NYSUT United May/June 2025

NYSUT United masthead
New York State 2025 Teacher of the Year seal
Colleen Keough typography

May/June 2025

Contents

This issue of NYSUT United contains important information regarding the NYSUT Member Benefits Trust summary annual report (page 22). Please read and retain this issue for future reference.
NYSUT UNITED [May/June 2025, Vol. 15, No. 5]
Director of Communications: James Morrison
Deputy Director of Communications: Anna Gronewold
Lead Editor/Copy Desk Chief: Clarisse Butler Banks
Assistant Editors/Writers: Riley Ackley, Emily Allen, Ben Amey, Molly Belmont
Photography: J. El-Wise Noisette, Kimberly Pennant, Chris Sutorius
Lead Designer: Nicole Clayton
Art and Production: Dana Fournier, Cora Horner
Online Communications Coordinators: Katie Bartlett, Jiayi Kong
Editorial Support: Julie Malec
NYSUT United is a member publication of the International Labor Communications Association, Metro New York Labor Communications Council, State Education Association Communicators.
Editorial and Production Department: 518-213-6000 and 800-342-9810 (toll-free)
Annual subscription: $15. NYSUT members receive a copy of NYSUT United as part of their dues benefit. Households with multiple members will receive only one copy. If you prefer to receive more than one copy, please call 518-213-6000.
Address changes: POSTMASTER: Member Records Department, 800 Troy-Schenectady Road, Latham, NY 12110
UFT member address changes:
POSTMASTER:
New York Teacher, 52 Broadway,
12th floor, New York, NY 10004
PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT LATHAM, NY
ADDITIONAL ENTRY OFFICE
WILLIAMSPORT, PA 17701
NYSUT United (ISSN 21587914) and nysut.org are official publications of New York State United Teachers. NYSUT United publishes six issues from September to June.
Advertising: Email ads@nysut.org or call 518-213-6000 or 800-448-4ADS.

NYSUT Affiliated with AFT square space NEA square space AFL-CIO

NEW YORK STATE UNITED TEACHERS
800 Troy-Schenectady Road, Latham, NY 12110
518-213-6000 800-342-9810
OFFICERS:
President: Melinda Person
Executive Vice President: Jaime L. Ciffone
Second Vice President: Ron Gross
Secretary-Treasurer: J. Philippe Abraham

ELECTION DISTRICT DIRECTORS: Jeff Orlowski, Donna Walters, Darla Schultz-Bubar, Jennifer Austin, Adam Urbanski, Andrew Jordan, John Kuryla, David Chizzonite, Jeanette Stapley, Laura Franz, Joseph Herringshaw, Juliet Benaquisto, Melissa Tierney, Sparrow Tobin, Sean Kennedy, Anthony Nicodemo, Tomia Smith, Nicole Brown, Gregory Perles, John Mansfield, Kevin Coyne, Kevin Toolan, Laura Spencer, Karen Blackwell Alford, Tabia DaCruz, Mary Vaccaro, Servia Silva, MaryJo Ginese, Mary Atkinson, Anthony Harmon, Michael Mulgrew, Elizabeth Perez, Victoria Lee, Richard Mantell, LeRoy Barr, Felicia Wharton (CUNY Higher Ed, PSC), Penelope Lewis (CUNY Higher Ed, PSC), Roberta Elins (Community Colleges), Alissa Karl (SUNY Higher Ed, UUP), Jeri O’Bryan-Losee (SUNY Higher Ed, UUP), Thomas Tucker (SUNY Higher Ed, UUP), Philip Rumore, Jaime Francey-Henry, Dora Leland, Loretta Donlon (Retiree), Joan Perrini (Retiree), Thomas Murphy (Retiree)

