Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/726969
As a probationary teacher 23 years ago, he got the runaround when he asked administrators about being given a contract. Then his site rep inter vened, and he signed his first contract two days later. He promised her that he would become a site rep someday to pay it forward. Fifteen years later, in 2008, he kept his promise. Godoy and other GGEA reps meet with administrators regularly, not just when problems arise. It creates a "less contentious" school environment, he says. A benefit of constant com- munication is that administrators often approach site reps first to seek their opinions if they have concerns about something or want to make changes. It's definitely a sign of respect, says Godoy. The most important quality of a good site rep is… t r u st . Pe o p l e n e e d to k n ow t h at y o u w i l l ke e p t h e i r i n fo r m at i o n c o n f i d e nt i a l . Yo u h ave t h e i r b a c k . The best thing about being a site rep is… being there for others. It's an opportunity to give back and protect what we have for future generations of educators. Trustworthiness. Respect. Responsibility. Fairness. Caring. Citizenship. These words, emblazoned on the school's mural, also describe the qualities Acosta has brought to the table as a site rep for education support professionals since 2008. "I care about the students here, but I also care about employees," he says. "Improving working con- ditions for staff allows them to do a better job, which also helps students." Classified folks are sometimes a bit shy when it comes to standing up for themselves, says Acosta. So he encourages them to speak out. "Our voice is import- ant," he says. "And through CTA and involvement in our association, we can make our voices heard." I am proud… to provide members with tools to feel empow- ered. Whether employees are seeking a job reclassification or feel that too many extra duties have been piled on, I help them stand up for themselves. The best thing about being a site rep is… that I have grown as a professional. I have learned so much. I feel as though I'm making a difference. MIKE GODOY Alamitos Intermediate School history teacher G A R D E N G R OV E E D U C AT I O N A S S O C I AT I O N STEVE ACOSTA Howe Elementary School technology tech A S S O C I AT I O N O F C L A S S I F I E D E M P LOY E E S , C U LV E R C I T Y What does a site rep do? • Supports and defends members' rights. • Strives to improve working conditions. • Monitors and enforces the contract. • Represents members in meetings that could lead to disciplinary actions. • Runs elections/sur veys for association. • Maintains the association's bulletin board on campus. • Presents views of colleagues to union leadership. • Ser ves as a site organizer by communicating information in person or electronically. ? 47 September 2016