Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/994766
I S T H E R E A S T U D E N T in your household who could use financial aid? Are you enrolled in coursework for professional advancement and need funds to defray costs? See page 58 for details on educational scholarships, grants and awards available for members and their dependents throughout the academic year. Scholarships, Grants and Awards, Oh My! Mono Lake Committee educators prepare to teach remotely. C A L I F O R N I A I S A S T A T E of many superlatives: the tall- est, oldest trees in the world; the lowest, hottest point in the Western Hemisphere; and so on. A magazine stor y some years ago also mentioned that the state is " home of the weirdest rocks." ose would be Mono Lake's tufa towers, the strangely beautiful cal- cium carbonate spires formed by the interaction of freshwater springs and alkaline lake water. Educators in Mono County know their value. "Teaching here is a scientist's dream," says Julia Silliker, Eastern Sierra Teachers Association. "We definitely live in a place that's like no other." As our story "Timeless Lessons" (page 28) shows, study of the towers not only involves hands-on geology, but also the rich history of Native American tribes and the more recent political actions to restore the lake. And with technology, even those who live far from the area can view and learn all about it. "Hands-on" certainly describes Whole Brain Teaching, an approach that maximizes student engagement and is aligned with the way the brain learns. Techniques include assigning hand and arm gestures to instructional content, and call-and-response phrases that grab attention. Read how Carlanda Williams, Fresno Teachers Associa- tion, embraces the method in "Learning, Maximized" on page 16. An alarming rise in human and sex trafficking among our chil- dren and youth — California has the highest number of incidents reported in the U.S., another extreme — means that educators must be on alert for students who may be victims. Our report "A Vile Epidemic" (page 22) contains tips to help educators know what to do if they suspect trafficking. e issue has enormous ramifications. "If students are intercepted by human traffickers, all [educators'] work could be for naught, and the psychological and physical effects are immense," says Rickeena Boyd-Kamei, San Diego Education Association. Learning doesn't stop past a certain age, as those who work in adult education (AE) know. AE serves a population that is often overlooked, and AE educators are often similarly neglected. "We stay because we do important work," says Pittsburg Education Associa- tion's Jean MacDonald of helping adult students gain life and work skills. She and Elza Hess are pushing for fairness and respect for AE Weird Rocks, and Other Extremes programs and teachers; see "Are Adults Being Served?" (page 52). Similarly, teachers at California Virtual Academies (C AVA) and iQ Academy California – L os Angeles felt K12 Inc., their corporate owner, was increasingly focused on profits, resulting in deteriorating instruc- tional programs, lack of resources for students, and underpaid, overworked teachers. As described in "How CAVA Teachers Won a Contract" (page 35), educators overcame daunting obstacles to unionize, mobilize and negotiate collective bargaining agreements. Finally, another superlative: California's unrivaled innovations and innovative spirit. Witness the aquapon- ics greenhouse in "Happy Campers" (page 56), designed and built by students at Temecula Valley High School with a $20,000 grant from CTA's Institute for Teaching. e greenhouse grows tilapia, whose waste feeds leafy greens such as spinach and kale. is food is donated to a local food pantry and used in the school's new culinary arts program. In addition, students are hosting summer camps for younger kids in the greenhouse. Here's hoping you're a happy camper this summer. Katharine Fong E D I T O R I N C H I E F editor@cta.org 7 J U N E / J U L Y 2 018 E D I T O R ' S N O T E