PEA

focus
on educators
California Teachers Association

focus on educators is an award winning publication of the Pittsburg Education Association/CTA/NEA www.peateachers.org

Statement of Mission
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. also ask that one Rep be in charge address and explain each of these of any and all elections for the items and get their responses or Volume XXII, Number 9 school year. Cover letters with action to be taken. I continue to instructions are always provided. work with the district on things they Finally, we ask one Rep to be in said they would take care of. Then charge of receiving any flyers or the following month I report back to handouts and then stuffing boxes. the Executive Board and Site Reps Also, all of these members should the actions being taken. This makes be trained and ready to act as a your voice heard directly to those protective rep for members in need who can take care of the concern. of guidance and protection. Every month there are many Every month when we have Rep concerns and so you are needed. We Council meetings this is basically need you to be the voice for your In this Issue what we do: We have a warm up site. Please consider taking a turn to Presidents Message training tip which lasts about 5 support your teachers. Be a site rep Informational Items ..pgs. 1-3 minutes. We review last months next year. Keep the lines of 2012-2013 Retireesp.3 minutes. We go over items needed communication going. When Bargaining ....p.4 Principal Eval. Results..pgs. 5-7 to be shared with your site members have their issues and CTA News....pgs. 8-9 members. We discuss action items concerns addressed they feel PEA Calendar.... .The Last Page that need input or voting. We appreciated and validated. discuss site concerns from past and FYI, one of the last month's site site concerns from present. All of PEA Presidents Message concerns was that teachers were the chairs report out and we review As the year is just about wind down, losing their prep time when they budgets. it is time to start thinking about who had to do a lesson studies day. From will be the site reps for your work What are site concerns? Every these meetings with the district, I location for next school year. As a month when your site rep attends, can report back to you that you can site rep, we offer several trainings at they share out at either the simply turn in a time sheet for the the beginning of the school year for elementary or secondary level any missing prep period and you will be those who need a little more issues or concerns their site is given the contracted amount for support. At the elementary and experiencing that cant be resolved prep period loss. junior high levels, we ask that one at the site level. They have tried but Hang in there! Celebrate Day of person be responsible for attending to no avail. Then I meet with the Teacher! After testing is over the monthly Rep Council meetings Superintendent Rondeau, Abe you can Wag More and Bark Less. and then reporting back to their staff Doctolero, Shannon Ortland and the 10-minute meeting items. We Dorothy Epps the following day to Chris Coan, PEA President

MAY 2013

PEA Leadership 2012-2013 President Chris Coan

Willow Cove Elementary/ PEA Office

Rep. Council Meeting Calendar

September 19 October 17 November 14 December 19 January 23 February 20 March 20 April 24 May 15 June 5 ***********************************

Elementary Vice President Cindy Joy

Parkside Elementary

Secondary Vice President Shelly Bascomb

Rancho Medanos

Secretary Tammy Carr

Highlands Elementary

Treasurer Gale Higgins

Stoneman Elementary

School Board Meeting Calendar

August 22 September 12 & 26 October 10 & 24 November 14 December 12 January 9 & 23 February 13 & 27 March 13 & 27 April 17 May 8 & 22 June 5 & 26 ***********************************

Committee Chairs Grievance Committee Richard Higgins Pittsburg High Negotiations Team Dawn Cova - Chair Political Action Committee Iris Contreras - Chair Elections Chair Ruth Foster Human Rights Committee Vacant Womens Issues Committee Allison Azevedo - Chair O-Team Vacant CTA State Council Representatives Iris Contreras PEA Denise James, Sara Savacool, Robert Strickler - AEA Alternate Pandora Bethea - AEA CTA Director District C Terri Jackson NEA Director for California, District 3 Greg Bonaccorsi Technical Editor Susan Harrison PEA Site Secretary

Are you Getting your PEA Information???

