PEA

focus
on educators
focus on educators is an award winning publication of the Pittsburg Education Association/CTA/NEA
_____________________________________________________________________________________

APRIL past now what are we supposed

to do? We still have district
2010 wide budget cuts, loss of staff
development days, worn out
textbooks, larger class sizes and
no pay raise in site. Nothing
appears to be changing
regarding these measures. The
future looks bleak. March 4th
was just the first step in a long
process of public awareness.
Outreach” Month. We are
standing united with the state
Education Coalition in
demanding that lawmakers keep
their promise to repay public
schools the more than $11
billion they are owed under state
law. Write or e-mail the
governor and demand he restore
the money he took from public
education. Write a letter to the

Volume XIX, Did you remember to tell a

Number 8
In this Issue
President’s Message &
Informational Items… Pgs. 1-3
NEA Election Results Pg. 4
Teacher of the Year….Pgs. 4-5
Informational Items….Pgs. 6-7
PEA Calendar……… The Last Page
PEA
President’s
Message
Okay, now that the March 4th
Rally for Education is in the
friend or family member how
these cuts are going to affect
your job? Did you tell a parent
how these cuts are going to
affect their child’s education?
Remember…they will listen to
you. We have to keep the
momentum moving forward.
CTA President David Sanchez
has declared April “Community
editor of your local newspaper
and explain how the cuts have
hurt your classroom and your
pocketbook. Create a video and
post it on YouTube with your
grade level explaining how
these budget cuts affect your
classroom. At Open House, take
a moment to explain to parents
how the cuts will impact your
classroom teaching. Label items
in your classroom that you paid
for with your own money.
Contact your legislators and
tell them NO MORE CUTS!
Use the toll free hotline at
1-888-268-4334. A major force
of complaining can be aimed at
repealing the corporate tax
breaks that the Legislature
handed out to large corporations
and oil companies last year.
They got a break while
education got the cut….of $17
billion. Also we need to look
out there and see that we vote
for lawmakers who will stand
up for public education and not
be intimidated or take payola
from big business. Please make
a pledge to reach out to ONE
person this month and tell them
how education is hurting. If all
530 of us did that then if those
people told one other person we
would have a movement of
information going……let’s do
it!

Wag More, Bark Less…

but Bark About the Cuts
to Education!!!

Chris Coan
PEA President

3
 PEA Leadership 2009-2010
President
Chris Coan
Willow Cove Elementary/ PEA Office
Elementary Vice President Rep. Council Meeting Calendar
Cindy Joy September 16
Parkside Elementary October 21
Secondary Vice President November 18
James Vaughan December 16
Riverside High School January 20
Secretary February 17
Sarah Mathias March 17
Highlands Elementary April 21
Treasurer May 19
Vacant June 9
Committee Chairs ******************
Grievance Committee School Board Meeting Calendar
Iris Contreras August 26
Foothill Elementary
September 9
Richard Higgins September 23
Pittsburg High
October 14
Negotiations Team October 28
Marc Sternberger - Chair November 18
Political Action Committee December 16
Iris Contreras and Steve Longley - Chair January 20
Elections Chair February 17
Jim Goble – Chair March 3
Human Rights Committee March 24
Ruth Foster – Chair April 14
Women’s Issues Committee April 28
Deborah Cummings May 12
PEA Organizing Team May 26
Jim Vaughn and Bebe Vaughn - Chair June 9
CTA State Council Representatives June 23
Chris Rohde - Pittsburg High ******************
Denise James, Valorie Baca, Sandra Wilbanks - AEA Are you Getting your PEA
Alternate Information???
Cindy Joy - Parkside Elementary
CTA Director District C Having the site reps attend their monthly meeting and then
Eric Heins – Willow Cove Elementary reporting back to you is vital in the communication chain
of our Association.
NEA Director for California, District 3
Marc Sternberger – Special Education/MLK
Roll call at last March 17th Rep. Council Meeting:
Technical Editor
Adult Ed. – absent
Susan Harrison – PEA Site Secretary Foothill – present
Heights – present
Focus on Educators Highlands – present
is a publication of the Los Medanos – present
Pittsburg Education Association CTA/NEA Marina Vista – present
1901 Railroad Avenue #A Parkside – present
Pittsburg, CA 94565 Stoneman – present
Phone: (925) 432-0199 Willow Cove – present
fax: (925) 432-4854 MLK – present
E-MAIL:peatchrs@att.net Hillview – absent
Rancho Medanos – absent

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PHS – present
Riverside – present

