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Though that we have gotten some really great ideas. So, when you are asked what you think we can improve upon - please give us the brutal answers for what would work best for you. I have even gotten some amazing ideas on how to shorten emails .... well, how to build upon what is already sent and how to provide other avenues to reach the information after it is sent. While we are wrapping our brains around that…I’m sorry, but you will still get to read some very long and detailed messages for this year. I promise - it is coming where you would get this….and something else to make items more succinct, but for now. I will keep producing my very verbose emails to make sure that you are receiving as much information as possible.
It has been both crazy - and an absolute JOY to get out to your rooms and spend a few minutes with each of you. Meeting people in their space and seeing your classrooms, or your spaces at the school site. I feel like I’m not just talking to you but you have been kind enough to allow us in your space. Thank you for allowing us to visit and come and talk to you. Thank you for your continued openness and vulnerability to share what visions you have for TEA. Thank you for all that you do daily for the students of Tustin Unified. You are the reason students are here, your unwavering commitment to them and their future, it inspires me!!
One thing in this email is something on safety - there is a form asking you general safety questions. We at TEA see you, hear you and agree with you, that more needs to be done about safety situations in the classroom. I personally was recently kicked, punched, slapped, scratched (drawing blood) and bit by a student…yes, the same student who has a killer right hook from October. This resulted in me filling out a higher-level accident/ situation report and going to the workers comp doctor for a tetanus shot (and a very unpleasant weekend followed). While I am happy that it was me and not our member, I am disappointed and concerned for the lack of empathy, follow up, concern for myself ... .and if that is the way the President of our Union is treated, I can only guess what is happening at sites daily. We are currently working on some other options but for now - please fill out the form, and keep this to refer back to regarding safety issues. Also make sure your site reps, level directors and myself are up to date on issues regarding safety.
Here’s the latest from TEA:
- State Budget Governor’s January Proposal -
- The Governor released his proposed budget on January 10th. This is just the proposed, from this point until the May revise our state legislators and the Governor will be working on the final budget. That means the next few months are going to contain much speculation and adjustments.
- The good news at this point is that The Governor prioritized education keeping funding, and full funding, of current services. There are no cuts and no funding deferrals at this time.
- Due to lower personal income and corporate tax revenues, there is an estimated budget gap of $37.9 billion in the 2024-2025 fiscal year.
- Funds from the Proposition 98 Rainy Day Fund (prop 2, enacted by voters in 2014) are earmarked to help balance and fund Education at current level.
- Current cost of living projection for LCFF (local control funding formula) funding is 0.76% - the budget proposed utilizing state level reserves and funds appropriated or reverted to the state to support ongoing LCFF costs.
- Please release that this is just a small capture of what was presented, keep in mind that this is only a proposal and must be negotiated through the legislative process. For more detailed information follow the link HERE or press the picture above.
- Tax Information - It’s time to prepare for taxes. Please see the information below to help for the deduction question on Union Dues. This information should also be posted at your site. You are still allowed to budget at the state level and are still about to use if you are itemizing your taxes.
- Membership Matters - each and every one of you matters. This is OUR Union and it is us all working together that makes it strong.
- There should be a poster up at each site. Ideally, we wanted every member at that site to sign the poster. Your site reps should have the sharpies to sign.
- TEA Site Visits/ Interactive Bargaining Survey -
- Site Visits - With members in mind TEA is also getting out to every site and trying to speak with every member before the end of the year. You may see me, or one of our board members, or both, on your site. We are trying to get a feel of trends and the overall pulse of what is happening across the district and at each site. When at the site we are meeting with each member for about ten minutes and will ask a few questions. All information will stay in house at TEA so that we may better work with you and make our Union stronger. I was originally overzealous and thought we could cover a site a day, then I realized that left zero time to take care of any other business (like writing updates to keep everyone informed). We will not be as quick as I’d hoped, but we will be out at each and every site…soon! It's painless and we will leave you a small gift to show off your TEA membership pride. This may be left in your classrooms so that TEA is present in every classroom.
- Interactive Bargaining Survey - We did this almost two years ago to get information for our bargaining team and received some great information that will help to drive our bargaining last cycle and we're hoping to hear from each site (and each of you through the process) to help this cycle. You will have a chance to go through the process with your site reps. Remember no idea is a bad idea. Those sites without a representative, I will be reaching out soon to come and visit with you and get your ideas.
- TEA Scholarship Drive - And Application
- It’s that time of year again to help contribute to our Scholarship fund or to have your legal dependents apply. Our Scholarship is a 501(c)(3) and all donations are tax deductible. It is only through the kindness and generosity of our own members that we are able to keep paying it forward and continue to give. If every member gave $1 we would have enough for one scholarship, $10 each would grant 10 scholarships. Please help us to help our dependents of fellow members. You may give cash at your site (your reps should have an envelope); through PayPal, we also accept checks and you can even set it up to give once a month automatically. It is through our own giving that we are able to give back. Our own Vice President gives enough yearly to sponsor at least one scholarship himself. It would be great if more would be willing to give monthly.
