Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/969549
B E T Z , A M E M B E R of the Charter Oak Educators Association, ensures that special education stu- dents have the same access and opportunities as their general education peers. She works closely with her district's faculty and staff to help them understand the needs of students with physical and mental challenges. She teaches students to become " We make sure they're able to access their education and take part in all of the activities." Ann Betz Physically/Mentally Challenged Students' Issues Human Rights Award 62 cta.org CTA & You Mary Levi American Indian/ Alaska Native Human Rights Award in Honor of Jim Clark " A goal for me was to let our Native commu- nity see that CTA is on their side." A M E M B E R O F the Upland Teachers Association, Levi is an active voice for American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) education issues on the local, state and national levels. Her passion has always been in educating others on Native American culture and language, and society 's effects on Native students. As chair of CTA's AI/AN Caucus, she connected with the California Native community to support legis- lative efforts to secure credentials for tribal members to teach their lan- guage, and to introduce curriculum change regarding California Native history for all grades. Levi has advised CTA State Council on topics of mascots, stereotyping and California history, including Alice Piper v. Big Pine and the Relocation Act of 1973. She serves on CTA's Ethnic Minority Affairs Committee, is chair of the NEA AI/AN caucus, and is also helping other state associations develop their own AI/AN caucuses. See Levi talk about her work at tinyurl.com/mlevi. Lucia Lemieux Leadership in Lesbian and Gay Issues Human Rights Award in Honor of Nancy Bailey " I'm just there for them. I listen, mostly, and make them feel comfortable." I T S T A R T E D I N 2011 when Lemieux took the small group of students that made up the Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) club on campus (now called Genders & Sexualities Alliance) and expanded it into an outstanding orga- nization that made Newbury Park High School a safe place for all students and faculty. A member of the Unified Association of Conejo Teachers, she established GSA clubs at all high schools and changed the culture at the Conejo Valley School District. In spring 2012, Lemieux helped publicize the GSAs' first Day of Silence, then largely unknown. It became a huge success. She received a CTA Guy DeRosa scholarship and used it to help create the annual interdistrict Under the Rainbow dance, fund bus trips to the Models of Pride and Creating Safe Spaces conferences, and create a literary and art magazine featuring LGBTQ+ students and their allies. Lemieux created a workshop for her high school explaining the differ- ences between the LGBTQ+ labels. She pre sents at Models of Pride, and serves as UACT 's GLBT issues chair, as well as human rights contact for her service center. See Lemieux talk about her work at tinyurl.com/llemieux. Julie Zeman Brady CTA Member Human Rights Award " I try to instill in them that every small act of kindness makes a big difference." Z E M A N B R A D Y , vice president of the Piner-Olivet Educators Association, has been a mentor for many years to high school students interested in becoming teachers. In fact, many of her former students are now working toward their teaching credentials. She is also involved in developing community-focused activities such as food and coat drives, and Pennies for Patients. When wildfires broke out in California, she gathered donations throughout her district to support fam- ilies in need. She even worked with a nonprofit group to give each primary grade student at the most devastated school a stuffed animal. While doing all of these amazing things in her community, she manages to devote a significant amount of time to protecting the rights of educators. See Zeman Brady talk about her work at tinyurl.com/jzeman-brady.