AT-LARGE DIRECTORS: Cheryl Hughes, Michelle Licht, Andrew Bogey, Brian Ebertz, Nicole Capsello, Michele Bushey, Natalie McKay, Matthew Haynes, Samantha Rosado-Ciriello, Cordelia Anthony, Ronald Verderber, Nancy Sanders, Vanecia Wilson, Michael Sill, Sean Rotkowitz, Thomas Brown, Janella Hinds, Leo Gordon, James Davis, Frederick Kowal, Florence McCue, Priscilla Castro (SRPs), Kim McEvoy (SRPs), Angie Rivera (SRPs), Deborah Paulin (SRPs), Karen Lee Arthmann (SRPs), Anne Goldman (Health Care), Stephen Rechner (Private Sector Higher Ed), Andrew Sako (Community Colleges), Pamela Malone (Higher Education) and Andrea Vasquez (Higher Education)
EX-OFFICIO BOARD MEMBER: Tyrone Hendrix, Executive Director
HONORARY BOARD MEMBERS: Thomas Y. Hobart Jr. (President Emeritus), Andrew Pallotta (President Emeritus), Antonia Cortese (Emerita), Alan B. Lubin (Executive Vice President Emeritus)
AFT VICE PRESIDENTS: J. Philippe Abraham, LeRoy Barr, Jaime L. Ciffone, James Davis, Ron Gross, Anthony M. Harmon, Frederick Kowal, Kara McCormick-Lyons, Michael Mulgrew, Melinda Person, Adam Urbanski
NEA DIRECTORS: Dora Leland, Dante Morelli
Alternate Directors: Sue Raichilson, Melissa Tierney
Executive Committee members are underlined.

To Our
Members

Change rarely comes from the top — it happens in our classrooms, neighborhoods and communities every day when we show up, care deeply and act when it matters most.
Melinda Person playing with a student playing with blocks
EL-WISE NOISETTE

NYSUT President Melinda Person plays with a student at her Monroe-Woodbury schools visit.

Melinda Person playing with a student playing with blocks
EL-WISE NOISETTE

NYSUT President Melinda Person plays with a student at her Monroe-Woodbury schools visit.

We see this in our 2025 Teacher of the Year, Schenectady’s Colleen Keough, who cooks a full Thanksgiving meal each year for her students, walks children home from school so they arrive safely, and ran a joyous campaign to revive the school mascot.

This April, we saw it in our Sackets Harbor members, who jumped into action and organized the school community to bring home three students and their mother who were taken during a nearby federal immigration raid.

I see this from thousands of teachers across New York who spend their personal time and money to make sure students and families living in poverty have food, clothes and basic necessities.

This kind of care flows naturally from educators, because we know students’ education depends on what happens outside our classrooms as well — in our neighborhoods and communities. It is also a clear extension of union work, because we understand that what affects one of us, affects us all.

I believe we can change the world. Sometimes it is through large-scale organizing, advocating and the power of our collective voice. But more often it is by caring deeply for your communities and showing up in the way only NYSUT members can.

Top ring spirals

Coming Up

May 5–6
NYS Board of Regents meets, Albany
May 5–9
National Teacher Appreciation Week
Teacher Appreciation Week illustrated school supplies graphic
May 6–12
National Nurses Week
National Nurses Week heart shaped stethoscope graphic
May 7
National School Nurse Day
May 20
Statewide school budget and school board voting
June 9–10
NYS Board of Regents meets, Albany
June 14
Primary voter registration deadline
Register to vote hand holding megaphone graphic
June 14–22
Primary Election early voting
June 17
School budget revote
June 24
Primary Election day
Please note some or all of these events may be conducted as virtual meetings.

On the Cover

2025 Teacher of the Year Colleen Keough, Schenectady Federation of Teachers

Photo by Chris Sutorius

[ Fighting for you ]

Check in for state budget updates

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s NYSUT United went to press, the Legislature and the governor had still not agreed to or passed a state budget. As negotiations continue, NYSUT continues to engage with decision-makers to advance our priorities, protect our members and support our students.

NYSUT has continued to advocate for a bell-to-bell restriction on personal electronic devices in schools, which would be designed at a local level with input from parents, educators, unions and other stakeholders, specifically addressing alternative communication methods and systems for parents and caregivers. Our regional Disconnected conferences around the state have generated many thoughtful and passionate discussions around this issue.

We also continue to advocate for the updating of the Foundation Aid formula to better serve all our students statewide and increase school aid so our schools have the resources they need to thrive. Additionally, we continue to push for universal school meals for every child to ensure that no student goes hungry at school.

