Union Leaders
President
Jeffery M.
Freitas was elected CFT President in March 2019
after serving as CFT Secretary Treasurer for eight
years. A credentialed secondary math
teacher, Freitas has advocated on behalf of members for
more than a decade as president of the Carpinteria Association of
United School Employees, AFT Local 2216, and as a field
representative and lobbyist for the CFT.
Secretary Treasurer
Luukia Smith
serves as CFT Secretary Treasurer. She is the former president of
the CFT Council of Classified Employees and the El Camino
Classified Employees, AFT Local 6142, representing staff at El
Camino College in Torrance. Smith worked in the accounting
department at the college for 30 years.
Senior Vice President
L. Lacy Barnes, an instructor of psychology at Reedley College is the Senior Vice President of CFT. Barnes, who holds a Ph.D, is also president of the State Center Federation of Teachers, AFT Local 1533, representing faculty at Reedley and Fresno City Colleges in the Central Valley.
Vice Presidents
The 24 vice presidents typically hold leadership positions in their local unions. They are elected every other year by delegates to the CFT Convention. The vice presidents, president, secretary treasurer and division council leaders comprise the CFT Executive Council.
AFT Vice Presidents
Every two years, delegates to the AFT Convention elect officers of the national union. Two leaders represent California as Vice Presidents on the AFT Executive Council.
President, United Teachers Los Angeles, AFT Local 1021
Alex Caputo-Pearl
CFT President
Jeff Freitas
Division Council Leaders
Experienced educators lead each of the five CFT division councils. Representatives from constituent local unions of each division elect their council leaders in biennial elections.