WE DID IT!! 

 In less than 24 hours you will be onto your Summer and hopefully working towards your time to enjoy yourself! 

Here’s the latest from TEA:  

• TEA Sweatshirts and T-Shirts - 

  • Thank you to everyone who ordered a shirt or sweatshirt. We had over 325 orders in two different orders. I love walking on campuses and seeing people wearing their TEA pride. This was so successful, and comfortable! If you have pictures of you wearing your SWAG - or better yet, wearing it with friends who are also wearing their TEA pride - snap a picture and send it to us. We would love to see you wearing the new SWAG in the new color!

• CTA POSTERS

  • If you ordered CTA posters, those were delivered to your sites this week. Apologies for the delay, but the SWAG above was the first to go out and then the posters. Everyone got a few extra so that they could hopefully protect the ones that you ordered. Please share with friends and let us know if you are interested in any others. Please click HEREor on the picture link below to see what is available. 

• Employment Updates/ Info- 

  • As of this moment almost 95% of all temporary employees have been offered employment again for next year - if you have not yet - please reach out to your site reps, or reach out to me directly and I can start asking the reasons. The number one reason that has been the most discussed over the last few weeks is numbers at the sites members are currently located. Some temporary employees are at sites where numbers are down and due to that the placement for them to return is not available at this time. I know of a few and I have been asking, almost on the daily, about prospects, growth at other sites, openings and possible growth at the site they currently are located. It is because of this that the district put out the openings two weeks ago with a quick turnaround so that ALL employees would have the opportunity to apply if there were openings and openings were still available as a transfer for temporary employees. 

  • If you do not have a contract and still are not promised a contract, you may file for unemployment. Please follow the link HERE or through the picture below. The caveat is that if you sign up and you then receive a call and a job offer, you MUST call and stop any benefits you are getting from unemployment immediately.

• End of the Year Celebration at BJ’s

  • We had 90  members attend our End of the Year Social at BJ's. There was pizza, pasta, pizookies and prizes. Thank you to all that attended! TEA is looking forward to having more member engagement events once the school year is back in session next year.

• Administration Survey  -
  • Thank you to everyone who filled out and responded to the Administrator Survey. All administrators have received a copy. They were also sent by level, elementary/ secondary to the Assistant Superintendents of Educational Services, Dr. Villegas and Dr. Matos. Dr. Johnson and Dr. De La Torre in Personnel were sent all levels. Site Reps are able to come to the office to view so that they may report back to the sites/ members.

• Special Education Survey - 

  • Our Special Education Survey was also completed and is in the process of being sent to Dr. Christmas as the head of Special Education, Dr. De La Torre in HR and our Superintendent Dr. Johnson. Each coordinator and person who oversees Sped. areas will also sent a copy of their own survey. Site Reps are able to come to the office to view so that they may report back to the sites/ members. 

• Retirement  - 

  •  If you are lucky enough to be retiring this year (YEAH FOR YOU!!!) Please make sure to communicate that to the district, meet with CalSTRS and make sure that our office knows as well - 714.505.6365 - As part of your retirement TEA will be paying for your first year in CTA Retired. If you would like to join with a lifetime membership or extend that please check out the information HERE

 

• Please Remember - 

  • If you are not returning to TUSD, make sure that anything that is of importance you take off of the TUSD email (you will lose access quickly) or off of your Google drive. That means if you are using TUSD Google to store your lesson plans, or anything else, it belongs to the district. Once you lose access to email, you also lose access to their Google storage. Make that you have cleared and saved anything that you plan to use again. 

  • If you are leaving - this is a pretty awful video for the person's tone but he seemed to have a faster way to download most, if not all of your Google files more quickly. VIDEO HERE - if any of you know of a faster way, or a better video please let us know. 

UPDATE FROM NEA ON FEDERAL EDUCATION ISSUES

• Most of you may not want to hear any updates at this time, but in order to keep you completely up to date with what we know and are hearing from CTA/NEA and any of our partners..I would rather provide more, not less information so that you will also know. In these situations it doesn’t matter who you voted for at any level, who you currently support or what you think of either political party - this is the situation we all are in and coming from a place of support for public education as a whole. It doesn’t matter who the people are, it matters what the policy is and what is being funded, or not, so that we know how our classrooms will be funded, or not. 

