focus
On educators
focus on educators is an award-winning publication of the Pittsburg Education Association/CTA/NEA www.peateachers.org
The California Teachers Association exists to protect and promote the well-being of its members; to improve the conditions of
teaching and learning; to advance the cause of free, universal, and quality public education; to ensure that the human dignity and civil
rights of all children and youth are protected; and to secure a more just, equitable, and democratic society.
MAY 2019
Volume XXVII, Number 9
_______________________________________
President’s Message
Dear PEA Members,
This will be my final message in
the Focus as president of Pittsburg
Education Association. I’m happy
with the fact that you have a great
leader stepping in to take my
place. There have been many
influences I’ve had over the years
that encouraged me to grow and
take on new roles in PEA as well
as CTA. Sarah Cullar, Chris
Coan, Dawn Cova, Terri Jackson
(CTA Board Member), Eric Heins
(CTA President), are all people
that saw things in me that go way
beyond what I imagined for
myself. This isn’t a definitive list.
California Teachers Association
Statement of Mission
I also have our CTA staff,
Rosemary Louissaint, some
fabulous friends, colleagues,
family members, and PEA
members to thank for their
constant inspiration and
encouragement as well.
It has been my honor to be of
service to the members of PEA. I
know there have been people who
shared with me some of the worse
news of their professional lives as
well as the best. I’ve tried to be
there for both when needed. There
seems to be some message people
start to believe that the union is
one person (president). The myth
starts to extend to it’s really the
officers and reps. Well, let’s
demystify this notion right here
and now. The union is every one
of us standing together in
solidarity advocating for students,
advocating for our profession and
public education, upholding the
contract, and making sure our
rights are protected. At the center
will always be students and what
is best for students. After all, we
are all educators and our focus is
students.
One thing I’d like to leave here in
this message for all of you is to
encourage you to be involved.
I’ve been where you are and
continue to be there! I’ve been
overwhelmed by work, life, and
obligations that require me to
stretch myself in a million ways.
We need all of you! It has been
documented that a union gains
more for their members when
folks are together in the thick of it.
Thank you all for all you do for
the students of Pittsburg and PEA!
You may not know just how much
you are appreciated on a daily
basis or how you have influenced
others. You may not know how
your dedication has affected the
people you work with, both
students and colleagues. You may
not realize that your strength does
inspire and encourage those
around you. Know today it all
matters! Your journey is one part
of a whole to change the world.
Thank you for being a change
maker.
In Solidarity,
Tammy Carr
 PEA Leadership 2018-2019 Rep. Council Meeting Calendar (Tuesdays)
President May 14
Tammy Carr
PEA Office School Board Meeting Calendar
Elementary Vice President May 8 & 22
Michell Redfoot June 12 & 26
Willow Cove July 24
Secondary Vice President
Nyssa Ton Are You Getting Your PEA Information?
Black Diamond Having our Site Reps collect your input, attend the monthly Rep
Secretary meeting and then report back to you is vital in the
Nicole Glassel communication chain of our Association.
Los Medanos
Roll call at last April 16th Rep Council Meeting:
Treasurer
Shelly Bascomb Adult Ed. – present MLK Jr. – present
North Campus
Black Diamond – present North Campus – absent
________________________________________________

Committee Chairs: Foothill – present Parkside – present

Grievance Committee Heights – present PHS - present
Jill Wery – Pittsburg High Highlands – absent Rancho Medanos – present
Chris Coan – Willow Cove
Hillview - present Stoneman – absent
Negotiations Team
Los Medanos – present Willow Cove – present
Andrea McKinney – Chair – Black Diamond
Chris Coan – Willow Cove
Marina Vista – present

Jeff Greco – Rancho Medanos

***********************************************
Alicia Puzak – Pittsburg High
Melonie Sauceda-Flemming - Hillview/MLK
Political Action Chair - vacant
Elections Chair
Sharie Chmura - Parkside
Human Rights Chair
Andrea McKinney – Black Diamond
Women’s Issues Chair
Alicia Puzak – Pittsburg High Great teachers are the people who make
Organizing Chair a lasting impact on our lives. Whether
Laura Silva - Parkside
they’re teaching from a textbook or
CTA State Council Representative
Mark Maselli – Hillview
sharing some of life’s most important
LGBTQ Chair lessons, those who make it their mission
Marissa Young-Padilla - Parkside to educate deserve recognition and
Special Education Chairs
Michell Redfoot – Willow Cove
appreciation.
Melonie Sauceda-Flemming – Hillview/MLK
Technical Editor
Susan Harrison – PEA Office Administrator
Focus on Educators is a publication of the
Pittsburg Education Association CTA/NEA
159 East 4th Street, Pittsburg, CA 94565 Phone: (925) 432-0199
email: info@peateachers.org
website: www.peateachers.org
 “We Honor Ours”
The WHO Awards Luncheon at
the Hilton Oakland Airport on April 13, 2019
by Elza Hess,
PEA Adult Ed Representative
most Adult Ed teachers as union members, regular member
meetings on site, a Site Rep to accompany members to
meetings with Administration, Professional Development Day
developed by teachers, master’s stipend pay, pay scale
equalization, (the start of) prep time, a working water fountain
and the ability to have our contract items open for negotiation
in the first place — including the current “ask” for health
care!
The actual WHO award is an attractive (and heavy) owl
sculpture and a very nice certificate. I thank all of my fellow
teachers at PEA, at Adult Ed, and our PEA leaders for the
encouragement of the award!

