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IFT Grant Engineering & Robotics

9/5/2025

By Susan Stephan

Oxford 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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Bargaining Training for SLP

9/5/2025

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By Ashley Pothoff

Speech-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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NEA Rep Assembly

8/1/2025

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By Mark Lopez

Gilbert Teacher

Hello, fellow ASTA members! I was honored to attend this year's NEA's Annual Meeting and Representative Assembly in Portland July 1-7.

During the weeklong conference, I had the opportunity to network with educators from around the country, vote on education policy recommendations that will be advocated for at the federal level, and speak with and enjoy the camaraderie of the attendees, including those from states hostile to public education.

As we begin the new school year, it was inspiring to see the solidarity of educators nationwide, especially during this time of uncertainty and confusion. Thank you, ASTA, for the opportunity!

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CTA Emerging Leaders

8/1/2025

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By Jennifer Hibbs

Western/Orangeview Teacher

Attending the Emerging Leaders strand at the CTA Summer Institute was an inspiring and empowering experience. The program provided meaningful opportunities to connect with educators from across the state, build leadership skills, and gain a deeper understanding of union advocacy.
The interactive workshops and collaborative discussions provided opportunities to learn about organizing strategies, advocacy for educators, union structure, increasing member engagement, and pathways to leadership.

The supportive environment, expert facilitators, and shared sense of purpose made the experience both educational and energizing. The Emerging Leaders strand was transformational in developing skills to create lasting, positive change at the site level and and in our local chapter.

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Union Protects the Rights of Members During Layoff Hearings: Day One

4/24/2024

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By Matt Corcoran & Ed Sibby

ASTA Communications Director & CTA Communications Consultant

ANAHEIM - Public schools are in turmoil in Anaheim where administrators from Anaheim Union High School District (AUHSD) began official layoff procedures during a Reduction in Force (RIF) hearing held Tuesday, April 23 at Katella High School’s Royal Crown Theater.

The morning hearing began with Administrative Law Judge Eric C. Sawyer introducing counsel for the 253 teachers who received a RIF notice following a March 7 vote by the AUHSD Board of Trustees. Anaheim teachers were supported by three CTA attorneys and one staff person.

District attorneys acknowledged that mistakes in their layoff list may have occurred, and that adjustments will be made with the direction of the sitting judge.

District council spent the first several hours explaining the criteria for laying off teachers. AUHSD Director of Human Resources Scott Jensen was called to testify as to why some Anaheim teachers have been skipped over and others left off the list. District representatives created 29 exemptions to the layoff list, throwing the process into unprecedented confusion as some employees with decades of service were noticed while relatively new employees were “skipped” on the list.

Anaheim teacher Greg Chastain has worked various teaching assignments since he was hired in 2003. Now an AUHSD Independent Studies teacher, the 21 year veteran faces a layoff based on the district’s proposed “skip criteria.”

Day one ended with little progress and much confusion.

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Union Protects the Rights of Members During Layoff Hearings: Day Three - Union Advocacy

4/24/2024

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By Matt Corcoran & Ed Sibby

ASTA Communications Director & CTA Communications Consultant

Thursday morning began with Judge Sawyer confirming to teachers that the hearing would be extended five additional days: May 2, 14, 20, 22, and 23. The updated schedule means that Anaheim teachers will be kept out of the classroom during the final days of the 2023-24 school year.

The news was met with shock and disappointment by the educators who have been forced to spend their days in seemingly endless court proceedings rather than providing the instruction necessary to guide their students across the finish line as summer approaches.

The hearing continued with Reinhold further addressing inconsistencies in the district’s “skip” process, highlighting teachers who held similar training and credentials but who experienced different outcomes. Jensen acknowledged that errors were made during the tiebreaker process which lead to some teachers erroneously receiving final layoff notices.

Despite direct questioning from CTA counsel regarding specific areas of confusion and opacity, the district representative repeatedly referenced his need to research the district’s decision to lay off some teachers while “skipping” others with the same credential, training, and experience.

Cross-examination continued as CTA Conflict Attorney Jean Shin, representing a portion of those Anaheim teachers who were identified for a “skip,” further clarified the number of RIF notices distributed versus the anticipated number of layoffs. Shin questioned the lack of logic in the district’s decision to forgo recissions of members not slated to be given final notices.

Despite feelings of stress and anxiety, ASTA members rallied together in solidarity throughout the day’s proceedings.

Breakfast was provided by Katella High staff, Community Schools Lead Diana Gomez, and the Garden Grove Education Association while Katella High teacher Emily Farr purchased ice cream for members to enjoy as an afternoon treat. ASTA once again provided lunch for the nearly 200 educators who continue to struggle with the uncertainty of their futures.

ASTA will continue to stand in support of our members to hold the district to a fair and transparent process as the RIF hearing extends into its second week.

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Union Protects the Rights of Members During Layoff Hearings: Day Two

4/24/2024

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By Matt Corcoran & Ed Sibby

ASTA Communications Director & CTA Communications Consultant

ANAHEIM - Judge Sawyer announced on Wednesday morning that the complexity of the criteria list and number of affected teachers who will make pleas would require an extension of the hearing by an additional five days or more.

Anaheim district officials spent the morning explaining each individual layoff notice, including a rationale for why some teachers on the list were skipped while others were not. As the morning progressed, it became obvious that many of the criteria established by the district also applied to teachers who had not been skipped, but had instead received a layoff notice.