• The State of California is still waiting for all of the cuts that could be at the federal level to see what transpires. Last week in an Education Budget hearing in Sacramento the The California Department of Education, along with input from the Legislative Analyst Office stated they still had not seen anything about what their anticipated budgets were going to look like. All cuts, and all budget items are just projected and wish options at this time.  

• The issue is that the rumors are beyond the cuts already assumed that will be in Title 1 and Special Education, there are other areas that the Feds help to fund that are also being mentioned. Like anything these can change, areas can be added or removed, and we do not even know what percentages of those currently mentioned will be cut for the coming school year. 

• Last week the Department of Ed. had a win in the courts and retention of staff and complete gutting of the department. Everything that happens at the federal level will ultimately affect what happens at the state and in our classrooms. The first things set to be cut are special education and title one funding. Having staff remain means we still have people working on anything that comes our way and helps us to retain normalcy for as long as possible.

• If you would like to stay up to date over the Summer months (or just in general) - please click the link HERE, or the picture below, to follow the National Education Association and what is happening on the national front in Education Advocacy. 
  

• CALIFORNIA INFORMATION/ ISSUES:  

  • FACTS: California Governor issues his revised budget proposal this month and now our legislators are discussing and negotiating what will stay and what may go. We appreciate his and the Legislature’s ongoing commitment to California’s public schools considering all issues with the budget. The revised budget reflects our values ensuring that our students - preschool through community college - have the necessary resources to succeed. Education was very lucky compared to those who do not have consideration in the Prop 98 funding. Even with that there are still items and issues that are of concern/ interest. The Legislature must pass the Budget Bill by June 15th. 

    • Positives: includes increased funding for teacher recruitment, professional development, and expanded learning opportunities. Specifically, the budget proposes - other good news:

      • COLA currently being listed at 2.3% 

      • Teacher recruitment incentive Grant - Money for stipends for student teachers

      • National Board Certification Incentive Program - $100 million one-time Prop 98 funding to extend the timeline. 

      • increased funding for the Golden State Teacher Grant program $50 million to support existing programs. 

      • a discretionary block grant for districts to use for teacher training and support. 

        • Professional Development for teachers on ELA/ELD framework and the literacy roadmap, to support literacy for English learners. 

        • PD for teachers on the Math Framework

        • Career pathways and dual enrollment expansion efforts. 

      • Full implementation and expansion of universal transitional kindergarten (T-K), making it accessible to all four-year-olds and reduction of student to adult ratio from 12:1 to 10:1. With additional $1.2 billion ongoing to support lowering the ratio. 

    • Items to Watch:

      • Taxes from the areas hit by LA fires have until October to pay, so budgets are uncertain. Add that to the uncertainty of the monies normally provided by the federal education funding. 

      • Adjustments in Prop 98 Guarantee, cutting 4.3 Billion from the proposed January budget. 

      • The projected decrease in prop 98 Guarantee triggers a mandatory withdrawal from the Prop 98 Rainy Day Fund - of $540 million from the Fund for next year, exhausting the Fund balance. 

      • The unknown of what may be cut, or altered, that is normally funded by the National Department of Education.  

    • Ways to Help: 

      • Call your legislative representatives at the state level. Ask that they maintain all prop 98 funding and that they work to ensure that all monies in education be used directly for students and their learning in the classroom. Don’t know who your representatives are…use this link or the one below. 

        

      • State lawmakers are a valued partner in the budget process and we are counting on them to thoughtfully negotiate a balanced approach for this year’s budget with consideration for future budgets also. California has been fortunate to enjoy good economic times for the last decade, thanks in large part to funding resulting from two CTA-backed, voter approved ballot measures (Props 30 & 55) that helped stop the deep budget cuts. We have been able to build back programs and services to meet the needs of the “whole child.” 

      • Last week local association presidents were in Sacramento to help CTA in delivering the importance of what is needed in the California budget so that education priorities remain in the forefront as they work on the final parts of the budget. 