NYSUT also continues to fight for other legislative priorities in the budget and beyond, including the educator tax credit, increased BOCES funding for Career and Technical Education programs, investing in SUNY Downstate, increased funding for SUNY and CUNY, fixing Tiers 5 and 6 and many, many more.

Once the budget is passed, NYSUT will have a full reaction and analysis on nysut.org. Be sure to keep an eye out there for the information you need to know as we head through the rest of the legislative session.

[ Fighting for you ]

NYSUT adds new guidance to popular video series

A person holds a tablet displaying a woman and the handwritten words "Free Speech". Above the tablet are icons related to law and justice.
A

s the educational landscape continues to shift, understanding educators’ rights is more crucial now than ever.

NYSUT has developed three new videos for its popular “Know Your Rights” video series that are based on the latest challenges members are facing as they try to navigate complex social issues.

The three new videos cover essential topics: Online Harassment, LGBTQ+ Issues and Immigration Enforcement Actions.

NYSUT developed the “Know Your Rights” video series last year to help guide members to better understand their rights, both inside and outside the classroom. Other titles in the series include Academic Freedom, Free Speech, Book Bans and Challenges, Women’s Rights, and Controversial Topics in the Classroom. Additional videos are being developed to address emerging issues and concerns.

[ Fighting for you ]

Reminder: Vote on Tuesday, May 20

Four hands, appearing to represent different skin tones, place the letters V, O, T, and E into a ballot box.
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nnual school budget votes and school board elections will be held in most districts statewide on Tuesday, May 20. Members are encouraged to make sure to get out and vote YES. Get your friends, neighbors and family to vote yes as well.

We know the people who are against strong public schools will turn out to vote NO. We need to make sure we are turning up to vote YES.

Last year, working together helped 97 percent of school budgets pass and 84 percent of candidates endorsed by local teacher unions won spots on school boards, including 73 NYSUT members who were elected or re-elected to board positions. Together, we can make those results happen again!

What you and your fellow NYSUT members can do:

[ Fighting for you ]

Join Us as We Continue Our Push to Fix Tier 6!

Fix Tier Six typography

On the 6th of every month through June, we’re rallying to Fix Tier 6! Rallies are going on around the state, so make sure to check out FixTier6.org/events to see when there will be a rally near you!

New York State image with locations and dates for Fix Tier 6 events; May 6: New York City, Long Island & Western New York; June 6: Mid-Hudson region  &  Elmira
NYSUT Legacy Fund seal

Thomas Cestaro Sr.,
Family man, unionist, friend

headshot of Thomas Cestaro Sr.
Thomas Cestaro Sr. worked in Levittown schools for nearly 40 years. A well-respected English teacher, he was a dedicated unionist and a devoted husband, father and grandfather.

Cestaro, who passed away in December 2023, was recognized with a NYSUT Legacy Award.

Cestaro loved teaching and his students — and children — felt it. “My brother, sister and I all went to school for teaching” said his daughter, Donna DiPalo, a vice president of the Levittown United Teachers. “We saw what it was like to have a job that you could love doing. Why wouldn’t we want to do the same thing?”

Cestaro was active in the Levittown UT. DiPalo remembers the daily phone calls during the Levittown teachers’ strike in 1978. “The strike lasted for 34 days and in the end teachers were fined two days’ pay for each day of the strike,” she recalled. “Those were difficult times.”

Cestaro twice ran for president of his local union. His goal was to correct a problem within the salary schedule. His efforts brought the inequity to light and it was corrected in the 1988 contract.

“Our family was his first priority though,” DiPalo said. “His absence is felt in so many ways, but we will always treasure the amazing memories we have.”

To honor an in-service or retiree activist from your area, visit nysut.org/LegacyFund.

[ Fighting for you ]

Ithaca TA turning the tables with open bargaining

W

hile preparing for their first contract negotiation since 2019, members of the Ithaca Teachers Association decided it was time to take a risk.

“There was a push within our internal union structure for more transparency, a more democratic process, more involvement from rank-and-file members and just more action,” said Ithaca TA President Kathryn Cernera.

