2025 SDEA Awards

At the October Rep Council, 2025 SDEA Awards were presented to recognize some of the members and allies who helped build our union power this year.

President’s Award: SDEA Election Committee

Awarded to:

• Peter Oskin, Point Loma High School

• Kristin Brown, Silver Gate Elementary

• Trace Cimins, Hancock Elementary

• Mickey Sullivan, Longfellow K-8

“The Election Committee shall be responsible for conducting all Association elections:

• Ensure that all Association/CTA/NEA election codes and timelines are followed
• Establish election timelines
• Develop and carry out timelines and procedures for paper and online elections
• Prepare ballots for election of officers, board of directors and such other elections as may be necessary
• Count the ballots and certify the results
• Handle initial challenges.

Your countless hours of work and resolute commitment to our collective cause have made our SDEA democracy stronger and made us a more powerful union.”

SDEA Board Award: SDEA Organizing Committee

Awarded to:

• Monique Barrett

• Sarah Darr

• Lisa Morris

• Amy Childs

• Jessica Arreguin

• Maria Romano

• Mary Ann Belmontez

• Whitney Chase

• Rickeena Kamei-Boyd

• Kelsey Miranda

• Tomas Morales

• Rahel Gottlieb

• Jay Tran

“We won our 1.5% salary increase for this school year because we mobilized as SDEA union educators through our escalating collective actions at schools throughout the district.

These advances are a testament to the power of our grassroots organizing led by SDEA union educators on our organizing committee:

• Developed our demands at Bargaining Input Sessions in the fall
• Ratified our We Can’t Wait Contract demands at union meetings
• Rallied at the Ed Center to launch our contract campaign
• Passed out thousands of flyers to families to get them on our side in January
• Held walk-ins in February
• Picketed at 125 schools in April

This was the organizing that moved the Superintendent and School Board to agree to the pay increase to fully staff our schools.

You build our union’s power to win the schools students and educators deserve.”

Executive Director’s Award: David Solnit

“We Can’t Wait is the boldest and most ambitious bargaining campaign SDEA members have embarked on in decades. David’s expertise in organizing and creating art to match the boldness of our campaign has led our members building capacity and evident by the multiple art builds conducted this year. David’s leadership has helped our members channel our power through art that meets the historic moment.”

David was not in person to accept his award this month, but will be joining us for an Art Build Weekend from January 24-25, 2026! Stay tuned for more information next month!