A note from the editor:

CFT members work tirelessly everyday to educate and care for our students and their families.

CFT United is a long running publication of the union and seeks to underscore the hard work, determination and the heart of educators and classified employees. Our hope is that this publication can shine a light on those very things, and in turn, inspire each of us to show up more fully to our work every day.

In this latest edition, CFT’s communications department is experimenting with new ways to share the powerful and moving stories of our members. While continuing to send out our various newsletters through email, we wanted to bring a more readable and interactive experience to your screens.

We invite you to flip through this sample of articles in our latest issue of CFT United. This platform will allow us to embed video, bring photos to life, and give our readership a more tactile reading experience. If you would like to offer feedback or have any questions, please reach out to Nason McCarthy: [email protected]

Carl Williams wants to know: Are you with us?

Carl Williams’ mother used to tell him, “Don’t tell me you love me — show me you love me.”

That’s what Williams, President of the Council of Classified Employees, hopes people will do on May 21, the Classified Day of Action to support all classified professionals on the steps of the capitol.

“We’ll have an atmosphere of solidarity, and unity for those folks who are over often overlooked, underpaid, understaffed and overworked," Williams said.

Register for the Classified Day of Action here and read the rest of the article here

Embracing the Educational Paradigm Shift: Navigating AI and Literacy in the Classroom

In an age seemingly plucked from the realms of science fiction, where artificial intelligence (AI) systems reminiscent of Hal from “2001: A Space Odyssey” and Data from “Star Trek” once existed solely in the realm of imagination, we find ourselves grappling with pressing educational concerns. Chief among these are the intersection of AI and literacy, two pillars reshaping the landscape of learning.

AI represents the latest chapter in this ongoing saga of innovation. With the advent of generative AI programs, such as ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini, accessible to the public, educators face both unprecedented opportunities and challenges. While AI is touted to have the potential to personalize learning experiences and streamline administrative tasks, it also raises concerns about privacy, equity, and the future of work.

Read the full piece here

Taking the Reins on Retirement: Patti Serafin starts from scratch

If you’re wondering how to start a retiree chapter, you’re in luck! CFT has a pamphlet, titled When You Retire: A Practical Guide for Retiree Activists to Develop and Activate a Retiree Chapter, which contains a step-by-step guide to doing so, the top reasons to belong to an AFT retiree chapter, and useful information such as suggested language for bylaws and sample letters.

That’s what Patti Serafin used when she wanted to start a chapter. Read more here

Unified and ready to hit the ground running, CCA
Faculty join CFT and focus on benefits and pay

A big reason Kim Anno and Christina La Sala (pictured above)— and other faculty members — were driven to organize is their retirement, which was cut by a stunning 50 percent. Anno, who went to San Francisco State and the San Francisco Art Institute, worked in hotels during that time, and was a union member, so she thought of a union as a way to support their rights as workers at CCA.

Read more here

Focus, Perseverance, Heart: The Revival of the California March in March

On a day with weather bright enough to match their spirits, a throng of over 500 students, faculty, and education advocates marched to the west lawn of the state capitol on March 7 in support of community college students, workers, and climate justice. Bringing back the annual March in March, it was the largest such action in the Capitol by student and community college activists in over a decade.

Read more

Katie Valenzuela reveals critical tie between schools and environmental justice

When Sacramento City Councilmember Katie Valenzuela was in elementary school in Oildale she tried out for soccer. When she ran, her lungs would feel tight, her chest would hurt, and she would feel that she might pass out. She thought that was normal.

“We didn’t know this wasn’t something that happened to all people when they run a mile at their elementary schools,” she said. “We thought we all have to stop afterwards and sit down and put your heads between our knees and wait until we can catch our breath.”

At the CFT March Summit in Sacramento, Valenzuela told the attendees that their work for children and families was closely connected to what she does. Continue reading here

Fourth annual Special Ed Summit leaves attendees with hope and strategy

In February, EC/TK-12 Council held its fourth annual Special Education Summit at the CFT offices in Emeryville, inviting local leaders as well as practitioners, psychologists, counselors, and nurses.

Steve McDougall thinks people left with some hope. Participants took anonymous surveys and the feedback was positive, with responses about how knowledgeable and dynamic the trainers were and how warm and friendly the community; praise for the conversations, facilities, and the food; and someone who said they were inspired to do a better job and the presentations and interactions at the summit had given them a better idea of how to help their students as well as new teachers.