Contacts:  Northern California: Mike Myslinski at 408-921-5769
                  Southern California: Frank Wells at 562-708-5425
                  Central Valley: Cynthia Menzel at 650-380-8553

CTA President Heins to Join State Schools Chief Torlakson in Oakland; VP Montaño in Alhambra;
Secretary-Treasurer Goldberg in Burbank

Follow at www.cta.org/may1 @WeAreCTA / #CTADayofAction / facebook.com/WeAreCTA

BURLINGAME – Rising up together to protect public education and send the message that all students deserve safe schools, thousands of California educators, parents, administrators and students will join in a rapidly growing series of social justice events statewide Monday, May 1, as part of the CTA Day of Action.

“This is a day of local resistance to threats to dismantle or privatize public education coming from the Trump administration, and for standing up for the right of all students to feel safe and respected at school, regardless of their immigration status,” said Eric Heins, president of the 325,000-member California Teachers Association. “It’s time to take a stand together for the future of our communities and to demand social justice for all students. Our schools must continue to be community centers, and not become profit centers.” 

To kick off the Day of Action, Heins will join State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson for an Oakland school rally and news conference before school starts Monday (details below). CTA Vice President Theresa Montaño will be with Alhambra Unified School District educators, while Secretary-Treasurer David Goldberg will be in the Burbank Unified School District. 

With its historical roots dating back to 1886, May 1^st has long been linked to a day to honor international workers’ rights. More recently, May Day became a national day of action to raise awareness about immigration rights and the need to keep families together as they struggle for a better life. The day coincides with a national day to take back our schools organized by the Alliance to Reclaim Our Schools.

Statewide, social justice actions by local educators include asking the public to take the CTA pledge to support public education by signing the petition at www.cta.org/ForAllStudents. The pledge is inspired by CTA’s research-based Advocacy Agenda to provide students with the quality education they all deserve. NOTE: New CTA radio ads about the pledge are here. 

                                    SAMPLING OF MAY 1 CTA DAY OF ACTION EVENTS

OAKLAND: Kicking off the CTA Day of Action, from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Monday, CTA President Eric Heins and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson will join local educators, parents and students for a rally and 7:30 a.m. news conference about keeping schools safe for immigrant students statewide. Speakers will also include Oakland Education Association President Trish Gorham and parents. The event will be in front of New Highland Academy, 8521 A Street, Oakland, 94621. Torlakson has urged all California school districts to become safe haven districts. Oakland Unified has declared itself a safe haven for students. The event concludes with participants clasping raised hands to form a protective human canopy that students will use to enter school. CTA Contact: Mike Myslinski at 408-921-5769.

ALHAMBRA: Starting at 7 a.m., CTA Vice President Theresa Montaño will join Alhambra Teachers Association members for a solidarity “walk-in” event at Alhambra High School, 101 South Second St., Alhambra, 91801. Montaño will then join the 11 a.m. labor and community coalition demonstration at MacArthur Park, followed by 1:30 p.m. rally at Grand Park in Los Angeles. Contact: Alhambra Teachers Association President Tammy Scorcia at 626-533-7534.

BURBANK:  At 7:30 a.m., CTA Secretary-Treasurer David Goldberg will join Burbank Teachers Association (BTA) President Diana Abasta and members for a solidarity walk-in event at 8 a.m. at Washington Elementary, 2322 North Lincoln St., Burbank. He will then depart for the 11 a.m. labor and community coalition march to MacArthur Park and 1:30 p.m. rally at Grand Park in Los Angeles. Contact: BTA President Diana Abasta at 818-469-3103. 

Sampling of Northern California May 1 CTA Day of Action Events

SAN FRANCISCO:  CTA President Eric Heins will join members of United Educators of San Francisco (UESF) for a 4 p.m. education-focused event on a stage at the Civic Center Plaza Monday to speak out about protecting public schools. UESF members who are taking the day off to protest on May Day are also being encouraged to attend the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office protest at 8 a.m. at 630 Sansome St. and to march under the UESF banner at the protests planned by the Bay Resistance group, starting at 11 a.m. in Justin Herman Plaza. The San Francisco Unified school board declared the district a sanctuary district. UESF Contact: Matthew Hardy at 415-513-3179.

SAN JOSE: At least 14 teacher leaders, superintendents and school board members from several Santa Clara County districts that have declared themselves safe havens for students will hold a noon news conference Monday at the Santa Clara County Office of Education, 1290 Ridder Park Drive, San Jose, 95131. See the SCCOE media advisory here. Protecting immigrant students is the focus. Speakers will include representatives from Santa Clara Unified, San Jose Unified, Franklin-McKinley Unified, Alum Rock School District, and the East Side Union High School District. County Superintendent Jon Gundry and CTA Board member Greg Bonaccorsi will also speak. Contact: United Teachers of Santa Clara President Michael Hickey at 408-839-8255. 

RICHMOND: West Contra Costa Unified School District educators will be doing “teach-ins” about labor and human rights issues during the day, then attend a community rally at 4 p.m. at Lovonya DeJean Middle School, 3400 Macdonald Ave., Richmond, 94805. Speakers include Superintendent Matthew Duffy and United Teachers of Richmond (UTR) President Demetrio Gonzalez. Contact: UTR President Demetrio Gonzalez at 760-500-7044.

