PEA
on educators
focus on educators is an award winning publication of the Pittsburg Education Association/CTA/NEA
California Teachers Association
The California Teachers Association exists to protect and promote the well-being of its members; to improve the
conditions of teaching and learning; to advance the cause of free, universal, and quality public education; to ensure
that the human dignity and civil rights of all children and youth are protected; and to secure a more just, equitable,
and democratic society.
JANUARY
2011
Volume XX
Number 5
In this Issue
President’s Message &
Informational Items… Pgs. 1-5
Conferences……….… Pgs. 4 & 7
CTA News…………… Pg. 5
Legal Issues…………. Pg. 6
Excerpts……………… Pg. 9
PEA Calendar……….. The Last Page
PEA President’s Message
Since we are beginning a new
year it is a good time to reflect on
the past year and then make some
decisions for the upcoming year. At
our last PEA leadership team retreat
in August we made three goals for
the year: #1. Political Action Goal:
To elect candidates at the local,
state and national level who support
the goals and objectives of
PEA/CTA/NEA. Thanks to the
leadership of Iris Contreras and
Steve Longley and for the support
focus
Statement of Mission
of a lot of volunteers I can say
Mission Accomplished (why does it
feel weird to use that phrase?) Now
for goal #2. Community Outreach
Goal: To increase visibility and
develop the positive image of PEA
through actions and participation in
the community. We began the goal
with the Delta Youth Soccer Team
sponsorship last summer, November
Sock Drive, December, January and
February Habitat for Humanity
Build and now we will continue
with March 2nd Read Across
America Collaboration with
thePittsburg library and Railroad
Book Depot, an April local Earth
Day community cleanup, the
Seafood Festival, Pittsburg Teacher
Outreach In September, and the
Farmers Market Teacher Outreach
in October. Please volunteer to help
at any of these events and receive a
Pittsburg Teachers Care T-shirt.
This goal is still a work in progress
and I hope we can count on your
help. Finally goal #3. Internal
Organizing Goal: To improve
membership participation in union
activities and awareness of PEA’s
mission. This is a work in progress
as well, but we have been very
active in giving you as many
opportunities to be informed and
aware as we can think of. We, the
Executive Board, had Relational
Meetings at every school site. Now
I will be visiting ever school site
with my President’s Relational
Meeting so you can ask me directly
about the state of our affairs. We
supplied membership input boxes to
every staff lunch room. We have
had two General Membership
Meetings with dinner supplied to
encourage you to attend and be
informed. Our latest effort to
improve member awareness is our
just launched PEA website which
you can reach at peateachers.org.
Monthly additions and updates will
be available for you around the
clock. Now I have a request of you
to help with our internal organizing
goal since you are the target
audience. Please give your site rep
your personal e-mail address so that
any information I forward to the rep
can be forwarded to you quickly
and directly. Since we are about to
begin to bargain the contract,
having you immediately informed is
imperative. Next, attend your site
reps 10 minute meeting, attend the
next General Membership Meeting
March 9th, wear your PEA
Weingarten Rights lanyard tag, read
your monthly FOCUS and, finally,
ask me directly if you have any
questions by e-mailing me at
peatchrs@att.net.
Wag More, Bark Less!
Chris Coan, PEA President
 PEA Leadership 2010-2011 Rep. Council Meeting Calendar
President September 15
Chris Coan October 20
Willow Cove Elementary/ PEA Office November 17
Elementary Vice President December 15
Cindy Joy January 19
Parkside Elementary
February 16
Secondary Vice President
March 16
Arthur Pruyn
April 20
Pittsburg High
May 18
Secretary
June 8
Tammy Carr
Highlands Elementary ******************
Treasurer
Gale Higgins School Board Meeting Calendar
Stoneman Elementary September 22
Committee Chairs October 13
Grievance Committee October 27
Cindy Joy November 17
Parkside Elementary December 15
Richard Higgins January TBA
Pittsburg High February TBA
Negotiations Team March TBA
Marc Sternberger - Chair April TBA
Political Action Committee May TBA
Iris Contreras and Steve Longley - Chair June TBA
Elections Chair ******************
Sharie Chmura Are you Getting your PEA
Human Rights Committee
Tasharie Ameral – Chair Information???
Women’s Issues Committee Having the site reps attend their monthly meeting and then
Deborah Cummings - Chair reporting back to you is vital in the communication chain
PEA Organizing Team of our Association.
Vacant - Chair
CTA State Council Representatives Roll call at last December 15th Rep Council Meeting:
Chris Rohde - Pittsburg High Adult Ed. – absent Stoneman – present
Denise James, Valorie Luke, Sara Savacool - AEA Foothill – present Willow Cove –absent
Alternate Heights – absent MLK – absent
Cindy Joy - Parkside Elementary Highlands – present Hillview - present
CTA Director District C Los Medanos – present Rancho Medanos - absent
Eric Heins – Willow Cove Elementary Marina Vista – present PHS - present
NEA Director for California, District 3 Parkside – absent Riverside – present
Marc Sternberger – Special Education/MLK ******************
Technical Editor
Susan Harrison – PEA Site Secretary Has your Rep Collected your Sites
Personal E-mail Addresses???
Focus on Educators
is a publication of the Adult Ed. – no Stoneman – yes
Pittsburg Education Association CTA/NEA Foothill – no Willow Cove –no
1901 Railroad Avenue #A Heights – no MLK – no
Pittsburg, CA 94565 Highlands – yes Hillview - no
Phone: (925) 432-0199 Los Medanos – no Rancho Medanos - no
fax: (925) 432-4854 Marina Vista – yes PHS - no
E-MAIL:peatchrs@att.net Parkside – no Riverside - yes