PEA Officer Elections
Candidacy Forms Available
Due into PEA by Thurs. April
29th
Elections for PEA Officers: Elementary Vice
President, Secondary Vice President, Treasurer, and
Secretary will be held April 21 through April 28.
(Offices are a one (1) year term). All members in good
standing of NEA/CTA and PEA are eligible to run.
Candidacy forms are available through your site
representative or at the PEA Office.
Candidacy Forms are due into the PEA Office
(1901 Railroad Avenue #A or FAX: 432-4854)
no later than 4:00 pm Thursday, April 29th.
*******************************
Let’s Celebrate the
“Day of the Teacher”
You are invited to celebrate and honor your profession.
When? Wednesday, May 12th from 3:30 to 5:30
Where? El Matador Restaurant in Pittsburg
How? A Mexican style buffet dinner and a drink
or alcohol beverage will be provided.
Bring your fun with you and bring a friend or two!
Please RSVP at peatchrs@att.net by May 10th.
*******************************
PEA/CTA/PUSD Presents
Unconscious Bias Training
Workshop
May 11 from 3:45 to 5:30 p.m.
District Office Portable in the Back
CTA will be presenting this workshop to help all of us
in our interpersonal relationships with students and
parents and even with each other. This training hopes to
3
provide us with an awareness of how we read people and
set up prior assumptions based on past experiences.
This workshop is open to everyone and will be held in the
curriculum portable at the district office.
Please RSVP at peatchrs@att.net by May 7th.
Summer School Hiring Agreement
between PEA and PUSD
Here is the criteria used in the hiring of people for summer
school positions.
1. Current certificated employees of the District who
apply for summer school teaching positions shall be
given priority over outside applicants.
2. All summer school teaching positions shall be posted
at least twenty (20) calendar days prior to the
application deadline.
3. Postings for summer school shall contain only
minimum qualifications, in order to ensure that the
widest numbers of unit members are eligible for the
positions.
4. The criteria for summer school selection shall be
considered in the following order listed below. Each
subsequent criteria will only be considered if a tie
between applicants results from the preceding criteria
and more applicants than positions are still available.
• Credential(s) in the applied for subject area;
• Recent classes/grade levels taught in the subject
area in the last three years;
• One point will be given for each formal training,
including in-house professional development,
completed and verified within the last three years,
relevant to the following areas(proof of
verification shall be the responsibility of the
applicant):
1. Instructional Strategies
2. Academic Intervention Strategies
3. Student Engagement Strategies
4. Content Standards
5. Parent Involvement
6. Student Motivation
7. Classroom Management
 8. Culturally Relevant Teaching Alex has been teaching at Los Medanos for three years. His
first year was in fourth grade and the second two in the fifth
• The District will provide the Association with a
grade. Teaching science has been very important to Alex. He
list of summer school applicants by position and
strives to make it as hands on as possible and works hard to
the District's most recent seniority list, if
improve science instruction for all of the fifth grade students at
requested. Los Medanos.
• In order to provide the opportunity for the largest Alex was instrumental in acquiring a grant to develop a
number of unit members, no person shall be garden being developed by the 4th and 5th grade students. He
selected to teach summer school for more than offers tech support for the staff and is the Accelerated Reader
three (3) consecutive summers, unless there are no coordinator for the school. It is with great pride that Los
qualified applications for the position(s). Medanos honors Alex Bursch as the school’s TOY for the
2010/2011 school year!
NEA Representative Assembly
Election Results 
Local PEA Delegate Election Patricia Rodriguez, Willow Cove
Marc Sternberger, MLK 37 Patricia was born and raised in Modesto, California from very
Eric Heins, Willow Cove 33 traditional parents who always expected the best when it came
Bebita Montesinos-Vaughn , Foothill 26 to education. She was fortunate enough to attend Cal State
Cindy Joy, Parkside Elementary 18 Stanislaus, in Turlock, California which allowed her to live at
State CTA/Alcosta Delegate Election home and still attain by B.A. in Liberal Studies and obtain my
Eric Heins, PEA 419 teaching credential. She moved to Pittsburg in 1996 where she
Marc Sternberger, PEA 352 has been married to her husband Sal for 14 years this coming
Lee Carpenter, Dublin TA 342 November. It is her personal goal to maintain a close
Charles Shannon 258 relationship with both of her daughters, ages 5 and 8, so they
Cindy Tumin 228 can always communicate and have an open relationship.
Sally Mills 228
Christine Rohde, PEA 205 Patricia has been teaching since 1993 for a total of 13 years
Debra Carr 117 as she took 3 years off to have her two daughters.
Highlighted Candidates were elected… However attendance Patty went into teaching because "I thought I could make a
will depend on decisions regarding State and Local Status and difference, if I could change a child's life or affect it in a way that
funding availability. it would make him/her a better person I wanted to make that
change. I have always enjoyed seeing the enthusiasm of a child
Congratulations !!! when learning. My goal is to continue improving my teaching
strategies in order to be the best teacher I can be."
“Teachers of the Year”