PEA is proud to honor Elza Hess

as our 2019 WHO Awardee!
***********************************************

I was very honored to receive this year’s WHO Award, not

only from our Pittsburg PEA, but also as representing our
Pittsburg Adult Education Center.
“What is WHO?”, asks the first information page on the
awards program. Answer:
“WHO is a way of thanking our chapter members who have
made outstanding contributions to our association. WHO is a
way of inspiring members to accept leadership roles by
providing recognition for service. WHO is a way of
encouraging members to continue to serve.”
My two invited guests, husband Paul Hess and co-Site Rep
Jean MacDonald — along with our PEA President Tammy
Carr, enjoyed the delicious salmon lunch while we listened to
inspiring speakers. There were many! One speech which
especially stayed with me was by State WHO award recipient
Angela Normand of neighboring Brentwood. Angela is a ***********************************************
former Marine who talked about her favorite war movie,
“Lone Survivor”, with Mark Wahlberg. In the movie, the $500 in Scholarships
captain says to his wounded men — who have been shot, awarded to children of
“We’re all shot, bro’, but can you fight?” It made me think of
our struggle for teachers’ rights at Adult Ed in Pittsburg, PEA members!
where we have felt even more than shot. We have felt
perhaps rather more like the zombies in another movie, the
“Undead”! The question for us — who had been given up for
Congratulations
vanquished, hopeless and lifeless — often seemed to be, PEA Scholarship Winners!
“Can you fight even though you’re….. dead?” Well, by
Providence, support from Rep Council, and hard work with Alyssa Ballardo
our PEA colleagues, some life was breathed into our dead,
(parent – Donna Ballardo)
bleached bones. Adult Ed is now on Pittsburg’s map of the
living, and growing stronger with each victory and
reinforcement of each tie to the other PUSD schools. Who Makena Bohannon
would have thought a few years ago that we would now have (parent – Darlynne Fu)
 2019 Equity & Human Rights Conference Heights Elementary Educators
By Andrea McKinney-Webster getting their student advocacy on for
PEA Human Rights Chair PEA Power Day – May 8!

Each year CTA holds a conference that showcases

educator’s tireless work to ensure the self-respect and civil
rights of students in California. This year’s Equity and
Human Rights Conference held in San Jose, CA continue to
provide professional training for educators regarding equity,
diversity, and social justice that impact student’s success.
***********************************************
The “Dialogue about Race” training session lead by Reena
Doyle and Gail Watts allowed educators to sit down and talk
about their individual experiences based on their own racial Los Medanos Elementary Educators
identity. This process provided educators’ opportunities to getting it done on May 8 for
share their own social experience narratives that shape their PEA Power Day!
social views based on race. The discussion groups’
comments were then used to explain the impact of
socialization for students of color. The trainers Doyle and
Watts expanded the talks to provide skills for educators to
continue conversations on race back in their communities.

Open dialogue regarding the impact of race on today’s

student benefits students, educators, and communities.
CTA’s conference sessions continue to open and increase
pathways to affirm and restore the inherent belief that all
students deserve quality and equitable access to education.
***********************************************
PEA Supports New Haven Teachers
Association in their Journey ***********************************************
for a Fair Contract!
 California Day of the Teacher
PEA Celebration at La Piñata
May 8, 2019
California’s Day of the Teacher has its roots in the community and is patterned after the celebration of the
traditional “El Dia del Maestro,” which is observed in Mexico and Latin American countries. Our California’s Day
of the Teacher arose out of legislation co-sponsored by CTA and the Association of Mexican American
Educators in 1982.
California Day of the Teacher (cont.)
 Calendar
May 2019
5 First of Ramadan begins at sundown
7 PEA Executive Board – PEA Office – 159 East 4th St. – 3:45 PM
8 Day of the Teacher – La Piñata – 95 Bliss Ave. – 3:30-5:30 PM
8 PUSD School Board Meeting – 2000 Railroad Ave. – 6:30 PM
12 Mother’s Day
14 PEA Rep Council – PEA Office – 159 East 4th St. – 3:45 PM
22 PUSD School Board Meeting – 2000 Railroad Ave. – 6:30 PM
27 Memorial Day

June 2019

4 Last Day of Instruction

5 Last Day of Work
12 PUSD School Board Meeting – 2000 Railroad Ave. – 6:30 PM
16 Father’s Day
26 PUSD School Board Meeting – 2000 Railroad Ave. – 6:30 PM

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