- If you would like to donate to our scholarship fund you may make a one-time payment or you may even choose to give monthly to our fund. TEA PAYPAL
- If you’re applying please click HERE for an application. Applicants must:
- A minimum grade point average of 3.0
- Eligibility to apply to a Technical/Trade School, 2-year College, or a 4-year College or University during the 2024/2025 school year
- A legal dependent of a current member of the Tustin Educators Association
- Completion of a formal application for scholarship consideration (application must be typed)
- Recipients may only receive one (1) scholarship. Unsuccessful applicants may reapply next year.
- The number of recipients is limited to funds raised and quality of applications. Award amounts will be $1000 for 4-year applicants and $250 for Technical/Trade School or 2-year.
- Additional Conversations with the District:
- Elementary:
- School Site Safety -
- Continued discussion as it pertains to coverage of windows, both on the exterior of buildings, but also on the interior of buildings that have all windows inside.
- Continued discussions WIFI access, people should not be on the WIFI on campus, but it seems that is the only way people have access to any use of their cell phones. Most sites have poor reception, unless they use WIFI, what happens if all power is cut and there is not WIFI?
- Teacher Safety - As instances continue, there have been issues at all levels throughout the district. This is an ongoing discussion that doesn’t seem to have an end. Please make sure that you are reporting any issues to your Union reps so that we can continue to get the most recent information.
- Toileting/ Toilets - Not only do we have some sites with very few actual bathrooms for students, we also have the concerns of bathrooms not fitting the students they are meant to serve. TKs are using adult size without additional help (seat size/ footstools) and there are sites with few bathrooms for hundreds of students.
- Meeting schedules - change of
- Secondary:
- Bell schedules - Originally there was a work group that was looking at possibilities for next year. As it stands currently, we will not be going to a block schedule, but there is still a work group around this issue.
- Continued discussions on the impact of the change of schedule this year. The late start, not being able to use zero period and the later end time. TEA agrees that this is not ideal, but since the change in the law (that denied the zero period, mandated 8:30 start time, which created the later time out), we are trying to work with the district to make things work for members.
- Special Ed:
- iReady training - We have been told that they tried to spread out the training to three different times to make it more accessible for people to attend. We were also told that the training is not mandatory and you do not need to attend. If there are problems with attending you are not obligated to attend the after school.
- DRDP - For those in the elementary levels, DRDP is supposed to be coming statewide. Trying to prepare ahead they were offering for those working with the preschool and TK to train on the DRDP to be ready. We have also been told that this is not a mandated attendance training, but optional.
- Home Hospital - many of you have taken on the additional stipend work of carrying caseloads for students who are out of the classroom for an extensive amount of time. This was originally an assignment for a full time teacher, TEA worked to make sure that this became a stipend position that members could choose to take and not a position assigned as additional work for a few. I have heard that many have taken on the work and are helping both in person and online. It has now brought up the amount per hour that is being paid. That information has been given to our bargaining chair for reference and referral.
- Hospital bound students -When a member went back into the classroom that left 16 students needing coverage at our Home Hospital facility TUSD services. Originally this was going to fall to one or two as additional case load. After extensive discussion it was delegated to more members so that hopefully the impact would be felt less, but by more people. I apologize to those who felt it was not correct, as I did not hear how it was given to most of you when the caseloads were assigned. Each of the additional 11 teachers should have taken on 1 student caseload. I was reassured that this would be minimal work and would be work as a consult case manager. It was also stated that this is .... a band aid for the rest of the year and only those with SDC credentials and low caseloads (under 10) would be affected. After a week it seems that some of this has not been told to you and that all information is jumbled and answers are still being sought. TEA is working to get those answers and to better communicate what is entailed.
- SLP Work group - The original group that was started by the SLPs themselves and became the idea that we wanted for every special ed. Specialty. They have met several times this year and have been pivotal in helping to reduce the caseload sizes. The numbers are still not perfect, but they have been working as a group, and have been instructing TUSD how best to make things work for our SLPs throughout the district.
- SDC Work group - This is supposed to start soon. It would be our second/ third group starting as part of the Special Ed. Best Practices agreed upon last October.
- Psych Work Group - like above they will begin soon. Their formation has been a little slower moving, but they are due to begin work soon as well.
- SAFETY - as it pertains to you in the classroom and a survey.
- Everyone's first job it seems now in education is not just keeping the students safe, but keeping ourselves safe. I am again telling everyone to make sure to follow and watch out for themselves and each other. There are a few documents that should something happen to you, you know what to request and get from your office staff.