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 ATTENTION!!!

PEA has finally launched their new

website: peateachers.org

*********************************
Grievances Update…
 An Informal grievance was presented to Los
Medanos regarding their 15 minutes of morning
prep time. Since their school has the free breakfast
for all program, their administrator has chosen to
have the students eat their breakfast the first 15
minutes of contracted work time when normally a
teacher comes into their room, turns on the heat,
computer and takes off their coat to get ready for
the day. The teachers at Los Medanos have lost
their time 5 days a week and therefore have to do
their morning prep on their own time before
contracted hours begin.

 A Level 1 grievance was given to Linda Rondeau

on following the contracted language for
maximum class sizes in elementary for ELD
classes. There are no provisions for altering class
size maximums due to “special groupings” and so
we believe ELD class size numbers should mirror
class size language in the contract.

*********************************
Basic Premise of Unionism

 Means that the mistreatment of an individual

worker creates the possibility of mistreatment for
every worker.
 Requires that workers come to the support and
defense of fellow workers who are threatened.
 Creates a balance of solidarity among employees.
 Is the foundation of solidarity among employees.
The Man Who Said “No!”
Fred T. Korematsu was an ordinary person who took an
extraordinary stand. In 1942, at the age of 23, he refused to go
to the government’s racist concentration camps for Japanese
Americans. After he was arrested and convicted of defying the
government’s order, he appealed his case – all the way to the
Supreme Court. In 1944, the Supreme Court ruled against him,
arguing that internment was justified due to “military necessity.”

“An injury to one In 1983, a group of young lawyers discovered key documents
that government lawyers had hidden from the Supreme Court in
is an 1944. The documents consistently showed that Japanese
injury to all” Americans had done nothing wrong. With this new evidence,
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the legal team reopened Korematsu’s case on the basis of Gang Awareness
government misconduct. On November 10, 1983, Korematsu’s April 7, 2011 – 3:45 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
conviction was overturned in the US District Court of the
Northern District of California. It was a pivotal moment in civil
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transsexuals:
rights history.
Breaking the Silence
May 12, 2011 – 3:45 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
American Civil Rights Hero
In 1998, Korematsu received the Presidential Medal of *******************************
Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, from President Bill
Clinton. After 9/11, he continued to speak out, filing a number of Calendar for PEA President’s
legal briefs with the Supreme Court on behalf of Muslim inmates Q and A Site Visits
being held in US military prisons. In 2005, after more than 60
years of activism, Korematsu passed away at the age of 86. Note: These meetings will occur right after contract
On September 23, 2010, California Governor time ends in your staff lounge. Come with questions,
Schwarzenegger signed AB 1775, the Fred Korematsu Day of concerns, and information to share.
Civil Liberties and the Constitution bill – the first day named after
an Asian American in US history. The law, which was co- January 6 Foothill
sponsored by Assemblymember Warren Furutani (D-South Los January 11 Heights
Angeles County) and Assemblymember Marty Block (D-San January 25 Highlands
Diego), encourages schools across California to teach students February 10 Los Medanos
about Fred Korematsu’s story and its relevance in today’s post- February 15 Marina Vista
9/11 environment. The first Fred Korematsu Day will be March 1 Parkside
celebrated on January 30, 2011 and thereafter annually in March 8 Stoneman
perpetuity. March 15 Willow Cove
March 22 Hillview
******************************* March 29 Rancho Medanos
Get Your Simple Federal Tax April 5 PHS
April 12 Riverside
Return Done for the Low, Low April 19 MLK
Price of Free.
*******************************
(Federal Form 1040EZ) Health Benefits Breakdown for
Come try the best tax professionals in the industry at a great Certificated Staff
price…FREE. You pay nothing when H&R Block prepares your
2010 Federal Form 1040EZ. With our expertise, you don’t have Medical Dental Vision Life Ins.
to give up anything to get everything you deserve. For more $470.67 $121.14 $7.66 $2.40
information, please visit us at hrblock.com/1040EZ. Single Party - $601.87/mo. $7,222.44/annual
But hurry, the offer expires February 15, 2011.
$941.34 $121.14 $7.66 $2.40
2133 Loveridge Rd., Pittsburg, CA 94565
Two Party - $1,072.54/mo. $12,870.48/annual
Phone: 925-439-9890 Mon-Fri 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
******************************* $1,223.74 $121.14 $7.66 $2.40
Upcoming PEA/CTA/PUSD Family – $1,354.94/mo $16,259.28/annual

