2022 MOY Rekha Powar prioritizes her students, her union and the environment

by David Ngô

Walk into 2022 Member of the Year Rekha Powar’s preschool classroom and it is easy to see her creative approach to education.

From repurposed milk cartons to an incubator learning space, the early learning educator from Ocean View Chapter 375 in Huntington Beach has created an engaging classroom for students as young as 4- and 5-years old.

“Rekha works hard to make sure her students have everything that they need,” said Debbie Chiong, a special education/preschool teacher. “She has written and received grants to provide her classroom with many different early learning amenities, including equipment to record classroom plays for her students to perform.”

Powar’s approach is uniquely themed around interactive learning and the importance of caring for the environment, something she has always been passionate about.

In 2013, Powar’s district sued a nearby waste management company after complaints of unsafe air quality, leading to the company pledging $18 million to protect the community and, most importantly, its students.

“Rekha rallied with the community when Rainbow, a local waste disposal company across the street from the preschool, was knowingly engaging in practices that were creating an unsafe environment for students,” said Chiong.

“She even took a class to learn how to collect evidence that helped prove the company needed to change its practices for the safety of the community we serve. As a result, Rainbow provided a gym for the students to go to have their lunches when the air quality is not safe for children.”

Maintaining a safe, nurturing learning environment is important to Powar, especially for young learners beginning their educational journey.

“The children are with me nine hours a day, 12 months year-round through holidays. So, they become a part of my family in the classroom and the community,” said Powar. “They’re with me so long that I need to provide them with the love and support they would probably get at home.”

That love and support for educating preschoolers carries over to advocating for her CSEA siblings.

As site representative, negotiating committee member and union steward, Powar is a force to be reckoned with when backing her union siblings.

Within three months of becoming steward, Powar found herself defending her colleague who faced a hostile work environment due to a new school principal.

“This member was being told to perform additional duties as a Speech and Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) without any support from the principal or special education program,” said Phi Tran of Ocean View Chapter 375, who works as a Network Systems Specialist and serves as the CSEA Communications Committee Chair, among other roles.

“Rekha sought to understand what was being asked of him and determined that it was poor management that put this longtime SLPA in this situation. She took notes, listened, and even sought advice from other chapters.”

Though that member eventually resigned, Powar’s actions proved her skills in supporting classified workers when faced with poor management.

When another member working in childcare was asked to walk with students due to lack of transportation, Powar went to the district and successfully advocated to remove this unethical duty from the member’s job.

In the span of a year, she oversaw more than 25 cases of member concerns and worked to resolve potential grievances before they unfolded. Powar has also contributed to numerous political action campaigns by precinct walking and phone banking for school board and local city candidates.

As a result, the 2022 Member of the Year has played an active hand in building trust among members and respect for all classified workers at the Ocean View School District through leadership and empowerment.

“My message to you is to empower those around you. Empower them to be able to empower others no matter what they bring to you,” said Powar. “Give them the time and give them the compassion to help them.”