 George Patrick Wheable, Riverside
Alex Bursch, Los Medanos I believe a career in teaching to be one of the most important
Alex Bursch grew up in Martinez. His early years consisted professions in the world. Where else do you have a hand in the
of attending school and swimming. He has been affiliated with development of a countries future? As a teacher, we help shape
the Pleasant Hill “Dolphins” for 16 years, first as a swimmer and tomorrow. We teach the academic skills necessary to be a
currently as a coach. productive member of society, while demonstrating the social
skills that are so vital within our community.
Alex started college at UC Davis with the intention of
becoming a veterinarian. In order to be competitive in the After high school graduation, I didn’t know what I was going
veterinary school application process he started volunteering at to do as a career. I enjoyed and had some success coaching.
an elementary school for community service. His volunteer My future father-in-law, a teacher at Ygnacio Valley High School
hours increased along with his opportunities to teach lessons had a hand in my career choice. He knew that I truly enjoyed
and work with small groups. Alex was hooked and teaching coaching and simply said, “coaching is nothing more than
became his new goal. Alex graduated with a Bachelor’s in teaching outside the classroom.” It was then that I realized that I
Animal Biology and then entered the credential program at UC wanted to become a teacher. So I enrolled at DVC in Pleasant
Davis. Hill and began my journey to become a teacher. It took me
three years to complete my two year AA degree, while I worked

4
48 hours a week at a small tire and wheel store called The
Rubber Tree. I saved my money from that job and paid for my
first year at Chico State. To complete my junior and senior year
at CSU Chico, I worked as a Resident Advisor in the dorms
during the school year to pay my room and board. During the
summers, I worked security at the Concord Pavilion and the
money I made there paid for my tuition for each year. My family
wasn’t able to contribute financially as much as they would have
liked, but they helped where they could. They helped with the
cost of my books, my phone bill and some spending money.
More importantly, they were extremely supportive in every other
way. As it turns out, I was the only member of my family that
graduated from college.
While attending Chico State, I earned my degree in Physical
Education, with my goal to achieve my teaching credential.
However, due to financial issues, I needed to leave before
completing my teaching credential classes. I moved back to the
Bay Area and began substituting at both the Antioch and
Pittsburg Unified School Districts. The principal at Marina High
(that was the name of one, of two continuation high schools
within the PUSD) asked if I would consider a six week substitute
assignment. I agreed. By the end of the three weeks, I was
asked to stay for the remainder of the year. PUSD helped me
with a wonderful letter of recommendation, and I entered the
Teaching Credential program at CSU Hayward. The principal,
Greg Almand, and the Assistant Superintendent were very
instrumental in me becoming a full time credentialed teacher.
I really enjoyed and connected to my teaching assignment.
As a high school sophomore, I wasn’t committed to school. If it
wasn’t for my counselor and football coach, I would have been
transferred to the local continuation high school, Olympic, in
Concord. They both helped me stay focused on completing high
school. For that main reason, I believe my life experiences have
lead me to teaching here at Riverside. And I have every
intention to retire from my teaching assignments right here at
Riverside.
I have been blessed to have a very successful career teaching
here at Riverside High. I especially enjoy when former students
come back to see me, and share their life stories after they leave
our school. Some graduated, some haven’t, but all seem to
really appreciate the time and effort that I gave them while we
were together. After a few years, I began to understand how to
teach. It is a combination of knowledge for the material and an
ability to translate the material into information that can
challenge and excite the students. A former colleague shared
with me his definition of being old. He said, “When you have
students who are the children of former students, you know
you’re old.” As true as his statement is, I would prefer to think of
myself as a part of many of my students extended families.
I often refer to an example to my students, what they have is a
“gift.” For example, when you receive a gift for your birthday,
wrapped beautifully, you don’t sit there and admire the wrapping,
5
you tear off the paper and bow, to see the gift within. This is the
point that I try to share with my students. It’s not the wrapping,
but the gift inside which counts. Many times I need to remind my
students that it is not how you dress or the music that you listen
to, it’s what’s inside which counts. Unfortunately, many of my
students have never seen their gift. I feel it is my responsibility
to expose them to their value and contribution to our society. My
goal with the students, who have been with me over the years, is
that they can recognize the value in themselves and others.
This is why I strive to do my best as a man, a father and as a
teacher.