Workshops *******************************
All are invited to attend; parents, teachers and Weingarten Lanyards
administrators. Details and R.S.V.P. information will
be sent via district email in January. As part of our internal organization efforts, please wear
your PEA Weingarten Rights Lanyard tags. These are
Teen Suicide reminders of your rights under law and also what to do if
March 3, 2011 – 3:45 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. you need union assistance. You just never know when
something might happen.

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 Weingarten Rights
The United States Supreme court has ruled (NLRB
vs. Weingarten) than an employee has the right to
Union representation during any employer interview
which may result in discipline. In California, PERB
has also held that these rights apply to public
employees covered by the collective bargaining laws
it administers.
1. Employees must request that a representative
be present.
2. Employees have the right to know the subject
of the meeting.
3. Employees have the right to consult with a
representative prior to the meeting.
4. Employees must have a reasonable belief that
discipline will result from the meeting.
5. Employees do not have the right to refuse to
attend the meeting if the request for a rep is
denied.
6. Weingarten rights do not apply if the
employer is simply informing an employee of
some discipline which has already been
decided – they only apply if she/he is being
questioned.
*************************************
PEA General Membership
Meeting
When? Wednesday, March 9th
from 3:45 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Where? City of Pittsburg office building –
3rd level
Why? To hear from the bargaining chair the
results of the membership survey on
your bargaining priorities and to hear
what we are going to “sunshine” (or
offer) to the district to start the ball
rolling.
Who? All teachers
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“NEWS…………”
Evaluation Standards for
Principals
This is the second in a series of six (6). The evaluation
standards for principals – FYI.
STANDARD 3
A school administrator is an educational leader who promotes
the success of all students by ensuring management of the
organization, operations, and resources for a safe, efficient, and
effective learning environment.
 Sustain a safe, efficient, clean, well-maintained, and
productive school environment that nurtures student
learning and supports the professional growth of teachers
and support staff.
 Utilize effective and nurturing practices in establishing
student behavior management systems.
 Establish school structures and processes that support
student learning.
 Utilize effective systems management, organizational
development, and problem-solving and decision-making
techniques.
 Align fiscal, human, and material resources to support the
learning of all subgroups of students.
 Monitor and evaluate the program and staff.
 Manage legal and contractual agreements and records in
ways that foster a professional work environment and
secure privacy and confidentiality for all students and staff.


