California Educator

April / May 2019

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Cesar Chavez "Sí Se Puede" Human Rights Award SANDRA MARTÍNEZ-GALVÁN Unified Association of Conejo Teachers A high school Spanish and English teacher, Sandra Martínez-Galván has worked to instill pride of Latinx and Hispanic cultures and history in her students and her community, and to cultivate their leadership skills. As a result, her students fully participate in campus and community life. She has brought awareness to the needs of DACA and Dreamer students with a support group that now involves students from three high schools. She also works with her students on college and career aspirations. This past year, she brought 100 parents together to help them better under- stand the educational system and access health, education and safety resources. These parents have expanded their leadership roles in the community; they meet monthly with district officials to advocate for their students. CTA Peace and Justice Human Rights Award SHANE PARMELY San Diego Education Association English learner support teacher Shane Parmely has not hesitated to help immigrants and their families caught up in the current fraught border debates and tensions. These people are often dropped off on city streets by immigration authorities, and few of them have resources while they await their asylum appeals or are forced to travel across the coun- try. Parmely has worked with the San Diego Rapid Response Network to collect and organize food, funds, safe shelter, transportation and medical care for individuals and entire fami- lies. She put out the call to her CTA/ NEA network to get donations of car seats, children's underclothes and backpacks. She herself frequently opens up her home, in one case on Christmas Eve, to families who find themselves with nowhere to eat or stay. Parmely shares with her stu- dents what she does and why, and incorporates these social justice lessons into her curriculum. CTA Member Human Rights Award LEIGH CAMBRA Association of Carmel Teachers High school health education teacher Leigh Cambra helps teens make the world a better place. She and 14 of her students created a club called "This Club Saves Lives" four years ago; it has grown to more than 100 members, who carry out signifi- cant community and global service actions. She has led student efforts to end the water crisis by building wells in developing countries, and to collect much-needed feminine hygiene products for homeless women. She has spearheaded initiatives to collect socks for the homeless, fill backpacks with school supplies and distribute them to elementary school students, repair and decorate a local safe house for women who have been trafficked, and much more. She also helps her students understand that this work can also be a career by volunteering at established service organizations in Los Angeles and other areas. SCTA Vice President Erin Githens and President Miyuki Manzanedo. 62 cta.org CTA & You

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