A lot had changed since their previous agreement was ratified: a global pandemic transformed the future of education; Cernera took over as president; and tension between the community and school district reached a boiling point as voters came out in droves to reject the 2024–25 budget, raising concerns over lack of communication, accountability and fiscal responsibility.

But long before last year’s budget was voted down, the wheels of change were in motion.

[ fighting for you ]

New nurse contract a win for nurses and patients

A

fter months of contract negotiations and 8,000 grievances, nurses at NYU Langone Hospital–Brooklyn successfully ratified a new two-year contract, just one day before their contract was set to expire, averting a strike.

“We achieved a hard-fought contract focusing on appropriate staffing for nurses to function optimally and provide quality patient care as well as competitive salaries to recognize our exceptional staff,” said United Federation of Teachers Vice President Anne Goldman, head of the Federation of Nurses/UFT.

The new two-year contract raises nurse salaries 9.25 percent for the first year, and 6 percent the second year and requires the hiring of 100 new full-time nurses.

“I am making my rounds and running into members and everyone is saying, thank you. The majority of them are so happy,” said Moncef Righi, Federation of Nurses/UFT chapter leader at NYU Langone Hospital–Brooklyn.

[ Fighting for you ]

UUP advocates against threats to federal research funding

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esearchers at the University at Buffalo discovered a potential link between blood-pressure levels during pregnancy and an increased risk of developing hypertension in the five years after giving birth. Chemists at the University at Albany are working on a drug delivery platform that aims to improve targeted cancer treatment while reducing harmful side effects.

UUP President Frederick E. Kowal stands speaking into a mic'd podium at a press conference, the podium is affixed with "Defending Higher Ed & Research Funding" signs, with similar signs being held by the few people standing behind Frederick E. Kowal
Dana Fournier
UUP President Frederick E. Kowal advocates against devastating research cuts at a March 27 press conference.

In light of threats to federal grant funding that are impeding critical, lifesaving research, United University Professions hosted a series of press events across the state to highlight the detrimental impact of proposed cuts on SUNY research projects.

“That this is actually happening is incredible and unconscionable,” said UUP President Frederick E. Kowal. “This freeze has already reverberated across SUNY campuses, impacting our researchers, who do lifesaving and life-changing work to address afflictions such as cancer, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, among so many others. If not reversed immediately, these federal grant freezes will have long-lasting and catastrophic consequences in the U.S. and worldwide.”

a spiral bound torn sheet of paper

[ Fighting for you ]

Letters to Long Island legislators: Support our schools

S

achem Central Teachers Association President Phil Barbera wheeled a pushcart dolly carrying cardboard boxes filled with over 1,100 letters through the state Capitol and Legislative Office Building.

Barbera, a high school science teacher, hand-delivered the letters to Long Island representatives in the state Assembly and Senate in March with SCTA Executive Vice President Jon Weston. The notes shared heartfelt messages from educators, parents and students in the Sachem Central School District community highlighting their growing concerns about financial shortfalls affecting the district.

“I love Sachem North,” reads a letter written by a freshman student. “This is like a home to me. These teachers make me [feel] welcome every day I walk through the door. I was looking forward to playing on the football team and after I found out we were short [funding], I got worried.”

Sachem says the union’s goal for the letter writing campaign was to bring the voices of their school community from Suffolk County straight to Albany.

[ SOCIAL JUSTICE ]

Sackets Harbor educators support family, community in need

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hen three students and their mother were taken by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in a March 27 raid on a farm in Sackets Harbor, near Watertown, Jonna St. Croix and the rest of the Sackets Harbor Teachers Association knew immediately.

Members of the Sackets Harbor Teachers Association gathered at event
ben amey
Members of the Sackets Harbor Teachers Association gather to support the school community after three students were taken into ICE custody. The local provided children’s books through the AFT “Reading Opens the World” program.
“A teacher picks them up in the morning for school and tutoring,” St. Croix, president of the SHTA, said. “One of the students called the teacher and told them not to come because there were people in their home and they were scared.”

As word spread throughout the one-building district, educators got to work. “Teachers are highly educated, motivated people who want to protect their students,” said St. Croix. While working to maintain normalcy for the nearly 400 other students, during down times the members worked the phones, calling those they knew in law enforcement and local government, to find out where their students were and how to get them back.

