Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1380872
Pass the PRO Act Tell your senators to vote YES on the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act. The act would empower workers to organize and bargain, hold corporations accountable for union-busting, and repeal "right to work" laws. Stronger unions mean higher wages, safer working conditions, and dignity for those who work. Go to bit.ly/3vVKSHm. T A L M O S T C O N J U R E S up a movie post er : Tested and forged by the pandemic, educators have emerged better, stronger, kinder. As well as becoming more inventive and learning new ways of teaching, they are now more flexible and empathetic. "Maybe because I've become a student again, I see things with a fresh eye. I have become more patient with students that struggle," says Amy Rangel in "Silver Lin- ings" (page 21), about the positive outcomes of the past year. Nicole Carrasco says, "I am able to be a more com- passionate educator without compromising the quality of my classes. I have given myself permission to put my students and their well-being first." It's heartening to hear good things that have come of a difficult time, and how the challenges strengthened many educators individually and collectively. Collective strength, as in unions, has been in the spot- light this past year, too. A recent article in The Nation noted how educator unions won significant safety pro- tections during the pandemic: "Expanding on recent waves of activism, teachers were able to band together and compel school districts to adopt protocols for masks, ventilation, testing and even vaccination." Such protec- tions also extended to our students and communities. Pandemic concerns and the need for more repre- sentation in decision-making have spurred a rebirth in unionizing, as you can read in "e Union Renaissance" Emerging Victorious (page 26). "e pandemic really showed that the teach- ers didn't have a voice in our organization," says teacher Carol King, a member of the newly formed High Tech Education Collective. "Our hope is that a union can get us closer to bringing equity to life." Equity is a big driver in our feature "My Unsung Hero" (page 16), where several members name the lesser-known historical figures who inspire them and figure in their lessons. Among those hailed are a Native American artist and activist (and grandfather of a CTA member), a Mexican American Robin Hood, and a Black woman who revolutionized technology and worked at NASA during the Jim Crow era. These are people who may not be included in textbooks, but made an impact and live on through educators' teachings. Equity is also what prompted Melissa Baldwin to create an "a-g" class on women and gender studies at her high school, one of the few in the state ("Setting Course," page 40). Baldwin, who wanted female and LGBTQ+ students to feel safe and connected on campus, eagerly shares how she navigated the process. Sharing and caring. ey're what unions and educa- tors do well, together. Katharine Fong E D I T O R I N C H I E F editor@cta.org I 6 cta.org E D I T O R ' S N O T E