CFT Council of Classified Employees president to co-chair national task force on teacher and staff shortages
We are proud to announce that CFT Council of Classified Employees president Carl Williams has been tapped to co-chair AFT’s new national task force on teacher and school staff shortages.
The task force will examine causes and propose solutions for districts experiencing extreme staffing shortages leading to immense pressure on educators, school workers, and families that could disrupt recovery from the pandemic.
With levels of stress and depression at an all-time high for teachers, and reports across the country of educators and school workers leaving the profession in mid-year, the taskforce is being pulled together at a critical time.
According to Carl Williams, who is also the president of the Lawndale Federation of Classified Employees, staffing shortages have hit support staff especially hard. “Paraprofessionals, custodians and bus drivers are the fabric that holds schools together; and when you see the shortages we’ve seen around the country, that bond and those schools start to fray,” said Carl. “Kids rely on their support staff each and every day, but when we’re under-resourced, their learning suffers, adding to the stress of an already stressful job made even more difficult by COVID.”
CFT vice president, and ABC Federation of Teacher president, Ray Gaer who serves on the AFT Teachers Program and Policy Council will also represent California by serving on the task force.
CFT members at Tilden Prep vote overwhelmingly to authorize a strike
CFT members at Tilden Preparatory School overwhelmingly voted to authorize a strike this week after reaching impasse in contract negotiations with their employer, who refused to respond to many of the union’s proposals to help retain educators and improve learning conditions for students.
Tilden Preparatory School is a private, college preparatory school that serves approximately 300 students from 6-12 grade with campuses in Albany, Walnut Creek, and Sausalito. The school is known for using a tutorial style to teach curriculum one-to-one and in small groups.
Union leaders are still hopeful that they can settle a contract with school administration that helps teachers put aside worries about financial stability and allows them to concentrate fully on the students they serve.
Honoring the passing of two exceptional CFT leaders – Joan-Marie Shelley and Lance Widman
It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that two long-time CFT leaders passed away in the last two months.
Former UESF President Joan-Marie Shelley died on November 10 in San Francisco. Joan-Marie was a visionary union leader who united teachers and para-educators in San Francisco and built one of the most powerful unions in the City. As was mentioned in her tribute when she won the CFT Ben Rust award (CFT’s highest honor) in 2004, her legacy is the leadership of grace and intelligence, an approach to unionism that is true to the roots and bedrock of labor, but also infused with eloquence and charm. For more on Joan-Maries remarkable life, read her obituary (firewall) from the San Francisco Chronicle.
We also remember former El Camino College Federation of Teachers president Lance Widman, who died on December 1 in Torrance, CA. Remaining in the classroom for over 45 years, Lance’s guiding principle, “Service above self” was a reality for him and those he sought to serve, support, represent and defend. His decades-long career of public service included not only a stint as a union leader, but also as an elected official, non-profit leader, and mediator. Also a Ben Rust award winner, Lance was hailed for serving his communities based on his beliefs of individual responsibility, accountability, collective action, social justice and community involvement. For more on Lance’s life, read his obituary on legacy.com.
Our thoughts are with the family and friends of both of these exceptional leaders.
