Chemistry teachers Supriya Moore and Elizabeth McCracken enrolled in the California Reduced Workload Program, colloquially referred to as “Willie Brown,” for the 2025 to 2026 school year. Willie Brown was enacted in 1982 as a retirement plan allowing veteran teachers to gradually scale back their workloads before retirement while still retaining full-time benefits. Under Willie Brown, teachers may reduce their schedule to three or four periods compared to the full-time schedule of five periods. Some teachers use the program to step down gradually — from 100% workload to 80%, then 60% — before retiring entirely. The lowest reduction allowed under the program is 50%.
In order to qualify for Willie Brown, teachers in FUHSD must be at least 55 years old with more than 25 years of experience. They also need to have been employed full time in a certificated position for at least 10 years, including having worked full time during the five years preceding entry into the program. In return, the program allows teachers to have a relaxed schedule for up to 10 years, during which they receive district benefits from the California State Teachers’ Retirement System and have their healthcare premiums calculated as if they were still working full time.
Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, Moore reduced her schedule to three periods and has continued this for the current school year. To help balance the chemistry classes, AP Biology and Chemistry Honors teacher Julie Choi has taken on three additional chemistry periods for the 2025-2026 school year. Moore says the lighter workload has been a welcome change, allowing her to enjoy teaching with more balance.
“With fewer students, the teacher can focus more on the individual students that they have,” Moore said. “From my perspective, the benefit I receive doesn’t change. Even though I’m only teaching 60% of what I used to as a full-time teacher, I still get full-time benefits for health insurance and sick leave and all the other things. The only thing that changes, of course, is the salary, because it’s 60% of whatever you were making.”
McCracken says that although she didn’t have specific expectations going into Willie Brown, after hearing the positive feedback from her colleagues, she decided to join the program this school year. After one month in, she concedes to not having experienced any downsides.
“I have lots of passions, and it’s nice to have more time and space,” McCracken said. “Yesterday, I got up and went for a hike for two hours with a friend. That’s something that I would never have been able to do on a school day morning. I’ve been able to research some things that I’m interested in. My time has been focused more on other interests that I have, as well as people I want to spend more time with, including my dog.”
Despite the two chemistry teachers now having reduced schedules, the department has been able to adjust. According to McCracken, with MVHS experiencing a decline in student enrollment in recent years, the number of classes in many subjects — including chemistry — has decreased. Math teacher Mia Onodera — who has been on Willie Brown for three years — says the lower enrollment has made it easier for the district to accommodate teachers seeking reduced schedules, and that the district now even encourages participation in Willie Brown to help balance staffing needs.
“With my breast cancer diagnosis and everything, I was very weak,” Onodera said. “I was out last year for the whole fall semester to deal with that, but now I have these little stretching classes that I take on Tuesdays and Thursdays, which work really well. It’s nice because I now have a pattern that I can follow that just worked out by being on Willie Brown. When I first started teaching, there were a huge number of teachers who were about the same age and wanted to work their way out using Willie Brown, so it has always been on my mind that that was what I wanted to do toward the end of my career.”
McCracken agrees with Onodera, appreciating the lighter workload Willie Brown offers, but asserts that teaching will still continue to be an integral part of her life. While at the moment, McCracken and Moore haven’t finalized their retirement plans or how long they will continue teaching under Willie Brown, McCracken assures that future arrangements will ultimately be beneficial for both the Chemistry department and the rest of MVHS.
“I will not make a decision on stopping teaching based on someone else’s decision — my decision would be solely for me,” McCracken said. “And right now, I’m very happy teaching. I’ve been at MVHS since 1996 and I cannot imagine stopping.”
