37 Years in District, Grade 6: I am tired of hearing we must do with less because we are a poorly funded district. I have been in this district for 37 years. We had a school board that I feel belittled teachers 30 years ago. I do not feel that way now as to the board. It is the leadership in the DO that concerns me now. I feel that the DO gives lip service to our needs and then proceed with their own predetermined agenda. I think Mr. Bragg deliberately filters what is heard by the board. Morale in the district is going down as the workload goes up. Teacher turnover is so great that continuity in school and district programs is always in flux. I wonder where we are going and why we are going there!

36 Years in District, Grades 4,5,6: As you can see, I have experienced many superintendents and board members. This year has been most crucial regarding our no confidence in the higher administration and the board's decisions regarding all employees, especially teachers. I have been through two strikes. They were ugly! I know that my expertise is greatly needed by my district. I am a very good teacher. I have taught Jr. High, Elementary, and now Special Ed. Because of strain and stress that is being caused by board decisions and mostly by administrators who want to be more powerful than the board members, because of the dishonesty that is apparently coming from the administrators, because board members are not seeking a "strong demand for factfinding," I am considering retirement. All my district life (36 years) I have worked 16, 12 hours daily. I come in at 6-6:30am and leave at 6pm or later. I am a dedicated teacher, teaching is my life. Yet, when teachers ask for a raise or benefits, board members do not take into account the overtime, the Saturdays and Sundays spent at work or on late IEP meetings, night meetings, etc. I spend at least $3-5,000 dollars on supplies yearly, just to make sure my students have updated materials and consumables. I want very much to give to my students all that I am able so that they will be successful. I want to continue teaching as long as possible, but not under the stressful circumstances that administrators do not value us - the very persons that have made Cupertino the great district that it is!

         It is the teachers that bring up the scores, teach the students the value of a good education. For that reason, the parents are happy with me - with all the teachers. They value us!

         Please, board members, we deserve to be treated with RESPECT, to live without anxiety regarding health benefits, salary considerations, and all the other issues in your "Rank issues -- that board members can influence."

30 Years in District, Grades K-4: I have been a teacher in CUSD for 30 years. Today I see the lowest teacher morale than I have ever observed. It is impossible for new and veteran teachers alike to be secure financially. Being a single mom has made survival difficult and many teachers have to assess whether we can afford to remain. Thus CUSD would be losing both the new teachers and also experienced teachers.

         Please be aware:

·      Teachers work more hours than required by contract.

·      Teachers spend their own money to complete the needs of their class.

·      More responsibilities have been added with no regard for time constraints.

·      The superintendent and DO are both unsupportive and have little empathy for teachers.

·      Newly graduated teachers are reluctant to work for CUSD because of the DO attitude.

·      This district, once famous in this state, is in danger of losing its reputation because of the above problems.

Action must be take. I would hope that the board would talk directly to teachers and principals about these items and allow us to make candid comments without the worry of retaliation from the superintendent and the DO.

     Thank you.

16 Years in District, Grades K, K-1: The last five years this district has spiraled downward. The workload regarding assessment, extra conferences, and writing student success plans has become oppressive, both in regard to teaching time and time to prepare quality lessons for students.

    There seems to be little interest or regard on the part of the district office administration for the situation at hand. It is hard to get clear answers on programs or policies, particularly ELD. We at times have had to beg for clarity, so we could accurately present district programs and policies to parents. Kindergarten teachers now must teach a separate English program, on top of the state language arts standards curriculum - in 3 hours? There is no basic reality check at the DO in regard to time in the classroom with students.

     I work a second job in a children's book store in order to provide a take-home library for my students . . . this is an affluent area, the parents have very high expectations, yet we are constantly told the district has no money. It is the job of the board and the district office administrators to look for additional revenues instead of staying stuck in the current rut. Teachers are faced with shortages regularly, and they are expected to make sure all students have supplies, books, etc. - why should the teachers expect any less of the district?

     There seems to be a specific effort on the part of Dr. Bragg to control info - the union president was told not to talk to the board, the principals are not to tell board members about problems. The board needs to know about trouble spots in order to solve problems. What is Dr. Bragg so afraid of?

6 Years in District, Grade not entered: Principal and staff very supportive. Hours spent before and after school (night) and on weekends is ridiculous.

4-1/2 Years in District, Grades 3,4,5: I am currently researching other districts to see salary scale and number of students in upper grades.

    I may be leaving this district because those two things are most important to me.

     Other districts have passed parcel taxes to reduce class sizes in upper grades. Los Gatos' limit is 26. Cambrian is 25.

     I am very disappointed in this district. When I first started, I was so excited to be working in this district because of its reputation. If it weren't for the dedicated, hard-working teachers here, the district would have no reputation. I now wish I was working somewhere else. I've stayed as long as I have because my principal, Marge Zellner, is awesome!