Election of State Council
Representative for Multiple
Electoral District CC-3
Please be advised that the newly elected State Council
Representative for Multiple Electoral District CC-3 is
Sara Savacool. She will complete the unexpired term of
Sandra Wilbanks to June 25, 2012.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
January 17, 2011
 Teachers Legal Rights Legal Rights for Gay,
and Duties Corner Lesbian, Bisexual,
Transgender Employees
Student Searches
and Students Corner
You have a right to search backpacks, clothing,
lockers, provided you are not acting in an arbitrary, CALIFORNIA LAW is clear and sweeping in its
capricious or harassing way. In RE: Randy G. Cal. protection of gay and lesbian employees from
Supreme Court case. discrimination because of sexual orientation or due to the
employer’s assumptions about the employee’s sexual
No strip searches or rearranging of student clothing to orientation. The law, Gov’t. Code Sec. 12940, also
permit a visual inspection of underclothing or private parts protects against harassment based on sexual orientation or
of a student. Metal detectors are permitted. marital status, and requires employers to take all
Ed Code 49050 reasonable steps to prevent harassment from occurring,
even when that harassment comes from third parties. The
Sexual Harassment Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) has
jurisdiction over complaints of employment
No person may be discriminated against on the basis of
discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
sex, ethnicity, race, religion disability or sexual orientation
Employees have both administrative and judicial remedies
in any program or activity conducted by public schools.
against employers who discriminate or harass employees
This can be enforced by a civil action. Ed Code 220
based on sexual orientation. The administrative
procedures are swift and efficient, thereby minimizing the
School districts must have written policy on sexual
cost and time involved in resolving employment disputes.
harassment that is disseminated to students and teachers.
Students can be expelled or suspended for engaging in
What Conduct is Prohibited by California Law?
sexual harassment. Ed Code 48900.2
Under Gov’t. Code 12940(a) it is an unlawful practice
Title IX of the Federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 gives
for California employers, including school districts and
students and parents a right to sue teachers and
county offices of education, to refuse to hire, to refuse to
administrators for allowing student-on-student sexual
select for a training program leading to employment, to
harassment to occur. School districts and employees will
discharge from employment, or to discriminate in
be liable if they knew about the harassment, and did
compensation or in terms, conditions or privileges of
nothing to stop it.
employment on the basis of sexual orientation. Gov’t.
Code 12940(j) prohibits harassment by employers on the
Harassment Based on Sexual Orientation,
basis of sexual orientation.
Actual or Perceived
Under the Unruh Civil Rights Act [Cal. Civ. Code Sec.
Nobozny v. Podlesny (1996) 92 F 3d 446-it can be
51] it is also illegal for any business to refuse to provide
expensive. Nearly $1 million settlement where the
full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities,
plaintiff suffered several years of student harassment
privileges, or services on the basis of sexual orientation or
because he was gay and the school did nothing about it.
marital status.
Court held that its failure to enforce its sexual harassment
policy against gay harassers denied the student equal
protection of the law and discriminated against him on the
basis of gender and sexual orientation.


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Upcoming Conferences from CTA
Good Teaching Conference – North
January 21-23, 2011, Marriot, San Jose
Equity and Human Rights Conference
March 4-6, 2011, Fairmont, San Jose
Good Teaching Conference – South
March 18-20, 2011, Hyatt Regency, Garden Grove
Presidents Conference – July 18-22, 2011
Asilomar Conference Grounds, Pacific Grove
Summer Institute – July 31-August 5, 2011, UCLA
****************************************
Bullying in the 21 Century st
Definition of Bullying
 A series of repeated intentionally cruel
incidents
 Regularly involves the same children
 Can consist of a single interaction
 Bullying behavior has also been defined
as a criminal act if the bully is twelve years
of age or older
Bully Fact Sheet
 6% admit bullying others at least twice a
week
 Peers participated in 85% of the incidents
 Schools are aware of only 4% of the
incidents
 Bullies continue to bully throughout their
life
 15% of secondary students report being
victimized
 Someone is bullied every 37 seconds
 Bullies are identified by age 8
 Schools are the prime location for bullying
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How Students Feel On Campus
 37% do not feel safe at school
 50% know someone who switched schools
to feel safer
 43% avoid school restrooms
 79% say that violence is over stupid things
(bumping into someone or rumors)
 76% feel their lockers are not safe
 63% say they would learn more if they felt
safe
 47% say that teachers spend half the
class time disciplining other students
 55% have seen weapons on campus
5 Characteristics of a Safe School
 Strong leadership
 Consistent and fair discipline policy
 High teacher involvement
 High expectations
 Parental involvement
****************************************
DEFINITION OF CHILD ABUSE
AND NEGLECT
To many, child abuse is narrowly defined as having
only physical implications. In reality, child abuse
includes:
 Physical abuse
 Physical neglect
 Sexual abuse
 Emotional abuse
 Internet Exploitation
The act of inflicting injury or allowing injury to result,
rather than the degree of injury, is the determinant for
intervention. A parent or caretaker may begin by
inflicting minor injuries, and then may increasingly
cause more serious harm over a period of time.
Therefore, detecting the initial small injuries and
intervening with preventive action may save a child
from future permanent injury or death.
Physical injuries, severe neglect and malnutrition are exception is when a personal emergency
more readily detectable than the subtle and less visible impinges on your job. Then explain the
injuries which result from emotional maltreatment or
sexual abuse. However, all categories of abuse situation briefly and objectively.
endanger or impair a child’s health and development
and therefore demand attention. 7. Don’t lose your composure on the job –
with students, parents, colleagues or
Both physical and behavioral indicators for suspected
your supervisor. Tears and losing your
child abuse are presented in this publication to assist
mandated reporters in meeting their responsibilities temper will only work against you.
under the Child Abuse Reporting Law. The presence
of behavioral indictors does not necessarily mean that 8. Don’t let yourself be pushed around.
abuse or neglect is occurring but should serve as a Whether you are a permanent,
warning signal to explore potential problems further.
probationary or temporary employee,
**************************************** you are a professional and are entitled
to be treated as one.
Enhancing Your Job Security
9. Don’t lie or attempt to deceive your
supervisor. Occasional lapses in
Things to Avoid judgment may be tolerated, but
deception seldom is.
1. Don’t shirk your responsibilities. Make
10. Don’t panic! If you find yourself in a
every effort to attend required
situation where you may be subject to
meetings, meet required deadlines, and
disciplinary action or if you become the
take your fair share of the load.
subject of administrative harassment,
call your Association representative
2. Don’t become a “workaholic.” The most
immediately.
productive persons are well-balanced
employees – people who can manage
their jobs and their lives.

