Francisco is an ECE special education teacher in the Jefferson Elementary school district and also an ECE professor at Skyline Community College in San Mateo.

The free workshop was held at Skyline Community College and specifically focused on addressing the needs of children in the autism spectrum. Participants in the workshop learned about the referral process of preschool children with suspected special needs and also were provided valuable resources on intervention programs and early childhood classroom management.  Over 110 ECE students and center staff turned out for the workshop.

The CFT Early Childhood Education Organizing Project (ECEOP) helped support the workshop by providing breakfast and lunch, making and copying materials and ECEOP staff helped manage the workshop the day of the event.  We also provided folders to participants with information about the CFT/AFT and our long standing commitment to getting ECE staff recognized as professionals in the field of teaching, and Francisco encouraged those working in centers without union representation to contact the ECEOP for more information.