[ teaching & learning ]

Why I teach

Connecting with students
Angela Sue is a special education teacher and member of the United Federation of Teachers.
A close-up shot shows a young woman with long, wavy brown hair and light brown skin, wearing round glasses with a tortoiseshell frame. She is looking directly at the camera with a neutral expression, and she is wearing a gray t-shirt with purple and gold lettering and designs.
Provided

I became a special education teacher during the pandemic. I only completed two months of student teaching before my Bronx high school shut down all in-person learning and we transitioned online. It was an extremely traumatic time for all teachers, but my school mourned the loss of a security guard and multiple immediate and extended family members of students and educators. The losses hit especially hard because the school community already was struggling with poverty and pre-existing health conditions. Most students in my school have Autism and intellectual disabilities and many are nonverbal. I started teaching full time in another Bronx secondary school in the fall. The students in my seventh grade class struggled with the online format and missed the full sensory experiences and school support they were used to. Some of my students screamed at the camera when they were frustrated and others went missing for a few weeks.

I remember constantly texting and calling parents in between classes to make sure they understood the class schedule. I checked in to see if my students were doing okay. Parents showed up for class with their children and were partners in their child’s education. It was a humbling experience to see my students with their moms on camera and to have my students show off their rooms and art.

[ teaching & learning ]

Schenectady replaces same old PD, thanks to ELT

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hen it comes to professional development, School-Related professionals don’t always get the attention they deserve from districts. Many SRPs don’t get training at all. Others say the training they get isn’t appropriate for their role. At the Schenectady City School District, paras and TAs consistently received training — but it was often the same training every time.

“It’s not valuable information after you’ve heard it 19 times,” said Tracy Cimino, president of the Schenectady Paraprofessionals unit of the Schenectady Federation of Teachers. “They were not doing quality training; and for me, as head of the unit, that’s very frustrating because I’m hearing from members who are saying, ‘Why should I come?’”

Cimino was beginning to look at alternatives, including partnering with NYSUT’s Education & Learning Trust when the schedule for the latest superintendent’s conference day came out, and there was a hole where their training should have been.

“They had nothing planned for us, and so it was just a perfect confluence of events,” she said.

Memorial fund turns tragedy into social progress

On March 25, 1911, a fire broke out at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York City killing 146 workers, most of whom were locked in the building. The fire shocked the nation and galvanized the labor movement, leading to many of the workplace safety and health protections workers enjoy today.

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire Memorial Scholarship was established in 2002 in memory of those workers. Each year college scholarships are awarded to children whose parents were killed or permanently disabled on the job. The award is $6,000 annually for the length of their studies and is offered to multiple scholars each year.

The fund “helps provide these students with access to a college education, even in the midst of a tragedy,” said Erin McCabe, a member of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire Memorial board of directors.

headshot image of Alexandra Bryer earing a cap and gown while standing in front of a Touro Law step and repeat banner
Scholarship funds are donated by members of the Injured Workers Bar Association as well as members of the labor community and other philanthropists.

Alexandra Bryer’s mother was permanently disabled when a filing cabinet tipped over and fell on her. Bryer (pictured right) graduated from law school last year and credits the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire Memorial Scholarship. She used the funds to pay for all four years at SUNY New Paltz, where she studied history and international relations. When she went to law school in 2021, the scholarship was there for her again.

Scholarship applications are accepted on a rolling basis at trianglememorial.org/scholarship-form.

Scholarship funds are donated by members of the Injured Workers Bar Association as well as members of the labor community and other philanthropists.

Alexandra Bryer’s mother was permanently disabled when a filing cabinet tipped over and fell on her. Bryer (pictured above) graduated from law school last year and credits the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire Memorial Scholarship. She used the funds to pay for all four years at SUNY New Paltz, where she studied history and international relations. When she went to law school in 2021, the scholarship was there for her again.

Scholarship applications are accepted on a rolling basis at trianglememorial.org/scholarship-form.