FREMONT: Fremont Unified School District educators will join up with Newark teachers for a march to demonstrate “unwavering support for all students” and for making schools safe zones. Teachers will meet at BJ’s Restaurant at 3:30 p.m. in Newark and march on Mowry Avenue until 4:30 p.m. Before school starts in Fremont Unified, teachers will gather at flagpoles and stage “walk-ins” together as a show of solidarity. Contact: Fremont Unified District Teachers Association President Sherea Westra at 510-299-4161.

PALO ALTO: Before school starts, Palo Alto Unified educators will be gathering at numerous sites in a show of solidarity for public education and the rights of all students. They will then do “walk-in” events together. Contact: Palo Alto Education Association President Teri Baldwin at 650-248-7929.

SAN RAMON: Educators at numerous San Ramon Valley Unified School District campuses will be mobilizing for public education. Teachers at Quail Run Elementary in San Ramon will be making special posters and “Standing Up for Public Education” at 7:35 a.m. Educators at Tassajara Elementary in Danville will wear “Super Hero” T-shirts and pass out CTA Advocacy Agenda flyers to parents before school. Contact: San Ramon Valley Education Association President Ann Katzburg at 925-413-9258.

ANTIOCH: Information for undocumented students and parents about their rights will be shared in a 12:15 p.m. immigration awareness assembly in the Beede Auditorium at Antioch High School, 700 West 18^th St., Antioch, 94509. There will be handouts and guest speakers, as well as guidance about dealing with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. Contact: Antioch Education Association President Robert Strickler at 925-754-0300. 

REDDING: From 4-5:30 p.m., educators, students and community supporters from Shasta, Siskiyou and Trinity counties will march to the Cypress Bridge in Redding for a rally in support of public education. Contact: Redding Teachers Association President Cheryl McKinley at 530-945-0940. 

CHICO: To show solidarity and demonstrate what unions have accomplished and why they’re vital to society, the Chico Chapter of the California Faculty Association is holding a “Labor Unions Fair.” It’s 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday in the Trinity Commons area of the California State University at Chico campus. Labor unions from the region are expected to attend. Contact: CTA Board member Susan Green, a CSU-Chico associate professor, at 530-720-6231.

NEVADA CITY: Nevada Joint Union High School Teachers Association (NJUHSTA) is handing out Day of Action flyers to parents in the morning during student drop-off at school in Nevada City. Contact: NJUHSTA President DuWaine Ganskie at 530-913-5925.

Sampling of Southern California May 1 CTA Day of Action Events

LOS ANGELES: Part of a Los Angeles community coalition with a May 1^st theme of  “#RESIST,” United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) is resisting the anti-union, anti-immigrant, anti-women, anti-LGBT, anti-worker, anti-Semitic, anti-Muslim policies that are coming out of Washington, D.C. UTLA staff, officers, and others will be participating in the May 1 action. They will meet for a media availability at the UTLA building, 3303 Wilshire Blvd., at 10:30 a.m. Monday and walk a few blocks to MacArthur Park, 2230 W. Sixth St., where the coalition march will assemble at 11 a.m.  to march to LA’s City Hall two miles away, where a short program will take place. A 1:30 p.m. community rally is set for Grand Park, 213 North Hill St. UTLA was part of a coalition of parents, community organizations, and other unions that organized and urged LAUSD Superintendent Michelle King to shut down the district on May 1 for student safety reasons, but King decided to keep schools open. LAUSD has declared itself a safe haven district. UTLA Contacts: Anna Bakalis at 213-305-9654 or Kim Turner at 213-305-9316. 

SANTA MARIA: Educators, community activists and other labor groups are joining to hold a March for Education and Workers Monday, May 1, starting on the steps of Ethel Pope Auditorium at Santa Maria High School and marching to Central Plaza Park at Broadway and Main, the center of Santa Maria. Walkers will be leaving Ethel Pope from 3 to 3:30 p.m., with speakers and music at Central Plaza Park at 4 p.m. Contacts: Jose Segura, 805-714-9860, or Andrew Oman, 805-345-8691.

ATASCADERO: On Monday, May 1, teachers in Atascadero will join thousands of public education supporters across California and participate in a walk into the Sunken Gardens for a rally to support education for all students at 3:15 p.m. “We believe all children can learn, and the purpose of public education is to provide safe learning environments for all students,” said Atascadero District Teachers Association (ADTA) President Christine Williams. “Our walk-into will bring us all together to show we are united in advocating for every one of our students.” The ADTA is highlighting smaller class sizes for student achievement, schools as safe zones against bullying, student learning conditions, and advocating for the public education all students deserve. Contact: ADTA President Christine Williams at 805-459-4073. 

PORT HUENEME: In Ventura County, educators in Hueneme Elementary School District are inviting the public to join them for a peaceful 3 p.m. march for public education to the district offices. The event starts at all five district schools and supporters will walk a loop down Ventura Road to the district office at 205 North Ventura Road, Port Hueneme, 93041. The school board recently declared the district is a safe haven for all students. Contact: Hueneme Education Association President Rosa Granado at 805-570-1288.

