Compton teacher’s union president under fire
Photo credit: Njemila Williams
Compton Education Association (CEA) is facing internal conflicts that have reached the level of members wanting to recall their current president Agbo-ola Dada. Dada was elected president and began his three year term July 1, 2019 and within four months was audited by the California Teachers Association (CTA) due to “concerns” levied by the newly elected CEA Treasurer Nancy Loera.
“Loera has a vendetta against me,” said Dada when reached by 2UrbanGirls.
There are multiple issues festering within CEA as they continue to negotiate a memorandum of understanding (MOU) related to distance learning protocols.
“Nancy can never answer a direct question and has caused dissension by going to board members privately instead of bringing them to everyone’s attention in the proper manner,” said a teacher who refused to be identified. “Its clear she has issues with Dada with the timely filing of her “concerns” which triggered this audit.”
The executive board (e-board) is charged with meeting to approve expenditures and devise strategy related to contract/MOU negotiations. Meeting minutes of a strategy meeting, related to votes taken by e-board members about a controversial work from home option for distance learning, was sent to members by Dada to “clear his name”.
“The members wrongly assumed I went against their interests when a vote was taken to continue distance learning in classrooms without the option of working from home,” said Dada.
District insiders share that some teachers have refused to come to work, allegedly at the direction of their union, and found themselves facing disciplinary measures.
Members accuse Dada of holding “private” meetings with Superintendent Darin Brawley that according to Dada, CEA by-laws don’t state he must alert e-board members of any discussions he has with the district, outside of negotiations.
Members shared a letter from CTA that brought to light many policies CEA is lacking and detailing “unauthorized” money spent on repairing a roof and flooring and purchase of new computers. CTA labeled the spending “unauthorized” due to a lack of agenda meetings minutes when the approvals were allegedly made.
“Our e-board still has members who were on the board prior to Loera becoming treasurer and it is the duty of the secretary to take minutes not the president, vice-president, etc.,” said Dada.
Teachers have contacted 2UrbanGirls with many of them siding with Dada.
The general consensus amongst those who contacted 2UrbanGirls is most the internal strife came about immediately after Loera became a member of the e-board and began questioning expenditures under the guise of “concerns” she brought to CTA along with the presumption that Loera doesn’t like Dada because he is Black.
“We don’t want to be manipulated because Loera doesn’t like Dada,” said a CEA member. “But as of now the recall attempt will move forward as planned.”
It is unknown whether Loera is seeking to replace Dada, as union president, should he be recalled.
Loera didn’t respond to multiple requests for comment.
He has been recalled. The teachers have spoken.
who is taking his place?
This is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever read. The flyer that was passed around that gave the reasons for the recall never mentioned the MOU or financials. Those are not the reasons for the recall.
One reason was his lack of communication. We texted and emailed him about union issues. He would take days to respond, if he ever did! He was supposed to do Talking Tuesdays and he only did 1 or 2 of them. When we have our Townhall Meetings he does an awful job. He passes the questions to other Eboard members or to CTA members who attended the meeting. He’s been corrected on his information many times.
He shows no leadership skills. Instead of taking responsibility and working on his shortcomings he blames the eboard. In this article he’s blaming Loera. The article is also saying she’s racist. I’ve seen her work for the union for many years. She has always been nice and respectful to ALL members. She has been at all union events and has even lead the caravan protest in her car. I’ve seen her kids participating too. She speaks up at the board meetings a lot more than Dada has. She’s definitely more passionate than him when she speaks up on members behalf during district board meetings. How dare this one person say she’s racist! They should be ashamed of themselves.
I am glad Nancy did not respond. How dare you call her a racist!!! Nancy has worked tirelessly for teachers in our union for years. Whoever wrote that should be ashamed of themselves and yes, I am BLACK!!!!!
Some members feel that Nancy’s perceived “concerns” about her ability to write checks and subsequent running to CTA was a direct attempt to tarnish Dada as the associations president. How else do you explain her actions so soon after being elected to the board? She appears to have already been planning her moves against him.
Isn’t Nancy Loera the CEA Treasurer? That’s her job. If she wasn’t given the ability to write checks after she was elected Treasurer she had every right to go to CTA with her concerns. Why wasn’t she allowed? But wait, you made it seem that her concerns was about how Dada was spending money. It wasn’t that? She didn’t have the ability to write checks! She had every right to voice her concerns. That means she’s doing her job as treasurer.
Why does the CTA VP get to work from home with the blessing of the School Board when all of the other teachers have to report to school with students in class? Suspicious minds would like to know.
You’re a freakin idiot if you think the CTA VP has to ask the school board permission to work from home.
How very one sided this article is. Also, shady that internal documents from CEA were given to you. It would have been interesting if you had contacted those of us who initiated the recall rather than laying it all on the shoulders of one person. You could have contacted the CEA offices and asked for that information. Mr. Dada is fond of attacking people who disagree with him. Maybe you should have contacted CTA rather than make assumptions, or report others assumptions.
We reached out to multiple people and no one responded. What they did send were the meeting minutes and a letter from CTA.
His statements are ridiculous. I still have unanswered emails and text messages from him. He’s nice, but not effective. He has about 4 or 5 teachers he works with on his side trolling social media for him. Most teachers I’ve talked tobare extremely unhappy with his leadership. Step aside Dada.
FUCK them teachers always whining about something…… go ask the Mayor for help since you seem to like her ass so much!