Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1546952
development and national education policy. As vice chair of the NEA Hispanic Caucus, she helps advance the caucus's mission of elevating the voices of Latino/a/x educators, stu- dents and communities. A two-time Education International World Congress delegate, she has represented educators globally and continues strengthening public education through service and leadership. Nora Allstedt DISTRICT H Allstedt has 34 years of experience in three different states. Born and raised in Florida, she started her career teaching general music and band. After earning her master 's in music education she taught high school band in Georgia. Her union activism started after moving to California. She has served as bargaining chair, vice president and president of the Exeter Teachers Assn. Her organizing muscles were stretched as vice president and president of Farmersville Teachers Assn. during the "We Can't Wait" campaign. She has served on State Council and CTA/ABC (Assn. For Better Citizenship), as NEA Alternate Director and Service Center Chair. Fun fact: Allstedt has performed in 49 states and more than 50 countries. She is a woodwind specialist but her true love is the saxophone. Christopher Bushée DISTRICT I Bushée is a high school chemistry educator whose union experience comprises decades of service as grievance chair, bargaining chair, political action chair, vice president and president of the Beverly Hills Education Assn. At regional and state levels, Bushée has held multiple leadership roles, including State Council rep, CTA/ABC committee member, Legislative Sub-Committee Co-Chair of Curriculum and Instruction and delegate to the NEA RA. Honors include CTA's Theodore Bass Memorial Teacher-in-Politics Award in 2009 and WHO (We Honor Ours) Awards in 2011, 2015 and 2016. Fun fact: Bushée's wife Claudia is a longtime CTA-ESP member who assists teachers with special needs students. Mel House DISTRICT J House is a credentialed P.E. teacher currently with LAUSD's Physical Education Teacher Itinerant Program. They served on CTA's Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Issues Advisory and LGBTQ+ Conference planning committees and chaired the Equity and Human Rights Conference. A CTA State Council delegate for 13 years and NEA RA dele- gate for 15 years, House was also an active UTLA member. They served on the NEA Board of Directors for six years, the last four as CTA/NEA Coordinating Director. In 2015, they received both the NEA Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence and Global Learning Fellowship. Fun fact: House dislocated their shoulder while under- ground at Mammoth Cave National Park . Wendy Eccles DISTRICT K Middle school social studies teacher Eccles is a 23-year educator and member of NEA-Jurupa, where she served as president and held multiple leadership roles. She chaired the CTA/ABC Committee and San Gorgonio Service Center Council, was president of Citrus Belt UniServ, was a State Council delegate for 12 years and NEA RA delegate for 16 years. Eccles serves on the San Bernardino County DCC (Democratic Central Committee) and CADEM Executive Board. She is also secretary of the CADEM Labor Caucus. An organizer through and through, she facilitated the creation of the Inland Empire Coalition for Scholar Success. Her great- est honor is being mom to her kiddo, JJ. Fun fact: Eccles is an avid football fan and LA Rams season ticket holder. Ken Tang DISTRICT L Tang was six when he and his family fled Vietnam, eventually settling in Alhambra. He transformed the trauma, hunger, constant moves, language barriers and racial bullying into a call to service — pouring his life into education and social justice, advocating for students, families and teachers as a public school teacher, community volunteer and labor leader. Tang has served Garvey Education Assn. as president. He has been a State Council delegate, chaired the CTA Pacific Asian American Caucus and co-chaired the Racial Equity Affairs Committee. He served on NEA's Board of Directors and the Alhambra Unified school board. Fun fact: Each year Tang and his students select a charity to support by raising awareness through activities and fundraisers. Meg E'amato DISTRICT M E'amato, an elementary and middle school teacher in Coro- na-Norco Unified School District, was elected to the CTA Board of Directors in January 2026. A 28-year educator and member of the Corona-Norco Teachers Assn., she has served as president, vice president, bargaining team member and site representative. She also served as an area director and vice-chair of the San Gorgonio Service Center Council. A first-generation college graduate, E'amato believes every student and educator deserves to be seen, supported and empowered to reach their full potential. She is committed to advocating for strong public schools, educator voice and equity for all. Fun fact: In Italian, E'amato means "is loved," and Meg strives to make everyone she meets leave feeling exactly that, loved. 51 F A L L 2 0 26