Having the site reps attend their monthly meeting and then reporting back to you is vital in the communication chain of our Association. Roll call at last April 24th Rep Council Meeting: Adult Ed. absent Stoneman present Foothill present Willow Cove present Heights present MLK Jr. absent Highlands present Hillview - present Los Medanos present Rancho Medanos present Marina Vista present PHS - present Parkside present Black Diamond present ************************************

Focus on Educators is a publication of the Pittsburg Education Association CTA/NEA 159 East 4th Street Pittsburg, CA 94565 Phone: (925) 432-0199 fax: (925) 432-4854

E-MAIL:peatchrs@att.net WEBSITE: www.peateachers.org 2

OPPORTUNITIES The Executive Board agreed that for next school year we would be offering full grants (up to $500.00 each) for three PEA members to attend the following conferences: CTA Leadership Conference, Good Teaching North and Equity and Human Rights Conference North. These will be available to members who have not participated in any CTA conferences before. Our hope is to encourage more CTA knowledge and involvement. PEA will be requiring a follow up article in the FOCUS covering the experience. More details will be given when the next school year begins and dates are established for the conference season. ATTENTION: REGARDING AUGUST STAFF DEVELOPMENT DAY This specific day will be spent on Common Core Standards Training for all teachers. A team of four administrators and four teachers will be collaborating on the agenda for that day. You will be receiving this agenda before the school year ends. District Team: Shannon Ortland, Jennifer Sachs, Karen Clark and Anthony Molina PEA Teacher Team: Richard Chiado (Willow Cove), Geannine Fernandez (Los Medanos), Mark Maselli (HIillview) and Rajnesh Naicker (PHS).

PUSD Retirees June 2013

Last Name Barnes Bywater Canepa Coll Colvin Corbett Ely Green Hopkins Knight Linden Lozoya Melendrez Merrett Molta First Name William Ann Cheryl Colleen Maria Esther Johanna Jack Audrey James Neil Louis Gloria Cherita Carol Years of Service 10 15 5 10 11 39 25 23 12 11 15 16 31 11 17 23 14 35 25 28 10 19 38 31 32

MontesinosBebita Vaughan Mortenson Pardi Renirie Nancy Herc Ron David Joseph Joanne Eva Patricia Ernestina

PEA VIDEOS TO BORROW Great Public Schools Ancestors in the Americas- Asian American History There and Back Surviving Breast Cancer Journey to Respect The History of CTA No Grapes United Farm Workers CTA California Civil Rights Initiative Respect Equality Hope The Journey of a People American Teachers Association TEACH Inspiration is the Greatest Teacher Wanna borrow? Just ask and we will pony it over to you. peatchrs@att.net or (925) 432-0199

Rose Salvador Stark Steffani Waddington Zamora

Region I Organizing Academy San Jose, April 19-21-2013

It was a pleasure to attend CTAs Region I Organizing Academy with Tammy Carr. We were able to participate in a variety of workshops that will help us improve member engagement in our local. It was energizing to work with other chapter leaders who face similar challenges as we do in Pittsburg. I particularly enjoyed the sessions regarding our members cross-generational differences. We learned about the different value systems of Baby-Boomers, Gen Xers, and Millennials; its important that we have the participation of all generations in our Association in order to ensure our union is relevant to each group. The ultimate lesson though was teachers must be leaders in any education reform movement. Changes in our practice cannot be dictated from the top-down. It must involve the professionals in the classroom. That means you and all the members of PEA. As we wind down this school year, we must look ahead to ways in which we can get more involved in the decisions that affect us in our classrooms. I hope you will consider becoming a Site Rep and attending Rep Council next year to become more involved in your Association. Respectfully submitted, Dawn Cova, PEA Bargaining Chair

community, the importance of relationships and to gain input from them. I also learned to bring in members input of their needs for our daily work and reimagining the relationship they could have with the union. Overall the Organizing Academy gave me more insight and allowed me to network with other local unions. Respectfully submitted, Tammy Carr, PEA Secretary *********************************

Community Outreach

PEA's current Community Outreach program is Adopt-aSpot. On 4th St., across from the PEA office is a small park or clearing that PEA has pledged to maintain this plot, free from debris and weeds. Reps and Teachers from specific sites have been assigned to pick-up this area before said rep-council, from 3:20-3:40 p.m. Below is the current schedule: May= Rancho Medanos, Los Medanos and Foothill June= Heights, Stoneman and Black Diamond Thank you for beautifying Pittsburg! Respectfully submitted, Cindy Joy, PEA Vice-President, Elementary *********************************

Pictured: Tammy Carr and Dawn Cova

Every ceiling, when reached becomes a floor.

