Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1544915
CTA Board Member Jesse Aguilar, NEA Director Rafael Gonzalez and CTA/ABC Committee Member Ed De La Vega stand in front of the Alice Piper statue. High-Level Connections T H E 18 2 - M I L E Inyo-Mono Run in the Eastern Sierra is an annual event that brings together our union members from 10 High Des- ert locals along with chapter and CTA leaders and staff. This year 's run took place April 21–24. Runners visited multi- ple school sites along the way, bringing lunch to educators as well as CTA informational materials. These included handouts on our union's work and mission, professional development opportunities and member benefits. About 400 educators in total joined to break bread and connect with colleagues, as the 18 runners hit almost every site of the locals in the area. Big Pine High was one of the stops. The school was where 15-year-old Paiute student Alice Piper was denied entry due to her race. She successfully sued the dis- trict in 1924 to integrate classrooms and allow indigenous students to attend. In June 2014, a statue outside Big Pine High marked Piper 's contributions to improving educational equality for Native Americans in California. June 2 is now Alice Piper Day. The 2026 run coincided with local We Honor Ours (WHO) celebrations. Bishop TA, Inyo County TA, Owens Valley TA and Southern Inyo TA handed out awards on April 22, and Mammoth EA, Mammoth ESP and Mono County Office of Education EA followed suit the next day. (Big Pine EA, Round Valley EA and Eastern Sierra TA round out the 10 locals.) Congrats to all! Photos below: The Mono WHO Awards celebration in Mammoth Lakes. Runners brought lunch for educators at Mammoth Elementary. About 400 educators took the opportunity to lunch and connect with colleagues. 55 S P R I N G 2 0 26 C