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Special Ed Support Staff Plan to Support a Teacher Strike

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While special education support staff in the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) broadly back the Oakland Education Association’s (OEA) proposed strike and its demands to increase funding for educators and students, some feel they’ll be unable to show that support by refusing to work.

“Schools have been underfunded in California since I was in high school at least,” said Kaylie Bengston, who works as a paraprofessional educator in a class at Montera Middle School. “It’s about time someone did something about it.”

Bengston was hired through Ro Health, an agency that has a contract with OUSD. She provides one on one support for a student with special needs. She’d love to not work during a strike, but due to her 17 dollars an hour salary and the Bay Area’s high cost of living, she can’t afford to miss work.

In anticipation of a likely upcoming strike, OEA has arranged for interest free loans and needs based grants for its members who are willing to serve on the picket line. But since Bengston along with other Ro Health employees are ununionized and not part of the OEA, they won’t be able to access those services.

Bengston’s financial situation is similar to many other special education support staff workers in OUSD who work multiple jobs yet can’t afford to live in Oakland as they aren’t paid a living wage. She has a second job at a fabric store and lives in a two bedroom apartment in Hayward with two roommates, one who lives in the living room.

Sarah Wilson*, who’s worked directly for OUSD as an instructional support specialist for special ed students for over a dozen years, plans to support the strike by scheduling doctor appointments she’s needed anyway during the strike’s first days. If the strike lasts more than a few days, she’ll return to work because she can’t afford to go without wages. Wilson is unionized through Service Employees International Union (SEIU) 1021 instead of OEA so she also won’t be able to access OEA’s finical aid services.

Although Wilson grew up in Oakland, she can’t afford housing here. She’s been homeless for the last two years and alternates between staying with friends, housesitting, and sleeping in her vehicle. She makes about 23 dollars an hour which has not been enough, even with supplement income from three part time jobs, for her to find housing in her hometown.

She thinks she should be paid a lot more for her job which requires a bachelors degree, specialized skills, and in-depth knowledge and understanding of autism.

OEA 1st vice president Ismael Armendariz agrees that special ed support staff deserve higher wages. Since special education support staff are not in OEA, they will have to negotiate separately, but Armendariz thinks the teacher’s fight to secure more funding will help special ed support staff in their negotiations.

“The funding we’re fighting for is not just for classroom teachers, but for all education professionals,” said Armendariz.

OEA is encouraging special education support staff who work during the strike to stick exclusively to their job duties and not take on the duties of classroom teachers as they’re concerned with administrators pressuring support staff to perform tasks outside of their training which could put them in unsafe situations. Also, if special ed support staff replace teachers, the strike would become less strong.

Sarah Wilson plans on sticking exclusively to her small group of autistic students and is concerned for their safety. She hopes that parents keep them home if a strike occurs.

“Having my students in with the entire school population would be a disaster, and unsafe. I hope parents keep them home as I worry about the level of support that will be available to them,” said Wilson.

*Sarah Wilson is a pseudonym for this person, who prefers to remain anonymous to protect their job security.

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Oakland Post: Week of March 11 -17, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of March 11 – 17, 2026

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Women & Wealth: Tips for Navigating Your Lifelong Financial Journey

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Sponsored by J.P. Morgan Wealth Management

We are in the midst of a seismic shift in wealth. This phenomenon, often referred to as the “Great Wealth Transfer,” describes the unprecedented movement of assets from the Baby Boomer generation to their heirs – an estimated $105 trillion by 2048. And women are poised to inherit most of this.

J.P. Morgan Wealth Management’s 2025 Investor Study found that women are not only set to receive significant wealth – they’re actively working to build it on their own. Ninety-three percent of women surveyed who are expecting an inheritance aren’t relying on it to reach their goals.

Here are a few tips for women to consider in their wealth-building journey:

Create a financial roadmap

A detailed, well thought out plan is important. J.P. Morgan’s study found that 90% of those surveyed with a plan feel confident about reaching their financial goals, compared to 49% without one.

Your plan should reflect your unique goals, priorities and circumstances. Consider your investment horizon and risk tolerance, and remember to revisit your plan regularly as life evolves.

Are you saving up for goals like buying a house, sending your kids off to college or retiring early? Where do you want to be in the next five, ten or twenty years? Everyone’s financial situation is unique, so it’s important to think about these questions and build a plan that is unique to your life.

Women tend to live longer than men on average. Many take career breaks or care for family members, which can influence long-term planning. It’s important to adjust your strategy with these factors in mind.

Where to start with investing

Don’t let misconceptions hold you back. Starting to invest doesn’t require a large sum, and beginning early can be beneficial. The earlier you start, the more time your money has to potentially grow over the years. Understand your overall financial situation, set clear goals and develop a long-term plan.

It’s important to also make sure you’re covered for unexpected expenses that come up before you start to invest. Build up a cash emergency fund, typically enough to cover three to six months of expenses, and pay down any high-interest debt.

Taking charge of your finances

The good news is that women are taking charge of their finances. J.P. Morgan’s research found that 75% of women respondents make financial decisions with their partner or take the lead themselves. For those who have a spouse or partner, it’s important for each person in the relationship to play an active role in the process.

Building wealth can be empowering for many women. The same survey found that 73% of women respondents said money gives them “security,” while 64% of Gen Z and Millennial women associated it with “freedom.”

The power of having a team

Some people find it helpful to work with a financial advisor, so you don’t have to tackle things alone. An advisor can help you craft a plan tailored to your needs and keep you on track throughout your lifelong financial journey. If you expect to receive an inheritance, you should also consult with estate planning and tax professionals.

No matter where you are on your wealth-building path, education is key. It’s so important to be an informed investor, and there are plenty of resources out there to help. You can find a library of free educational resources at chase.com/theknow.

As the landscape of wealth continues to evolve, women have a unique opportunity to shape their financial futures and those of generations to come. By staying informed and planning ahead, women have the tools to help them confidently navigate the Great Wealth Transfer and set themselves up for financial freedom.

The views, opinions, estimates and strategies expressed herein constitutes the author’s judgment based on current market conditions and are subject to change without notice, and may differ from those expressed by other areas of J.P. Morgan. This information in no way constitutes J.P. Morgan Research and should not be treated as such. You should carefully consider your needs and objectives before making any decisions. For additional guidance on how this information should be applied to your situation, you should consult your advisor.  

JPMorgan Chase & Co., its affiliates, and employees do not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. You should consult your own tax, legal and accounting advisors before engaging in any financial transaction.  

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Oakland Post: Week of March 4 – 10, 2026

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