Are you sitting silently on the sidelines? Is it because you are not Black and the police have not brutalized a family member or someone you know? Is it because you are not Latino and have not shed tears over the pictures of undocumented children in cages? Is it because you are not Native American and did not have a family member that was sent off to a reservation boarding school? Is it because you are not Asian and did not have a family member that was sent to an internment camp during World War II? Is it because you are not of Irish, Italian, or Jewish descent and did not have family members treated as vermin when they immigrated into this nation? Is it because
Read More
Below is a letter sent by AALA President Juan A. Flecha to the LAUSD Board of Education Members and the Superintendent:
AALA has been sounding the alarms about the untenable and unsustainable working conditions of our members for years on end. The District’s responses have varied from outright indifference and a “manage-up, butter cup” mentality to temporary
Read More
Many principals considering leaving, survey reveals
Almost half (42%) of US school principals are currently considering leaving their roles, according to a new report based on a survey conducted by the Learning Policy Institute and the National Association of Secondary School Principals, which reveals concerns over heavy workloads, low compensation, and lack of evaluation practices. Principals surveyed also complained that they lack decision-making authority and access to professional development and learning opportunities. The number of principals planning to leave is higher for those in high-poverty and rural schools. (Education Dive, May 14, 2020)
Sadly, this article was forwarded to AALA by many administrators. And while the title is “Many principals considering leaving…” the truth of the matter is
Read More
When we think of the repercussions of school closures, many people immediately think of the massive instructional conversion to remote learning and we hear accolades for school-site staff members who have had to adjust to online education. However, our real unsung heroes are those who make all of this work behind the scenes
Read More
The AALA Executive Board is the planning body of the Association and is crucial to the operation of AALA. The duties of the Executive Board include providing counsel and advice to the president regarding matters of fiscal policy, reviewing performance evaluations of AALA employees, and determining policies and procedures of the Association. In accordance with the recently amended AALA Constitution, we are now preparing to elect members to fill key positions on the Executive Board:
Read More
Friday, May 1, 2020, is National Principal Appreciation Day. It is a day of recognition for all elementary, middle, and high school principals for their leadership and dedication to providing the best education possible for their students. On this day, the nation honors and recognizes the contributions of principals to the success of students in schools across the United States. In these unprecedented times, we know that not only principals, but all administrators and other staff members, are working hard to maintain continuity and provide instruction and nutrition for the students of LAUSD. We celebrate your professionalism, dedication, and courage.
Read More
We are holding the AALA Representative Meeting today, Thursday, April 23, at 5:00 p.m. This will be an historical meeting as it is the first time the association has ever had a representative assembly meeting virtually. We want to thank you in advance for your patience as the format for today will be different than a typical representative assembly meeting. Our newly established Zoom account has the capacity to host 500 participants this evening and we hope everything runs smoothly. Click on the link below to join the Zoom meeting at 5:00 p.m.
Read More
In the previous issue of Update we provided a link for members to share their hopes, fears, and gratitude and committed to share the concerns with the District. (The link is still active for your continued sharing, click HERE).) Below are some of the heartfelt, perceptive, and critical responses we received. We have shared them with senior leadership at the District and
Read More
I was reminded by a senior District-represented leader on the importance of gratitude. My thoughts quickly went to expressing my gratitude to the hundreds of administrators who have taken their lives into their hands to disinfect and distribute devices and provide thousands of meals per day through Grab and Go.
Many of you have done so with no protective gear
Read More
I want to thank the hundreds of you who called, emailed, and sent texts. For those of you who have not contacted me, and are wondering what the association is doing on your behalves, I invite you to set aside any misgivings and contact me directly at jflecha@aala.us or juan.flecha@lausd.net. I promise to send you my mobile number when I receive your email. In the meantime, many of your colleagues already have my mobile number and I am sure someone can give it to you so you can contact me immediately.
As a matter of information,
Read More
Now that the coronavirus has been deemed a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), just what does that mean? The Mayo Clinic says, “A pandemic refers to a global epidemic — one that has spread over several countries or continents affecting a large number of people…A pandemic is when there is an outbreak that affects most of the world.” Declaring a pandemic has nothing to do with
Read More
Developments of the COVID-19 virus seem to be escalating and morphing by the second. Superintendent Austin Beutner sent a video (click video) on Monday, March 2, 2020, in which he states, “…there are no reported cases in the Los Angeles area.” Since then, six new
Read More
The composition of the LAUSD Board of Education is of great importance for the students and families we serve. On a similar note, it is ultimately the Board of Education that ratifies salary increases, healthcare, and improved working conditions. Bargaining is by no means an easy task, even when the Board is perceived to be friendly to labor. Recent history clearly shows what happens when an antilabor Board has four votes. An antilabor Board makes it nearly impossible to achieve what our members deserve.
Elections for positions on the LAUSD Board of Education in recent years have become nationally known for exorbitant spending and negative campaigning.
Read More
As working conditions continue deteriorating and the voices in the field calling for relief are falling on the District’s deaf ears, some members are reluctantly exploring the only viable alternative, which is to retire. This is a regrettable strategy because of the years of institutional knowledge that will potentially “leave the building.” Could it be that the reason that working conditions are in such dire straits now is due to the brain drain and loss of historical memory that LAUSD is currently experiencing with the departure of so many key leaders in the last few years?
If you are contemplating hanging it up,
Read More
AALA,
I want to take a moment to thank the association for the support, leadership, and candor. I am proud our association understands the work we are doing to better the lives of the students we serve despite the awful conditions we experience daily. The truthfulness expressed in Update needs to be taken seriously by the senior leadership and the Board of Education. No one is afraid of working hard and going above and beyond the call of duty. However, this is not presently the case. We are working in an environment of fear and retaliation with a mandate to deliver results. However, there is no clear
Read More
Congratulations to the thirty-six LAUSD elementary/span schools that are among the 324 schools honored as 2020 California Distinguished Schools, sponsored by the California Department of Education. Schools are selected based on having outstanding education programs and practices in two categories: (1) closing the achievement gap and (2) exceptional student performance. The determination is made by
Read More
As LAUSD embarks on yet another “restructuring” that is not really being called a restructuring (if it is not a restructuring, then why are AALA members in local districts being required to reapply?), AALA implores the District’s leadership to recognize the veracity and
Read More
I am ashamed to say I did not have the professional courage to sign my name to a letter I wrote to Dr. Judith Perez, AALA President, on or about December of 2011.
I knew in my gut, publishing the letter with attribution would end my career as a Temporary Adviser. And what happened next, completely confirmed my worst
Read More
Welcome back, AALA members! May the new year bring you happiness, peace, and prosperity filled with new goals, new endeavors, and new achievements in your lives. Wishing you a joyous 2020!
Whether you enjoyed the full three-week vacation or a limited version, we hope that you had time to rest, relax, and rejuvenate. As we begin not only a new year, but a new decade, we must look forward with optimism and hope for all of us, individually and collectively. Despite the political chaos and national and international turmoil facing the country, the dawning of this new year signals an opportunity to improve our circumstances. High on the list of resolutions for educators should be improving their health, reducing stress, and actually leaving the job at the work site at the end of the day. We urge you to incorporate these resolutions into your daily routine.
The new year brings some decisions that need to be made
Read More