ATA Weekly

Dear Colleagues,

I am sharing this message earlier than planned because the moment feels urgent. Tension and uncertainty are high, and many of you have reached out to express concern about the Blackboard Connect titled "Staff Information Regarding January 30, 2026".

I’m writing not only as your association president, but as a fellow educator who feels the weight of this moment alongside you. The strain of recent weeks has affected every one of us. Watching our neighbors endure such fear and disruption is deeply unsettling, and I know many of us carry that anxiety each day.

I see the toll this is taking. Our students arrive distracted, fearful for their families, or quiet in ways that speak volumes. You continue to support them while meeting your professional responsibilities, and I want you to know: I recognize how demanding and draining that can be.

In times like these, our presence is our most powerful tool. We offer more than guidance; we offer sanctuary. When the world feels uncertain, the rhythm of a school day becomes something irreplaceable: a source of safety, stability, and reassurance.

I know there are calls for us to stay home tomorrow. I understand and deeply respect the emotions behind that sentiment. Still, I ask you to consider this: if we aren’t there, how does that impact our students? What happens to the families who rely on us each day? For many children, we are the one steady constant they can depend on.

We may hold differing views on how best to respond, but our shared commitment to our students binds us together. Please reach out with any questions or for support. We’ll continue to navigate this, side by side.

Ralph Hernandez

alhambrateacherspresident@gmail.com

This update is about where we stand and what still needs to happen.

I want to thank every member who has taken time to support our Proposition 55 petition effort. The progress so far reflects serious commitment to protecting our schools and our students, and the work is not finished.

As of now, we are at 640 signatures, representing 77 percent of ATA registered voters. We are close to our goal and need 65 more signatures to reach 85 percent!. These remaining signatures matter just as much as the first ones collected.

I want to recognize the sites that have already met or exceeded the 85 percent goal. Your follow through has moved this campaign forward in a meaningful way:

Emery Park, 100 percent

LIFT, 100 percent

Monterey Highlands, 100 percent

Fremont, 97 percent

Garfield, 95 percent

Mark Keppel High School, 92 percent

Ramona, 90 percent

Several other sites are close and within reach. That progress happened because educators took time to speak with colleagues and stayed focused on why this funding matters.

Our efforts have also been noticed beyond our district. CTA President David Goldberg recently recognized ATA at State Council as one of the first locals to reach 500 signatures.

If you have not yet signed, please connect with your site rep this week and add your name to the petition. If you still have unsigned members at your site, I ask that you continue those conversations and help close the gap. If your petitions are complete, please drop them off at the ATA office as soon as possible. CTA tracks our progress weekly, and timely submission matters.

Reaching this goal strengthens our ability to prevent funding losses that would directly affect our schools. Finishing this work is part of our responsibility to our students and to one another.

Thank you to our school counselors for providing students of all ages with academic encouragement, social-emotional support, and college and career advice!

Kaiser Permanente employees represented by UNAC and UHCP are on strike in Southern and Northern California and Hawaii. The strike began Monday, January 26 at 7:00 a.m. PT and has no set end date.

Kaiser has shared information directly with members about how to access care during the strike. Contingency plans are in place to maintain patient care, though some services may face delays, particularly in Southern California where many affected employees work.

Members in Southern California should expect possible impacts to appointments and services. Some Kaiser pharmacies may close during the strike. New and urgent prescriptions may be filled at open Kaiser pharmacies. Mail order pharmacy services remain available and offer the most reliable option during this period.

Members may also experience longer call wait times due to increased demand.

For current updates on open pharmacies, service availability, and labor negotiations, members should visit kp.org.

We would like to remind all unit members about the important provisions regarding bereavement leave as outlined in Article X of our contract. In the event of the death of an immediate family member, you are entitled to up to five (5) days of paid leave. This time is intended to help you grieve and make necessary arrangements without the added stress of losing income or utilizing your sick/personal days.

Immediate family includes your parents, grandparents, grandchildren, siblings, children, in-laws, and significant others—individuals who are uniquely and particularly important to you. If your request for bereavement leave is denied, please contact ATA. Your rights under this provision are important, and we are here to support you.

Apply now for the Institute for Teaching (IFT) Grant Program and bring your ideas to life for the 2025-2026 school year.

• Individual Grant: Up to $5,000 for individual educators to impact a classroom or group of students.

• Team Grant: Up to $20,000 for teams of two or more educators (three recommended) to make an impact across multiple classrooms or school sites.

  
  

Applications close on April 2, 2026. Learn more and apply at cta.org/ift-institute-for-teaching.

If you have questions, please email ift@cta.org.

Looking for ways to improve your teaching skills? The CTA Good Teaching Conference might be just what you need! This conference supports excellent teaching and learning practices for classroom teachers by providing peer-to-peer instruction. If you're a dues-paying member of ATA/CTA/NEA, you may be eligible to attend this great training opportunity with a group of fellow members. Contact us today for more information!

February 2

- Grievance (4:00 pm, ATA Office)

February 3

- ATA Board of Directors (4:00 pm, ATA Office)

- Board of Education (6 pm, Marengo West)

February 10

- ATA Rep Council (4:00 pm, ATA Office)

February 24

- Board of Education (6 pm, Marengo West)

March 9

- Grievance (4:00 pm, ATA Office)

March 10

- ATA Board of Directors (4:00 pm, ATA Office)

- Board of Education (6 pm, Marengo West)

March 17

- ATA Rep Council (4:00 pm, ATA Office)

The Alhambra Teachers Association (ATA) exists to protect and promote the well-being of its members; to improve the conditions of teaching and learning; to advance the cause of free, universal, and quality public education; to ensure that the human dignity and civil rights of all children and youth are protected; and to secure a more just equitable and democratic society.

Email: ataoffice3030@gmail.com
Website: www.alhambrateachers.org
Location: 3030 West Main Street, Alhambra, CA, USA
Phone: (626)289-1933
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlhambraTeachersAssociation/