We Are the California Teachers Association

CTA is 310,000 educators across the state of California. We are powerful and passionate advocates for students and public education. 

Whether we’re preparing to join the profession, in our first few years, a veteran educator, or retired, we never stop being educators. 

Our members include teachers, counselors, psychologists, librarians, Education Support Professionals, school nurses, higher education faculty and staff, students preparing to join the profession and retired educators.

We have more than 1,100 local chapters in school districts throughout California. We are CTA.

Classroom Teachers

Teaching is the one profession that creates all other professions. How amazing is that?

For CTA, celebrating and advocating for teachers is what we do best. We understand that you can’t put students first if you put teachers last. Through special celebrations like Day of the Teacher, to our California Educator magazine, to our conferences focused on teaching and learning, to advocating for better teaching conditions, we create as many opportunities as we can to center the voices of teachers. 

Education Support Professionals

Education Support Professionals meet the needs of the whole student by keeping them healthy, safe, supported, engaged and challenged. ESPs are school counselors, nurses, paraprofessionals, office workers, librarians, coaches, bus drivers, custodians and maintenance staff in our schools.

Higher Education Faculty & Staff

The Community College Association is a statewide affiliate of CTA, representing members working in 72 community college districts and 112 community colleges in California. CCA members reach 2.8 million students in the California community college system, and 73% of all students enrolled in California higher education. 

Retired Educators

An active and robust branch of CTA belongs to our retired educators. CTA/NEA-Retired members provide a strong voice for education retirees in California, promoting the interest of retirees by working to set policy that will affect current educators into the future. 

Aspiring Educators, Student CTA

Student California Teachers Association is for anyone aspiring to be a teacher, school librarian, social worker, school psychologist, school nurse or college faculty member. Student CTA serves as the collective voice for aspiring educators and advocates for what we believe to be fair and just, not only for ourselves, but for our future students.

Student Support Services Professionals

Student Support Services Professionals include school nurses, psychologists, librarians, school counselors, social workers and speech pathologists. SSS Professionals work with classroom teachers and ESPs to provide resources and strategies, and develop learning climates to provide student safety, social, emotional well-being and intellectual support of academic and life goals.