Attorney Marianne Reinhold, representing teachers being laid off by Anaheim Union, began her cross examination of the district in the afternoon by addressing discrepancies in the seniority list. Reinhold questioned Jensen on when discussions regarding the RIF process began and how the district determined which particular kinds of services would be utilized for purposes of skipping on the seniority list.

Jensen struggled to answer seniority questions raised by Reinhold, further highlighting the arbitrary nature of the district’s decision to skip some teachers while noticing others.

Counsel Reinhold placed information into evidence which illustrated that the district had slated multiple teachers with appropriate credentials for layoff, while skipping other educators with less experience – many possessing the appropriate credential. In example after example given, AUHSD appeared to have struggled to follow their own criteria set out for layoffs.

As the day ended, it became plain that the district’s determination to make significant deviations from the seniority list has created further uncertainty leaving Anaheim teachers dazed and confused.

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NEW Teachers on Campus

12/16/2018

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By Matt Corcoran

ASTA Communications Director

SAN DIEGO — From Dec. 14 through Dec. 16, ASTA sent a small cohort of teachers to CTA’s New Educator Weekend South in San Diego.

The group, consisting of six AUHSD teachers with either one or two years of classroom experience, attended the three-day conference consisting of a myriad of workshops and sessions designed to help ease the stress and confusion involved in the first years of teaching.

From workshops on student loan forgiveness and protecting your credential to sessions focused on empowering students and using your voice for activism, CTA set out to offer a unique professional development experience tailored to meet the specific needs of the many different early educators.

Among those ASTA members who attended the New Educator Weekend (or NEW) was Luis Iñiguez, a first year Spanish teacher at Anaheim High. For Iñiguez, the conference was an opportunity to work on his craft.

“I decided to go to (NEW) because I knew it would be a unique opportunity for me to learn about different instructional strategies and ways to engage students in the classroom,” Iñiguez said. “Not only was it an amazing learning experience, but it’s great to network and meet other educators from all over California.”

The breakout format -- consisting of nearly 75 different sessions -- allowed newer educators the opportunity to focus on developing the skills which will help them succeed in their districts.

It is no secret that discipline is a problem not only in our district, but in districts across the state. For this reason, NEW attendees had the opportunity to attend “A Talk About Discipline” hosted by classroom management guru Rick Morris.

For new educators like Brett Taylor, a first year social science teacher at Brookhurst Junior High, this Sunday morning session provided invaluable tips on how to manage two of his more difficult classes.

“I really like Rick’s ‘firm, but soft’ perspective on discipline,” Taylor said. “A big takeaway for me was to work on follow through with my students and holding them accountable to the social contract we have in class.”

A stand-out takeaway from Morris’s session revolves around a simple idea: Teachers should not take it personally when students misbehave.

“It really goes back to getting to know the student,” Taylor said. “My students’ behavior is not personal. They just need to be taught what’s appropriate.”

The weekend ended with a rousing speech delivered by CTA President Eric Heins in which he discussed, among other topics, the importance of local associations working together to ensure the best quality education for our students statewide.

“When we start talking about our students and our values for education, that’s what unites us,” Heins said. “And that unity is called union!”

NEW was just the latest in a long line of professional development conferences offered by CTA. From the Good Teaching Conference in San Jose to the Summer Institute at UCLA, the association regularly offers members the chance to take advantage of these opportunities for growth.

ASTA members are encouraged to speak to their site reps about future conferences offered by CTA.

“I would 110% recommend this conference to all (new) teachers in the district,” Iñiguez said. “If you are given the opportunity to go next year, take it!”

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ASTA Welcomes New Teachers

10/16/2018

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By Matt Corcoran

ASTA Communications Director

ANAHEIM -- On Monday, October 15, the Anaheim Secondary Teachers Association welcomed first-year AUHSD educators to New Teacher Orientation at the ASTA Offices.

Members of the executive board, including President Grant Schuster, Vice President James Goran, and CTA Staff Lisa Eck provided new teachers with valuable information on the district evaluation process, disciplinary action, personnel files, and more.

“It’s important for new teachers to understand the level of support they have,” Schuster said. “Not just from their local ASTA association, but from CTA as well.”

First-year teachers from Anaheim, Magnolia, Brookhurst, Dale, and South were treated to dinner as they looked over the current contract and had the opportunity to ask questions about the issues which matter most to new educators in the district.

“This was a great opportunity to see what benefits we have as new teachers,” special education math teacher Mark Lopez said. “It gives us a chance to find out the benefits that we’re paying for and the issues that ASTA has fought for.”

Veteran ASTA members understand the importance of establishing relationships with younger teachers as we look to build upon the strength of our association and provide the best possible education for our students.

"It's important that our association members, new and veteran, know the power of their membership,” Director-at-Large Ian Sabala said. “From the contract to accessing key information online, having that knowledge will hopefully alleviate some concerns and allow our members to focus on their students and classrooms."

Also in attendance were ASTA Treasurer Geoff Morganstern, Secretary Juan Alvarez, Director-at-Large Matt Majewski, and CTA State Council Representative Ryan Ruelas.

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By Susan Stephan

By Ashley Pothoff

By Mark Lopez

By Jennifer Hibbs

By Matt Corcoran & Ed Sibby

By Matt Corcoran & Ed Sibby

By Matt Corcoran & Ed Sibby

By Matt Corcoran

By Matt Corcoran

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