ANAHEIM: Anaheim Secondary Teachers Association (ASTA) and Anaheim Elementary Educators Association (AEEA) members will wear “I Love Public Ed.” stickers supplied to all unit members, classified and administrative staff in both school districts for the May 1 Day of Action. Anaheim Secondary Teachers will form a morning “welcome wall” and/or a street side poster parade of positive parent and student posters for parents and students to view as they arrive at secondary school sites. Unit members will speak in support of their large local charter coalition group entitled “Stand United with Educators Across CA.”  Contact: CTA staffer Lisa Eck: 714-504-7108.

COMPTON: Compton Unified educators are holding a community rally stressing that all students are welcome, that schools must provide safe learning environments regardless of where students were born, and that schools must remain centers of our communities. Taking the CTA pledge for public education will also be a focus. The rally is from 3-4:30 p.m., with speakers and refreshments, at the district offices, 501 South Santa Fee Ave., Compton. Contact: Compton Education Association President Emmanuel Taton at 310-638-8576. 

LA QUINTA: Wearing T-shirts declaring “A Child is More Than a Test Score” and “Teaching is the Priority, Not Testing,” members of the Desert Sands Teachers Association (DSTA) will spend Monday morning reminding parents of their option to have their children opt out of standardized testing in the Desert Sands Unified School District. They will leaflet parents before school about the opting-out process and their rights as parents. Contact: DSTA President Mona Davidson at 760-898-6235. 

SAN DIEGO: San Diego Unified educators will hold public education solidarity events before school starts, along with other events. Some educators will attend a community march against deportations and hate (#MayDaySanDiego) from 3-4 p.m. from the Federal Building to Chicano Park. The San Diego Education Association will host a 5 p.m. town hall meeting concerning the district’s plan to lay off about 1,000 educators. Superintendent Cindy Marten and school board members John Lee Evans and Sharon Whitehurst-Payne will attend the town hall at SDEA offices, 10393 San Diego Mission Road, Suite 100, San Diego, 92108. Contact: SDEA Executive Director Carlos Mejia at 619-283-4411. 

CHULA VISTA – Chula Vista Educators will encourage all members to wear red for public education and to post pictures on their website, Facebook page and Twitter using hashtags #WeAreCTA #CTADayofAction #ReclaimOurSchools. Kellogg Elementary will engage in a “wall of support” activity during parent drop off. Contact: Ed Sibby at 951-225-2048. 

IMPERIAL BEACH — Southwest Teachers Association members will form a human “wall of support” both before and after school at each South Bay Union School District site, focusing on the message that “All Dreamers are welcome here.”   Members will also distribute know your rights materials at the local SWAP meet and trolley station. Contact: Lorie Garcia at 619-813-6104.  

NATIONAL CITY – National City Elementary Teachers will form a wall of support both before and after school at each site focusing on the message that “All Dreamers are welcome here.” Members will distribute know your rights materials at key locations throughout the community including the local Northgate Market and El Super.  Contact: Christina Benson at 619-885-3181. 

ONTARIO: School sites in Ontario-Montclair School District are doing events that build community. For example, Haynes Elementary is having a “Mug Monday” where parents can bring in a coffee mug and have it filled with coffee or hot chocolate and visit with teachers before school. The Ontario-Montclair Teachers Association and the district split the cost to print heart-shaped stickers for all staff that read, “Our Schools Are The Heart Of The Community.” Contacts: Mary Kay Scheid at 909-261-9493 or Tracy Taylor at 909-374-9272.

Sampling of Central Valley May 1 CTA Day of Action Events

FRESNO: Teachers for school districts throughout Fresno and Madera counties are planning a family-friendly picnic to demonstrate their support for all students receiving a quality public education.  Organized by the CTA Fresno/Madera Service Center Council, which includes Firebaugh, Sanger, Selma and Kings Canyon, student supporters and families will meet at The Falls Event Center, 4105 W. Figarden Drive or the Figarden Loop Park, 4265 W. Figarden Drive.  Both are in Fresno. Contact: Riverdale Teachers Association President and Service Center Chair Donna Dreith at 559-281-6782

STOCKTON: Stockton teachers are wearing green for safe schools and are handing out posters and safe school resources as they greet parents before the start of school. Contact: Stockton Teachers Association President Erich Myers at 209-922-7548. 

ARVIN: In Kern County, members of the Arvin Teachers Association (ATA) are creating a gauntlet of support for students, lining up on the sideway in front of Sierra Vista Elementary School, 300 Franklin Street, and in front of all four Arvin schools. ATA is also partnering with CSEA colleagues for the events. Teachers are handing out posters in Spanish and English and other resources related to immigration rights.  The Arvin Unified school board was the first in Kern County to pass a motion declaring AUSD a sanctuary school. Board members and district administrators have been invited to participate. Contact: ATA President Michael Flores-Castaneda at 661-900-5164. 

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The 325,000-member California Teachers Association is
affiliated  with the 3 million-member National Education