staffing and pay
- Stop budget manipulation of LAUSD and require them to spend all taxpayer funds on their schools
- Statewide and nationwide demonstrations to prioritize education
ACTIVATE PARENTS AND STUDENTS
- Invest in real community organizing based on working with the public on education policy and divest from sell out politicians who abet privatization
- Student unions set up at every school overseen by new UTLA student involvement committee
MY RECORD
- Community organizer for numerous school site, contract and legislative campaigns
- Leading ongoing campaign for annual COLA for teachers
- Represent teachers as chapter chair, and on House of Reps
- Founder of new caucus, CORE-LA to re-prioritize working conditions
POWER TO THE TEACHERS AGAINST THE TRAITORS
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2020 UTLA NEA Vice President
Wil Page
Thank you for taking the time to learn about UTLA elections.
I am Wil Page, candidate for UTLA NEA VP. My understanding of the importance of unions came to me as a six year old. In August 1983, my mother, Susan, and her CWA sisters and brothers struck for 22 days. Six years later Mom was on the line as a first year LAUSD teacher. 30 years after walking with Mom, I was on the line fighting with my UTLA sisters and brothers, rain and shine.
UTLA is at a crossroads. We have becoming an organizing union, but that has come at the expense of servicing members. It is essential in the post-Janus era that we are a more pluralistic union; one that listens and respects the needs of members.
Unlike my opponents for this position, I am an elected NEA delegate; one who is engaged with how UTLA fits into our state and national affiliates. I have taken the time to build positive connections with our affiliate sisters and brothers, ensuring that our local is one that has become more respected. I am passionate about my role over the last six years as a representative of UTLA at the NEA RA and also as a CTA State Council delegate.
By marking the first name on the UTLA NEA VP ballot, you are calling on someone who will:
- further our cause on the state and national level, while committing to a local focus.
- groom a bench of diverse and representative candidates for all seven Board seats by creating UTLA’s Board Leadership Training Academy.
- establish a network of CTA locals within LA County to build a strong educational labor coalition in our backyard.
- continue to promote and value healthy conversation and constructive debate amongst our members and elected leadership.
- guide efforts of UTLA members to influence state/national policies and legislation to best support our students’ learning and our working conditions.
I hope you will join me and visit my website to discover how, under my leadership as UTLA NEA VP, we will become a better UTLA.
With appreciation and unity,
-Wil
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Gabriel Serrano
(TL;DR) In 1975 our federal government passed the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Four decades later and they have yet to fully fund this act, never even coming close to half of what they promised, leaving the states and local districts with the bill. This has led to cuts in salary, services, student programming etc. We need to act as a national body of teachers to fully fund IDEA.
About me:
I currently teach the primary SLD program at Emelita Street Elementary in Encino. I am a product of Los Angeles Public Schools, through and through. I grew up in Sylmar (Herrick St., Olive Vista, Sylmar High) and was credentialed and cleared by our very own District Intern Program.I originally came to UTLA to join the Special Education Committee. My main concern was the lack of protection for District Interns of LAUSD. I saw then what I see now, a high need for special education representation in the ranks of our Union leadership. I will elevate our teacher voice by:
Elevating the prestige of the profession by fighting for salaries, health care and retirement and advancement opportunities that attract and retain the best and brightest to the future of our profession.
Advocating for Special Education by ensuring that full inclusion is rolled out with the students’ best interests at the forefront, not cost-cutting schemes.
Advocating for Social-Emotional Learning and Restorative Justice by fighting for our psychologists to have manageable caseloads and time away from paperwork in order to support students and teachers directly.
Elevating public education by fighting against the opportunistic profiteers of the corporate charter movement who feel that our children can get by with unqualified teachers and clever marketing.
And rising up to fighting for full funding of public education on a national level, and a fully funded IDEA so that states and local districts don't have to make dangerous and regressive cuts to barely scrape by.
I am here to put in work.
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Alex Caputo-Pearl
Hello, great UTLA members. I’ve taught for 22 years and done labor/community organizing for 30 years. I encourage you to vote for the entire Union Power Team. As outgoing UTLA President, I’m proud to have worked with all of you across the city to transform UTLA. Together, we organized a strike that won on salary and classroom issues, defended healthcare, made historic breakthroughs on class size and staffing, and led to wins for school funding and against privatization. We’ve won School Board elections and seized the initiative with Jackie Goldberg. We expanded bargaining to community issues and protected healthcare 3 times. We built powerful community coalitions. We are financially strong, in the face of Janus. We’re fully merged, and because of state and national organizing, we’re more powerful than ever within NEA/CTA and AFT/CFT.
But, after 40 years of disinvestment, there is much more work to do. We must continue our momentum into a crucial 2020. As UTLA NEA VP, I will proudly support the next UTLA President and Officers. I will have 5 priorities – (1) Work with members to take all contract victories further, from class size to staffing to working conditions, (2) Work with members to win on school site issues, from bad administrators to school discipline, (3) Continue within CTA to build the state movement against privatization, and for funding for our schools, healthcare, and salaries, (4) Continue within NEA to accelerate the national strike and action wave against over-testing, and for Title I and Special Education funding, and (5) Organize for racial, gender, and social justice. Elect the team with a strategic vision, that has been leading for the last years. Continue our momentum. Vote for the entire Union Power Team. See FB UnionPowerforUTLA, TW UnionPower2020, and reach out to unionpowerutla@gmail.com. You are wonderful, and have a great night.
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2020 UTLA AFT Vice President
Juan Ramirez
My name is Juan Ramirez. I’m an elementary bilingual teacher and I taught for 15 years in elementary grades as well as 9 years as an adult education teacher. I am the current AFT Vice President and serve as one of the political officers. I also represent UTLA as Vice President for CFT, Los Angeles Federation of Labor, and at the California Federation of Labor.
We led a successful, historic strike because we were able to bring parents, community, and other union members together to fight for what was best for the student of Los Angeles. I think it is important to continue working with all the other unions in Los Angeles because many of those union members are the parents of our students. Our work is not done, I will continue working with the state and national affiliates to have their support and funding in our local struggles.I have learned that working with a united vision many things can be accomplished even in an anti-union environment. In the past five years we have gotten salary raises, maintained our health care, and other important wins. I believe we should continue in this path.
Our profession needs to be respected and our educators need to be given everything they deserve. That’s why I will work hard to change the LAUSD school board into a board that understands what educators need in the classroom. I will work to make sure that the issue of revenue in our district and state changes for the better. For that I know that we must work for the passage of Schools and community first in November of this year.
I am asking for your vote and support for the entire Union Power team to make sure that we finish what we started by becoming an organizing union and to make sure that this movement does not stop. Once again my name is Juan Ramirez and I am running for the AFT Vice President position.