Aldous Huxley
4

Region I Organizing Academy San Jose, April 19-21-2013

Attending the Region I Organizing Academy was very inspirational and useful for my further understanding of how our union works and how to get people involved. Some of the electives I was a part of were related to connecting with the community and understanding members of my union. I learned ways to find out the movers and shakers of the

PEA Principal Evaluation Results 2013

Highlands Elementary School
At Times Does Not Meet

Standard 1 Standard 2 Standard 3 Standard 4 Standard 5

Exceeds 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%

At Times Exceeds 0% 15% 0% 0% 14%

Meets 33% 15% 7% 7% 14%

53% 23% 47% 47% 14%

Does Not Meet 13% 46% 47% 47% 57%

Total Responses 15 13 15 15 14

Los Medanos Elementary School

At Times Does Not Meet

Standard 1 Standard 2 Standard 3 Standard 4 Standard 5

Exceeds 10% 10% 0% 10% 0%

At Times Exceeds 0% 0% 10% 0% 10%

Meets 10% 20% 20% 20% 10%

20% 10% 50% 10% 40%

Does Not Meet 60% 60% 20% 60% 40%

Total Responses 10 10 10 10 10

Heights Elementary School

At Times Does Not Meet

Standard 1 Standard 2 Standard 3 Standard 4 Standard 5

Exceeds 80% 67% 81% 75% 73%

At Times Exceeds 7% 7% 0% 6% 0%

Meets 7% 0% 13% 0% 0%

7% 7% 6% 19% 13%

Does Not Meet 0% 20% 0% 0% 13%

Total Responses 15 15 16 16 15

Marina Vista Elementary School

At Times Does Not Meet

Standard 1 Standard 2 Standard 3 Standard 4 Standard 5

Exceeds 12% 12% 11% 17% 19%

At Times Exceeds 12% 18% 17% 11% 6%

Meets 41% 41% 39% 28% 38%

0% 12% 17% 17% 6%

Does Not Meet 35% 18% 17% 28% 31%

Total Responses 17 17 18 18 16

Parkside Elementary School

At Times Does Not Meet

Standard 1 Standard 2 Standard 3 Standard 4 Standard 5

Exceeds 58% 45% 75% 50% 40%

At Times Exceeds 25% 18% 8% 25% 30%

Meets 17% 18% 8% 25% 10%

0% 9% 0% 0% 10%

Does Not Meet 0% 9% 8% 0% 10%

Total Responses

12 11 12 12 10

Foothill Elementary School

At Times Does Not Meet

Standard 1 Standard 2 Standard 3 Standard 4 Standard 5

Exceeds 21% 32% 20% 38% 36%

At Times Exceeds 29% 16% 24% 21% 4%

Meets 21% 12% 48% 21% 20%

25% 32% 8% 13% 32%

Does Not Meet 4% 8% 0% 8% 8%

Total Responses 24 25 25 24 25

Willow Cove Elementary School

At Times Does Not Meet

Standard 1 Standard 2 Standard 3 Standard 4 Standard 5

Exceeds 20% 80% 60% 40% 40%

At Times Exceeds 60% 0% 20% 20% 40%

Meets 20% 20% 20% 40% 20%

0% 0% 0% 0% 0%

Does Not Meet 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%

Total Responses 5 5 5 5 5

Stoneman Elementary School

At Times Does Not Meet

Standard 1 Standard 2 Standard 3 Standard 4 Standard 5

Exceeds 47% 47% 58% 47% 50%

At Times Exceeds 24% 11% 5% 16% 19%

Meets 18% 26% 21% 21% 25%

12% 16% 16% 16% 6%

Does Not Meet 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%

Total Responses 17 19 19 19 16

Rancho Medanos Junior High School

At Times Does Not Meet

Standard 1 Standard 2 Standard 3 Standard 4 Standard 5

Exceeds 19% 12% 17% 28% 25%

At Times Exceeds 31% 24% 33% 0% 13%

Meets 38% 41% 28% 33% 31%

6% 18% 11% 39% 25%

Does Not Meet 6% 6% 11% 0% 6%

Total Responses 16 17 18 18 16

Martin Luther King, Jr. Junior High School

At Times Does Not Meet

Standard 1 Standard 2 Standard 3 Standard 4 Standard 5

Exceeds 23% 27% 46% 31% 42%

At Times Exceeds 38% 27% 8% 15% 17%

Meets 31% 27% 46% 38% 33%

8% 18% 0% 15% 8%

Does Not Meet 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%

Total Responses 13 11 13 13 12

Black Diamond High School

At Times Does Not Meet

Standard 1 Standard 2 Standard 3 Standard 4 Standard 5

Exceeds 0% 0% 17% 0% 20%

At Times Exceeds 40% 40% 17% 17% 40%

Meets 20% 20% 17% 50% 20%

40% 40% 50% 33% 0%

Does Not Meet 0% 0% 0% 0% 20%

Total Responses 5 5 6 6 5

Pittsburg High School

At Times Does Not Meet

Standard 1 Standard 2 Standard 3 Standard 4 Standard 5

Exceeds 8% 11% 12% 15% 10%

At Times Exceeds 16% 18% 23% 11% 15%

Meets 28% 22% 33% 34% 23%

28% 24% 24% 26% 21%

Does Not Meet 20% 24% 7% 13% 32%

Total Responses 83 82 90 87 82

NEWS
Reducing the Risk: Teen Suicide
