Los Angeles teacher and Teach Plus Teaching Policy Fellowship alum Pam Chirichigno commends Judge Treu on his decision:
On behalf of the students in California, I applaud Judge Treu for “taking the road less traveled” in his ruling on the Vergara case. This ruling can lead the way to having an effective teacher in every classroom and modernizing the teaching profession.
The discourse that has emerged since the ruling is that this is a blow to teachers and their unions. Contrarily, we can be both pro-Vergara and pro-union. I am!
Critics of the case erroneously claim that the ruling eliminates due process. In reality, it gives us the opportunity to be involved in crafting better policies. Let’s make tenure a meaningful professional status. Let’s create a better process for teacher dismissal that does not cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Let’s consider more than lack of seniority when it comes to layoff decisions.
Let’s give every child in California the opportunity to have an exemplary education. Let’s give each one a bright future!
Pam Chirichigno is a teacher at LAUSD’s Buchanan Street Math, Science & Technology Magnet Center. She is an alum of the Teach Plus Teaching Policy Fellowship and a member of UTLA. Pam is a Nationally Board Certified teacher and a former LAUSD Teacher of the Year.
