Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/458422
California public education remains under attack and CTA needs experienced leadership to meet these challenges head on. The upcoming legal and legislative battles and our response will help determine the fate of public education. That is why it is absolutely critical for CTA to elect leaders who are prepared and committed to our values of unionism, grassroots organizing and intensive member engagement as laid out in our Long Term Strategic Plan. We must be ready for the challenges the legislature, Congress and the courts may bring. Our future rests upon our ability to remain fiscally sound and to activate and increase our membership. As your Secretary- Treasurer, innovations brought under my office have kept us solvent and brought us technologically into this century. We have made strides to put CTA into the hands of every member with CTAGO and Member Benefits apps. We have made tough financial decisions that have kept CTA strong and ready to advocate for members and public education. I am a parent with a daughter in High School. I am a teacher who has taught kindergarten through middle school and currently works with non-traditional students at Youth Services in San Bernardino City Unified. I am a dedicated leader who has worked hard for years to gain the experience necessary to be CTA's Vice President. I have always done what is right for all members. My commitment to intensive member engagement is unwavering. Our members are our power. We must listen to diverse voices, creating a stronger and more effective organization where every member has access and opportunities to grow into leadership positions. I have proven my commitment to our union by engaging and connecting to our members. Together, I know we can protect public education. As your Vice President, I will fight for our vision of a strong union and be an active proponent for public education. I will use my energy and my enthusiasm for our profession to get the job done, whatever it takes. I have the experience and willingness to make tough decisions. Education and union work is what I love. I am passionate about advocating for our members and our students. I will fight the privatizers and anyone else whose goals are to destroy public education. It is important to me that WE work together to provide our students the BEST education possible and provide our members working conditions they deserve. Below are campaign statements of candidates for CTA officers in the April 2015 State Council elections. The statements are unedited and limited to 400 words. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed are those of the candidates and not necessarily those of CTA and NEA. Candidate for CTA President Michelle Raley Member, Eureka Union Teachers Association; CTA State Council member. Candidate for CTA Vice President Mikki Cichocki Member, San Bernardino Teachers Association; current CTA secretary-treasurer. Cichocki For 15 years I've been dedicated / I loved CTA so dear / Put my heart and soul into my local / Advocating without fear Went-toe-to-toe with CTA management / When my local's calls were neglected / A new staffer was swiftly sent / Once again, we were protected I resurrected my service center's website / Kept it up to date / I wrote and took CTA curriculum / All across the state Then in mid-June, / It was falling apart / By pulling away / Better support for the program I hoped to start Unbelievably, the next week / I got a call from my boss / My position was on the line / And I was at a loss Because I knew my contract well / But my local was done / And because I upset several insiders / CTA kept me on the run Couldn't get representation / Met with my understanding bosses all alone / Even though CTA told me on the phone / You're an amazing advocate / You can trust us / We'll take care of it / They were just throwing me a bone Several PERB cases later / All for Duty of Fair Rep / Dismissed does not equal innocent / Copious notes I've kept / Learned CTA bears NO responsibility to represent members / And WIDE latitude locals get CTA still owes me money / Website expenses from 2013 / And kicked me off Steering / To keep their doings behind the scene There's no policy to remove anyone / Yet, it was supposedly done / All of this so very wrong / So, a State Council seat I've won To fix CTA / Make it better for all members / It's a long way / From the status quo benders My local is a closed shop / We have to pay dues / I want to be proud to be a member / Not sing the CTA blues We need to be LIFTED UP / Stop acting out of fear / We need to be SMART / We need to do it THIS YEAR So I nominated myself last minute / All I heard was status quo / No one talking about inviting back members / Or giving us the low down on the dough CTA politics takes precedence / Over teachers' lives / We need to focus on our STUDENTS, our heart / We need our organization to get organized Teacher Driven Change / Let's show 'em what it's all about / Alone in the voting booth / Get your pencil out Vote for Michelle Raley!!! / Have no doubt / Send a message / Sure to increase our clout Raley 57 V O L U M E 1 9 I S S U E 6