      • If you are able to contact and speak to your legislators please do - it is important that the legislators continue to make education a priority. If you are parents of children in public education that is also a positive thing because you are now not just a constituent, but also a concerned parent and an educator. Lawmakers and their offices record and monitor how many calls they get on topics so that they can use their data to help them vote, or work on bills and situations. It’s like our civic running records and assessment data that they need and we volunteer to give as constituents.

• Ongoing Issues/ information at the State Level

  • While it would be nice to say that everything is perfectly fine and that there are no concerns or worries beyond the possible shift of federal funding and issues of finances at our state level…because this is education and things are changing and moving so much there always seems to be something at the State Level that will impact us directly at our District/ Sites/ Classrooms more than we realize now for next year, or long term. I would love to just provide you with Unicorns and Rainbows and make it all be and feel OK - but in all transparency and for those that like to geek out on all the policy and issues here is some more:

    • Declining Enrollment is statewide - The growth is in some areas, but the majority of districts throughout California are facing declining enrollment and Orange County is one listed as one of the major areas. There is an article in EdSource that gives more numbers and good information if you like to read about some of our realities as it pertains to numbers. HERE IS A LINK TO THE ARTICLE - or push the picture below. 

• If you are interested in staying up to date at the state level check out Ed Source - you can sign up for their daily/ weekly updates. There is always something of interest I find to help understand and follow what is happening in Education in California.

• Ongoing Conversations with the District:

  • Temp Vs. Prob. Vs. Permanent -  

    • We are still and will continue to work on this topic. The first concern currently is to make sure that ALL members are hired back before we are able to continue the fight for permanency. We have to see what contracts are offered and continue to fight ongoing ones once contracts are signed. It is not forgotten, but first is to get contracts signed. If when you are signing, make sure to get a copy of your contract for yourself. 

    • TEA Took all of the items that were sent from our one survey and created our own list with names of people who had been temporary for over two years. Many of those that have contracts stating they are holding a position for someone out of the classroom, or they are funded through other funding sources, were the ones we looked at first. It was amazing how many have that as a contract listing. We have requested to find out which funding source and/ or which job they are saving a spot for. We continue to ask and want more transparency for both TEA and for those whose contracts are stating the above. 

    • We also have had the discussion regarding those that we believe have the rights and are easiest to move over without question. These tend to be those with specialized credentials, Nurses, TK (who now need to have their 24 ECE units complete by August 2025 to teach), Special Education educators (SLPs, Psych, SAI, SDC…), Counselors, and VAPA teachers who can be tied to Prop 28 monies when expanding their classes (as has been done). TUSD did move over about 30-36 in the last month, but all were special education credentialed members. 

    • We are working daily to try and retain and get our members into probationary and permanency. We wish we had answers as fast as people want it, but this will continue to be a primary focus.

  • Numbers for next year - 

    • This continues to be an ongoing conversation, almost daily at this point, as they weigh sites who have to go down in staffing and those that get to stay the same. The goal of TUSD is to make sure that sites have stability but also that those that have to move due to overstaffing will be the first to move. Followed by those that put in transfers, and then placement 

    • If you have not been contacted and still have questions please reach out to me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. so that I may inquire directly about you personally.

• BARGAINING UPDATE/ TEAM : 

  • Would you like to be part of the bargaining team? Would you like to help make all voices in our union heard? Get involved!!! We have committees and groups for every type of interest, and if we don’t we can always start them. Everything from Political Action, to Human Rights, to our Bargaining Team. Click the link below to connect and sign up (it’s not a contract, we will let you sign up and get information and still ponder). FORM HERE

  • If you have a great idea for a committee we also welcome all ideas and are open to new committees. This year we started our Social Committee and that started as a comment at an event - and the rest was history. 

  • SOME OF YOU MAY EVEN BE HEARING FROM ME THIS SUMMER BY EMAIL/ TEXT - THERE ARE SEVERAL NEW COMMITTEES OR COMMITTEE POSITIONS AND I WANT TO TALK TO SOME OF YOU TO SEE IF YOU WOULD BE INTERESTED IN JOINING US. I promise I won’t take much time, but I know right now that neither of us has the time to try and fit in another meeting. So, please, if I reach out and ask you some questions - don’t just say NO. I have thought this out and I have spent the last year making lists of people who may be ideal for different areas. There are so many great ideas and great people with advocacy to work on making all that we do a better place. TEA may need, and want, some of you before you even know you want to help out :0) 

  • If you are interested in doing some Union work - we promise not to take too much and work within what your comfort zone is - please go ahead and fill out the following so we know to contact you first FORM HERE. 

