AT CTA STATE COUNCIL in April, a member and several locals were recognized with the 2023 Member-in-Politics Award in Honor of Ted Bass and the Chapter-in-Politics Award in Honor of Joyce Fadem.

The latter award, named for the late CTA director of Governmental Relations Joyce Fadem, honors locals that make outstanding contributions to their communities throughout the state through effective organizing in political campaigns. Natomas Teachers Association received the award for Rookie Chapter, Woodland Education Association received the award for Small Chapter and Orange Unified Education Association received the award for Medium Chapter. (“Rookie” means the chapter has not been politically active prior to the election for which the nomination is submitted.)

The Member-in-Politics Award is named for the late CTA political consultant Ted Bass and recognizes an outstanding teacher in politics for their effective organizing in political campaigns. Amie Stewart of Teachers Association of Paramount (TAP) received the 2023 award.

Amie Stewart, Teachers Association of Paramount

Stewart serves as TAP vice chair and Political Action Committee chair and oversees TAP’s role in endorsing candidates for school board elections. Stewart was also elected to the Bellflower Unified School Board in November 2022, is a member of the Long Beach Democratic Club and a delegate for the LA County Federation of Labor.

Woodland Education Association, north of Sacramento with more than 500 members, was part of a diverse coalition that included parents, students, labor unions, democratic groups and Pride organizations that became involved in a recall election campaign. In June 2023 the local school board voted to adopt a Pride Month resolution supporting all students. One trustee made homophobic and transphobic remarks during the meeting and on social media and days later, Woodland EA’s executive board voted unanimously to spearhead her recall. By November, enough verified signatures had been collected for the recall to qualify for the 2024 March Primary Election ballot. The trustee lost her seat. While Woodland EA is in the early stages of etching their political involvement path, they are clearly growing their collective strength in local politics.

Natomas Teachers Association (NTA), based in Sacramento with 600 members, seized the opportunity to become involved in a special election in 2023 when a school board member resigned. Five candidates entered the race and NTA endorsed CTA-Retired member Brenda Borge. NTA worked hard to make sure the community knew the importance of this election, increase voter turnout and form partnerships and coalitions. Working with CTA Governmental Relations staff, NTA rolled out a postcard campaign, ran digital ads and distributed mailers and door hangers. Partners including Elk Grove TA, Sacramento City TA and Twin Rivers United Educators helped canvas the community from September through November. NTA narrowed down the approximately 9,000 voters to “likely voters” and knocked on 4,000 doors.

Other candidates in the race raised over $30,000 in campaign contributions from special interests and local charter schools. In the end, the NTA-endorsed candidate was not victorious, but the experience ushered in a new era where building organizational structures and coalitions will lead to success for NTA in future elections.

Orange Unified Education Association (OUEA), with nearly 1,300 members, is in Orange County — well known for its political volatility. The new school board of Orange Unified School District recently fired the superintendent and triggered a special election that cost half a million dollars. It also passed a “Parent Bill of Rights” that temporarily banned a digital library and passed a forced outing policy targeting transgender students.

Orange Unified EA member and State Council Representative Nate Dawson, OUEA Vice President Karin Barone and OUEA President Greg Goodlander

But the community rose in opposition, forming a parent-led coalition to recall two school board members. OUEA received donations from other local CTA chapters to stop the extremist takeover of schools, including Westminster, Anaheim, Saddleback, Tustin, La Habra, Buena Park and Capistrano. Members were subjected to threats of violence and harassment; they and coalition volunteers helped gather signatures, canvass, write postcards and make phone calls. The recall, on the 2024 March Primary Election ballot, was successful. As a result, OUEA members are more politically aware and active than ever before, and OUEA recently joined the Orange County Labor Federation.