Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/65746
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE Proud to be a teacher SOMETIMES THE CHALLENGES we face on a daily basis in our classrooms are so great that it's hard to remember the rewards of our profession and the reason why we chose to be educators. That's why it's been a delight to read thank-you notes from students that our members have shared with us over the past few months. Letters to the "Thank You, Teacher!" project can be read online at cta.org/thankyouteacher, and they give us all a moment to pause and remember why we are in it and why we stay. This month, I received a note from one of my former students, and believe me, it both surprised and deeply touched me. Rachel was a student of mine in kindergarten, and her childhood memories of my class included me playing the guitar, singing during circle time, and enforcing a rule against children playing with their Velcro shoes. Rachel wrote, "Thank you so much for all These days it's hard for a teacher to turn around without feeling like she's under attack. Many of us would prefer to retreat to our classrooms, mind our own business and just teach our students. We may not be interested in the political drama. But as the Greek states- man Pericles once said, "Just because you don't take an interest in politics doesn't mean poli- tics won't take an interest in you. I received a note from one of my former students; it both surprised and deeply touched me. that you did. My inner child and outer adult ever appreciate it." She concluded her letter by letting me know she is now in her seventh year of teaching and "couldn't imagine being anything else but an educator. I felt the same pride when I went to " Washington, D.C., to see Rebecca Mieliwocki, a California middle school teacher and member of the Burbank Teachers Association, honored as National Teacher of the Year during a White House ceremony. Rebecca related that she had been working in publishing when she realized something was missing. I was struck by her comment: "I took some time to make a list of things I needed and wanted in my 'perfect' job: creativity, decision- making control, fun, flexibility, stability, the potential to work with young people. It dawned on me that teaching was the obvious place. Rachel's note and Rebecca's achievement " served as personal reminders to me of why we do it. They are also reminders of why I became involved with my union. It was to make things better for teachers and for our students. 4 California Educator / May 2012 we do in our schools and in our classrooms. And many politicians and corporate power brokers behave as if they know more about the dynamics of teaching and learning than we do. Yet no one knows better than we do what our students need to be successful. We are facing some crucial Politics directly impacts almost everything " issues coming up in the November election that will test that notion. As much as we' won't be able to do that if we don't elect candi- dates who will advocate for public education. In the coming weeks, I know many of us of our classrooms and just teach, we won't be able to do that without passing a funding initiative that will begin to provide the resources to adequately fund our schools. We won't be able to do that if our voice is silenced and our ability to par- ticipate in politics is taken away. We d like to shut the door will be preoccupied with year-end activi- ties with little time to do much else than help our students and each other tie things up and move forward. But as we head into summer, I hope you take some time for yourselves to recuperate and recharge. I also hope you take some time to become involved with this campaign season. Read through this issue of the Educator, go to our website, learn about the election issues we face, and step up. For the sake of our stu- dents, and for the sake of our profes- sion, we all need to be involved in the election ahead. If not us, who? If not now, when? CTA President Dean E. Vogel EDITOR IN CHIEF STAFF WRITER CTA WEB EDITOR CTA WEB EDITOR EDITORIAL ASSISTANT WEB ASSISTANT WEB ASSISTANT PRESIDENT VICE PRESIDENT SECRETARY-TREASURER Cynthia Menzel Sherry Posnick-Goodwin Karyn Ferrera Donhoff Tiffany Hasker Craig Hamilton Tami Beseda Gladdie Cabral CTA ELECTED OFFICERS Dean E. Vogel Eric C. Heins Mikki Cichocki BOARD OF DIRECTORS José Alcalá, Larry Allen, E. Toby Boyd, Donald L. Bridge, Tyrone V. Cabell, Elana Davidson, Don Dawson, Dana Dillon, David Goldberg, Jim Groth, Terri Jackson, Marty G. Meeden, George Melendez, Theresa Montaño, Mary Rose Ortega, Cynthia Peña, Bonnie Shatun, Michael Stone, Kendall Vaught, KC Walsh, Curtis Washington EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ASSOCIATE EXEC. DIRECTOR COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER Carolyn Doggett Rebecca Zoglman Jonathan Goldman CONTRIBUTORS Scott Buschman, Paul Daviz, Len Feldman, Bill Guy, Stephen R. Harris III, Dina Martin, Mike Myslinski, Frank Wells EDITORIAL INFORMATION California Educator is published for the information and edification of CTA members. The editorial philosophy is governed by the policies of CTA. Articles and advertising reflect that philosophy. Letters to the editor may be sent to editor@cta.org. Publication of advertising in the California Educator does not indicate CTA approval of the product or of the companies that purchase advertising. For advertising rates and information, contact WebSolutions Media 5666 Spruce Harbor Court, Las Vegas, NV 89122 (800) 585-9322 websol@earthlink.net, websolutionsmedia.com CTA/NEA membership dues for the fiscal year, Sept. 1–Aug. 31, are $825, including a $20 voluntary contribution. 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