2 Years in District, Grade SDC: I am a new teacher who is very concerned about having to pay out of pocket for part of my health insurance. I can barely afford to pay for basic expenses like food and rent. If I have to pay for part of my health insurance, I will seriously consider moving to another district. I am a special education teacher and when I was hired in, I had offers from many other school districts. I like the school I am working at, but I have to eat.

    I am also very concerned about the support I am receiving from the district office. Dealing with Human Resources has always been a negative experience for me. I am treated with very little respect by this office.

11 Years in District, Grades 3,4: I find most people do not mind hard work in their career. However, when they begin to be overworked, under-appreciated, or under-supported, people begin to feel frustrated.

    An advocate is what any employee deserves in management. Personally, this is the first time I have felt alone and without an advocate in top district leadership. What I expect is clear, fair negotiations. Put items on the table, choose from possible options, make some choices, but at some time both sides need to see what is in the other's best interest and make an agreement.

8 Years in District, Grades K,2: I was supported greatly as a new teacher. Over the years I feel that there is less support and concern for teachers at a district level.

7 Years in District, Grade 2: I am discouraged because the administration spends entirely too much time and money re-inventing the wheel. We have finally adopted state standards, but not the materials we need to meet them. Also set requirements for us to achieve without adequately providing training materials and time. Why would we adopt a standards based report card without the materials to teach to them?

    No clear planning. To quote Lorna Horton, "I feel your pain." Baloney - no one in the DO supports what we do. No changes -

-       Too much turnover.

-       No real effort for equalized funding either.

-       Big issues need folks who will solve problems.

-       Always adding something without ever taking something away.

3 Years in District, Grade 4: For two years in a row, Faria has scored as the #1 elementary school in the API ratings. Our recognition for year #1 = NONE (a note from Lorna). Year #2 a balloon bouquet! How about a letter to each of us? From Dr. Bragg! If this isn't so important, why are we all being urged to do well?

         Adding more and more things for teachers to do, but not reducing in other areas. Ex: 4^th grade writing survey for Cupertino, corrected by teachers and a math assessment that is coming. Both are not part of Star 9. I just hope some use will be made of them and that they are not just filed and forgotten.

6 Years in District, Grades 1-3: When I joined the district 6 years ago it felt good. I was welcomed and supported by the DO staff. Now everyone up there is new and trying to learn their job, not always being very efficient. It impacts us here at the schools. We feel overworked and under-appreciated. Words mean little when they are not backed by action! Morale is very low.

1 Year in District, Grade not entered: I came into the teaching profession with the knowledge that I will be working after school, before school (and weekends) to prepare my lessons. I want to help the children that I work with every day to succeed and I want to offer them every opportunity to do so.

         However, I am realizing that I am spending so much more time, energy, and money to do this. The long hours and amount of work has been stressful which has led to poor health. I have been sick once every month since I've started working.

1 Year in District, Grade 4: I can't believe I was hired into the district and NO ONE at the district level mentioned that teachers' contracts were under negotiations! In addition, I can't believe that certain individuals at the district level gloated about their district's health program when they knew the situation was going to be worse. Had I been told the truth I never would have signed with CUSD!

8 Years in District, Grade 3: We are being held hostage by health benefits. If we don't agree, then we pay for them. DO is being completely unfair about this. We need good benefits.

         We are professionals. The District Office treats us like morons and slaves. We have so much to do that's meaningless that there is very little time left for planning. I don't know how new teachers survive this.

         The District Office is very out of touch with teachers. In fact, they are RUDE! We are treated very badly by human resources on up.

         Our opinions are considered of no value. Try serving on a district level committee and see what happens. The committee takes oodles of thought and time, but backroom deals are already made, and decisions are made elsewhere. It's insulting.

         I'm going to retire early to get out of this mess. I love teaching and being with the kids. I would love to be able to teach 5 more years, but I'm going to teach only one more. Enough is enough!

25 Years in District, Grades, K,1,3-6: I have been part of CUSD since graduating from college in my early twenties. The district has always worked hard to be on the cutting edge of new educational programs and technology. It has been a continual growth experience both personally and district wide. Enrollment has expanded, declined, regained, and changed. I feel I have come full circle as old programs are reinvented with updated names. There have been many changes and yet the picture still looks the same . . . teachers caring, students learning, lifelong memories and bonds established. The priorities are always the children and their welfare. It has been exhaustingly delightful.

3 Years in District, Grades 2,4: In the three years I have been here, my stress level, due to workload, has consistently increased. If this does not change, I will have to leave for mental health. There is way too much expected for the level of pay and amount of time I receive!

