About the Candidates

NEA Vice President

Georgia Flowers Lee is an experienced second career educator who has been with the district for 24 years. and is a passionate union leader. She currently serves as UTLA/NEA Vice President and is excited for the opportunity to continue the fight forward. Georgia has served students, members, families and community in a variety of positions within UTLA; from Chapter Chair to Steering Committee to Area Chair to Service Center Chair. Georgia leads with passion and purpose committed to advancing equitable and just outcomes for all. 

Currently serving as the UTLA/NEA Vice President, Georgia is responsible for coordinating the work and responsibilities of our national affiliate, NEA. She continues to lead with our national partners and across locals to ensure public education values and uplifts all students, families, members and communities. Georgia Flowers Lee, knows what it takes to build power with and fight forward together. 

EXPERIENCE:

• UTLA/NEA Service Center Chair

• Former West Area Chair

• Past Chair of CTA Equity & Human Rights Conference Committee 

• PACE Officer

• Co-chair BSAP steering committee

• Special Education point officer

• Reclaim Principal 

• CTA State Council Delegate 

• NEA/RA Delegate 

• 24 years as a Special Education Teacher

Elementary Vice President

Maria Miranda has been an educator with LAUSD for 25 years and a South Area union leader for 13 years. As an undocumented youth whose family struggled with housing insecurity, Maria found safety and a sense of belonging in school. She felt how much love and care educators put into their students, pushing her to become a teacher from a young age.  Maria currently serves as the UTLA Elementary Vice President and has been point officer on the union’s immigration justice work, LGBTQIA + work, and Community Schools work.  Maria is a strong supporter of the Community Schools Initiative and she has worked in collaboration with school board members to pass school board policy that positively impacts student learning conditions and working conditions of educators. Maria’s vision for the future of UTLA is to continue building and leveraging our collective union strength to advocate for and protect public education and to defend the communities we serve. 

EXPERIENCE:

• Co-Chair of LAUSD/UTLA Community School Steering Committee

• CTA Community School Steering Committee Member

• Point Officer on the LGBTQIA+ Task Force and work

• Point Officer on UTLA’s  Immigrant Justice work

• Point Officer on Early Education and Elementary work

• Bargaining Team member

• Former South Area Chair and Board member

• Served 21 years as a classroom teacher and  2 years as Community School Coordinator

Secretary

Jennifer McAfee has 24 years of experience as an educator in the Harbor Area. She has served the past 2 years being dedicated to her role as the UTLA Secretary. She gained critical experience and leadership development when she served as a chapter chair, UTLA BOD member, Harbor Area Chair and member of the bargaining team. As UTLA Secretary, Jennifer has been committed to transparency of all UTLA structures, policies, and procedures and has assisted members with understanding and access of those so members can be active in standing committees, HOR, and other UTLA spaces. As a current bargaining lead, she has assisted with facilitating bargaining sessions, collaborating with the bargaining members, writing contract proposals. Additionally, Jennifer represents state and national unions, CFT, AFT, CTA and NEA, as a delegate for national and state conferences, conventions, and councils. Her organization skills have been integral in shaping the role of Secretary into one that is efficient and considers the voices of all members.

EXPERIENCE:

• Current UTLA Secretary and former Harbor Area Chair

• Point officer for HHS members

• 24 years as classroom educator

• Created systems for more transparency and access to UTLA structures

• Bargaining lead for current contract campaign

• Current delegate for CTA and NEA

• Member of AFT Native American Indigenous Task force

• Served as a delegate for CFT and AFT

• Chair of UTLA Constitution Committee 

• Chair of Committee on Rules and Reference

Treasurer

Denisha Jordan is an educator with 23 years experience teaching students and serving communities in Valley West, Valley East, and West Areas. Denisha is active with California Teachers Association, as a State Council Delegate serving on the Budget Committee. She helps plan, prepare and manage priorities for a $73  million budget. As the UTLA/NEA Service Center Treasurer and PACE Treasurer she ensures the budgets are connected to UTLA priorities. As the current statewide organizer for the California We Can’t Wait campaign, she visits different areas and school sites to inform members about the coordinated bargaining campaign involving 77,000 educators in 32 school districts. Denisha is organized, efficient and well informed of fiduciary responsibilities. She embodies the qualifications that ensure UTLA remains solvent with a budget that reflects the priorities of protecting public education and fighting forward. In addition to her budgetary experience, she has organized at her school sites to remove a bully principal, support the removal of a co-located charter, and reduced the PE class size (before the LAUSD cap was implemented).  Denisha leads with empathy, compassion, and determination to ensure that members feel supported, and that students needs are centered. 

EXPERIENCE:

• PACE Treasurer

• CTA Budget Committee

• UTLA/NEA Service Center Treasurer

• We Can’t Wait - Statewide Organizer

• CTA & CFT State Council Delegate

• NEA & AFT National Delegate

• CFT Budget Certification

• 2x Member of Bargaining Team

• Former Steering Committee Member & Chapter Chair

• Member of Constitution Committee & HOR Rules and Reference Committee

• Core Educator for Reclaim Our Schools & Students Deserve

• Physical Education Committee member

• CTA Human Rights Award Recipient

• WHO Award Recipient

• 23 Years in Secondary Physical Education Teacher