Vote for the entire Union Power team. Contact us via email at UnionPowerUTLA@gmail.com or on Twitter at @UnionPower2020.
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Toni Henderson
My name is Toni Henderson. I’ve been a LAUSD educator for over a decade. I served as a Substitute, Math teacher, Sped teacher, and am currently a Special Ed. Coordinator. I represent the typical student, parent, and LAUSD teacher as I am apart of all three of these communities.
Like many of my colleagues, I spend countless hours working at school and at home to compensate for the lack of resources at our school. I am on several committees, including Instructional leadership team; I’m a co-chair of the CORE team which is designed to move students from at-risk towards high school/ graduation ready; As the Special Education Coordinator, I’ve become an integral part of a program that supports inclusion. Through all of my experiences, I have seen many of the challenges that myself, and other school staff experience. I have partnered with current educators, with similar experiences, who share the same sentiments about education as I do.
My team elevatED, and I, champion advocacy, diversity, honesty, and building the profession.
- I want to advocate for UTLA members' needs, so that we can better support our students. Additionally, school needs are a top priority and our conversations should reflect this priority.
- Diversity within the union, schools, and leadership is inevitable. Allocating adequate resources equitably will ensure we meet the needs of all stake holders. Decision around staffing (teacher, counselors, psychologists, nurses, etc.), special education resources and inclusion, trauma support, among many others should be strategically distributed.
- A LAUSD Educator embodies dedication, hard work, creativity and sacrifice. This profession needs more consideration for our mental health, financial and professional development needs.
- Changing systems takes time. Members deserve honesty and transparency about the realities of our system.
As UTLA AFT, VP, I want to make sure UTLA member needs takes precedence over everything.
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2020 UTLA Elementary Vice President
Gloria Martinez
It has been my honor to serve as your Vice President of Elementary Schools for the past three years. These have been some of the most exciting and challenging years of my 19 year career. I am an NBCT and proudly serve on your bargaining team. As a special education teacher, I am most proud of fighting for and winning an article dedicated to the specific needs of our special education educators and students. We have more to fight for and more to win, and this team will do just that. With the organizing happening at school sites and upcoming bargaining on special education, we are the team dedicated to addressing issues that have been ignored for too long. Together we do this through fighting for stronger language and organizing for strong implementation.
The battles we face are many and the Union Power team is the team with a vision and strategy to continue leading us in the right direction. It is because of the work we have done over the last five years, and our collective strength, that we have been able to push back on the privatizers; collectively we drew attention to the impact of privatization and demanded for legislative language that allows for more local charter accountability. Since winning language on co-locations, our district has seen a decline of the intrusive charter schools that have been a thorn on our side for far too long. Language won for our co-located sites have helped us organize for strength and power. And our ability to turn out 60,000 people on the streets of LA, has sent a message to CCSA that this union will not back down from leading the charge against the corporate billionaires profiting off the back of our students and communities. Let’s build on our momentum and continue moving forward together. Elect the team with a vision and strategy that is leading the way. Vote for the entire Union Power team. Contact us via email at UnionPowerUTLA@gmail.com or on Twitter at @UnionPower2020.
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Melissa Tellez
My name is Melissa Tellez and I am running for the office of UTLA Vice President of Elementary.
I am currently teaching fifth grade dual language at Gates St Elementary school. I come from a proud family of LAUSD Educators.I am running for the office of VP of Elementary because I feel that I need to become more involved in educational policy after last year’s historic strike. I feel educators know best in regard to what their students and classrooms need, however we are often left out of the discussion. Educators should be strongly involved when it comes to the decisions and policies that affect our schools. As educators, we have the first hand experience and knowledge of our profession that allows us to see what many policy makers overlook. I also feel that the union needs to be accountable to the promises made to our members. Many of our members feel disenfranchised after the strike because they feel that they have little say in the aftermath.
Educators deserve a seat at the table, especially when it comes to important decisions that affect not only our members, students and classrooms but our communities as well.
As UTLA VP of Elementary I will work hard to ensure:
- Smaller class sizes
- Equitable funding for our schools and our high-need student populations
- Greater accountability and cross-sector collaboration with union members, schools, district, and communities.
- Educators are respected as the professionals they are and that they have a voice in issues that most affect them
- Policies are student centered and work in a real classroom not just idealistic
- We elevate the educational profession, not the politics
As UTLA VP of Elementary I will work hard to ensure that we provide our members and students the excellent schools they deserve
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2020 UTLA Secondary Vice President
Jeremy Zwang-Weissman
First and foremost the job of an educator is the complete health and safety of their students. It is an educator's job to educate students about all of the challenges that life has to offer them; how to navigate the world. Every student faces their own individual challenges, and even if we as educators don’t know exactly what those challenges are, it’s our job to always help them.
A lot of students feel that many topics adults present them with, aren’t relevant to them. They feel that we’re just doing the job. They don’t understand how much we as educators would actually do, and already do outside of the classroom for them. With classroom sizes ballooning above 30 it’s becoming increasingly more difficult to reach students on an individual basis.
It’s time that we take on a systematic approach for what has become a systemic problem. Educators and students need to be connected in a more individual way. It’s time that we address the issue of classroom size holistically.
This means that we only put the number of students in each classroom that adults can effectively educate. Therefore, I want to get more people directly involved in education. Envision physics teachers across the district Skyping in Elon Musk! It’s time to mount our collective resources as a union to do what no individual educator ever could.
I want to bring families back into schools. We should look at every example across our nation and beyond to figure out just what it takes to get buy-in, not only from students and educators, but from parents and community members alike. Schools are and always have been community centers. It’s time to return to that model.
If we do not support, promote and increase every opportunity to connect our students to their interests, our fight will be lost. We are a strong valued union; we rise in solidarity for our brothers and sisters; it’s time to use our strength where it’s needed most; our sons and daughters, our future generation of leaders, our students.
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Julie Van Winkle
I am a National Board Certified Teacher with over a decade of classroom experience and a long history of UTLA activism, which started in 2007 during the RIFs/budget cuts.
Since then, I have held many UTLA leadership roles. I currently serve as North Area Chair and represent North Area on the UTLA Bargaining Team. I am proud of our bargaining victories and hopeful that our wins around Community Schools will transform our district, but I also know that we must continue organizing to defend our victories, and we must continue to push for more resources at our schools.
As Secondary Vice President, I will work with the officer team and the Bargaining Team to take our contract wins further. Even with our significant class size victory, we must continue to fight to lower class size and increase school staffing. We must continue to lead the charge for Ethnic Studies at our schools to ensure that the content we teach is relevant to the students and communities we serve. I recognize that discipline is a major issue for secondary schools, and I believe that reducing class size and providing socio-emotional support for students – along with establishing strong Local School Leadership Councils at all school sites – will help school leaders create discipline plans that work for their school communities. I will work to ensure that UTLA continues to support student activism and works together with student and community groups to end the school-to-prison pipeline.
