Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/381166
her potential. Lawmakers need to ensure that schools have the resources they need. Parents need to be actively involved in t h e i r c h i l d ' s e d u c a t i o n . C o m m u n i t i e s need to provide safe and nurturing envi- ronments, so that children come to school ready and eager to learn, instead of wor- ried about safety or where their next meal is coming from. So we're not in this alone. We need to continue to build alliances and to light a f ire u nd er t h os e wh o s hi rk t h ei r rol e in making sure every student succeeds. As educators we'll continue to lead, but with others on our side, we'll achieve even greater things. Ask Dean I k n o w i t m a y s o m e t i m e s s e e m l i k e we're the only ones taking on the many challenges facing our schools, but our allies are more numerous than you might think, and exciting opportunities exist to strengthen and build alliances. CTA and many of our locals have a rich history of working with others to advance the cause of public education. Election victories, like Proposition 30 and fighting off voucher initiatives and other attacks on unions, have been successful because of the partnerships we've developed and nurtured. The degree to which Common Core implementation will be successful in California is largely dependent on local and state partnerships that include teach- ers at all levels of decision-making. Our current appeal to overturn the ridiculous Vergara ruling striking down due process rights for teachers is a partnership with the California Federation of Teachers, as well as with the attorney general's office representing Governor Brown and Super- intendent Torlakson. Building those kinds of connections is extremely important and is reflected i n t h e C TA L o n g - t e r m S t r a t e g i c P l a n a d o p t e d e a r l i e r t h i s ye a r. T h e p l a n i s divided into focus areas that recognize t h a t we c a n ' t d o e ve r y t h i n g a l o n e , a n d even when we can, we do it better when we partner with others. One focus area, Community Engagement and Coalition Building, is designed not only to expand and strengthen the network of partners CTA already has, but to encourage and assist our local chapters in building local partnerships that will help advance their agenda. Building those relationships with parent groups, community organizations, and other labor will pay off big-time when it comes to school board elections, fight- ing off privatization attacks like parent t r i g ge r a t t e m p t s , a n d m a k i n g s u r e t h e voices of educators are heard more than those of district bureaucrats. S p e a k i n g o f o t h e r l a b o r, C TA w a s pleased to join with other unions to launch a new website on Labor Day weekend, the Laborhood (www.thelaborhood.org). The site is a place for workers — both union and nonunion — to share their stories and to advance the cause of fair treatment for all working men and women. In addition to the website, the Laborhood has apps ava i l a b l e f o r b o t h A p p l e a n d A n d ro i d devices. I believe that putting this spot- light on workers and unionism will help b u i l d co n n e c t i o n s a n d f u r t h e r a n o t h e r element of the Strategic Plan: Organizing Unrepresented Workers. CTA and our locals are better off for the alliances we build, and that holds true at the individual classroom level. Although simplistic education "reformers" think that classroom teachers are 100 percent of the equation when it comes to student success, we all know that simply isn't true. Having an effective teacher in every class- room is critically important, but there are many, many others who need to step up to the plate if every student is to fulfill his or H ilignatis dolupta ta sped earupta q uia v olore v olupta nes a ut volore isto om nis experei s andis. J O N AT H A N G O L D M H ilignatis dolupta t asped earupta quia v olore volupta nes e a aut volore isto om nis experei sandis. J O N AT H A N G O L D M greater things. Dean E. Vogel C T A P R E S I D E N T I t 's n o t r i g h t w h e n b a n k s a r e m a k i n g m o r e f r o m a c o l l e g e e d u c a t i o n t h a n s t u d e n t s a r e . A s e d u c a t o r s , w e c a r e a b o u t o u r s t u d e n t s a n d t h e i r f u t u r e s . W e w i l l n o t s i t b y a n d w a t c h a s fe a r o f p a y i n g fo r a h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n g e t s i n t h e w a y o f p u r s u i n g o n e . " "A t a t i m e w h e n s c h o o l f u n d i n g i s b a s e d o n a v e r a g e d a i l y a t t e n d a n c e ( A DA ) , i t i s ex t r e m e l y i m p o r t a n t fo r t r u a n c y a n d a b s e n t e e i s m t o b e m i n i m i z e d i n o r d e r fo r s c h o o l s t o r e c e i v e a c c u r a t e f u n d i n g l e v e l s t h a t w i l l c o n t r i b u t e t o s t u d e n t s u c c e s s . " DEAN ON THE ISSUES It seems like educators are often in it alone as we stand up for students or fi ght attacks on public education. How do we make sure that we're not the only ones looking out for kids and protecting our profession? Do you have an issue or topic you'd like Dean to address? Let us know. Email editor@cta.org. 4 www.cta.org