- If something DOES happen to you: such as getting punched or skin is scratched until you bleed:
- Ask for the confidential incident investigation report. I do not have a blank copy, but here is what the top portion of the paperwork looks like:
- Here is what one looks like - the white portions would be where I filled out the incident. Note a great picture or copy, but for reference.
- File an onsite accident report as well.
- Reach out to the following. It states on the document that these should be up and around for easy access. Please also keep in your phone, or someplace close so that you have access yourselves no matter what might happen at your site:
 
- March Election 2024
- Did you know that your general dues dollars are NOT spent on campaigns? Political Action by The Union (at the local, state or federal) is not allowed to be pulled from General Union funds.
- Orange County Board of Education is a one and done election (meaning there is no primary its only election is March) - Our county, with help from CTA, has interviewed and endorsed the following candidates. Many of you may be getting letters and postcards in support. You also should have more information on your TEA boards at each site. Please feel free to reach out for additional information. Please click HERE or on the picture for a larger copy of the flier.
- The following candidates cover these areas:
- Area 1 - Beatriz Mendoza - Fountain Valley, Santa Ana, Garden Grove, Tustin
- Area 3 - Nancy Watkins - Brea, Foothill Ranch, Irvine, Orange, Villa Park, Portola Hills, Yorba Linda, Lake Forest, Anaheim, Tustin
- Area 4 - David Johnson - Buena Park, Fullerton, La Habra, Placentia, Anaheim
  
- READ ACROSS AMERICA/ CALIFORNIA Reads - Promoting Literacy and Love of Reading All year! Elevate the love of reading by downloading these California Reads resources for your students. They have posters, bookmarks, reading helpers in different languages that you can give out to families. Aside from resources there are plenty of links to past book lists, there are always great books to be found and these are books curated by a committee of teachers and librarians. I sat on the committee and may have invested in many of the books I didn’t already have. If you like to read, love to teach reading or respect literacy check out the resources. And if you are setting up anything for the Friday, March 1st event, let us know.
- Black History Month
- American Heart Month
- National Children’s Dental Health Month
- February 2nd - Rosa Parks Day
- February 6th - Ronald Regan Day.
- February 5-9 - National School Counseling Week.
- A shout out to all of our TEA members who are counselors and manage to help all of our students, and many of us teachers along the way as well. You go above and beyond!! National School Counseling Week is to focus public attention on the unique contribution of school counselors within U.S. school systems. Highlighting the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career. National School Counseling Week is always celebrated the first full week in February. The 2024 theme is "School Counseling: Standards-Based, Student-Focused."
- February 10th - Lunar New Year - The zodiac animal for the 2024 Lunar New Year is the Dragon, the fifth of the 12-year cycle of animals that appear in the Chinese zodiac. The last year of the Dragon was in January 2012, which marked the year of the Water Dragon. This year, however, will be the year of the Wood Dragon.
- February 12th - Lincoln Day
- February 14th - Frederick Douglas Day - On Feb. 14, America observes the birthday of the iconic Frederick Douglass. Douglass was an American social reformer, abolitionist, orator, writer and statesman. After escaping from slavery in Maryland, he became a national leader of the abolitionist movement in Massachusetts and New York, becoming famous for his oratory and incisive antislavery writings. Teach your students about Frederick Douglas with these resources.
- February 15th - Susan B. Anthony Day - Susan B. Anthony helped make the fight for women’s rights a prominent message that continues today. Beginning in 1851, she and Elizabeth Cady Stanton worked for more than 50 years for women’s rights and the right for women to vote. Although she was not able to see her dream of equal suffrage before her death in 1906, her work contributed to the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920.
- February 19th - President’s Day, Washington Day -
- February 19th - Day of Remembrance - Feb. 19 is the Day of Remembrance of Japanese American Incarceration, when we acknowledge the unjust incarceration of some 120,000 Japanese Americans during World War II, approximately two-thirds of whom were born in the United States. Allowed only what they could carry, families were forced to abandon homes, friends, farms and businesses to live in 10 remote relocation centers guarded by armed troops and surrounded by barbed wire fences. Resources to help teach students HERE.
- Member Benefits:
 
- Two conferences are coming to Southern California - TEA has agreed to sponsor a certain amount of people for each. Make sure to go to tustinea.org to fill out the conference request and put in your request to the office. Once you are approved you may sign up and attend the conference. Click on the picture above to learn more about each conference and consider going. It’s a great chance to learn, expand what you are already doing, meet teachers from around the area, and TEA will help you get there to do all of that.
- New Educator Weekend South, held Feb. 23-25, is a professional development conference designed specifically for educators in their first three years in the profession. New members are also invited to attend -the Member Benefits Pre-Conference on Feb. 23 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
- CTA Equity and Human Rights, See dynamic speakers, attend interactive workshops and gain a greater understanding of the issues of diversity, equity and social justice at the Equity & Human Rights Conference, March 1-3 in Los Angeles.