Michael Whitaker, Highlands
Michael Whitaker: 13 years experience in teaching; 12 years
teaching at Highlands Elementary
Michael Whitaker is truly an exceptional choice for Teacher of
the Year from Highlands Elementary. She exemplifies the hard
work, dedication and professionalism that is necessary to
improve the skills and opportunities of our students. Michael is
tireless in her efforts to raise the achievement level of each child.
She is knowledgeable and well versed in the best instructional
strategies and practices in the classroom. Mrs. Whitaker is
meticulous in her preparation. She is often used to model
instruction for other teachers.
Michael has a way of bringing out the very best in every child.
She is able to build their confidence so that they believe that
they are able to accomplish whatever they set their mind to
doing. Michael finds ways to build on the strengths of each
student while addressing their deficits.
Michael is passionate about teaching. She is remarkable in
every facet of education. It is an honor and a privilege to have
her here at Highlands Elementary.

Christina Zenzano, Rancho Medanos
Christina Zenzano has been teaching for 5 years as a
Junior High School teacher. However, she actually began
teaching in high school! When she was a senior in high
school she volunteered to teach Catechism classes one
day a week at her church. She enjoyed it so much that she
continued to volunteer there for 4 years while she went to
college at California State University—East Bay. During
that time she decided that she wanted to be a teacher, so
she got a job at a daycare in order to get more experience.
Working at the day care led to becoming a preschool
teacher! The remainder of her college years were spent as
a preschool and day care teacher until she got hired here
in the Pittsburg School District as a Language Arts teacher.
Christina says she plans to continue teaching in Pittsburg
because she loves the staff and the students!
Another congratulations is in order because Christina
and her husband (and fellow teacher) Michael Zenzano,
just had their first child, Landon, on February 26 th!
6
What To Do If….?
What does a teacher do if they see
students in a physical altercation? I asked
Dr. Re'Join Frazier-Myers, director of student services, for
an answer. The first thing you need to do is call for help
and inform someone in the office. Next attempt to break-
up the fight, but while doing so and physically laying a
hand on a child, announce your intention " I’m breaking
up this fight!" Immediately write-up an accident report
and give it to your administrator. Under no circumstances
are you to walk-away from a student fight as you could be
cited for negligence.
What does a teacher do if they are asked by their
administrator to change a student's grade? Your grade you
give is your own. Administration does not have the right
to order a change in a grade. According to Ed Code 49066
"the grade given to each pupil shall be the grade
determined by the teacher of the course and the
determination .....in the absence of clerical or mechanical
mistake, fraud, bad faith, or incompetency, shall be final."
You must be able to explain your reasoning behind the
grade.
What do I do if there is a school emergency? I don't
know my sites disaster plan. Schools must establish safety
plans and inform their staff of the safety plan and they
need to do this EVERY YEAR!! Your SSC should have
already written up the plan. Please make sure your site is
educated on what the plan actually is. Don't wait until a
disaster occurs. PEA has grieved this and has been assured
that the safety plan and emergency supplies are ready to
go and the sites are prepared. Is this true? Contact PEA if
this is not the case.
How do I know if I have a student that has a history of
violent acts? Where do I find out this information?
According to Ed Code 49079 the district must inform a
teacher of each pupil who has engaged in violent acts for
the last three years. This has been brought up by PEA with
PUSD administrators and they have agreed to set up a
binder in the school site office with the required
information. This confidential information will be made
available to any employee that has contact with these
students. This binder is to be made available at the
beginning of the school year and will be kept up to date as
the school year progresses.

