Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1518807
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 STUDENTS FOR OUR UNITED CALIFORNIA EDUCATORS NATIONAL SCHOOL NURSE DAY MAY 8, 2024 CTA ESP DAY MAY 21, 2024 DAY OF THE TEACHER MAY 8, 2024 Thanks to an Advocate Re: "Be the Change": Bridey Thelen-Heidel Creates Safe Space for Students (Feb./March 2019), I was once a student of hers at South Tahoe High School. I remember being gay and in the closet throughout high school, and students used the term "that's gay " to describe anything and everything that had a negative connotation. The equivocation of gay and lame caused me great distress during my teenage years. Mrs. Heidel [was] the first teacher I ever had who vocally denounced the use of the word gay for anything except its proper use. This small solace was what first encouraged me to take a leap of faith and tell my truth to friends and family. LGBTQ+ students generally have immense inner struggles and battles raging against their own consciousness and knowing we have advocates who have our back is essential, otherwise we may lose all hope. Thank you, Mrs. Heidel, for being that advocate, that friend, that adult with dedication and compassion towards your students. You allowed us to speak our truths and be embraced. Your work continues to allow us to be comfortable in our own skin. PETER BROWN See more about Thelen-Heidel on Page 56. TPA Cruelty Re: "Redundant, Stressful, Time-Consuming" (Dec./Jan. 2023–24), I teach in a teacher preparation program at a UC campus. We need to remove the Teaching Performance Assessment requirement from our licensure programs. Cruel, costly, distracting — that is what TPAs are about for our work in preparing teachers. JOHNNIE WILSON See our TPA opinion piece on Page 18. California Educators United for Our Students Join CTA in celebrating some very special days in May. Our 2024 theme: California Educators United for Our Students. The California Day of the Teacher and National School Nurse Day are on May 8. CTA Education Support Professionals Day is on May 21. Show your appreciation for all that educators do at your school and in your community. For ways to demonstrate your support and for your own pull-out poster, see the back of this issue, or go to cta.org/dayoftheteacher. 3 A P R I L / M AY 2 0 24 U P F R O N T