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MY NAME IS A.J. DUFFY
I have been a teacher and an educational organizer for over 35 years. From 1967 to 1972 I taught pre-school in Philadelphia and organized day care centers and programs.
When I came to Los Angeles I worked in the Co-Op day care center that my son was enrolled in. While working with the Venice Community Play Group I created a unique environment for a severely involved cerebral palsy child who went on to be one of the Westside’s first successful mainstreamed children in public education.
In 1982, I began teaching social studies at Charles Drew Junior High. I then moved on to Franklin High School in 1988 to teach special education. In 1991, I found a home at Palms Middle School and have been there ever since, first as a special education teacher, then as the Dean of Students and now I am back in the classroom teaching English and history, Special Education.
As a union activist these are just some of the things I have done:
Chapter Chair, Drew Junior High 1983-1988
UTLA Election Committee 1985-1986
Strike Captain, Franklin High School 1989
Editor, Teachers for Change Newsletter 1988-1991
UTLA West Area Chair 1996-2002
UTLA Board of Directors 1996-2002
Chairperson UTLA West Area 1998-2001
Chapter Chair Training Committee
UTLA House of Representatives 1985-2004
During my tenure as West Area Chair UTLA membership in West Area increased by over 500 and we added 1,000 new PACE members. The additional PACE members brought in over $100,000. I visited over 100 West Area schools during my 6 years as Area Chair.
I am a bulldog when it comes to going after abusive principals, while at the same time I recognize the wisdom of working with good principals and district personnel to resolve situations before they become problems. Working with school communities, I was able to remove 12 abusive/corrupt principals.
Because organizing is one of my main strengths, I was able to work with diverse groups and people while serving as west area chair. During my tenure, west area developed unique outreach programs for our members. Our chapter chair training was second to none in UTLA. The west area activists I worked with created resource guides and manuals which are used to this day. West area also developed the only area wide political gatherings which brought politicians and educators together to discuss educational issues.
I will bring to the office of President of UTLA a great depth and breadth of experiences from pre-school to high school, both general as well as special education. As a teacher, dean and organizer I am thoroughly versed in the complexities which educators face today.
The experience I gained as west area chair will help me work with our professional staff to cut back on our own bureaucracy. And I will redirect the energies of our professional staff in
I have an intimate understanding of the district and how it works. I have dealt with many of LAUSD’s bureaucrats. When I come to the presidency I will not be a neophyte, I will not need start up time, I will be able to jump in and lead our union.
All of this and more is possible if we only dare to believe it can happen. Together, we can change the direction of our union and take control of our profession.
MY NAME IS A.J. DUFFY. I AM A CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT OF UTLA.
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