By Susan StephanOxford Academy Teacher Thanks to a $16,000 IFT grant written by Susan Stephan, Oxford Academy and Cambridge Virtual Academy will further develop an engaging hybrid engineering and robotics program for students in grades 7–12. This program blends in-person and virtual participation, making it accessible to more students while fostering independence, creativity, and confidence.
One of the program’s greatest strengths is the involvement of professional engineers who mentor students throughout the process. These mentors guide students as they imagine, design, and build their robots, sharing real-world expertise and encouragement along the way. Students learn to work as a team, communicate effectively, and solve problems creatively—skills that will serve them well in school, college, and future careers. Using industry-style tools and hands-on activities, students will create plans, build robots in the Oxford Academy lab, or contribute virtually through Cambridge Virtual Academy. Saturday workdays and flexible scheduling make it easy for everyone to participate. The grant will cover materials, design software, event fees, and even help with purchasing parts to build the robots. This program inspires students to dream big, think like engineers, and see themselves as capable problem-solvers.
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By Ashley PothoffSpeech-Language Pathologist, Brookhurst Junior High Attending the CTA Summer Institute Bargaining Training as a speech-language pathologist was an empowering and eye-opening experience. As SLPs, we often work in unique, highly specialized roles that require us to advocate not only for our students’ communication and language needs, but also for our professional needs within the broader educational system. This training deepened my understanding of the bargaining process and how I can apply my skills to strengthen the overall bargaining team.
One of my biggest takeaways was realizing how progressive and proactive ASTA truly is. While the training provided an overview of strategies and resources, it was clear ASTA is already ahead of the game in many areas. I took great pride in being part of a union that not only fights for what’s best for our schools and students but also has the foresight, structure, and commitment to do so effectively. I left feeling inspired and energized, ready to continue advocating for both my students and colleagues as part of a collaborative, forward-thinking, and effective team. I was reminded that, although our job titles may differ, we share the same mission—to secure better resources, fair working conditions, and equitable opportunities for every student. |
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50 S. Anaheim Blvd., Suite 300, Anaheim CA • (714) 399-1882 • Click Here to Contact Webmaster