Santa Monica-Malibu Classroom Teachers Association
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Our Leadership Team

SMMCTA is a democratic organization. The Officers, members of the Board of Directors and site Representatives are elected by the membership. Members of Committees are appointed by the President and approved by the Rep Council. Read the complete Powers and Responsibilities of SMMCTA Leadership.

Officers

Term ending June 30, 2022
Sarah Braff – President
Claudia Bautist-Nichols  – Vice President  (SAMOHI)
Grant Clark – Treasurer (Franklin Elementary)

Term Ending June 2021
Barbara Ransom – Secretary (JAMS)
smmctapresident@smmcta.com
sra.bautista@gmail.com
grantaclark@gmail.com


bransom@smmcta.com

President's Bio

PictureSMMCTA President Sarah Braff
Sarah Braff has served in the SMMUSD as a fifth and third grade teacher for twenty-five years. Sarah earned her Bachelors degree at Michigan State University in both Regular and Special Education.  Sarah earned her Masters of Education, in Curriculum Design at CSUN Northridge. She was the first female elementary negotiator for the Association and served on the bargaining team for over fifteen years. Sarah had been the Vice President for seven years prior to her election as President in 2014.

As the Association President, Sarah plans to visit each campus regularly to improve two-way communication within the Association, and energize our membership.  With leadership from the Board of Directors and support from the membership, Sarah intends to lead the Association toward meeting goals including: developing the role of the teacher in Santa Monica/Malibu Unified School District budgetary decisions, permanently lowering class size at all grade levels, securing planning time and professional development for all members to implement the Common Core State Standards. Sarah has already been supporting the effort to have more of our own expert teachers involved as Professional Development Leaders in the District.

Sarah will continue to work closely with District administrators, School Board Members, PTA leaders, and community groups to strengthen communication and partnerships that benefit all of our Santa Monica-Malibu schools.

Board of Directors

Term ending June 30, 2021
Jenny Lipson /  Grant  Elementary Representative
Mikela Lee-Garcia / JAMS   Middle School Representative

jlipson2003@yahoo.com


Term ending June 30, 2022
Ned Acker / SAMOHI High School Representative 
Sarah Rodriguez / SAMOHI High School Representative 
Catherine Handelman / Roosevelt  Elementary Representative
Danielle Murawski / Malibu  Malibu Representative
​Roxanna "Roxie" Patton, CDS

sarahrerodriguez@gmail.com
​catcar10@yahoo.com

​roxannealea@msn.com


  • Rep Assembly Meeting Norms
  • How to Run a Ten Minute Site Meeting
  • Rep Duties and Responsibilities
  • Meeting with Administrators
  • Grievances - What to Do First
  • Maintaining Unity Suggestions
List of 2020-2021 Representatives (This is still being updated.) 
SNed Acker / Samohi 
Claudia Bautista / Samohi  sra.bautista@gmail.com
Lulu Benitez / Muir   lulu716@hotmail.com
Vincent Bernota  / SUB  vincentbernota@yahoo.com

Ryan Blanc / SAMOHI
Deniz Oyman  / Edison 
Cathe Cammorata  / Grant  athecay@juno.com
Jimmy Chapman / SAMOHI
Amy Cordes / Grant   amyclevy@gmail.com
Liz Cowgill / JAMS
​Ed Curry / McKinley 
Skye Davis / Webster
Shelly Ehrke / Lincoln
Nikki Fiske / Franklin  nikkifiske@gmail.com

Amy Golden / SAMOHI
Alyssa Gouge / McKinley
Erin Haendel / SMASH
Mikaela Lee-Garcia / JAMS
Sharon Hart / Lincoln

Mayra Herrera / Rogers   mayraherrera@earthlink.net
Carl Hobkirk / SAMOHI 
 Peggy O'Meara / Rogers
Deniz Oyman / Edison
Roxanna Patton / CDS 
Jacqueline Papale / Rogers  jmpapale@aol.com
Roxanna Patton / CDS  roxannalea@msn.com
Valerie Peterson-Brandt / Roosevelt
Barbara Ransom / JAMS bransom@smmcta.com
Joseph Ramirez /
Sarah Rodriguez / SAMOHI
Anne Serapiglia / SMASH 
Amanda Valenzuela / Lincoln 
Tara Warren / Grant 
Maria Waul / Samohi 



Contact Information

PHONE: 310‐829‐5438 (for a speedy reply, please email us)
EMAIL: smmctamembers@smmcta.com
OUR MISSION:
The Santa Monica Malibu Classroom Teachers Association (SMMCTA) represents the employee groups: Child Development Teachers, Early Childhood Teachers, K-12 Teachers, Speech/Language Pathologists, Counselors, Librarians, Adult Education Teachers, Substitute Teachers, Nurses and other non administrative positions within the Santa Monica Malibu Unified School Districts.
SITE DESIGN BY CECILY BREEDING CREATIVE      COPYRIGHT 2014 SANTA MONICA MALIBU CLASSROOM TEACHERS ASSOCIATION