Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1539593
BOARD MEMBERS VanCedric Williams DISTRICT A High school social science educator Williams represents 10 counties, 109 locals and 16,000 members. He is a United Educators of San Francisco member, where he served on the executive board and in numerous leadership roles. Williams was motivated to become a teacher to inspire achievement and success in youth, especially BIPOC and those in high-need communities. He was elected to the Oakland Unified school board in 2020 and reelected in 2024; his service has included the NEA Board of Directors, CTA State Council, and the CTA Budget and Adult, Career and Technical Ed committees. Fun fact: Williams loves to garden, run 5Ks, travel with his partner and enjoy delicious meals out with friends and family. Maripaz Berlin DISTRICT B Berlin, an educator for almost 20 years, has served as pres- ident of the Oak Grove Educators Assn. and previously held multiple OGEA leadership roles. Berlin also served as Santa Clara Service Center chair and Women's Advocacy coordina- tor on the Equity Squad. She was a delegate to State Council and NEA RA for several years. An alumna of CTA's Ethnic Member Early Identification & Development program, Berlin received OGEA's WHO Award in 2018 and the State WHO Award in 2023. She co-authored resolutions on LGBTQ+ rights and a denouncement of hate crimes and bigotry against AAPI peoples for her school district. Fun fact: Berlin enjoys visiting national parks and once hiked Half Dome in Yosemite. Angela Normand DISTRICT C A special education educator, Normand has been Teacher of the Year at Adams Middle School and a participant and trainer in CTA's Ethnic Member Early Identification and Development Program. As a member of Brentwood Teachers Assn., Normand served as site representative, vice president and NEA representative. Her focus included human rights advocacy — serving locally as a contact for LGBTQ+ and women's rights issues. She is serving her second term as Trustee Area 2 on the Alameda County Board of Education. Fun fact: Normand's career in public education was pre- ceded by 10 years in the U.S. Marine Corps. Mara Harvey DISTRICT D Harvey is proud to champion student voice, educator empowerment and the role of public schools in strength- ening democracy. She became a high school social science teacher in 2002 and earned her administrative credential and master 's degree in School Leadership in 2016. She found her true calling in union work ; her pas- sion for advocacy led to her being bargaining chair, then president of Natomas Teachers Assn. Harvey has been a driving force in the community schools movement and helped the California Department of Education shape the Seal of Civic Engagement. Fun fact: Raised in a bed and breakfast in the same area she now represents, Harvey spent her formative years meet- ing people from all over the world. Shelly Gupton DISTRICT E Gupton has advocated for students and public schools for a quarter century, teaching in Richmond and Pittsburg. She is a member of the Elk Grove Educators Assn., where she served on the executive board and as State Council repre- sentative. Her local advocacy was behind the creation of EGEA's Equity Committee. Gupton served on CTA's Diver- sity Advisory Panel for three years and served as secretary and a rep for at-large locals for the Capital Service Center. As a State Council delegate, she served on the Curriculum and Instruction and Representation committees. She was one of the first educator leaders in CTA's Instructional Leadership Corps. Eva Ruiz DISTRICT F Ruiz is a bilingual elementary teacher in Fresno. She rep- resents CTA members in Stanislaus, Merced, Mariposa, Fresno and Madera counties, and served as Fresno Teachers Assn. president. She is a past FTA treasurer, negotiations team member, organizing committee activist and school site representative. The daughter of farm workers, Ruiz's CTA work includes serving on the Ethnic Minority Affairs Commit- tee, chairing the Health Benefits Advisory Committee, and serving as State Council delegate. She was a California del- egate to NEA Representative Assembly (RA) and founding member of the CA Latina Democrats of Fresno County. Fun fact: Ruiz was the first Latina president for FTA and CTA Board Member for District F. Maritza Ávila DISTRICT G Ávila's quarter-century public education career includes her role as Ethnic Studies educator/coach and reflects a steadfast commitment to educational excellence, advocacy and leadership. A champion of culturally relevant pedagogy and educational equity, Ávila won a 2021 CTA Human Rights Award. A member of Oxnard Educators Assn., she was a site rep for 10 years and State Council delegate who served on multiple committees. As NEA Director, she has participated in leadership development efforts and is vice chair of the 48 cta.org Our Union