Let’s build on our momentum and continue moving forward together. Elect the team with a vision and strategy that is leading the way. Vote for the entire Union Power team. Contact us via email at UnionPowerUTLA@gmail.com or on Twitter at @UnionPower2020.
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David Feldman
I would be honored to represent you and all UTLA members as Secondary Vice President. UTLA is an organization of which I have I have given my time, passion, and energy for many years. Whatever the outcome of this election, I will continue to be an activist in this union for a long time to come.
I have been UTLA Chapter Chair and have served on Steering Committees in Valley West and Central Area. I am chair of The UTLA Human Rights Committee and a member of The House of Representatives. I am also an elected member of CTA State Council and The PACE Executive Committee. I won The Central Area Unsung Hero Award for Central Area in 2017 as well as The NEA WHO Award last year.
I believe area representatives should have classroom experience. Currently UTLA is hiring many people as reps who have never worked at a school. We deserve a raise with a cost of living adjustment! I recently passed a motion in Central Area for a raise with a COLA. Principals should only be able to impose one after school meeting a month on school staff. Meetings during our conference period should be eliminated. Also, we must put an end to the arbitrary, often punitive, and onerous evaluation system we work under.
I believe in being an organizing union, but let’s organize our members around our daily struggles. UTLA has become disconnected from the daily reality of our members. It is largely because we have one slate that runs our union. We need a diversity of views in leadership. Members deserve a teacher to represent them as Secondary VP not someone who works at LAUSD central office.
As Secondary Vice President I pledge to:
- Be responsive to all your problems in a timely manner, no phone call will go unreturned
- Help school staffs push back against bully principals
- Make UTLA an organizing AND a service union, we must do both!
- Fight to force LAUSD to spend the $2 billion surplus on our students and schools
- Push UTLA to call for the removal of Austin Beutner as LAUSD Superintendent
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2020 UTLA Treasurer
Tomas Flores
Fellow UTLA member, thank you for taking time to gain perspective on our internal elections. Do vote for INDIVIDUALS who are qualified for each position. Being on A SLATE DOES NOT GUARANTEE a candidate is highly qualified.
I ask for your vote and trust to elect Tomás Flores UTLA Treasurer. I will assure you:
- True financial planning, budget transparency and accountability via reports at Board, House, Area meetings, school sites and UT
- Accurate cost forecast of policy initiatives and how member dues are spent.
- Advance a UTLA constitutional amendment to merge Treasurer/Secretary positions, same as our CTA/NEA, CFT/AFT affiliates and use saving to fund a NEW AREA REP WITH CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE FOR DIRECT SERVICES TO MEMBERS AT SCHOOL SITES.
- I WILL NOT RUN FOR THE NEW POSITION
Unlike other candidates I have:
- 10 years of professional experience in finance
- MBA from Stanford.
In this post-Janus era, with the continuous attacks on public education, our profession and organized labor, UTLA must have the best elected leadership team with the most qualified individuals in each office. I have the knowledge, training and perspective needed to a) make hard financial decisions, b) safeguard MEMBER DUES and c) provide accountability on how they are SPENT in this post-Janus anti-union era. Unlike the incumbent, I know zero-base budgeting, can read financial statements, review the Strike Fund investment portfolio for risk/return, manage and direct the UTLA professional accounting staff.
UTLA ENGAGEMENT and LEADERSHIPBoard of Directors, Central Area UTLA Bargaining Committee
PACE Treasurer and VP of Candidates UTLA Financial Sustainability Task Force
BFF Campaign IE Committees for School Board Candidates
Committee to rewrite Master Plan Chapter Chair
Chair, Bilingual Education Committee Chair Sub-Committee Bilingual Differential
Humbly and in solidarity,
Tomás
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Antoine Taylor
Dear Colleagues,
My name is Antoine Taylor. I am running to be your next UTLA treasurer. I am a life long citizen and resident of Los Angeles. As a student, I both attended and graduated from LAUSD. I am currently a 5th grade teacher at Virginia Road ES.
I have been a teacher for LAUSD for 25 years. It has brought me great joy making a difference in the lives of children and families over the past few decades. I believe I can make an even greater impact to all students across the district as an UTLA officer ad serving as Treasurer.
Throughout the years, I have worked tirelessly and extended myself outside the classroom to help students and families as teacher and outside the classroom. While serving as a member of School Site Council SCS at Grant ES for over 10 years, I had the opportunity to work with other teachers, parents, administrators, and students to make decisions to review and evaluate improvement programs and school budgets. Additionally, as a member of the Local School Leadership Council, I also worked with staff development programs, student discipline guidelines, code of conduct, as well as school activities and events and special schedules.
I have also served as the Site Coordinator After school Program, worked as the UTLA Chapter Chair, served as grade-level chairperson across different grade levels, and plan special events for our school as a member of the School Leadership Team. Moreover, i have worked endlessly as a teacher to help kids with their reading and math skills in intervention, intersession, Beyond the Bell, Saturday and Summer School programs. I truly enjoy extending myself to help children.As your next UTLA Treasurer, I want to work with other UTLA officials, parents, administrators, teachers, and students alike to create a budget that can move us forward and give teachers and students the resources they need including trainings and classroom support for our kids.
I asked for you to vote for me as treasurer for our future.
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Alex Orozco
It has been an honor serving as your UTLA Treasurer this term and I am humbly asking for your support once again. As a teacher for almost 20 years and your current Treasurer, I am proud of what we have accomplished working with the Union Power officers, directors and you! As Treasurer, my main objectives have been to make UTLA financially and organizationally strong and I have!
Under my tenure, UTLA fought off fiscal challenges and led historic events that made us stronger. The Janus decision, a historic strike and healthcare bargaining are just three of the events that we led on successfully.
In anticipation of the Janus decision, one of the most aggressive attacks aimed at crippling and bankrupting UTLA, as Treasurer I made sure that our membership remained strong by leading in a massive and successful re-carding campaign.
During our historic strike and under my leadership as Treasurer, we led the way in making sure UTLA stayed well below budget and functioned as efficiently as possible. Our strike was one of our most successful, shortest and as Treasurer I made sure it was our most efficient financially. Including a massive paid media campaign that shifted the narrative in our favor, resources and a well-organized plan, we won the hearts of Los Angeles.
As Treasurer, I am also on the Health Benefits Committee representing UTLA. Because protecting and fighting for our healthcare is critical and a focus of our team, I am proud to have successfully participated in negotiating our current health care package and I’m committed to fight and win on heath care this year as well!