- CTA Scholarships
Did you know that CTA offers financial support to CTA members and their dependents throughout the academic year? One of the benefits of being an active CTA member is havingscholarships, grants and awards available to you and your dependent children. Some of the deadlines are quickly approaching. See the opportunities below and apply now!
- CTA Scholarships are offered in the following categories. Scholarship funds must be used for education-related expenses only.
- Dependent Children
This program offers up to 35 scholarships of up to $5,000 each to a dependent child of an active member of CTA, CTA/NEA-Retired or a deceased CTA member and can be claimed as a dependent on the member's current year's IRS form.
- Dependent Children in Honor of Del A. Weber
This program offers one scholarship of up to $5,000 to a dependent child attending or attending continuation high school/alternative education programs.
- Members
This program offers up to five scholarships of up to $3,000 each to active members of CTA (including members working on an emergency credential).
- CTA Aspiring Educators in Honor of L. Gordon Bittle Memorial
Formerly known as Student CTA (SCTA) in Honor of L. Gordon Bittle Scholarship, this program offers up to three scholarships of up to $5,000 each to active members of CTA Aspiring Educators and pursuing a career in public education.
- Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Scholarship
Deadline: February 23, 2024
The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Scholarship Program encourages Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) students to become educators, school nurses, school counselors or school therapists and to promote professional growth for BIPOC teachers and Education Support Professionals (ESP) members.
- César E. Chávez and Dolores Huerta Education Awards Program
Deadline: March 1, 2024
This award program provides recognition for educators and their students who demonstrate an understanding of the vision and guiding principles embraced by César E. Chávez and Dolores Huerta.
- NEA Foundation Awards for Teaching Excellence
Deadline: March 1, 2024
The NEA Foundation Awards for Teaching Excellence recognize, reward and promote both excellence in teaching and advocacy for the profession. The awards are presented jointly by the National Education Association (NEA) and the NEA Foundation.
- Institute for Teaching Grant
Deadline: March 31, 2024
The Institute for Teaching (IFT) is currently accepting applications for our grant program. Members can apply for either an Educator Grant (up to $5,000) or an Impact Grant (up to $20,000 for teams of educators).
Members who are awarded a grant receive 100% of the funds (unlike many other grant programs where the funds are sent to the grant recipient's school district who takes a portion of the funds for administrative costs).
Visit cta.org/IFT to access our IFT Grant Program Guide, find information about an upcoming IFT grant training, or to book an appointment during our office hours on Tuesdays from 2:00-5:00 pm.
- LGBTQ+ Safety in Schools Grant & Scholarship Program in Honor of Guy DeRosa
Deadline: May 31, 2024
The grant program will support groups, projects and presentations that promote understanding of and respect for LGBTQ+ persons. In addition, the scholarship program will support self-identified LGBTQ+ active CTA/CTA Aspiring Educators members enrolled in a teacher/counseling credential or graduate program who are pursuing a career in public education and who understand the importance of LGBTQ+ educators as role models in our public schools.
- Questions? Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or IFT grants This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
- Disaster Relief:
- CTA is aware that many members’ homes and/or classrooms may be impacted by recent storms. As a CTA member, you have access to The CTA Disaster Relief Fund, a special fund that provides grants to CTA members who suffer significant losses due to natural and other disasters in California. To get more information about available grants & qualification details or to apply, please visit www.CTAMemberBenefits.org/drf. If you have any questions, CTA Member Benefits is ready to help and can be reached at (650) 552-5200 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. This program is available thanks to the goodwill of many CTA members who have made voluntary tax-deductible donations to assist fellow colleagues in need. For more information visitwww.CTAMemberBenefits.org/donate.
- Orange Service Center Poster Contest - This is a great opportunity for you to have your students, or your own children, something creative. We have several winners work up in our office and each one is beautiful and filled with a message. Get the form and informationHERE or by pressing the pictures below.
 
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Benefits:
Thank you for taking the time and reading all the way to the bottom.
I’m lucky to say that as of January 8th I have been able to devote more time to working with and for you. CTA has released me for an additional 40% (on top of my already 40%) which is why we are able to start to implement the one-on-one visits. As one of 74 presidents in the state able to accept the challenge, it requires more work on the back, but it has also made it possible for me to focus on TEA as a whole. TEA is lucky to have been chosen as one of the locals to pilot the release program for the rest of this year. I’m hopeful that this will make time for us to work together to make our Union stronger and more active with each and every member. Without U and I we cant’ be a Union.
Have a great start to your week!
In Unity,
Lisa Hickman
President, Tustin Educators Association
Teacher, Heideman Elementary School
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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