3. Don’t antagonize your supervisor

unnecessarily. If you always do
4. Don’t get mixed up in intra-faculty
rivalries, or intra-school politics, and what you’ve always done,
don’t indulge in gossip on the job.
you’ll always get
5. Don’t be a chronic complainer. If your
contract rights are violated, grieve, but
what you’ve gotten!
don’t gripe. Try to contribute to the
solution rather than to the problem.

6. Don’t confide in details of personal

problems to your supervisor or to the
colleagues you barely know. The

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Community Outreach Invitation
Our next event is ready for you to sign-up and be a
part of something PEA positive:
PEA Habitat for Humanity Build Day in Bay Point
If you volunteer you will receive a PEA Pittsburg
Teachers Care T-shirt.
When? Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011 from
8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Where? At the end of Bella Vista Avenue
in Bay Point
No experience necessary!! Really...just be willing.
Wear comfortable work clothes, bring a lunch and
a water bottle. All tools, equipment and
explanations will be provided.
You must register first and here is how…
1. Go to Habitat for Humanity East Bay
2. Click on Volunteer
3. Under “Build Houses” click “Individuals”
4. Read and review FAQ’s
5. Go to “Upcoming Events” and scroll down
to Saturday, January 8, 2011
6. Click on Sign-up for Build Day – El
Rincon, Bay Point
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7. Register if you are new to Habitat for
Humanity
Please let me know if you are coming and your
shirt size preference by e-mail to peatchrs@att.net
See ya there…Chris Coan
****************************************
Report Out
By, Chuck Jones
PUSD Energy Conservator
Our energy savings are equal to…
 Preventing 1,421 metric tons of CO2
emissions, or
 Removing 255 cars from our highways for
one year, or
 Planting and growing 36,344 tree seedlings
for 10 years
PUSD became an Energy Star Partner in
April, 2010 – Since then we…
 Achieved Label recognition for 10
buildings
 Are eligible for 20% Leader & Leader,
Top Performer recognition
Most importantly, the success of our energy
program is due to the participation of our faculty,
custodians, food service staff, and administration.
A special thanks goes to …
 Ms. Martha Strock, Mr. Ricardo Araiza,
Ms. Donna Marshall & Staff
 Mr. Mike Rodriguez, Mr. Mike Barros &
Staff
 Board of Trustees, Ms. Linda Rondeau,
Dr. Wilson, Mr. Enrique Palacios and
Mr. Ron Hickey
and to Everyone else who helped us conserve
energy.
PEA Calendar
JANUARY 2011
1 New Year’s Day
5 PEA Executive Board – PEA Office – 1901 Railroad – 3:45 PM
6 PEA President’s Visit – Foothill’s Staff Lounge – After Contract Hrs. End
11 PEA President’s Visit – Height’s Staff Lounge – After Contract Hrs. End
13 Superintendent Roundtable – 3:30 PM – PUSD Board Room
17 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
19 PEA Rep Council – PEA Office – 1901 Railroad – 3:45 PM
25 PEA President’s Visit – Foothill’s Staff Lounge – After Contract Hrs. End
TBA PUSD School Board Meeting – 2000 Railroad Ave. – 7:00 PM

FEBRUARY 2011
2 PEA Executive Board – PEA Office – 1901 Railroad – 3:45 PM
5 PEA Executive Board Retreat
10 Relational Meeting @ Los Medanos’ staff lounge directly after school
12 Lincoln’s Birthday
14 Valentine’s Day
15 Relational Meeting @ Marina Vista’s staff lounge directly after school
16 PEA Rep Council – PEA Office – 1901 Railroad – 3:45 PM
18 Holiday – no school
21 President’s Day – no school
22 Washington’s Birthday
TBA PUSD School Board Meeting – 2000 Railroad Ave. – 7:00 PM

Next Deadline for Articles is February 7, 2011

STAY INFORMED @
WWW.CTA.ORG & WWW.NEA.ORG

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