When Early Childhood educators learned in November that the district wanted to change their job description, they knew it was a bad idea that would disrupt their programs.  

The change would require EEC teachers to diaper students, taking time away from instruction and impacting the health and safety conditions of the classroom. Currently, diapering is usually handled by paraprofessionals outside of the classroom, and the district should fill the paraprofessional vacancies to protect teaching time in the classroom.

Early Childhood educators met with each other to discuss the issue and began bargaining with LAUSD, most recently presenting a counterproposal on April 4. To organize behind their concerns, they launched an email campaign that generated more than 1,200 emails to district officials and launched a “100% Teacher” button campaign to build unity and spread awareness.  

  “I’m most concerned about learning loss,” Estrella EEC Chapter Chair Tamanika Robinson said. “The moment I step away from the children, they are no longer learning — they’re waiting for me to return. The district needs to realize this change is not in the best interest of the children.”