If you are a credential teacher currently employed by the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) you can earn one salary point for taking the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) course.  CERT is offered free to the public by the LA (City) Fire Department.  There is no cost to you to earn this salary point.  CERT typically meets for 6-7 evenings.  There is no homework or exams.  If you attend all classes, you will graduate.  Take your graduation certificate to LAUSD's Emergency Director to get your salary point.    

Very importantly, the reason you can get this salary point is that it is expected in time of a disaster you will be trained and better able to take care of the children in your charge.  Children spend more time with their teachers, in the the case of some families, more waking time with any single teacher than they do with their parents.  As a teacher you may have as high a chance of being the only adult with a child in times of a disaster than their parents. 

Being CERT trained will better prepare you to help your students.  It will give you the knowledge and some skill practice to give confidence that you can handle an emergency. 

For more information contact:

Mr. Robert Spears, Emergency Service Director
LA Unified School Dist.
Office of Environmental Health and Safety
333 S. Beaudry Ave., 20th floor
LA CA 90017
(213) 241-6816 (fax)

(213) 241-3889 (o).
(213) 494-7901 (cllr.).
bob.spears@lausd.net