TEACHERS FOR CHANGE ------ April 2004
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 and now as the Dean of Students.
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 will bring to the office of President of UTLA a great depth and breath of experiences from pre-school to high school, both regular as well as special education. As a teacher, dean and organizer I am thoroughly versed in the complexities which educators face today.
MY NAME IS A.J. DUFFY. I AM A CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT OF UTLA.
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Spinning our wheels or how I learned to ignore the boredom of mediocracy.
By UTLA House of Reps. Members
Some of us miss the good old days at UTLA’s House of Representatives when internal controversy and confrontation led to action and taking care of business. Remember when we used to get to business in the UTLA House of Representatives instead of calling for a quorum immediately?
The UTLA House of Representatives is supposed to play a critical role as our policy making body. Many UTLA members aren’t even aware of the House of Reps. and how important it is to them. If members were aware surely they would rise up and demand that our President take a leadership role to resolve the continuous logjam in the House of Reps.
Let us touch on some of the areas the House of Reps. is supposed to deal with. The House of Reps. and its committees are charged with the responsibility of making policy about all aspects of the relationship between UTLA and LAUSD. The House of Reps. can direct our President to fight learning walks, programmed reading and math systems, high stakes testing, the increased number of out of classroom personnel, district waste, and many other issues which affect teachers and Health and Human Service workers.
The fact that the House has done very little in the past 6 months is a product of our President’s inability or lack of desire to suggest real reform. He seems unwilling or unable to work with divergent groups to pull us together and move forward. Mostly it appears he will do anything to keep the House of Reps. from doing its job. That must stop because 40,000 plus members expect us to work together for their benefit.
Next months edition of the TFC newsletter will contain A.J. Duffy’s plan to reform the House of Representatives.
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Join the Campaign:
You can help make this change possible by: donating money to “The Campaign to elect A.J. Duffy President of UTLA”, distributing campaign literature and the TFC newsletter at your school and at other schools and help build a campaign organization in your UTLA Area. Call and talk to the candidate at (310) 915-0923.
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Dear Friends,
We are UTLA leaders and activists in support of A.J.Duffy’s campaign for President of UTLA. We have known and worked with him for as many as 20 years. A.J. Duffy is an organizer whose skills are respected throughout UTLA. His work on behalf of Teachers and Health and Human Service Workers is well documented. During his six year tenure (1996 – 2002) as West Area Chair his leadership and work ethic inspired others to participate in West Area activities.
When he was West Area Chair, A. J. Duffy created a unique Chapter Chair training, had political gatherings, and accomplished the removal of twelve (12) principals. We know of his dedication and commitment to union issues and public education. He will bring the kind of passion to the Presidency that has been sorely missing. A.J. Duffy has a vision and a plan to bring sweeping change to UTLA. His ability to work with diverse groups will assure that change will be carried out.
We invite one and all to join us in working for his election. As activists we want to get A.J. Duffy’s message to every teachers and health and human service worker in every school. Help us accomplish this goal!
Even though the election will not be held until the spring of 2005 we want to hear from you. Contact A.J. Duffy at (310) 915-0923 or FAX (310) 915-0198.
Leslie Bragg, Westchester High
Haywood Thompson, Arlington Heights
Ben Chapman, Florence Elem.
Janice Tarr, Kenter Canyon
Carol Conner, Math Coach
Dan Murray, 107th Elem.
Ben Merritt, Paul Revere MS
Fiona Engler, Paseo del Rey
Michelle Hedge, 24th St. Elem.