5 Years in District, Grade 4: I enjoy working with students and watching them learn. However, the reason I got into education is disappearing as there is such a heavy workload, especially for SDC and upper grade (I have 33 students).

32 Years in District, Grade 1: The workload has increased tenfold in the last 3 years (assessments) - I can't even believe the board would not give us a cost of living raise and raise every line item on the budget (Fund 400 600). That shows no respect or appreciation. I'm an experienced teacher. I'm tired of training new teachers every year! Over and over again!

16 Years in District, Grade SDK: Preschool SDC, all SDC and speech therapists and OT's are undervalued. The workload, paperwork is extremely high - more severe students, too many moving in our district. Never enough money/resources for more help in classroom, lower caseloads, etc. Causes undue stress - lack of sleep, etc. Instead of enjoying the job, you count how many years until retirement or leave.

13 Years in District, Grades 2-4: Upper grade classes are TOO BIG! 35+ is too many! This used to be a supportive district in which to work, before Dr. Bragg arrived.

10 Years in District, Grade 3: I have worked in Cupertino for ten years and have never felt such strong discontent among teachers. We have, every year, for the last three years, taken on additional time-consuming work (assessments, success plans, additional conference time, new report cards, new math text, language arts text, social studies text, technology benchmark requirements, etc.) but have had no support in implementing beyond introductory training. We need compensation (meaning time and money). Teachers are feeling as if they are just supposed to "suck it up" and keep taking these additional things on without complaint. I have never seen so many teachers this burnt out. We have taken all we can. The district needs to show with action, not just words, that the teachers are valued professionals. I know of at least ten teachers, including myself, that are leaving the district because of this. Imagine how many more there are that I don't know of!

5 Years in District, Grade not entered: Why work for a district which has such a blatant disregard for the teachers' needs - there is no valuing of us as professionals.

5 Years in District, Primary Grades: Upper grade class size is too big!

4 Years in District, Grades 5,6: Upper grade classes are too big! 34+ kids is too many! CAP upper grade classes!

2 Years in District, Grade K: I have taught for a total of 9 years. There is no way I can complete all my work in my workday. I have to take work home or work beyond my contracted hours. I'm at a school where I cannot rely on parent help in the classroom - so I am fully responsible for all paperwork and prep work. I need to get paid by the hour or my salary needs to be higher to reflect all the work I do. I enjoy my job and I strive to be a competent and good teacher, but I find I get loaded down with too much paperwork and long meetings. If we could eliminate all the extra duties and meetings and have prep periods for SSPs, conferences, and prep work, it would make teaching more manageable.

1-1/2 Years in District (8^th year), Grades K-6 RS: There is no release time give for IEPs, but it's in the contract. There are too few psychs, speech, counselors for the problems of today. I had 35 students last year - against the law - NO ONE cared even though CCR came!

1 Year in District, Grade 5: Upper grade classes are too big!!

14 Years in District, Grade 3/4: Overall, I have enjoyed my experience as a Cupertino teacher, largely due to support from students, parents, and site administrators. I also received adequate support as a new teacher. However, over the last five years or so, I feel that the district does not value or support teachers. When we have complaints or grievances about administrators, we have been told "Too bad if you don't like it" and there has been no effort to evaluate administrators. Take teacher input seriously, or correct problems.

         The district has neglected to stay on its adoption cycle and as a result, has stressed and overworked teachers with multiple piloting, evaluations, and textbook switching each year. This squanders money and affects morale. The district continues to add more onto our places without taking anything off.

         I feel that we have not had leadership in the district office for some time, and that our previous values and goals before Dr. Bragg came are not valued. I think the high turnover in the district office is due partly to philosophical differences, but also having people feel that their ideas and opinions were not valued.

         I am also extremely concerned about current health care options being discussed. For years, I have been a Kaiser member, saving the district money. There is currently a proposal on the table that would have all employees spending for health care. After years of saving the district money, why am I being penalized and asked to pay for others' choices?

4 Years in District, Grades K-1-2: I have been working in the district for 4 years and I feel that the sense of community in our district is declining. I do not feel that the administration is concerned about the long-term well-being of the teachers. While salaries have increased, they are inadequate given the cost of living in the Cupertino area. At least the present level of compensation (and health benefits), adjusted by the state COLA, should be maintained or improved upon. More importantly, teachers are not treated as trustworthy professionals. 100 different reasons for an absence? It's such a pain in the ­­­___ to prepare for a sub - we hardly use a day off at all! Also, teachers must to continuing education, but the district requires two forms (including pre-approval) just to further your own education. Finally, or HR department was just rude or accusatory in many of the conversation I've had regarding missing paperwork - that is wrong! Let's take a no fault attitude, at the very least.