My experience and leadership qualities make me the best candidate for UTLA Treasurer. I will keep UTLA’s finances strong, continue to grow our membership and provide the needed resources to win on bargaining. Elect the team with a vision, strategy and experience to win!
Vote for the Entire Union Power Team. Let’s keep the momentum and build power!
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2020 UTLA Secretary
David Lyell
The strike was a great symbolic victory, but we need to follow it with “real” dollars-and-cents wins for our members.
I'm asking for your vote so that together we can refocus UTLA on the things that classroom teachers and Health and Human Services professionals really care about:
- Your Pay
- Your Benefits
- Protecting Your Retirement
- Protecting Your Job
UTLA needs to be a union that listens to you, and reflects your priorities.
I will be your voice in UTLA.
The current leadership is very well-intentioned, but sometimes they operate as if they're in a bit of an echo chamber.
They don’t always hear the voices of classroom teachers and HHS professionals.
UTLA represents every single one of us, but it doesn't always feel that way.
When decisions are made without the input of all members, or when decisions are rushed -- like last year’s strike Ratification vote -- that hurts our collective voice.
We need to ensure that the voice of every single union member is listened to, respected, and heard.
I’ve been involved in our union’s many fights for pay and benefits, and for a good and enforceable contract for all members.
My experience includes having served as a member of the UTLA Board of Directors from 2011-14.
During last year’s strike, I served as the leader of the UTLA Flying Squadron. At the direction of the UTLA House of Reps, the Squadron deployed to sites in need of picketing support.
After the strike, I led the fight to get justice for the senior teachers and HHS professionals who were retaliated against because and only because they went on strike (please see www.facebook.com/RetaliatedStrikers). I believe a real union fights for all members, and doesn’t leave anyone behind.
You deserve a union that delivers.
I’d love to hear your thoughts and concerns. Please contact me anytime at www.davidlyell.net.
Thanks for your consideration.
Statement
Q&A
Arlene Inouye
It has been an honor and joy to serve as your UTLA Secretary with the Union Power Leadership Team over the past three years. The Officer and Board of Directors Team has worked powerfully together in our different roles which is centered on organizing our schools, raising up emerging leaders, building strong parent/community alliances and winning our contract demands around the schools our students deserve, and the dignity our members deserve. Please see the statements of the Union Power Officers for different aspects of our platform.
- As Secretary of UTLA, I have stream lined our data and communication system to track membership, motions, other organizing actions and to begin the process of revising our most important document, the UTLA Constitution.
- As bargaining co-chair, it has been a tremendous privilege to transform the bargaining process as we brought in more voices yet maintained a strong unified vision and built collective power around our contract demands. We are preparing for reopener bargaining on three articles, and I look forward to building on what we have won, as we expand participation and fight for “Common Good” issues that affect students and our communities.
- Additionally, to make our bargaining gains “real”, aggressive contract enforcement has also been my focus. This includes providing training and support for chapter chair leaders specifically around the contract and school site fights.
As a speech therapist I look forward to continue to build the broad diversity of our union, to lift up females who are the majority, and to address systemic racism, sexism and other oppressions.
It is critical that we build on what we have won, and as a union continue to evolve. Vote for Arlene Inouye and the entire Union Power Team. UnionPowerUTLA@gmail.com
Statement
Q&A
Candidates for Area Board of Director
For Board of Director positions, the three NEA candidates and the one AFT candidate with the most votes are elected. There are no run-offs. Elections for Area Chairs, if needed, will be held during the Second Round.
Contested
2020 Valley East Area
NEA UTLA Board of Director
Leonard Goldberg
My name is Leonard Goldberg and I am running for the office of Board of Directors for Valley East.
- Experienced
- Collaborator
- Communicator
- Advocator
I ask for your vote to ensure ALL UTLA members voices are heard -- from the Board, House of Reps, Area Meetings, and the United Teacher newspaper -- everyone matters!
- I have been a chapter chair for over 30 years
- Valley East Steering and Cluster Leader over 10 years
- Valley Easy Unsung Hero and WHO recipient 2017
- Chairperson of the UTLA Pre-Retirement Issues Committee 6 years
- CTA Retirement Committee Chairperson
- Valley East Whip at the NEA/RA 3 years
Please vote Leonard Goldberg, Valley East -- Board of Directors
Let's continue the work that is needed to make for a stronger UTLA!Hector Perez-Roman
As a National Board Certified Teacher at Arleta High School with over 15 years of teaching experience, my passion for public education, our members, students, and the community I serve continues to grow. I am running for Valley East NEA/UTLA Director because of my commitment to empowering chapter chairs/members through one-on-one contract discussions, problem solving school site issues, and organizing against charter co-locations. As part of Union Power leadership, we have successfully protected public education from nefarious attacks, organized a historic 2019 strike, and positively changed the narrative for funding public schools. I have experience as an organizer, public speaker, Arleta High Chapter Chair, CFT Ethnic Diversity in Leadership Committee, delegate to LA County Fed. of Labor and 2019 NEA/CTA RA, and the following UTLA governing bodies: Valley East steering committee, UTLA House of Representatives, and PACE. Vote Hector, Victoria, Jennifer and the entire Union Power Team!
Victoria Casas
As a woman, the only Latina director in the entire valley and an elementary teacher for 23 years, I will empower us to stand up to the conditions that have plagued us all while encouraging and growing future leaders to continue our fight!
As your director my focus will be to assist chapter leaders to:
- Achieve an aggressive union presence at schools to fight for healthcare, bargaining reopeners and enforce our contract
- Examine the effectiveness of their governing councils and how they can be used to improve working conditions (schedules, budgets, etc)
- Establish powerful CATs that also create a pathway for new leaders to grow
- Build a confident and fearless presence at schools to make principals serve as a resource only
- Work with parents
- Hold local superintendents and school boards member accountable for shuffling bully principals in our area
With the UNION POWER team, Hector, Jennifer, and myself will continue to transform our union to a fighting and organizing movement!
Scott Mandel *
I am running for reelection for Valley East NEA Director and Area Chair. My qualifications:
- 35 years teacher with LAUSD
- 12 years Valley East Board of Director member
- 6 years Valley East Area Chair
I’m running on my record of servicing the members of Valley East over the past 6 years. I address members’ problems within hours, and with my connections with the local district, I get them solved. I have had a hand in, or directly influenced, the removal of SEVENTEEN BULLY ADMINISTRATORS over the past 6 years. For references, please contact the staffs of: Brainard EL, Broadous El, Burbank EL, Chavez ASE, Coughlin ES, Fair ES, Lowman SEC, N. Hollywood HS, Strathern EL, Mt. Gleason MS (2), Olive Vista MS, San Fernando EL, Saticoy EL, Strathern EL, Sylmar HS, Verdugo Hills HS.
