Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/166026
CTA &You Leadership MORE ABOUT JOE NUÑEZ Teacher at Ernest Righetti High School in the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District from 1975 to 1994. Executive Director of the Stockton Teachers Association from 1995 to 1997. CTA Legislative Advocate from 1997 to 2000. CTA Assistant Executive Director for Region II from 2000 to 2004. Associate Executive Director of Governmental Relations from 2004 to 2013. Appointed CTA Executive Director in 2013. Meet Joe Nuñez CTA's New Executive Director J O E N U Ñ E Z is no stranger to CTA or the teaching profession. He's spent his entire career either educating California's children or fighting for their rights, as well as the rights of educators. A California native born to farmworkers in the Central Coast, Nuñez stayed close to home to attend college, earn his master's, and begin his teaching career. His union involvement started as a teacher leader and president of the Santa Maria High School District Faculty Association, where he led a successful monthlong strike in 1990 over pay and benefits. Five years later he was hired by CTA. Since that time, Nuñez has served in many capacities, all with great success. His leadership in the 2005 and 2012 campaigns helped educators all across California maintain a strong voice in their profession. He is well respected by members, colleagues, lawmakers and governors. Joe Nuñez was seven days on the job as the first Latino executive director of CTA when we sat down with him and CTA President Dean E. Vogel during CTA's Summer Institute. Let's listen in on their conversation… 60 Educator 09 Sep 2013 v3.6 int.indd 60 Dean Vogel and Joe Nuñez catch up at CTA's Summer Institute. Q: A: D E A N : If someone told me when I starting teaching that I would be the president of CTA, I would have laughed pretty hard. It wasn't something I ever imagined. Are you having a similar reaction? I thought I'd be a teacher for the rest of my life, and in many ways I still am a teacher. CTA's given me more opportunities than I ever dreamt to experience great teaching and to advocate for teachers. This job allows me to give back and to help achieve the goals of the organization. JOE: S E P T E M B E R 2013 9/3/13 2:27 PM