SOME CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO TEEN SUICIDE (Cont.) 16. Exposure to suicide (family or celebrity) Sometimes they [adolescents] have been exposed to the suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts of family members or friends. When an unusually high number of suicides occur in a small area in a brief time, it is almost always among adolescents and young adults. This contagion is sometimes blamed on television or newspaper stories, but it is more likely to come from family neighbors, schoolmates, and friends. [The Harvard Mental Health Letter] Other risk factors includeexposure to the suicidal behavior of others, including family members, peers, and/or via the media in news or fiction stories. [National Institute of Mental Health] After a film or news story on suicide, suicide rates tend to go up. There are accounts of specific suicides that were committed shortly after seeing or reading about a suicide. Suicide clusters appear to depend on imitation. [American Foundation for Suicide Prevention] Note: Glamorizing suicide (i.e. media coverage, school flag at half mast, etc.) leads to imitation. This is different from an open discussion or questioning students about suicide. 17. Gay/lesbian and bisexual youth Hidden and often invisible to service care providers, these youths may experience greater social discrimination, depression, isolation, low self-esteem, and violence than their heterosexual counterparts, all of which exacerbate their desperation and augment the risk for suicide. According to a study published by the US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) gay and lesbian youths are two to three times more likely to commit suicide than other youths, and 30 percent of all completed youth suicides are related to issues of sexual identity. [Proctor, Curtis D. and Groze, Victor K. as cited in NPR] Gay, lesbian, bisexual, or not sure youth report a significantly increased frequency of suicide attempts. Sexual orientation has an independent association with suicide attempts for males, while for females the association of sexual orientation with suicidality may be

mediated by drug use and violence/victimization behaviors. [Garofalo, Robert, et.al] 18. Biological conditions If a genetically influenced tendency to impulsive violence exists, it may be associated with activity of the neurotransmitter serotonin (5-hydroxy tryptamine). Depressed patients with low serotonin levels apparently have stronger suicidal tendencies than those with normal levels. Among people hospitalized for violent suicide attempts, those with low levels of 5-HIAA (the metabolic product of serotonin) in their spinal fluid are ten times more likely to kill themselves within a year. A combination of impulsive aggressiveness and feelings of hopelessness, associated with serotonin deficiency, is more common in men than in women and may partly explain why men kill themselves much more often even though woman have a higher rate of depression. [The Harvard Mental Health Letter] Clinical research has shown that alterations in neurotransmitters/neuromodulators such as serotonin can increase risk for suicide. These altered levels have been found in patients with depression, violent suicide attempts and impulsive disorders, and also in postmortem brains of suicide victims. [National Institute of Mental Health]. Certain biological conditions have also been associated with suicide; these include perinatal factors, decreases in levels of serotonin, and decreases in the secretion of growth hormone, among others. [Guetzloe, EleanorC.} Twin studies suggest a genetically based risk for suicide that may be inherited independently of major psychiatric illness. [American Foundation for Suicide Prevention] *********************************

California Professional Standards for Educational Leaders

STANDARD 5 A school administrator is an educational leader who promotes the success of all students by modeling a personal code of ethics and developing professional leadership capacity. Model personal and professional ethics, integrity, justice, and fairness, and expect the same behaviors from others. Protect the rights and confidentiality of students and staff.

