Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1535219
Incoming! Newly elected CTA-AE board members: PRESIDENT: Gabriel Mendoza Jr. (UC Berkeley) EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT: Queen Udofia (Irvine Valley College) SECRETARY-TREASURER: Ethan Collier-Moreno (UC Berkeley) REGION 2 DIRECTOR: Tiffany Richey (CSU Stanislaus) COMMUNICATIONS EDITOR: Andrea Guevara (CSU Stanislaus) RACIAL AND EQUIT Y AFFAIRS COMMIT TEE: Giselle Reyes (Santa Ana College), Jennifer Kay Garcia (Los Angeles Pacific University), Elias Antunez (UC Berkeley) Bright Outlook Aspiring educators come together to network, plan and organize CTA Aspiring Educators (CTA-AE) held its 2025 Spring Event on April 19-20 in Los Angeles, attended by 71 members representing 16 colleges and univer- sities from across the country. Participants discussed big-picture topics such as the state of public edu- cation as well as issues specific to the profession and to the union, including educator residencies, credentialing and chapter organizing. They also focused on community- and team-building, and elected new officers (see box). Special guest speaker and labor icon Dolores Huerta urged them to use the full spectrum of their skills. "A s a t ea ch er, y ou are alway s an organi z er in th e cl a ssro om ," sh e s ai d . " I kn ow y o u w i l l all b e great t each ers and y ou wi ll all b ecom e amazing organizers." A panel of CTA Board members that included Angela Der Ramos, Robert Ellis, Margie Granado, Eva Ruiz and DeWayne Sheaffer spoke about their converging paths as educa- tors and unionists, and how critical it has become to fight for fully staffed, safe and stable schools and improved wages and benefits for educators. Aspiring educators' energy and enthusiasm were palpable. e future of our profession is looking bright. Guest speaker Dolores Huerta inspired the crowd. "As a teacher, you are always an organizer in the classroom." —Dolores Huerta 49 M AY 2 0 2 5 Continued on Page 50 O