ATA President: Rosalyn Collier

Tell us about your background in education.
“I went to UCLA for my B.A. degree in Education, Master’s in Education at CSULA, and Ph.D at USC. I have taught mathematics in junior high and high school for 26 years. This is my second year as Alhambra Teachers Association President. I was Vice President for four years, California Teachers Association Representative for nine years, as well as committee chair.”

What are the challenges that AUSD faces, economically, academically, and socially?
“On the federal level, the No Child Left Behind puts tremendous pressure on schools across the nation because there is an extraordinary emphasis on CST scores and CAHSEE testing with the threat of Program Improvement [status]. Our K – 12 programs are suffering at all levels: lack of staffing, loss of key personnel, lack of materials and no textbook adoption. Our district has lost over $50 million over the past two years which has greatly affected the schools.”

What would you like to say to the students of Alhambra High School?
“I miss them. There’s something amazing about working with teenagers. You go back and watch the growth; that’s where
teachers really get paid.”