 Use the influence of office to enhance the educational program, not personal gain. Make and communicate decisions based upon relevant data and research about effective teaching and learning, leadership, management practices, and equity. Demonstrate knowledge of the standards-based curriculum and the ability to integrate and articulate programs throughout the grades. Demonstrate skills in decision-making, problem solving, change management, planning, conflict management, and evaluation. Reflect on personal leadership practices and recognize their impact and influence on the performance of others. Engage in professional and personal development. Encourage and inspire others to higher levels of performance, commitment, and motivation. Sustain personal motivation, commitment, energy, and health by balancing professional and personal responsibilities. *********************************

subject to reprisal or disciplinary action as a result of such assistance or advocacy. Enforcement is through a complaint with the State Dept. of Education, Uniform Complaint Procedures. Ed Code 56046 C. Evaluation Permits evaluation to occur once every 5 years by mutual agreement, if the teacher is permanent, deemed Highly Qualified under ESEA, and whose previous evaluation meets or exceeds standards. Ed Code 44664 D. School Restrooms School bathrooms must be maintained and cleaned regularly, fully operational, and stocked with soap and paper supplies. If district fails to correct reports of violation within 30 days, funds for deferred maintenance are withheld. Ed Code 35292.2 E. No Taping of our Class by Students or Adults Without Your Permission... Ed Code 51512

Political Update

*********************************

Teachers Legal Rights and Duties

VII. MISCELLANEOUS THINGS TO KNOW A. Whistle-blower Protection Protects teachers who disclose evidence of improper governmental activity or who refuse to carry out an illegal order. School employers who retaliate against a teacher who has made a disclosure or refused an illegal order can be held criminally or civilly liable, including having punitive damages assessed against them. Improper governmental activity includes actions that violate state or federal law; corruption; bribery; fraud; misuse of government property; economically wasteful; gross misconduct, incompetency or inefficiency. Ed Code 44110 B. Whistle-blowing of Special Education Issues No school employee who assists a parent of a pupil with exceptional needs to obtain services or accommodation for their child may be

CTA Backed Dismissal Bills Move from First Committee Two CTA supported measures by Assembly Education Chair Joan Buchanan (D-Alamo) have cleared the first policy committee on a 7-0 vote. The two measures, taken together, would streamline the teacher dismissal process while maintaining protections for teachers and students and would require districts to train school personal annually on their reporting responsibilities in suspected cases of abuse. Key Committees Look at Governors Budget Proposals The governors Department of Finance has released more detailed information about the Local Control Funding Formula proposed in the January budget. The new information shows where funds targeted for schools with high percentages of more-costly-to-educate students would actually go. Report Keys on Cheating Scandal on Chancellor Rhees Watch John Merrow has filed a devastating story about a burgeoning cheating scandal that Michelle Rhee, as Chancellor of Washington D.C. schools, failed to address. Instead, Rhee allegedly pointed to rising scores as evidence of the effectiveness of her reforms.

PEA
MAY 2013
1 8 8 8-15 11 12 15 22 27 28

Calendar

PEA Executive Board PEA Office 159 East 4th St. 3:45 PM Day of the Teacher La Pinata 95 Bliss Ave. 3:30 PM PUSD School Board Meeting 2000 Railroad Ave. 7:00 PM PEA Executive Board Elections WHO Award Ceremony - Hs Lordships Berkeley 11:00 AM Mothers Day PEA Rep Council PEA Office 159 East 4th St. 3:45 PM PUSD School Board Meeting 2000 Railroad Ave. 7:00 PM Memorial Day (No school) PEA Executive Board PEA Office 159 East 4th St. 3:45 PM

JUNE 2013
5 11 12 16 21 PEA Rep Council PEA Office 159 East 4th St. 3:45 PM Last Day of Instruction Last Day at Work Fathers Day Summer Begins
Next Deadline for Articles is Friday, May 24, 2013
STAY INFORMED @

Peateachers.org
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