With the recent court win against the District to bargain the evaluations, we must push to improve the evaluation system so that it is fair and objective and administered consistently. However, the District is also currently lobbying our legislature to remove our right to bargain evaluations. Everyone should be contacting their legislator to let them know that we must stop the attack on public educators. https://feaweb.org/action/hb1203/

The District should include teacher salary increases in the budget yearly and not rely solely on the state allocation (TSIA). The Special Magistrate stated in the recent Salary Impasse that the District should do this even though the District and some School Board members have stated otherwise in the past. They were wrong. Fortunately at the Salary Impasse Hearing on Jan. 5 and 7 they finally agreed the budget needs to be reevaluated and adjusted to be able to include recurring teacher raises and giving a permanent Longevity Supplement. They also discussed at length the need to include teacher raises in the 1 mil referendum. This is a critical need for our teachers and we need to be fierce advocates to align our referendum as other districts in Florida have done to include teacher raises. Call or email your legislator today and ask that they ensure flexibility for increased school funding to be used for teacher raises. Tell them "As an educator, I truly appreciate that this year's proposed budget will see a significant increase for education. It is crucial that these increased funds remain as flexible as possible. While beginning teachers have seen significant raises in the past two years, experienced teachers have seen their salaries remain flat because of burdensome rules and laws on how raises must be given." For more information and send an easy email right now, visit https://feaweb.org/action/schools-need-flexibility/

We have an emergency occurring in the field of education with a mass exodus of teachers leaving this noble career. Teaching has become impossible for too many teachers. We need to identify every extraneous demand being placed on teachers and eliminate them. We need to restore teacher autonomy so that the real experts are in charge of their classrooms again. We must work to uphold the contract, protect due process, and defend workers' rights. We need to bring back the joy, pride, and respect for being a teacher again.

We must continue to advocate for safe schools for teachers and students. The District must include CTA in the decision making process for creating a healthy school environment.

We must continue to advocate for affordable health insurance and not overly burden teachers who are already underpaid and overworked.

• Union Growth: Our current membership is at 55%. CTA has a stronger hand at bargaining with increased membership and the other half of our nonmember colleagues would greatly benefit from membership in this union. Our friends are missing an amazing opportunity and we need to invite them to join us to stand united. We should work to increase our membership to 70%.

• Membership Support: Every organization should engage in a continual improvement cycle. Self evaluation is critical to see where improvements can be made. CTA members deserve a strong backing from their union and we should look for and institute any changes necessary when people call or email so that we are offering the best support to membership.

• Member Engagement: Many CTA members do not understand the opportunities available to them through their membership. Many do not understand the bargaining process. We should continue to provide information to members so that they are knowledgeable during important union activity cycles and find ways to engage members to become leaders and advocates for their own career. You are the union.

CTA must stand as a beacon for social justice and continue to advocate for equality where injustice still exists. Attacks are happening across the country and here within OCPS in an attempt to whitewash history regarding racism and bigotry. CTA must stand strong against all hatred and stand with the LGBTQ+, Hispanic, AAPI, Indigenous, and all other communities that have and continue to be attacked.

CTA must continue to advocate for candidates who support a strong public education system and who stand behind teachers. We must continue to advocate for ending testing madness, increasing teacher pay, and ending the barrage of attacks on teachers. Right now, horrible legislation is moving through the Florida House and Senate. Contact your Senator today and ask them to vote NO on HB1197 which would drastically limit your freedom to join a teachers union. https://feaweb.org/action/call-your-senator-today/

OCPS is known across the state of Florida for being a top-down autocratic organization that gives little regard to the Union. We must work to change the culture of our District and lead by example. We must build working relationships with District leaders and School Board members so that when it is time to have difficult conversations this can be done in respectful and productive ways.