To all SGTA members,   

This email is to express my gratitude to all SGTA members who came out last night to the school board meeting and to those who were their with us in spirit.  It was one of SGTA's finest moments! SGTA had at least 50 teachers in attendance at the pizza social and at the school board meeting.  New and veteran teachers found the courage to approach the podium and address our school board members and administrators. They spoke as a collective whole and told stories of how their peers all across the district are working tirelessly to create quality learning opportunities for the students of San Gabriel.  I cannot begin to express how proud I was of all our our teachers! Thank you from the bottom of my heart! 

Also, please take a moment to watch this video and share it with others. Here is a big SHOUT OUT to Terri and Kat from GHS for taking the time during their Thanksgiving holiday to make this video!  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYrnuNuyd0s
 
In Unity, 
Dena 

The negotiations team needs your help to show the School Board why we deserve a salary increase next year!!!  At 6:00 P.M.  we need 4 or more people to speak to the Board.  We would like to HAVE THE WHOLE ROOM FULL OF TEACHERS WEARING THEIR SGTA SHIRTS. 

Here is a tentative schedule for the evening: 
6:00 PM SGTA will address the School Board
6:15 Board members go to closed session for discussion
6:15 SGTA will provide dinner at Pizza Place California for all SGTA Teachers attending evening board meeting
7:00 Board Members Reconvene for regular session, Board members Reconfiguration event.
7:30 SGTA Video Presentation will be shown.

SGTA Video Presentation:  As you know, SGTA has been working on a power point slide show with photos of staff along with their years of experience, advanced degrees, and unique qualities that they bring to their classrooms.  This slide show will be shown to the board on Tuesday evening. SGTA will request the video to be shown at 6:00 p.m., however, at this time it is on the agenda for later in the evening.  So PLEASE PLAN on STAYING for the whole event, we will feed you dinner! 

If you are willing to address the board,  here are some suggestions about what you could say:

• How long you've been in San Gabriel and teaching in general
• Your degrees and areas of expertise
• The unique classroom experiences you share with the students
• What makes you a stellar teacher
• PLEASE BE BOASTFUL!  We really need to make an impression on the Board Members so that they are truly aware of all of the things we bring to this district that is above and beyond just doing the job.  Remember we are trying to show why we deserve to get professional pay similar to surrounding districts.

Here is a template to help you, but feel free to come up with your own: 
Good evening Board Members.  My name is _________.  I have been working for this district for _______.  I have a BA in _______________, as well as a______________________________.  I teach ____________ at Jefferson.  
 
Example: 
       Good evening Board Members.  My name is Iraise Garcia.  I have been working for this district for 11 years.  I have a BA in Liberal Studies and History, as well as a Masters in Education and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.  I have taught ELD 1 at Jefferson and I am now currently the ELD 2 teacher.  Because my students are limited in their English skills, it is helpful that I am fluent in Spanish and I am also currently learning Chinese.  "Wo nang shuo yi dian putong hua."  I am also one of the seventh grade English Teachers at the School, who attended the UC Irvine writing project in the summer of 2014.  An intensive writing program that was not just a professional development, but like a graduate level course.  I also continued the program with Writing Project II, a year long program in order to better my curriculum and my student's motivation in writing.  I just wanted to share this because you may not be aware of the amount of time and effort, we go through, even after our years of study and experience, in order to give our students an exemplary education.       

Please send me an email if you can help our efforts and are willing to speak! There is strength in numbers!!

Thank you!

-- 

Terri

See message below from Dena, our President.  I will be addressing the board after presenting the video, but please, IF YOU FEEL SO COMPELLED, plan on coming in your SGTA shirt and talk!  Share your feelings, how much you love your job, etc.

At this point in negotiations, it is REALLY IMPORTANT for us to show up in force!  Thank you for all your support in getting your photos taken and wearing your shirts.

If you go to ONE board meeting this year, make it NEXT Tuesday at 6!


 
Hello Reps,


Please forward the attached communication to all teachers. Our negotiations team is requesting the presence of SGTA at our next school board meeting on Tuesday, December 8th. We are asking for 3-4 teachers from Elem, JMS, and GHS/DM to address the board members  PRIOR to  going into closed session.  Therefore, teachers should be in attendance by 6:00 PM.  Plan on staying to see the video presentation that is on the agenda as well.


The Negotiations teams thanks everyone for their support!  Please let me know who is willing to voice their concerns!

Dena