Please also elect the two Valley East leaders who have regularly assisted me in serving you, the members: Mel House for AFT Director and Leonard Goldberg for NEA Director.
AFT UTLA Board of Director
Jennifer Gottlieb
As a 19 year teacher and an activist for just as long, I am running for Valley East AFT Director. Teaching full time at a high school, I see the power and influence we have as professionals in our communities. Having leadership experience with the Union Power team, I can see that with the public’s trust and building on our momentum from the strike we will continue winning. I want to push for more school site empowerment, encourage new leaders within our ranks and push our affiliates to support organizing at all levels to fight against abusive administrators, enforce our contract and win on our reopeners and healthcare.
I am committed to fight locally, and I understand the needs of our classrooms. I will be a steadfast presence in providing direct support to members and building on systems and structures that have transformed UTLA. Vote for the diverse and progressive Union Power Valley East Team of Victoria, Hector and Jennifer and Vote for the Entire Union Power Team!
Mel House
I am running for re-election to the UTLA Valley East AFT Board seat.
As a board member, I have represented members at disciplinary meetings, ranging from matrix issues, to dangerous working conditions, to bogus write-ups.
Additionally, as both the only PE teacher, and self-identified member of the LGBTQ community currently on the UTLA BOD, it would be a shame to silence those groups in that room. Our policies and practices should reflect our collective voice. Every UTLA member deserves to be heard. It is my job to bring the collective voice of Valley East to the board.
Prior to serving on the board, I was a full dues-paying member of both the NEA and the AFT. I felt it was important to get to know all of our affiliates. I have served as a delegate to both the CFT and AFT Conventions.
I’ve taught for 20 years, 9 of those working FOR our members, defending the contract and participating in affiliate work. I humbly ask for your vote. Please re-elect Mel House.2020 Valley West Area
NEA UTLA Board of Director
* indicates that the candidate is also running for Area Chairperson
Wendi Davis
Wendi Davis for NEA Director Valley West’s voice of integrity in the Boardroom
An NEA Director is the voice of fairness & strength to lead Valley West & fight for all education professionals’ rights. Our team has been proud to support & serve you for two terms, & we are proud to serve you for another term! I will continually seek out all members’ opinions & needs. All education professionals need competent & focused representation even when in the minority, & I fight for what is right for all members. I will never pay lip service to any member & seek all possible remedies to help a member as the board of director’s duty is to respond to the needs of members in need of assistance & representation at school sites.
I will continue to work for Maintenance of Health Benefits, Salary Increases, Smaller Class Size, Elimination of Top-Down District Instructional Mandates.Vote Wendi Davis for VW NEA Director & current NEA Directors Melodie Bitter, Area Chair Bruce Newborn
Bruce Newborn *
I would like to thank, with tremendous appreciation, Valley West members for entrusting me the last 6 years with the honor of being your Area Chair.
Our team has accomplished much during this time. We’ve been able to convince LDNW that some administrators were toxic to their campuses. Additionally, in an unprecedented action, we were able to remove a volatile Staff Relations person from LDNW. Through all this, we’ve been able to maintain a positive working relationship with LDNW.
This is crucial to accomplish what we need to do in the next 3 years.
We believe that YOU COME FIRST!
We will always service our members and continue to work positively with UTLA in organizing for what we need and deserve!
Salary, health care, class size, teachers, nurses, counselors, and all members matter!
Vote Bruce Newborn for Director (Area Chair), Wendi Davis and Melodie Bitter for NEA Directors, and congratulations to Javier Romo for being re-elected as AFT Director
Melodie Bitter
I have been a teacher in Valley West for 32 years and one of your UTLA directors for the past six years.
Throughout my years as your director, my primary goal has been to service the members of Valley West schools. I regularly get back to members within 24 hours, and have been available to help them when faced with difficulties at their school sites.
I’ve also been an advocate of Special Ed on the Board. When Special Ed was basically left out of our last contract, I helped push for UTLA to include it as a reopener for this year’s negotiations.
Our entire team has accomplished much during this time, serving the needs of our members, which is why we want to continue to work together for your benefit, representing Valley West interests on the UTLA Board of Directors.
Vote Bruce Newborn, Melodie Bitter, Wendi Davis for NEA Directors
Uncontested (candidates elected by acclamation)
2020 Valley West Area
AFT UTLA Board of Director
Javier Romo
It will be an honor to continue serving the educators of UTLA for another term as your AFT Valley West Area Director.
I will fight for better salaries & benefits; increase funding for our schools; lowering class size in all grades; reducing mandated assessments & scripted lesson plans; while expanding UTLA members rights. Our union needs to be in a position of strength, along with organizing & mobilizing our members into unity & action.
UTLA must make the members needs its number one priority. We must remember that the essence of UTLA is improving the salary, benefits, & working conditions of its members. UTLA must strive to continue to produce the best learning environment possible for our students. TOGETHER we can stop the attack on public education & defend the rights we have won since 1970.
I urge all my colleagues in Valley West to vote for the VALLEY WEST TEAM, three full-time classroom teachers & experienced leaders.
Melodie Bitter
Wendi Davis
Bruce Newborn2020 North Area
NEA UTLA Board of Director
Karla Griego
My name is Karla Griego and as a 16 year special education teacher, UTLA director and former area chair, I am thrilled to be representing North area. As a director, it gives me great pleasure to introduce Jasmine Wang. Jasmine is running for Bilingual Director. Jasmine is the only candidate in the classroom teaching full time. She is a long time activist in North Area for Bilingual Education and fluent in three languages. Jasmine has a son in a dual language program and understands the power of bilingualism and because she’s in the classroom she knows what teachers are facing every day. Jasmine will fight for the resources and differentials for bilingual teachers. Vote for Jasmine and the entire UNION POWER team! Elect Benny Madera for Substitute Director, Matthew Kogan for Adult Education and the Officer Team Led by Cecily Myart-Cruz for President! Union Power is the team with a vision, strategic plan and experience to continue building power!
Rebecca Solomon
My name is Rebecca Solomon and I am thrilled and excited to continue representing you as one of your North Area Directors. As a teacher of 21 years, I am proud to be on the Union Power Team. One of our members, Matthew Kogan is a candidate for Adult Educators Director. As the current director, Matthew is leading the charge for better pay and benefits for adult educators. As a member of the bargaining team, Matthew played a key role in our last contract wins. Elect Matthew Kogan and the entire UNION POWER Team!
As a team, Union Power has accomplished so much and we are only getting started. In order to continue moving forward and build on our momentum, we must elect the entire UNION POWER team of officers and special categories--your vote will make that happen!
