Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1491904
community schools and the educator pipeline. "As educators, we are curators and creators of hope and community," he said. "Our children are depending on each and every one of us. Our future demands it." State Council members elected new leaders to CTA and NEA leadership positions. Kinder- garten teacher and United Teachers Los Angeles member Erika Jones was elected as the next CTA Secretary-Treasurer by acclamation ( Jones was unopposed and elected by a voice vote). Jones will take office on June 26. State Council representatives elected a new member to the CTA Board of Directors — Angela Der Ramos, a member of Alisal Teachers Associ- ation, who fills an At-Large seat for an unexpired term ending June 25, 2023. Also elected at the meeting: • Naqiba Gregory, a member of West Sacramento Teachers Association, to NEA Board of Directors, California District 1; • Paula Merrigan, a member of Castro Valley Teachers Associ- ation, to NEA Board of Directors, California District 3; • Nichole DeVore, a member of Sacramento City Teachers Association, to NEA Board of Directors, District 12. Th ere were num erou s e vent s out si d e of gen eral sessions and committ ee m eetings, including a forum hosted by Community Col- lege Association members about opportunities for K-12 educators to work in higher education. e CTA African American Caucus observance was wildly popular and featured Dr. X avier Buck, who spoke on the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and how educators can use it to support movement-building. It was a poi- gnant and timely discussion with the release this weekend of video of Tyre Nichols' murder by Memphis police. "I know we are trying to understand the pain- ful video released of police beating and killing another Black man, Tyre Nichols," Boyd said during his speech to State Council. "e pain, the fear, the anger – it's exhausting. We have to make room to support each other with care, compassion and strength. Let's keep each other united and determined for justice. We cannot be silent." The next State Council of Education meeting will be held March 24-26 in Los Angeles. "It's all of us, three million strong, fighting for the freedom to be our authentic selves; for the freedom to make decisions about our own bodies and health; for the freedom to teach and the freedom to learn." —NEA President Becky Pringle NEA President Becky Pringle addresses State Council delegates as CTA President E. Toby Boyd looks on. CTA's Racial Equity Affairs Committee (REAC) presented a video at State Council celebrating Black History Month. 46 cta.org CTA & You