New Strategic Plan Offers Blueprint for CTA's Future

More than a year in the making, involving a committee of more than 75 educators, leaders and staff and input from thousands of members, the CTA Strategic Plan to guide us into the future and engage members in the work of the union was presented to Council. It was greeted with enthusiasm and hope for change. Council will vote on the plan in January.

This long-term plan will make CTA stronger in the ongoing fight against corporate reformers "attempting to undermine educators and public education by blaming and demonizing us, individually and collectively," said Council delegate Shannan Brown, president of the San Juan Teachers Association in Sacramento County. "With this Strategic Plan as our guide, the California Teachers Association will once again lead the way."

The plan, titled "Our Union, Our Future," is available to all members on the CTA website atwww.cta.org/ourfuture.

After months of talking with, listening to, and getting input from CTA members and staff,committees were formed correlating to eight key focus areas identified as crucial to forging a strategic plan to lead CTA for the next three to five years. These committees developed goals and tasks in each focus area. Out of those goals and tasks, a final Strategic Plan was developed. Council will vote on adoption of the plan in January after additional presentations and discussions with members at Service Center Council meetings, CTA trainings and conferences, and local chapter meetings.

"The plan centers around building an organizing culture in CTA — so that members are continually engaged and so that we are continually talking with and, more importantly, listening to each other," President Vogel said. It fosters community engagement, and more chances to "reconnect on the issues of social justice, equity and diversity."

Vogel said CTA cast a very wide net for the data collected for this plan. "The extensive amount of data that was gathered came from all corners of CTA, from our members, from our chapter leaders, from staff, from other labor unions and community groups, and even from the media. The goal of the process from the very beginning was to listen to what members were saying and build a plan around their vision."