Educators for Excellence-Los Angeles Reacts to United Teachers of Los Angeles’ Decision to Strike

January 14 (Los Angeles) — Educators for Excellence–Los Angeles (E4E-Los Angeles), a teacher-led organization, reacts to the United Teachers of Los Angeles’ (UTLA) decision to strike. E4E-Los Angeles asked classroom teachers last month to share their voice on the issues they care about most, the issues they are willing to fight and even strike for. Here are a few of their voices:
 
“For many of us, this strike is about so much more than salary,” said Elizabeth Ortiz, a foreign language teacher at John F. Kennedy High School and member of E4E-Los Angeles. “It’s about equity for our students. Every school should be able to provide wrap-around services for their students.”
  
“When I take my place on the picket line, I do so for my students, for all the students in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and those in the state of California,” said Phylis Hoffman, a second-grade teacher at Harry Bridges K-8 School in Wilmington and member of E4E-Los Angeles. “Eighty-four percent of the students in the LAUSD suffer in poverty every single day. Poverty should end when a child enters the school gate. It is shameful that a state like California, that has the fifth largest economy in the world, spends so little to educate their children.”
 
“Having seen our teachers and students endure deep, painful cuts to much-needed staffing and programs, we want to encourage our district, union and community leaders to unite and collaborate around strategies to spend money wisely and equitably, increase student enrollment and raise revenue for our district,” said Ama Nyamekye, Executive Director of E4E-Los Angeles. “Given the need to truly understand all perspectives –including our teachers who are working directly with students– E4E-Los Angeles will continue uplifting the voices of our members in their schools, district and their union. We will continue being a place for teachers to take action on issues of educational excellence and equity.”

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