Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/417576
C O U R T E S Y P H O T O S Feature Heroes! Weed Elementary Staff Starting school again: (kneel- ing) Vicky Connor, Kristi Wilson, Delona Jensen, Helen Larzelare, Sandy Robles, Veronica Callas, Katrina Rice, Bobbie Hall, Christi- na Fernandez, Socorro Sanchez, Vicky Eddie, Rachel Oates; (standing) Jill Poloni, Allison Blan- kenship, Alisa Cummings, Terry Fifield, Jack Leiffer, Stan Miller, Gary Hansen, Margaret Hoaglen, Kim Coots, Terry Brewer, Tyler Morrison, Dana Dillon, Carletta Puppo, Tag Pimentel, Stacey Shoemaker, Morgan McCarrier. C T A' S D I S A S T E R R E L I E F F U N D provides financial assistance to CTA members who suffer significant losses due to disasters. It's funded by voluntary contributions from CTA members, and through CTA fundraising drives throughout the year. "The assistance offered through CTA was wonderful. So far only teachers who had to relocate classrooms applied for the grant. I'm encouraging the others to do so, as well." says Kim Coots, Weed Classroom Teachers Association president. The standard grant offers up to $1,500 for significant economic hardship related to damage to a member's primary residence and displacement or disruption in required utilities. Members can also get grants: • For catastrophic damage, if damages exceed $50,000. • Up to $500 for those who are displaced from their primary residence as the result of a disaster, but do not meet the require- ments for a standard grant. • For damage to a classroom or school site up to $500. If you need financial assistance, visit ctamemberbenefits.org. To donate to the fund, contact membership@cta.org. CTA supports members in crisis "I'm most thankful that all the staff worked as a team amid the panic to get all the kids out safely," says bus driver Carletta Puppo (left). "It was emotional and sad to pass kids and teachers walking to the evacuation zone" as she drove the bus. She knew it would be faster to stick to the plan and load everyone at once. "It was hard because I could see the flames approaching behind the students and staff members." Most of the homes on the road from the elementary school to the high school burned down about 10 minutes after the kids walked down the street. Puppo says, "All staff had no doubt the school was gone when we left." Miracuously, the school build- ings survived. "I'm thankful that we had practiced our school evacuation drill," says Weed Elementary School Principal Alisa Cummings (right). "The staff did a great job leading the kids out, and it was obvious the kids knew what to do as well. The staff never showed fear. And now, this is how much they love their students: We had a staff meeting three days after the fire. Here's a staff who went through this huge, traumatic event. They don't have purses, cards — cur- riculum! They had two questions: When can we see our kids, and when can we open the school?" teamwork THANKFUL FOR: evacuation plans THANKFUL FOR: 12 www.cta.org