Email Updates

Thursday, January 20

Hello all,

Happy MLK, Jr. Day and Happy New Year, too!

Now that the semester is off to an interesting start...

Newsletter- Mr. Buck Wong is heading up organizing and distributing a chapter newsletter, which we hope to distribute every 2-3 months (at least to start) with the first distribution next week. Look for it in your box and on our UTLA Chapter website.

Legislature and SSC- Lincoln Legislature and School Site Council Meetings are on alternating Mondays at 3:30 (legislature) and 4:30 (SSC). Our 2nd meeting of the semester is this Monday in the library. Your elected representatives are Susan Geiger, Ali Lauer, Fatima Romero-Flores, Gilbert Martinez, Alan Yates, and myself. Please contact one of your representatives if you have questions or concerns. Legislature handles campus life issues including student life, discipline, professional development, school calendar, and the bell schedule. SSC handles categorical funds and our overall Single Plan for Student Achievement. I chair Legislature, and Gilbert Martinez chairs SSC. If you have an item that you would like to present before either body, please contact us and we can add you to the agenda.

Steering Committee- Meets every Thursday at 7:15am in Mr. Wong's Room- Room 109. Thank you to our committed and conscientious UTLA Steering Committee members- Wong, Rose, Verdon, Nagaoka, Fong, Yates, and De Witt. Meetings are open to all members who are interested in sharing input. Join the conversation!

Kudos- to Ms. Viramontes for trying new and exciting technology-based projects in her classes such as How-To videos and Photographic presentations; to Ms. Romero-Flores for student use of the interactive SMART board in her classroom to review and prepare her students for tests, and to Mr. Martinez for introducing his students to the Supreme Court through mock-court cases. I think we're innovating and improving every day!

Holiday Christmas Party- Thanks to the Faculty Association for an amazing time at the Holiday Party in December. Loved the casino night, loved the dj, loved everything! Thank you to Ms. Sandoval and Ms. Salcido (Gloria) for heading it up and to all the members who contributed. We appreciate you!

Update your Info- in order to receive the UTLA updates on contract negotiations, UTLA Officer elections, and other issues delivered directly to your email, you need to update your UTLA information and current email address. CLICK HERE now and get it done!

PSC 2.0 Voting- We have been notified that Lincoln is considered a "feeder school" for the "East LA STAR" High School that is opening up next year near Garfield. We encourage all faculty members to go and vote next Saturday, January 29 at Irving MS. I have attached a flier about the importance of having teachers vote in the second round of the Public School Choice and a schedule of pre-vote plan presentation meetings. You CAN also vote as a community member for schools that are affected near your residential neighborhood. I will forward on more information as it becomes available...

UTLA Officer and Board of Director Election- Ballots will be mailed on January 31, 2011. Educate yourself on the candidates and election issues by visiting the UTLA Election page.

LA Times- On January 7, the LA Times published an Op-Ed written by the chapter chairs at the Partnership for LA Schools. If you haven't already read it, you should! It was a great piece, and I think I actually shouted "Amen!" at the end of it! LA Times Op-Ed Piece written in response to Mayor Villaraigosa

Last, but not Least- Remember our target to improve our API scores and retain QEIA funds is +30. Please think about how you can contribute to improving student achievement at Lincoln and put those thoughts into action!

Blessings,

M. Crabtree