Welcome Into September...
09/04/26 KHSTA UPDATE
Welcome into September with cooler temperatures (hopefully here to stay). It’s hard to believe that next week marks the halfway point of first quarter!
Updates will come out every Friday EXCEPT for the last Friday of the quarter (the KHSTA Newsletter will arrive on these dates). Please check your junk mail folder if you are not receiving them. Past updates will be archived on the KHSTA website (khsta.org).
PAID PREGNANCY LEAVE
Beginning January 1, 2027, California’s AB 126 provides eligible public school probationary and permanent employees with up to 14 weeks of fully paid pregnancy disability leave when they are unable to work due to pregnancy, miscarriage, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, or related recovery. This leave may be taken before or after childbirth when medically necessary and does not require employees to use their accumulated sick leave or other available leave balances. Employees continue to receive health benefits during the leave, and the benefit is available regardless of length of service or hours previously worked. The new law represents a significant improvement for California educators who previously often had to use accumulated sick leave or receive reduced pay while recovering from childbirth or a pregnancy-related disability. This is not baby bonding leave. CTA’s frequently asked questions are attached here.
NEW SITE REPS
Congratulations to the newly elected site representatives at Vista (Brian Mlenar), South (Kim Gill, Christopher Medina), and GVHS (Vanessa Salazar).
LBGTQ+ AND FRIENDS MIXER
The CTA Sierra Service Center Council Equity Team will be hosting an LGBTQ+ Educators and Friends Mixer on Monday, September 21, 2026, from 5:30–7:30 p.m. at The Botanist. Educators and friends are invited to join us for an opportunity to connect and build community.
Please RSVP here: https://forms.gle/C5TnY8BbZ5MzZWBQ8
10 MINUTE MEETINGS
This month, the 10 Minute Meeting topics are Member Benefits and Evaluation Basics. Membership in CTA and NEA comes with a wide variety of benefits in addition to the representation and bargaining that we do. Your site rep will be hosting a 10 minute meeting to tell you more about what is offered with your membership. A virtual 10 Minute Meeting will be hosted on Thursday, September 10th.
10 Minute Meeting 8:00am: https://kernhigh-org.zoom.us/j/86720948007
10 Minute Meeting 4:15pm: https://kernhigh-org.zoom.us/j/86073436368
CTA MEMBER BENEFITS
CTA Member Benefits department is offering monthly webinars showcasing member benefits. Some of the webinars include The Standard: Disability and Life Insurance, CTA University Credit Program, Provident Credit Union, Holiday Shopping, Travel Deals and Discounts, Retirement 101, CTA Disaster Relief Program, Summer Discounts, and the CALM app (which is free with CTA membership). A flyer is attached with a QR code with more information.
SALARY ADVANCEMENT UNITS
If you are completing units for salary advancement, remember the coursework must be completed by August 31st. Transcripts must be submitted by October 31st to be credited for this school year.
CONFERENCES
KHSTA offers scholarships for the following CTA conferences. KHSTA’s Exec Board reviews applications once a month, so please apply at least 30 days prior to the conference dates (exception would be made for the Special Ed Conference).
Conferences Available for the 2026 - 2027 school year (conferences will be added as they are announced):
LGBTQ+ Issues, November 6 - 8, 2026 (SFO Marriott, Burlingame)
New Educator North, November 13 - 15, 2026 (SFO Marriott, Burlingame)
CTA Organizing Academy, January 15 - 17, 2027 (Las Vegas)
Good Teacher North, February 5 - 7, 2027 (Burlingame)
New Educator South, February 19 - 21, 2027 (Hilton OC, Costa Mesa)
Equity and Human Rights, March 5 - 7, 2027 (Santa Clara)
Good Teaching South, March 12 - 14, 2027 (Garden Grove)
Women's Conference, April 16 - 18, 2027 (San Diego)
To apply for a conference: https://forms.gle/3aGLseLbXeRrJvgC8
IMPORTANT DATES
Wills and Trusts Workshop - Monday, October 19, 2026
A list of all the important dates in the contract is attached for your reference: Important Dates.
VIRTUAL OPTIONS FOR YOU
All of the following events will be virtual. Zoom links will be available in the updates as the date of the event gets closer. Here are some of the things that will be available:
Monday, September 14th, a representative from The Standard will be hosting an informational session on the benefits The Standard offers for our new hires. The link to make reservations was sent out yesterday. Please let your new teachers know so they can reach out as some of them don’t get the updates. They can contact Cathy Adams for more information if they didn’t get the email.
10 minute meetings for anyone who is unable to attend their site’s 10 minute meetings -- these will occur on the second Thursday of each month. This month’s 10 Minute Meeting will be on Member Benefits.
NEW KHSTA LOGO
You may have noticed the new KHSTA logo at the top of the update. If you've driven by the KHSTA Office on F Street, you've probably noticed the new logo now adorns our building. We want to thank Tony Raddatz for the new logo. Thanks, Tony!
EXEC BOARD/REP COUNCIL
The current list of KHSTA Exec Board and site representatives is listed below. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.
Happy Friday!!
KHSTA Executive Board
President: Cathy Adams (FrHS)
Vice President: Mindy Montanio (HHS)
Secretary: Stephanie Valenzuela (AHS)
Treasurer: Norma Procell (HHS)
State Council Reps
Elise Sotello (KL)
Candi Romero (TdS)
Tamara Clark (VWHS)
Joanne Barrick (HHS)
Jesse Aguilar (GVHS)
Membership Chair: Dave Ziegler (LHS)
Past President: Vickie Shoenhair (Shafter)
Site Representatives
Arvin: Stephanie Valenzuela,
Ty Newton
BAS: Linda Colvin
BHS: Hillary Sanders,
Randy Bennett
CHS: Kayole Bradford, Kim Henry
CVHS: Alix Garcia
DOHS: Olive Garrison,
Hannah Richert
District (includes all district programs):
Danny Arretche (KL),
Adriana Vasquez (TOSA)
EBHS: April Bynum,
Rosemary Silverman
Foothill: Elizabeth Deckard,
Allysa Jones
Frontier: Lara Winn
GVHS: David Lollar, Vanessa Salazar
HHS: Meaghan Barber Smith,
Jennifer Nelson
IHS: Robb Polski, Tanya Whitehouse
KVHS: Casey Robinson
LHS: David Ziegler,
Marycoco Ramirez
MMHS: Matt Day,
NHS: Erika Zeimet, Tonya Davis
Nueva:
RHS: Kim Smith, Nathan Claunch
ROP/CTEC: Chad Wright,
Scott Trimble
Shafter: Jessica Smith,
Brian Feaster
South: Kim Gill, Christopher Medina
Stockdale: Gaby Scully
TDS: Candi Romero
VWHS:
Vista: Brian Mlenar
West: Eliza Pearsy, Steve Willis
Liaisons
COUNSELOR: Joanne Barrick (HHS)
NURSE: Jamie Henry (IHS)
PSYCHOLOGIST: Angelina Gonzales (ABLE)
TEACHER-LIBRARIAN:
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