Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1509126
facebook.com/wearecta @WeAreCTA youtube.com/californiateachers @WeAreCTA WeAreCTA #WeAreCTA For our full social media directory, see cta.org/social. L E T U S K N O W W H A T Y O U T H I N K . We accept signed email and letters; we excerpt user posts from CTA social media platforms and cta.org/educator. Content subject to editing for clarity and space. Photos must have permissions. Opinions expressed by writers are not necessarily those of CTA. Editor@cta.org; #WeAreCTA Get in the Educator! We'd love to hear from you. We publish members' feedback, photos and longer articles. Email editor@cta.org with the specific topic (in boldface below) in the subject line, and include your name, chapter and contact info. Submissions are subject to editing for clarity and space. • Letter to the editor — Let us know what you think of content you've read or viewed in print or at cta.org/educator in 200 words or less. • Your Voice — Have something to say about your students, the art and science of teaching, or being an educator in the trenches? Tell us about your experience or thoughts in no more than 650 words. • Photo(s) — Send us high- quality, in-focus photos of you and your colleagues at a CTA or chapter event, with details of who, what, where and when. • Lit From Within — We make note of members' new(ish) works — including books, blogs, videos, podcasts, albums and more — and lean toward material that can be used in the classroom. See page 56 for examples. Your CTA Membership Card Is Here Your 2023–24 CTA Membership Card should be in your hands right now, as it was mailed with this issue to all members. Use the card to get access to a vari- ety of benefits, discounts and programs to enhance your life and career. We hope you'll carry this card as a reminder that CTA is with you every day as we collaborate, advocate and organize for change. #UnionStrong! Equity for All Students In response to an earlier version of "Defending Our Schools and Students" (page 24), which appeared on cta.org/educator: As a retired school counselor, I am tremendously concerned about equity for all students. Every child is special. When I was still counseling at a high school, we were just beginning to actively and openly assist students of the LGBTQ+ community. Though it was a difficult time for them, they were so relieved to have advocates. That was long past due, but it is horrible to think that school districts are going backward and once again denying these students respect and accep- tance. If something does not harm anyone else, and certainly LGBTQ+ does not, it is not contagious, there should be no reason for dissent. CAROL HEINZ SHUPEK CTA/NEA-Retired At a July school board meeting, Associated Chino Teachers members supported LGBTQ+ students' privacy rights in the face of a new district policy. 3 O C T O B E R / N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 3 U P F R O N T