• Member Benefit Services - One of the perks of membership are the benefits that you have access to. So many of us forget that through our state (CTA) and national (NEA) partners we have access to a multitude of resources. You may see some below or check out their webpage HERE. 

  • THE STANDARD - Family Status Change Enrollment Opportunity

    • CTA members who experience any of the life events below may qualify for the Family Status Change enrollment opportunity. That means they're eligible to apply for CTA-endorsed Disability insurance and up to $400,000 of CTA-endorsed Life insurance1 from The Standard, without having to answer health questions,2 as long as they apply within 60 days of the qualifying event.

      • Marriage, divorce or legal separation 

      • Initiation or dissolution of a domestic partner relationship 

      • Birth or adoption of a child 

      • Death of a spouse/domestic partner or child 

      • Commencement or termination of a spouse/domestic partner’s employment 

      • Change in employment from full-time to part-time by member or member’s spouse/domestic partner 

      • Members have 60 days from the event to apply or make a change. They can apply online at standard.com/cta/fsc.

• Conferences/ interests: 
  • NATIONAL BOARD - The National Board Summer Series, funded by an NEA grant, will again offer two summer sessions on the National Board Certification process. There will be one in northern California and another one in southern California. The sessions will be led by experienced National Board Certified Teachers and provide participants with a deep understanding of National Board Standards, the Architecture of Accomplished Teaching, National Board Components, and Strategies for Success.

  • The northern California session will be at the CTA regional office in Natomas (Sacramento) from June 24-26, 2025. The southern California session will be embedded in the elective sessions during the Instruction and Professional Development Strand at CTA’s Summer Institute which will be held at the Bonaventure Hotel in downtown Los Angeles from July 16-20, 2025. See the flyer below for registration information.
    
     

  • NATIONAL BOARD - BIPOC COHORTS - CTA also received a grant to recruit Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) teachers to seek National Board certification. Through an application process, teachers of color will be chosen to participate in the project and receive additional support from the UCLA National Board Project or the Stanford National Board Resource Center. See the flyer below for more information.
    
    
    If you or your colleagues are interested in learning more about National Board certification, please join us at NBCT Summer Series. If you are a partner or an organization that supports quality teaching, please share with your community or networks. If you have any questions, please email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Thank you for your kind consideration.

• Over the Summer - 

  • TEA will be working over the Summer - our office is open and while we may have shorter hours, we are still working to make sure that things are ready for when we return in August. There will also be meetings and working with TUSD over the Summer on the above items and more as we build new committees, work to improve and prepare for our whole contract being open next year, attend several conferences, and work to move forward starting next year.

Normally as I sit down to write these I start to think about all the recent issues, who has what concerns and I see a sea of faces of members that I have visited with, spoken with, or happen to be thinking about. There are no easy jobs in education and each year it seems to provide us with a whole new level of requests and items to put on our plates. These jobs are overwhelming and all consuming. 

In spite of the pressure and intensity, each of you continues to show up and do what is best for the kiddos in this district. You give of your own family time, you give out of your own income to make sure that kids are supported, educated, actively learning and…if there is time, having fun while doing it all together. YOU are the reason that Tustin is a success, YOU are the reason that thousands of kids will move up a grade, promote, graduate, leave special ed services, or start them next year. YOU are the reason for the happiness and safety of so many - I see YOU and I honor YOU for all that you have done this year. I think YOU for what you do and I am so thankful for all that you are! 

Please enjoy your Summer break! Take this time to rest, relax, read a few books, or read nothing. Do that which brings you joy and take care of yourselves and those that you love. 

Rest, Relax, Enjoy! See you in August! 
 

In Unity and Appreciation,
Lisa Hickman

President, Tustin Educators Association
Itinerant Teacher, Heideman Elementary 
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 
714.505.6365 -office
949.378.6723 - cell