Michael R. Wing, science teacher at Sir Francis Drake High School in San Anselmo, and a member of the Tamalpais Federation of Teachers, AFT Local 1985, has written a book Passion Projects for Smart People (Quill Driver Books), coming out in November. The book is a guide for teachers about how to live like a professor without having access to a professor’s resources, with chapters on projects, affiliations and collaborations, applying for things, travel with purpose, teaching, citizen science programs, and publishing. Learn more and order the book here.

Joshua Pechthalt, CFT President, was honored with the Laurence Zakson President’s Award from the West Hollywood and Beverly Hills Democratic Clubs for his work in supporting progressive causes such as the union’s successful ballot measures Prop 30 and Prop 55, and for being a strong and consistent voice in defense of public education and against for-profit schools. In the award circle, Pechthalt joined Secretary of State Alex Padilla who was honored for making voting easier and defending against voter suppression efforts by the Trump Administration.


Sasha Abramsky, a nationally known author and a lecturer in the writing program at UC Davis has recently published a noteworthy book on fear in America titled Jumping at Shadows: The Triumph of Fear and the End of the American Dream. Abramsky has won accolades for his previous books The American Way of Poverty and The House of Twenty Thousand Books, which resonates with bibliophiles and intellectuals alike. Abramsky is also a regular contributor to The Nation magazine. He is active in his local union, UC-AFT Davis, Local 2023, which calls him “a treasure.” Find his new title on Amazon

Raoul Teilhet Scholarships awarded to continuing college students

This summer, the CFT awarded $3,000 scholarships to nine continuing college students through its Raoul Teilhet Scholarship Program. For high school students, the deadline to apply for a CFT scholarship is January 10. »Find the recipients here.  Learn more about the scholarship program here.