Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/795366
"To take back basic rights of transgender students at public schools nationwide sends a clear message: This administration does not care about all students. At CTA, we do. We have led the way in providing safe lear ning environments for transgender and all students, and we are not about to stop now." — CTA President ERIC HEINS, from his Feb. 23 press statement criticizing President Trump's decision to roll back the rights of transgender students. California law still allows transgender students to use restrooms and locker rooms consistent with their gender identity. "All students deser ve a safe and suppor tive school environment. California will continue to work to provide that environment for our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students, regardless of any misguided directives by the federal government and the Trump administration." — State Superintendent of Public Instruction TOM TORL AKSON, in a Feb. 22 news release. "I went into teaching thinking that it was all about the music. And I quickly realized after that, that music is just an avenue to teach them how to live their lives." — 2017 Grammy Music Educator KEITH HANCOCK, choral director at Tesoro High School in Capistrano Unified School District, in a Feb. 8 CBS T V news interview. See our story on page 45. " The district has made these decisions without speaking to educators, parents or students about what they need or don' t need. We are the ones at the schools ever y day, working with students, suppor ting students, and giving ever y thing to ensure our students succeed." — San Diego Education Association Vice President KISHA BORDEN, speaking at a Feb. 27 news conference to oppose reckless proposals by San Diego Unified to lay off hundreds of educators next year due to overreaction to preliminary budget projections. "They build walls. We build communities." — Slogan on a Los Angeles billboard with two large photos of President Trump and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos beside numerous photos of educators and students, part of the ongoing United Teachers Los Angeles campaign to protect public schools. 5th Excellent national ranking of California high school graduates for the percentage who scored at least 3 out of 5 on an Advanced Placement exam during their high school years, according to a Feb. 22 California Department of Education news release. 164 Estimated number of San Francisco Unified School District jobs that will remain unfilled at the start of the new school year this fall, the San Francisco Examiner reported in a Feb. 27 story about United Educators of San Francisco contract talks, the teacher shortage, and soaring housing costs. $185,669 Average salary of a San Francisco tech worker last year, compared with $68,130 for the city 's teachers, counselors and librarians this year, the San Francisco Examiner reported. 21% Percentage of generated wealth by which CalSTRS' defined-benefit pension exceeds a 401(k)-style plan for educators who begin working at age 25 and retire at 55, according to recent research at UC Berkeley. 44% Percentage of Americans who approve of how President Trump is doing in office, according to a national NBC/Wall Street Journal poll published Feb. 26; 48 percent disapprove. 12 cta.org in the know Compiled by Mike Myslinski Quotes & Numbers THE NUMBERS