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Greetings! I hope that this letter finds you in good spirits! The year is ending and we are in exciting times.

As future educators, now is the time to consider what kind of environment and benefits are available in our chosen career. Currently teachers are being unfairly blamed for all the failures in public schools. Teachers are being held accountable for improving student achievement, but they have no say in many issues that impact student performance. They must be allowed to develop the tools and methods needed to improve student learning.

This year, disturbing news was brought to my attention while attending an NEA- SP Conference. Did you know that while teachers now enjoy a wide array of employment rights, that wasn't always the case? There was a time when teachers were fired for getting married, "keeping the company of sorry young men" or "going automobile riding on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday nights." Today, most states have laws that provide teachers tenure or career status after a 2-5 year probationary period.

What about new teachers? Do we have any rights before we earn tenure? Some states have substantial job protection for beginning teachers that minimize risks, but California is one of four states where non-tenured or probationary teachers have no rights in connection with a nonrenewable decision. In California, beginning teachers do not have the right to know reasons for nonrenewal, the right to meet with administration, the right to a mandatory evaluation of job performance, nor the right to a mandatory plan for improvement. The future of teaching is in our hands. We must work to shape our future careers and secure rights for beginning teachers.

Take a few moments to envision the ideal work environment; the classroom setting, administration, and mentor support that you need in order to teach. Now consider the current conditions and realize the endless possibilities that we have as future teachers to shape our profession.

As SCTA members we must take a stand and get involved in shaping our future careers. After all, the teaching profession is what we make it! We cannot let the current educators do all the footwork, but we must join CTA and NEA in the fight to better our profession.

In this issue you will be introduced to some very enjoyable as well as disturbing news. Examine the issues so we can work together to make a difference and support legislation that will assist us in reshaping our future profession.

Teachers are the state's most valuable resource for generating plans and ideas to enhance student learning and to improve public education. As an association we can work towards a system that allows teachers to create successful classrooms. We must work together and partner with CTA and NEA and other organizations to make sure that teachers have the right tools to succeed and truly educate students!

LaShay Roberts,
SCTA President