[ 2025 new york state teacher of the year ]

Teacher of the Year goes the distance to make sure all students feel loved

I think it’s fun for kids to see you be silly,” says second grade teacher Colleen Keough, flipping through her phone and laughing at pictures of pep rallies and teacher races and her colleagues in the Hamilton Elementary School Husky mascot costume.

A smiling woman with shoulder-length brown hair stands against a light gray background. She is wearing a dark blue t-shirt with the words "TEACH. HEAL. UNITE." in large white capital letters and a small white "nysut" logo below. A circular gold seal with black text that reads "NEW YORK STATE TEACHER OF THE YEAR 2025" is partially visible in the upper left corner of the image, overlapping her shoulder.
chris sutorius
“We’ve played Hungry Hungry Hippos with scooters and laundry baskets. I have the most amazing colleagues who are always up for anything.”

“The kids love (the Husky). The community loves it. We have used it for the Schenectady Christmas parade, other events like the Back-to-School BBQ,” says Jennifer Paley, academic intervention specialist. “All of that just creates a sense of family, a sense of belonging and everybody just seems to rally around that.”

Creating a sense of family and belonging is a recurring theme throughout Keough’s career. Her efforts to revive the Hamilton Elementary Husky mascot are a prime example. Thanksgiving is another one.

Every year Keough makes and serves her students a Thanksgiving dinner that combines traditional fixings with foods from across the globe.

“She asks the kids, ‘What do you celebrate with? What do you have?’” says Paley. “And it might be different from others, but she will make all of those foods. And she sets up all the desks together, like a big long table, with tablecloths and all the food so the kids can all share and talk about their own traditions and experiences around the Thanksgiving table.”

[ 2025 NYSUT Representative assembly ]

Union work: Delegates ready to set NYSUT agenda at Rochester RA

NYSUT 2025 Representative Assembly; Rochester, NY; Equality, Progress, Play.
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s NYSUT United went to press, nearly 2,000 delegates from across the state were preparing to head to Rochester for the union’s annual convention.

“The Representative Assembly is our largest and most important governance meeting, but it’s also a time to come together to celebrate our successes and have some fun with our extended union family,” said NYSUT President Melinda Person, noting the theme for the 2025 convention — Equality, Progress, Play — is fitting for a city that was home to Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony and houses The Strong National Museum of Play.

Leaders will kick off the work of the convention Thursday, May 1 at the pre-RA Local and Retiree Council Presidents Conference. Workshop topics include negotiating Paid Family Leave; Workplace Violence Prevention Program; APPR Plans; SRP mentoring; and understanding current threats to Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare.

During the RA, NYSUT officers will report out on their progress in implementing goals from last year and highlight the many successes the union was able to achieve in 2024.

[ 2025 NYSUT Representative Assembly ]

“Not for Ourselves Alone:” The Sandy Feldman Outstanding Leadership Award

headshot of Sandra Carner-Shafran
Sandra Carner-Shafran

Sandra Carner-Shafran is a powerhouse unionist who has dedicated nearly 40 years to education and activism. Whether it’s knocking on doors, working phone banks, attending rallies, lobbying in Albany, volunteering at food banks, or advocating for women’s rights, Carner-Shafran has proven time and again her profound and unwavering commitment to her union and her community.

Since 1982, Carner-Shafran proudly served New York’s most vulnerable children as a teacher aide and then a certified teaching assistant in the special education program for Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex BOCES.

headshot of Zina Burton-Myrick
Zina Burton-Myrick

A self-described “Harlem girl, born and bred,” Zina Burton-Myrick has transformed from reluctant union participant to powerful advocate during her 37-year education career. As UFT Manhattan Borough Representative for District 5, she represents educators across 27 Central Harlem schools while continuing to serve as a literacy coach at PS 154.

Burton-Myrick commands attention with her vibrant energy and unwavering commitment to collective power. “I love to say that there is strength in numbers,” she explains. “It’s a puzzle, and everybody has a piece … if we all get together, we have a wonderfully complete puzzle.”

[ Health & Safety ]

Educators join the fight against overdoses

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openhagen Teachers Association president John Cain keeps Narcan in his desk and his truck. Cain wants to be clear: he isn’t courting disaster, but in this day and age, it makes sense to be prepared.