POP QUIZ
“The Duty of Fair
Representation
(DFR)
TRUE—OR—FALSE?
1. ___The association has a duty to listen to non-
members.
2. ___An agency fee payer has a right to vote on the
results negotiations.
3. ___Once a site representative refers a contract
issue to his/her president or staff person; he/she
has complied with the duty of fair representation.
4. ___If a non-member wants staff assistance on a
Reduction in Force hearing, the association is
obligated to provide it.
5. ___Authorization for agency payroll deductions
can be bargained by the association without the
consent of fee payers.
6. ___The association is not obligated to discuss
bargaining issues with bargaining unit members
until the ratification meeting.
7. ___The association must bargain a special issue
regarding a sub group (such as job share teachers)
that has 100% support of that subgroup.
8. ___The association must include at least one
religious organization in the contribution list
available to religious objectors.
9. ___Itinerant, temporary or casual teachers paid
out of categorical, grant, or booster funds, have a
right to be represented by the union.
10. ___The association has no obligation to allow an
agency fee payer to sit in on bargaining.
(ANSWERS ON PAGE 7)
*******************************
What To Do If
You Find a Bullet On Campus
A member had requested that I find out what to do in
the event that a bullet was found on campus. I asked
Dorothy Epps, Assistant Superintendent of Personnel
for an answer. She replied that if a bullet or any
object that is of a safety concern is found on school
property the situation should immediately be referred
to the Principal. Under no circumstances should staff
or students pick-up the item. If the principal is not on
the site, then the office staff may know how to reach
7
the Principal and /or the office staff can call the
Superintendent's office and they will get someone
there on site ASAP.
*******************************
Budget
Subcommittee
Report Out
On Wednesday, April 14, 2010 the budget
subcommittee leader, Enrique Palacios, reported out their
suggestions to those attending the school board meeting
and to the school board members. Their suggestions were
categorized into three groups of green, yellow and red.
The green list of cuts were items that would be able to be
taken with fair simplicity and required no negotiations of
any kind. The yellow and the red list of suggestions were a
bit more “sticky”. These were items that required
negotiation with labor groups (PEA) before they could be
agreed upon. Of these items were the following:
♦ Cut the 3 upcoming Staff Development Days and
reduce our pay by 1.9%
♦ Cut the first 2 days we work prior to the students
arriving with about a 1% pay cut. This would
mean starting the work year 15 minutes before
students arrive on the first day of school.
♦ Freezing the salary step ladder
♦ Cutting prep teachers and prep classes and having
all teachers have prep time after school hours
which would extend the work day
After discussing this with the Bargaining team the
response is that there are no reopeners and the contract is
closed until June 20, 2011. If you remember, we settled
and signed a contract 2 years ago and this contract was for
3 years. The last line of the contract says it ends
June 30, 2011 with no re-openers. You cannot open the
contract for certain little items. Once the contract is
opened, then it ALL becomes open for negotiation.
*******************************
--- NOTICE ---
The Staff Development Day Grievance Arbitration date
set for this past April 16th has been cancelled and we are
waiting to hear when the new date will occur. We met
prepared for the meeting instead. The assigned arbitrator
from the state was very ill. This particular grievance is
regarding the loss of last January’s Staff Development  If any union colleague is being criticized in my
Day and the loss of pay as well. presence, I will confront the criticism and ask that it
stop.
 I will not participate in any conversations with
management that criticize or negatively speculate
about any union colleague.
 I will settle my differences with colleagues within my
******************************* union.
“The Duty of Fair  I will engage in debate, offer others every opportunity
for debate and respect minority viewpoints, but I will
Representation” observe and support the majority mandate of my
(DFR) union.

(ANSWERS)

1. T
2. F
3. F
4. F
5. T
6. F
7. F
8. F
9. T
10. T

*******************************
A Book Worth Reading:
“ The Death and Life of the
Great American School
System”
by Diane Ravitch

Diane is a former Assistant Secretary of Education and

used to be a strong supporter of NCLB. She used to be a
strong proponent of charter schools, standardized testing
and merit pay. She has now taken a 180 degree turn and is
an ardent opposer of NCLB which she believes is too
quick to demonize teachers and teacher unions. This book
is worthwhile reading for teachers since we
wholeheartedly agree with her findings. It is nice to
finally hear a logical, concise explanation for the problems
with education that doesn’t involve us as the heart of the
problem.

*******************************
Union Code of Conduct
 I will not criticize any union colleague except to the
individual directly.

8
PEA
Calendar
APRIL 2010
1 April Fool’s Day
2 Good Friday
4 Easter
14 PEA Executive Board – PEA Office – 1901 Railroad – 3:45
PM
14 PUSD School Board Meeting – 2000 Railroad Ave. – 7:00
PM
21 PEA Rep Council – PEA Office – 1901 Railroad – 3:45 PM
21 Administrative Professionals Day
22 Earth Day
28 PUSD School Board Meeting – 2000 Railroad Ave. – 7:00
PM

MAY 2010
5 Cinco de Mayo
5 PEA Executive Board – PEA Office – 1901 Railroad – 3:45
PM
8 “WHO Award” Ceremony – Hs Lordships, Berkeley
9 Mother’s Day
12 “Day of the Teacher” – El Matador – 3:30-5:30p.m.
12 PUSD School Board Meeting – 2000 Railroad
Ave. – 7:00 PM
19 PEA Rep Council – PEA Office – 1901 Railroad – 3:45 PM
26 PUSD School Board Meeting – 2000 Railroad Ave. – 7:00
PM
31 Memorial Day Observed

Next Deadline for Articles is May 10, 2010

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