Diana Abasta & Kim Allender, Co-Presidents
Written by Kim Allender: As Diana Abasta and I begin to write this final article for Presidents’
Comments, it doesn’t seem like six years has passed since we began as Co-Presidents. For me, the three
terms we have served have reinforced daily the importance the Burbank Teachers Association plays in
advancing the professionalism of our members and protecting the
due process rights that allow us to make our voices heard.
Without these hard won rights and protections, teachers run the
risk of being little more than line workers in a huge education
bureaucracy that prefers top down management to collaborative
decision making. Without our due process protections we would
not be able to insist on our involvement in decisions about what we
teach and how we teach. In fact, as we are all painfully aware, even
with our ability to speak out, we are constantly having to engage
our collective action to balance federal, state, and local education
mandates that are all too often detrimental to good instruction.
Excessive standardized testing and punitive sanctions for
impossible student achievement targets come to mind as ready
examples.
As your Co-President I have been proud to serve the cause of
teacher professionalism. I have been impressed with the level of
dedication and passion among our colleagues in NEA and CTA as
well as my fellow teachers in Burbank. In the mid 60s when I was
a Peace Corps Volunteer in India, the organization had a slogan
that proclaimed, “Peace Corps, the toughest job you”ll ever love.”
Well, I”m now prepared to say that the slogan was wrong. Without
question, teaching is the toughest job you”ll ever love.
I came into teaching as a second career 15 years ago. I’ve worked in
sales, retail management, and corporate training. In the 25 years
prior to teaching, I never worked harder than I do in my classroom and I was never more exhausted at the
end of a workday. In spite of this, I have never been more exhilarated then I am when I have a great teaching
day, or even a great teaching moment. In 15 years of teaching I have never come to work thinking my job was
irrelevant or unimportant. On the contrary, I have always felt that I was doing the vital work of guiding our
society’s future — usually stressful, often frustrating, but never irrelevant!
Finally, I want to say what an honor it has been to share this job with Diana Abasta. Diana’s passion for
justice and fairness for our members has never flagged. She is as dedicated to teaching and her students as
she is to advocating for her colleagues. She has been an inspiration to everyone on the BTA leadership team,
and most especially to me. I thank Diana for her uncompromising dedication to doing what is right, as well
as the great honor of working with her in this most important work of my life. I will have great memories,
not only of Diana’s leadership, but of all the fine people I have worked with in BTA.
Written by Diana Abasta: Being a part of the leadership team for BTA has been an incredibly rich and
rewarding experience. I have always believed that we must be present at the table, in the boardroom, and at
the podium if we are going to further effect positive change in Burbank. I have always viewed my role as your
Co-President as one that requires a person to be an effective, passionate, and competent educator. Being a
teacher has been my life passion alongside with being an advocate for our professional association. I believe
union membership makes a difference in our profession. When we advocate for each other, we model
leadership for our students. When we stand together, we empower ourselves to put our students first. Today,
just like yesterday, it is important not to lose sight of what our contributions have been to the quality
education our students receive and will continue to receive.
I need to recognize a man who has been an outstanding leader and mentor, Kim Allender. Kim’s integrity
and civic mindedness is beyond reproach. He has brought me new meaning when it comes to being a life long
learner. I have learned so much about the importance of process and people from him. I will miss my valuable
discussions with him, but I look forward to putting that gained wisdom into practice.
Finally, to BTA’s Executive Board and Negotiating Team, Denise Jennex, Mona Marra and Steve Rosenow.
I will always be grateful for your contribution to my leadership role.
Thank You