Dr. Theresa Montaño

Theresa began her teaching career as a middle School para-educator in Northeast Los Angeles. She became a middle and high School Social Studies classroom teacher and taught for 15 years in Los Angeles, CA and Denver, Co. An active unionist, Montaño was also on the staff of United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA), where she worked as a professional development specialist and as an area representative for nine years. Theresa was the first coordinator of the Helen Bernstein Professional Development Center. While at UTLA, she helped establish a program for teachers interested in securing their National Board certification and helped secure a stipend and retirement benefits for those teachers. In partnership with LAUSD, she engaged in program and curriculum development for Dial-a-Teacher, Multilingual Teacher Academies, the New Teacher Academy, and SB 1969/CLAD certification. She also served on the Board of Directors, House of Representatives, and CTA State Council. 
15 years of experience as a middle and high school teacher in Los Angeles, coupled with more than decade in higher education, gives Theresa a special understanding of issues facing educators in California’s public schools. In 2000, she left the UTLA to work for the UCLA Teacher Education Program as a faculty advisor and in 2003, I accepted a position at Cal State Northridge in Chicana/o Studies, area of emphasis: Education. As a union activist, she continues her involvement in CFA (California Faculty Association), where she leads the public education work. At CSUN, Theresa teaches courses on Equity and Diversity In Schools, The Chicana/o Child, and is an advisor to students enrolled in the Masters’ Program. Dr. Montaño has articles, texts and book on issues like teacher activism, educational injustice and educating the Latino/a and Chicano/a student.  She previously served for six years as an NEA board director, the president of the National Council for Higher Education and CTA Vice President. She has also served as president of educational rights organizations such as the National Association for Multicultural Education and the California Association of Mexican-American Educators. 

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