Elect the Union Power Officer Team led by Cecily Myart-Cruz for President, Benny Madera for Substitute Director and Jasmine Wang for Bilingual Director.
Rosa Jimenez *
My name is Rosa Jimenez and I am honored to represent UTLA North Area as your area chair. Teaching social studies for 12 years and being part of Community Schools Steering Committee, I am proud to be part of Union Power. As a team, we have accomplished so much and we are only getting started. In order to continue moving forward and build on our momentum, we must elect the entire UNION POWER team of officers and special categories-your vote will make that happen!
We have won and will continue winning on healthcare, led a historic strike with unprecedented victories from common good wins to salary increases and the elimination of section 1.5. We are now ready for re-opener bargaining that includes special education, HHS staffing, salary and bilingual differentials. We are the team with the vision, strategy and experience to win!
Elect the Union Power Officer Team, Benny Madera: Substitute Director, Jasmine Wang: Bilingual Director and Matthew Kogan: Adult Education.AFT UTLA Board of Director
Mark Ramos
My name is Mark Ramos and I am one of your North Area Directors. I’ve been teaching for over 12 years and I am proud to be on the Union Power Team. One of our members, Benny Madera is a candidate for Substitute Director. As the current director, Benny was instrumental in the substitutes’ victories in our last contract. Benny led the charge with substitutes on the picket line. Now UTLA substitutes are the best paid in the County with incredible benefits. Elect Benny Madera and the entire UNION POWER Team!
As a team, Union Power has accomplished so much and we are only getting started. In order to continue moving forward and build on our momentum, we must elect the entire UNION POWER team of officers and special categories--your vote will make that happen!
Elect the Union Power Officer Team, Benny Madera for Substitute Director, Jasmine Wang for Bilingual Director and Matthew Kogan for Adult Education.
2020 South Area
NEA UTLA Board of Director
Ayde Bravo
Visualize * Strategize* Organize
As your South Area NEA Director for the last 6 years I have lead the political campaigns in the South Area, am a member of the TAPP 39 committee against charter school co-locations, have provided member representation, am a UTLA House of Representative member and have worked feverishly to protect teacher rights.
As the South Area leadership team we stand for:
- Collaborating with all stakeholders to improve working and learning conditions at every site.
- Organizing to fight back against district policies that violate students' educational rights and educator professional and contractual rights.
- Advocating to end over testing our students.
- Creating a safe school environment for educators and students.
- Strengthening each school site through contract education and leadership development.
- Strategizing and organizing to maximize our collective power when bargaining for our health benefits and contract.
Maria Miranda *
Visualize * Strategize * Organize
My name is Maria Miranda, Chapter Chair at Miramonte ES. I am currently the South Area Chair and a South Area NEA Board of Director. I thank you for the opportunity to have served as area chair this past term. I am committed to continue my work as the South Area Chair for the 2020-2023 term. I along with the South Area leadership team will continue to uphold our responsibility as union leaders to represent and defend the interests of all union members. I am looking forward to bolstering our organizing efforts at each school site to not only accomplish chapter specific goals but also attain UTLA citywide goals. Together we have built powerful relationships with each other, with our students and with their parents. It would be an honor to continue working with you and our school communities in strengthening each school site.
UTLA South Area Strong!
Claudia Silva
My name is Claudia Silva and I have served as a South Area leader for over five years. I am the chapter chair at Ninety-Sixth Street Elementary, a Steering Committee member, and Cluster Leader. I’ve also been representing South Area members as a member of UTLA House of Representatives, a PACE member, UTLA Annual Conference Planning Committee member, Platinum Apple Committee member, and State Council Representative. I am a UTLA WHO Award recipient because of my activism in our union. I will work diligently to represent South Area members as one of the South Area Board of Directors. I look forward to joining the South Area leadership team and am excited about working with South Area members at each school site.
UTLA South Area Strong!
AFT UTLA Board of Director
L. Cynthia Matthews
Visualize * Strategize * Organize
I L. Cynthia Matthews have been a teacher for 19 years and currently serve as UTLA chapter chair at McKinley Ave Elementary School. It’s been a pleasure to serve on the UTLA Board of Directors for the last three years. As a member of the Negotiating Team, we successful won a game changing contract agreement for UTLA members. I serve on the Budget committee for UTLA and on the PACE committee. Among the other areas of service are, being active member of the South Area Steering team and serving as Treasurer for South Area. I am a representative member of NEA, AFT and CTA, serving as Chair of the Policy subcommittee on the Assessment and Testing committee for CTA. I represent UTLA on the California Association for Community Schools. I’m looking forward to continue my work in our union together with the South Area leadership team.
UTLA South Area Strong!
2020 East Area
NEA UTLA Board of Director
Adrian Tamayo *
My name is Adrian Tamayo and as a 23-year special education teacher and UTLA East Area Chair, I am thrilled to be on the Union Power Team. As area chair, it gives me great pleasure to introduce Jasmine Wang. Jasmine is running for Bilingual Director. Jasmine is the only candidate in the classroom teaching full time. She is a long time activist in UTLA and a warrior for Bilingual education. Fluent in three languages, a mother of a child in a dual language program, Jasmine understands the power of bilingualism. Because she’s in the classroom, she knows what teachers are facing every day and will fight for the resources and salary differentials for bilingual teachers. Vote for Jasmine and the entire UNION POWER team! Elect Benny Madera for Substitute Director, Matthew Kogan for Adult Education and the Officer Team Led by Cecily Myart-Cruz for President! Union Power is the team with a vision, strategic plan and experience to continue building power!
Yolanda Tamayo
My name is Yolanda Tamayo and I am honored to represent East Area. As a 26-year elementary teacher and co-chair of UTLA’s committee against co-location and privatization, I am proud to be on the Union Power Team. One of our members, Benny Madera is a candidate for Substitute Director. As the current director, Benny was instrumental in the substitutes’ victories in our last contract. Benny led the charge with substitutes on the picket line. Now UTLA substitutes are the best paid in the County with incredible benefits. Elect Benny Madera and the entire UNION POWER Team!
As a team, Union Power has accomplished so much and we are only getting started. In order to continue moving forward and build on our momentum, we must elect the entire UNION POWER team of officers and special categories--your vote will make that happen!
Elect the Union Power Officer Team, Benny Madera for Substitute Director, Jasmine Wang for Bilingual Director and Matthew Kogan for Adult Education
Marcela Chagoya
My name is Marcela Chagoya and I am honored to represent UTLA East Area as one of your directors. I am an 18-year special education teacher, union activist and a proud member of Union Power. As a team we have accomplished so much and we are only getting started. In order to continue moving forward and build on our momentum, we must elect the entire UNION POWER team of officers and special categories. Your vote will make that happen!
