Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1525262
"It's not just about coming in the classroom and teaching math and reading. It's about the passion of being an educator," says elementary educator Oscar Ramos. "It's about knowing every single stu- dent, because they 're all unique." Ramos connects with his students in agricultural Salinas because their experience is his — Ramos worked in the fields as a farmworker along with his parents, he resided in a labor camp and he understands many of the situations his students experience because he's already lived them. "I knew I could be a good role model for them," says Ramos, president of Salinas Elementary Teachers Council (SETC). "Someone who looks like them and has experienced the same things they have — not because I read about it." For 27 years, Ramos taught at the same school before taking a special assignment this year to work with historically underserved students in the migrant community. He creates programs that focus on academics and also self-pride and learning about their culture through music, art and expression. It's an important role and position that SETC advocated to create and fund, in addition to continued advocacy for resources for these students and families. "Our local union understands that our work is about making connections and building rela- tionships with the community," says Ramos. "As a union, we can't do it all on our own and the community can't do everything on their own either — so we work together to provide opportunity and reach our goals." Next school year, Ramos will return to the classroom. But his work to support the migrant community will continue — on his own time and without the restrictions of federal law that he says limits what funding can be used on, keeping resources from reaching the students and families who need them. "Our local union knows what our community 's needs are and we advocate for less restrictions because money is not getting to families like it should," he says. Oscar Ramos TEACHER ON SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT / MIGRANT STUDENT COORDINATOR Salinas Elementary Teachers Council " There are wonderful people making our public schools work at every site," says Noriko Nakada, a member of United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA). "Amazing educators and amaz- ing students at every school." An English teacher for 25 years at Emerson Middle School, Nakada says middle school is a proverbial fork in the road for students and often the last place to engage them before they make important decisions that are very difficult to reverse, which is exactly why she wanted to work at that level to help students make good choices. "Educators are working to get kids back on track, mentally and emotionally," says Nakada. "I take a lot of pride in the work we do." Nakada's typical day: Getting her own kids ready for school, making a difference for students in her classroom all day, and then making a difference for the community through her work as a UTLA member and leader. As a chapter chair at her school, Nakada advocates for her fellow educators, students and their families. Her union at both the local and state level supports her efforts in the same way. " The organizing that UTLA has done has created more resources and job opportunities," she says. "California is where progressive policies get made — to be part of CTA and what education can be, that's inspiring work." Nakada is particularly interested in UTLA's work to build community schools throughout L.A. Unified, saying the deep organizing for transformative educational experiences is mak- ing a big difference in the city. "Bringing our community back into our schools and seeing them as places where our students, families and community can thrive is huge," she says. Noriko Nakada ENGLISH TEACHER United Teachers Los Angeles "To be part of CTA and what education can be, that's inspiring work." 18 cta.org Feature