The president for the part time teacher’s union at Citrus College lost in the Nov. 4 elections to be a governing member of the Glendora School Board.
There were only two positions open and four candidates running for Glendora School Board position, but astronomy professor Linda Chan was the only candidate to be endorsed by the Glendora Teacher’s Association.
“My job at Citrus and position on the Glendora School board were a natural connection,” Chan said.
Despite the loss, Chan is still an extremely active member in the community.
While teaching part time at Citrus, Pasadena City College and Mt. San Antonio College Chan holds five educational leadership positions.
She is the elected California state representative to the CTA, chair of the Safety School Management Committee at CTA, vice president for the California Federation of Teachers statewide, and the president of CCAFF.
Bill Zeman, adjunct faculty of history instructor, said that Chan is an activist for part timers statewide and nationwide.
He describes Chan as a super passionate, determined and a good advocate for school and students.
Zeman said that Chan often spoke out on the behalf of teachers in the Glendora Unified School District.
“She does great work for education,” Zeman said. “She puts in a lot of her own time and works very hard to improve the lives of the teachers of Citrus.”
Laura Wills, adjunct anthropology instructor thinks Chan was recruited because she had the advantage of knowing the academic system for more than 30 years.
Wills describes Chan as a tireless “mover and shaker”, who is very involved with the community.
“She is a ‘master juggler’ in that she is able to handle a lot of different types of organizations and networking,” Wills said. “I have never seen anybody with that much energy.”
“I am very much involved with the union and making things right for education for our students,” Chan said. “Because I live in this community I have a lot to offer our students.”
Chan was born and raised in Arizona till she moved to Southern California where she has been living for more than 40 years.
She received her B.A. from San Diego State University in astronomy and in physics. And, continued at San Diego State University earning her M.A. in physics and graduated in 1991.
She then, earned her another B.A. in mathematics specializing in statistics in 2008.
Chan said that when she was a student she did a lot of tutoring, and her many instructors always told her that she would be a great teacher.
“They kept asking me when I will come back to teach for them,” Chan said.
Teaching was never something Chan thought she was capable of.
“I did not chose teaching, Teaching chose me,” she said.
Over time she began to see herself as a teacher and is constantly inspired by her students.
“You learn so much from the students,” Chan said. “Every person I met I believe I have something I need to learn from them.”
She has been teaching mathematics, physics and astronomy for over 30 years.
Wills said knowing how tireless Chan is and how much of a faculty and student supporter she is would be a huge benefit to have her as a representative on the Glendora School Board.
“She is able to juggle many things because that is what her life as a part timer has been,” Zeman said. “We have seen her hold jobs at more than 3 colleges, advocating for adjunct faculty and unions on a statewide and nationwide levels.”
Chan moved from Arcadia to Glendora 5 years ago and she has been living in the community ever since.
“When I moved to Glendora I felt this was the place that I had to be,” Chan said. “This is home.”