In February of 2023, the Copenhagen TA, in partnership with a community health nonprofit, organized an opioid overdose prevention training where they taught 40 members to administer the opioid antagonist.

map of New York counties showing drug overdose deaths
Source: new york state department of health
“Knock on wood, we hope we never have to use it, but if we do need to use it, we’re ready,” said Cain. Cain is also chair of NYSUT’s Small and Rural Locals Advisory Council. The council met in March, and discussed several pressing issues, including the opioid epidemic and how New York state educators are responding.

The Copenhagen district, which straddles Jefferson and Lewis counties, is located along a prominent drug corridor that stretches from New York City to Watertown, Cain said. In recent years, the North Country has seen a surge in drug activity and overdoses, and more than half of the counties in the region made the National Office of Drug Control Policy’s list of High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas.

[ Resources for You ]

Summary Annual Report for New York State United Teachers Member Benefits Trust

This is a summary of the annual report of the New York State United Teachers Member Benefits Trust, EIN 22-2480854, Plan No. 503 for the period Sept. 1, 2023, through Aug. 31, 2024. The annual report has been filed with the Employee Benefits Security Administration, as required under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).

The Board of Trustees of the New York State United Teachers Member Benefits Trust has committed itself to pay certain vision and other claims incurred under the terms of the plan.

[ classifieds ]

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    Seek Grads or Teachers from PS 225Q in 1980’s! Looking to reconnect. Michael at mckvr@aol.com.
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[ passings ]

Philip H. Matthews III, president of the Berne-Knox-Westerlo Teachers Association, died Feb. 27, 2025 from complications related to brain cancer; he was 50. A dedicated and respected educator for nearly 30 years, Phil was also an active leader in his community. In addition to his passion for teaching, Phil was a competitive distance runner and an avid outdoorsman and sports enthusiast. He is survived by his wife, Kara; his son, Philip; and his loyal dog, Tucker.

Edward Alterman | March 5, 2025
Professional Staff Congress Retirees Chapter

Debra DeVito | Sept. 4, 2024
Yonkers Federation of Teachers

Mildred R. Dienstag | Dec. 14, 2023
United Federation of Teachers

Thomas F. Casey | March 25, 2025
Copiague Active Retired Teachers

Rocco Lapenta | Sept. 7, 2024
Yonkers Federation of Teachers

Philip Wolfe | March 20, 2025
Levittown United Teachers

Obituary submissions must include decedent’s full name, union affiliation, date of death, and contact info for the person submitting the notice. Send notices to Julie Malec, NYSUT United, 800 Troy-Schenectady Road, Latham, NY 12110-2455; or email julie.malec@nysut.org.

[ Resources for You ]

NYSUT celebrates Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

NYSUT Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebration poster honoring pioneering American legislator Patsy Takemoto Mink
NYSUT celebrates Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with a new poster honoring Patsy Takemoto Mink, a pioneering American legislator and advocate for educational equity. Mink became the first woman of color elected to Congress in 1964. After facing gender and racial discrimination when denied admission to medical schools, she redirected her academic pursuits, earning a law degree and becoming the first Japanese-American woman to practice law in Hawaii. Her personal experiences with discrimination fueled her lifelong commitment to expanding educational opportunities for women and underrepresented groups.

During her congressional career, Mink co-authored the landmark Title IX Amendment of the Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibited discrimination based on sex in federally funded educational programs and dramatically expanded women’s access to academic and athletic opportunities across the United States. Her advocacy extended to early childhood education through her authorship of the Early Childhood Education Act and the Women’s Educational Equity Act, which provided federal funding for programs addressing gender bias in educational materials.

NYSUT is proud to celebrate the contributions of individuals of Asian and Pacific Islander descent. For a free download of this poster, visit nysut.org/publications.

Audit notice

NYSUT continues its practice of providing members with access to the union’s certified audit for their review. The annual audit for the fiscal year ending Aug. 31, 2024, is available and can be found on the NYSUT Member Center at nysut.org/audit. Members may request a hard copy by contacting the NYSUT Accounting Department at 800-342-9810, or by sending an email to finance@nysut.org.

