Longtime teacher and current Morro Bay City Council member Dawn Addis is looking to elevate her advocacy for the Central Coast in the Capitol as a member of the State Assembly.

The CTA-endorsed candidate for Assembly District 30, Addis is a Teacher on Special Assignment (TOSA) for English Learner and Intervention Programs in San Luis Coastal Unified School District, where she has taught for 22 years. The San Luis Coastal Teachers Association (SLCTA) member is running in the June 7 Primary Election to be a champion for the Central Coast in the state Legislature.

“The Central Coast deserves a leader who works as hard as we do,” Addis said. “As the cost of living rises and we face some of the most difficult issues of our time, I want to solve problems and make our home an even better place to live. There’s nothing our communities can’t achieve if we work together and prioritize helping people over politics.”

Addis decided now is the time to rise to lead at a state level because she said too many people do not see themselves reflected in decision-making bodies – something especially true for educators who work and come from underserved communities, she said.

“We need to elect people who will speak up for others, who will bring dollars to classrooms, who understand the true needs of special education and English learner programs, and who will advocate for California’s children and families,” Addis said.

Addis’ top priorities in the Assembly: Education, housing, jobs, healthcare, climate action and justice. In addition to CTA, she is endorsed by the California Nurses Association, the California Professional Firefighters and a long list of organizations and elected and community leaders.

Addis credits CTA for helping her become the leader she is today – SLCTA is where she first learned to organize as a student chapter president, a site representative and an executive board member.

“Without those roots, I wouldn’t be running today,” Addis said. “Some of my closest campaign supporters are CTA members and it means a great deal to me. Additionally, having the CTA endorsement is something I am immensely proud of and share everywhere I go.”

Addis has two words for fellow educators who are considering a run for elected office: Do it. She said our decision-making bodies need the compassion, thoughtfulness and fortitude of educators.

“It’s a lot of work, but if you are a teacher, you already have the work ethic and the capacity needed to be successful,” Addis said. “There is no time like now and no other person besides you to make a difference.”

Running against a candidate who has dumped $50,000 of their own money into their campaign, the grassroots volunteer support of fellow educators is critical to Addis’ success on June 7. Keep up with the campaign on Facebook and contribute at DawnAddis.org. You can also help contact voters by clicking here.