Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1546952
VanCedric Williams DISTRICT A High school social science educator Williams represents eight counties, 107 locals and 16,000 members. 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 2024; his service has included the NEA Board of Directors, CTA State Council and the CTA Budget and Adult, Career and Technical Ed committees. He is Board liaison for the ESP Issues and Advisory Committee. Fun fact: Williams loves to garden, run 5Ks, travel with his partner and enjoy delicious meals with friends and family. Maripaz Berlin DISTRICT B Berlin, an educator in her 21 st year, helps lead CTA Commu- nity Schools work in Region 1. She has served as president and in other leadership roles at Oak Grove Educators Assn. Berlin also served as Santa Clara Service Center chair and Women's Advocacy coordinator 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 (We Honor Ours) 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 peo- ples 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, where she was just elected as Board Clerk. Fun fact: Normand's career in public education was preceded by 10 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, serving as a photojournalist. 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 Maritza Ávila has dedicated more than 28 years to public education as a middle school language arts teacher and eth- nic studies coach, advancing academic excellence, culturally responsive practices, and educational equity. Her advocacy earned her the 2021 CTA Human Rights Award. A longtime Oxnard Educators Assn. leader, she served as State Council delegate and Channel Islands Service Center At-Large repre- sentative. As an NEA Director, she contributed to leadership BOARD MEMBERS 50 cta.org Our Union