Glendale teachers union president reelected

Glendale Teachers Assn. President Tami Carlson has been reelected to a second two-year term. Carlson ran unopposed in the election, the results of which were finalized last week.

“I am happy to be reelected and continue the work I started over the past two years,” Carlson said. “I hope to have a good working relationship with the Glendale Unified School District, and [will focus on] trying to keep our class sizes reasonable and teacher compensation without disruption during these times of economic travail for public education.”

Vice president Jana Wells, secretary Taline Arsenian and several other union officers were also reelected after running unopposed. A little more than 33% of the union’s 1,230 members cast ballots in the election, Carlson said.

Carlson began her teaching career in Glendale Unified in 1991 when she was hired to teach English at Roosevelt Middle School. She has held union leadership positions since 2007, serving as state council representative, and election and bargaining chairperson before being elected president in 2009.

Carlson’s relationship with high-ranking Glendale Unified officials has been contentious at times. In recent months she publicly exchanged barbs with board member Mary Boger about election mailers and the district’s decision to buy a parking lot next to district headquarters.

But Carlson said Monday that she is looking forward to a productive two years.

“It is valuable work,” Carlson said. “You have to have someone who is willing to put the time and effort into making sure our contract is followed, and that it remains strong.”

— Megan O’Neil