We have won and will continue winning on healthcare, led a historic strike with unprecedented victories from common good wins to salary increases and the elimination of section 1.5. We are now gearing up for re-opener bargaining that includes special education, HHS staffing, salary and bilingual differentials. We are the team with the vision, strategy and experience to win!
Elect the Union Power Officer Team, Benny Madera for Substitute Director, Jasmine Wang for Bilingual Director and Matthew Kogan for Adult EducationAFT UTLA Board of Director
Ingrid Gunnell
My name is Ingrid Gunnell and I am honored to represent East Area as one of your directors. As a 22-year veteran and Chair of PACE, I’m proud to be on the Union Power Team. One of our members, Matthew Kogan is a candidate for Adult Educators Director. As the current director, Matthew is leading the charge for better pay and benefits for adult educators. As a member of the bargaining team, Matthew played a key role our last contract wins. Elect Matthew Kogan and the entire UNION POWER Team!
As a team, Union Power has accomplished so much and we are only getting started. In order to continue moving forward and build on our momentum, we must elect the entire UNION POWER team of officers and special categories--your vote will make that happen!
Elect the Union Power Officer Team led by Cecily Myart-Cruz for President, Benny Madera for Substitute Director and Jasmine Wang for Bilingual Director.2020 West Area
NEA UTLA Board of Director
Georgia Flowers-Lee *
My name is Georgia Flowers-Lee and as an 18-year special education teacher and incoming West Area Chair, I am thrilled to be on the Union Power Team. As incoming area chair, it gives me great pleasure to introduce Jasmine Wang. Jasmine is running for Bilingual Director. Jasmine is the only candidate in the classroom teaching full time. She is a long time activist in UTLA and a warrior for Bilingual education. Fluent in three languages, a mother of a child in a dual language program, Jasmine understands the power of bilingualism. Because she’s in the classroom, she knows what teachers are facing every day and will fight for the resources and salary differentials for bilingual teachers. Vote for Jasmine and the entire UNION POWER team!
Benny Madera for Substitute Director, Matthew Kogan for Adult Education and the Officer Team led by Cecily Myart-Cruz for President! Union Power is the team with a vision, strategic plan and experience to continue building power!Marie Germaine
My name is Marie Germaine and I am thrilled and excited to be a part of the UTLA West Area team of directors. As a 23 year teacher, I am looking forward to representing you all. I am also very proud to be on the Union Power Team. One of our members, Matthew Kogan is a candidate for Adult Educators Director. As the current director, Matthew is leading the charge for better pay and benefits for adult educators. As a member of the bargaining team, Matthew played a key role in our last contract wins. Elect Matthew Kogan and the entire UNION POWER Team!
As a team, Union Power has accomplished so much and we are only getting started. In order to continue moving forward and build on our momentum, we must elect the entire UNION POWER team of officers and special categories--your vote will make that happen!
Elect the Union Power Officer Team led by Cecily Myart-Cruz for President, Benny Madera for Substitute Director and Jasmine Wang for Bilingual Director.Jennifer Villaryo
My name is Jennifer Villaryo and as a 15 year elementary teacher, UTLA Director and House of Representative member, I am thrilled to be on the Union Power team. As a team we have accomplished so much and we are only getting started. In order to continue moving forward and build on our momentum, we must elect the entire Union Power team of officers and special categories—your vote will make that happen!
We have won and will continue winning on healthcare, led a historic strike that saw unprecedented victories from common good demands to salary increases and the elimination of section 1.5. We are now gearing up for re-opened bargaining that includes special education, HHS staffing, salary and bilingual differentials. We are the team with the vision, strategy and experience to win!
Elect the Union Power Officer Team, Benny Madera for Substitute Director, Jasmine Wang for Bilingual Director and Matthew Kogan for Adult Education.
AFT UTLA Board of Director
Noah Lippe-Klein
My name is Noah Lippe-Klein and I am one of your West Area Directors. I am a teacher at Dorsey High School, a member of Students Deserve and I am proud to be on the Union Power Team. One of our members, Benny Madera is a candidate for Substitute Director. As the current director, Benny was instrumental in the substitutes’ victories in our last contract. Benny led the charge with substitutes on the picket line. Now UTLA substitutes are the best paid in the County with incredible benefits. Elect Benny Madera and the entire UNION POWER Team!
As a team, Union Power has accomplished so much and we are only getting started. In order to continue moving forward and build on our momentum, we must elect the entire UNION POWER team of officers and special categories--your vote will make that happen!
Elect the Union Power Officer Team, Benny Madera for Substitute Director, Jasmine Wang for Bilingual Director and Matthew Kogan for Adult Education
2020 Central Area
NEA UTLA Board of Director
AFT UTLA Board of Director
2020 Harbor Area
NEA UTLA Board of Director
Jennifer McAfee *
As the Harbor Area Chair, I pledge to:
- Support Chapter Chairs and all members in organizing around site issues and contract enforcement
- Fight against privatization and unwanted co-locations
- Strengthen the communication between chapter chairs and UTLA Leadership to improve LSLC and SSC
- Work tirelessly to support fully funded public schools for our students
- Organize to build coalitions between educators, parents, and the community
Phylis Hoffman
I am a second generation educator and union member. I have been a member of UTLA for 22 years. I am a Nationally Board Certified Teacher. I serve as the chapter chair at Harry Bridges Span School in Wilmington. I have been serving on the House of Representatives for 3 terms now.
As a member of the Harbor Area Board of Directors I pledge to--
- Support chapter chairs and all members in organizing around site issues and contract enforcement
- Fight against privatization and unwanted co-locations
- Strengthen the communication between chapter chairs and UTLA Leadership to improve LSLC and SSC
- Work tirelessly to support fully funded public schools for our students
- Organize to build coalitions between educators, parents and the community
Elizabeth Untalan
As a member of the Harbor Area Board of Directors I pledge to...
- Support Chapter Chairs and all members in organizing around site issues and contract enforcement
- Fight against privatization and unwanted co-locations
- Strengthen the communication between chapter chairs and UTLA Leadership to improve LSLC and SSC
- Work tirelessly to support fully funded public schools for our students
- Organize to build coalitions between educators, parents, and the community
AFT UTLA Board of Director
* indicates that the candidate is also running for Area Chairperson
Candidates for Special Categories Director
Board of Directors (Special Category) includes Adult and Occupational Education, Bilingual Education, Early Childhood Education Centers, Health and Human Services, Special Education and Substitutes.
Contested
2020 UTLA Board of Director – Adult Education
Matthew Kogan
I am running for Director of Adult Education to continue our fight for Adult Ed and Adult Ed teachers. Our issues, which we must continue to organize and push for, are: tenure rights for CTE and all adult ed members, better pay, transparency in school budgets and CTE student class fees, easier teacher transfers, EDD rights, individual student career counseling, and better advertising.
