UTLA ELECTS FIRST WOMAN OF COLOR PRESIDENT WHOSE PRIOR EXPERIENCE INCLUDED TRYING TO REMOVE ANTI-TEACHER PRINCIPALS

Congratulations to Cecily Myart-Cruz who has won the election to succeed Alex Caputo-Pearl as the President of the United Teachers of Los Angeles. Alex is term-limited out and cannot seek reelection for a third term so he swapped jobs with his successor. Alex will now be UTLA-NEA Vice President. Members approved this arrangement by a wide margin in the election.

What I found most interesting in the LA Times piece on Myart-Cruz was her experience within the union before becoming President.

Myart-Cruz, a district parent and single mother who identifies as biracial, black and Latina, has 25 years of teaching experience in elementary and middle schools. She has long been part of the union’s activist wing and helped lead a campaign to remove principals whom the union felt treated teachers unfairly.

From Cecily's UTLA biography page:
During her tenure as the west Area Chair, she worked with schools, parents, students and the community to organize campaigns to oust 23 “bully principals”.

Campaigns to oust 23 bully principals in a school district that is significantly smaller than NYC! Where is that public campaign in the United Federation of Teachers to remove "bully principals" here in New York? I would gladly volunteer to be involved in a push to oust the bullies and publicize our friends in administration. I would not need to be considered for president later. I think Bronx ATR could do a good job here too as could Norm Scott, Chaz, and a few others.