I have been endorsed by all seven UTLA officers, including Alex Caputo-Pearl, President. I have also been endorsed by all ten Adult Education Chapter Chairs: Rick Nunez, Brian Huffer, Roxana Sanchez, Lorena Zorilla, Gary Cooper, Patrick Meyer, Laura Vazquez, Jenisha Hasselberger, Pilar Zorilla, and Ed McBride. I have been endorsed by the entire Adult Education Committee Steering Committee: Roxana Sanchez, Bob Yorgason, Michelle Cohen, and Jenisha Hasselberger.
I encourage all Adult Ed teachers to vote for the entire Union Power Team. They have supported us and we need to continue to support them.
Marc Wutschke
MARC WUTSCHKE FOR UTLA ADULT EDUCATION DIRECTOR
- I will fight for Adult Education teachers first and foremost.
Not for a union faction
- I will continue the fight to put adult education teachers on the same salary schedule and class selection process as other UTLA teachers.
The schedule will significantly increase our wages and retirement benefits and create paid prep time.
The “Matrix” class selection will be based on the UTLA-approved method, not the one now proposed by DACE.
- I will fight for a split-shift salary bonus and more flexible leaves for adult education teachers.
- I will fight for a more democratic and transparent adult education leadership.
Stronger chapters
Greater voice for the rank and file teacher
No unreported meetings with administration
- The incumbent is also the Adult Education Committee Chair, monopolizing the two top UTLA adult ed. positions. No person can do both jobs adequately.
- I have over 20 years of experience fighting for adult education.
2020 UTLA Board of Director – Substitute Teachers
Benny Madera
I have been honored to serve as your Substitute Director for the past two and a half years. I ran for this position because I wanted to make a difference in the lives of all substitutes, and with the Union Power Team, we have done just that. We won unprecedented gains for substitutes, like better pay, respect for continuity and professional training. We did this together and we deserve more.
Over the next few years, I plan to work on the following four priorities.
1. Job security: Our substitute leaders and UTLA staff need more training and support from UTLA to better serve our members. 2. Working conditions: Improve our working conditions by giving us the vital resources and materials to do our job effectively. 3. Health care: We must continue to defend and protect our health care. 4. Respect: We are not disposable and deserve to be treated as professionals.
Let's continue to work together. I ask for your vote for myself and the entire Union Power Team.
Francisco Martinez
ELECT FRANCISCO MARTINEZ FOR SUBSTITUTES BOARD OF DIRECTOR As Substitutes Committee Chair:
- I worked with staff members and held several meetings to inform our members of the importance of union organizing in the post Janus case period.
- I got fifteen sections of our contract rewritten to bring up to date issues that had been in place since the 1970’s.
- I pushed for the creation of new Chapter Chair positions. From having only 2, we now have 24 Substitute representatives.
- I defended dozens of Substitutes from abusive administrators and saved them from being fired
- I walked the line with my fellow teachers during the entire length of the strike
- As a Substitute Elected to the House of Representatives, I spoke on Substitute issues.
- As the chair of the Sub Committee, I attended all of the Article XXX Meetings and confronted the LAUSD on issues such as: write-ups, EDD, Keys, Lesson Plans, long term pay, student discipline, late calls, etc. It is time to elect a real independent leader.
2020 UTLA Board of Director – Bilingual Education
Cheryl Ortega
I am committed to fighting for every dual language teacher and every BCC/BCLAD teacher to receive compensation for their training, expertise and extra work in providing programs our students deserve.
- 38 years teaching in a bilingual classroom and Master Plan development, ensuring fair access to curriculum for English learners
- 14 years supporting BCC/BCLAD teachers as UTLA Director of Bilingual Education
“I am an enthusiastic supporter of Ms. Ortega not only for her deep understanding and support of bilingual education but also for her ability to see the big picture, to consider what is right for all students. In Gandhi’s terms, Ms. Ortega is one of the ‘perfect resistors’ we need to win the battle of right vs wrong. Ms. Ortega is a perfect and relentless warrior for bilingual education and for our children.” — Dr. Stephen Krashen, Professor Emeritus, USC Rossiter School of Education
Cheryl Ortega - a proven fighter for dual language and all BCC/BCLAD teachers.
Jasmine Wang
I am eager to be the Director of Bilingual Education. As a teacher and mother of a child in an LAUSD dual language program, I have consistently advocated for students, parents, and communities since I was in high school. I am passionate about language justice. As a teacher in LAUSD, I taught newcomer students from various backgrounds, while also fighting against co-location at my son’s school with a thriving dual language program, and fighting for racial justice with SLASD.
As the only active teacher running for this position, I have the daily experience and know first-hand the issues teachers face in schools, and communities. Fluent in Spanish and Chinese, I support multilingual students and parents through culturally relevant curriculum, fighting for language and racial justice by uplifting their voices, which are often marginalized. As Director of Bilingual Education, I plan to creatively find solutions and fight for more resources for multilingual students and teachers.
Uncontested (candidates elected by acclamation)
2020 UTLA Board of Director – Early Education Center (EEC) Director
2020 UTLA Board of Director – Health & Human Services
Mallorie Evans
I am honored to run for Board of Directors-Health & Human Services. I am an Educational Audiologist who has worked for the District for 14 years. I have been a Chapter Chair for 11 years. I also served as the Chair of the Health & Human Services (HHS) Standing Committee for 2 years. I am currently your representative for Health & Human Services on the UTLA Board of Directors.
During my time on the Board, we fought for and won recognition of all Special Category/HHS chapters to be recognized in our contract. We have organized our members to know and fight for their rights regarding inclusive contract language, working conditions, continuing education, and recruitment/retention. We continue to strive for equal representation and a strong, unifying voice to effectively meet these goals.
As the Director for Health & Human Services, I will continue to work collaboratively to organize each chapter and push our leadership to act on ideas that improve our professions.
Thank you!
2020 UTLA Board of Director – Special Education
Deborah Schneider
My name is Debby Schneider-Solis and as a 14 year Special Education teacher and newly elected UTLA Director of Special Education, I am thrilled to be on this team with Union Power. As a team we have accomplished so much and we are only getting started. In order to continue moving forward and build on our momentum, we must elect the UNION POWER team of officers and special categories--your vote will make that happen!
We have won and will continue winning on healthcare, led a historic strike that saw unprecedented victories from common good demands to salary increases and the elimination of section 1.5. We are now gearing up for re-opener bargaining that includes special education, HHS staffing, salary, and bilingual differentials. We are the team with the vision, strategy and experience to win!
Elect the Union Power Officer Team, Benny Madera for Substitute Director, Jasmine Wang for Bilingual Director, and Matthew Kogan for Adult Education.