It’s What We Do

It's What We Do
Brooke Morse

Sandy Creek Teachers Association

portrait image of Brooke Morse
In a small town in Oswego County, Brooke Morse is showing her students how to create a kinder world through art.

For the past four years, Morse has been teaching art to middle and high school students at Sandy Creek Central School District. In 2024, she attended a CiTi BOCES conference workshop on The Memory Project. The nonprofit organization aims to promote kindness through handmade art.

Morse, a member of the Sandy Creek TA, was deeply inspired and signed up to participate in the global project that matches art educators with children who have faced substantial challenges, such as neglect, loss of parents, war and extreme poverty.

Her high school Studio Art class was matched with a school in Honduras, and they received photos of the students there with instructions to use them to create realistic portraits of each one featuring inspiring words.

Morse was given video of the artwork being handed out to the children in Honduras. “They were crying and high fiving,” she said. “It’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen.” Her students said it was “cool to see the positive impact you can make on people’s lives through art.”

Morse is also dedicated to making a difference in her local community. She teaches pottery classes in her home studio, runs a ceramics business, and is the program coordinator at the Salmon River Fine Arts Center, a local nonprofit.

Learn more about Morse and her work at nysut.org/itswhatwedo.

On the job and in the community, NYSUT members make a difference
[ member benefits ]

NYSUT Members: Are you using these free benefits?

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ith the high cost of almost everything these days, it’s great to be able to get something of real value for free. NYSUT Member Benefits has negotiated with its endorsed program providers to provide several quality benefits at no cost to the NYSUT membership. If you haven’t already done so, visit (and bookmark) memberbenefits.nysut.org to learn more about the following:

  1. Calm App (Premium Subscription) — All NYSUT in-service and retiree members enjoy unlimited access to the popular Calm app’s full library of sleep, meditation and relaxation content. Calm offers a variety of tools to assist with your physical and mental wellness. Members can add up to five dependents (age 16 or older) to receive their own premium Calm subscription.
  2. Peer Support Line— Whether you’re dealing with a specific stressor in your life or just want to speak with a supportive and empathetic voice, this helpful resource is available to all members and their loved ones. This confidential helpline is staffed by trained in-service and retired individuals who truly care. Call toll-free 844-444-0152 to connect with a peer today.
[ Your ERS Pension ]

Retirement planning and Your NYSLRS pension

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s a member of the New York State and Local Retirement System, you are enrolled in something increasingly rare these days: a defined benefit pension plan (bit.ly/NYSLRS-defined-benefit). It’s a good reason to be optimistic about your finances in retirement, but retirement security still takes planning.

Understand your NYSLRS pension

When you retire from NYSLRS, you’ll receive a guaranteed, lifetime benefit based on your earnings and years of service. A preset formula determines your benefit, not accumulated contributions and investment returns, like with a 401(k)-style plan.

Find your plan publication (bit.ly/find-plan-publication) for details about your NYSLRS benefits — how long you’ll need to work to receive a pension, how your benefit is determined, what death and disability retirement benefits may be available and more. You should consult it regularly, but especially as you prepare for retirement.

[ Your TRS Pension ]

Timing matters when purchasing prior service

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Q:
I was a long-term sub before I got my full-time position. Does that qualify for service credit?
A:

Maybe. Members of all tiers may receive credit for work prior to their date of membership that would have been creditable in a New York state public retirement system. This includes partial-year(s), part-time and substitute teaching. It may also include such work as a summer camp counselor for a town recreational program, a clerk for a public library or an office assistant in a county government department.

Prior service is New York state public service completed before your current date of membership in the Teachers’ Retirement System. While receiving credit for prior service does not change your date of membership or your tier — unless it is the result of a membership reinstatement or transfer — additional service credit can affect your eligibility for, and the calculation of, your benefits.

[ retirees in action ]

‘NYSUT South’ retirees are active, engaged

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f you are a Florida resident, snowbird or are relocating to Florida, Retiree Council 43, the only NYSUT-sanctioned, out-of-state retiree council, is waiting to welcome you to the Sunshine State. They are an active, dedicated group of NYSUT retirees who would love for you to join one of seven local TRIF (Teachers Retired in Florida) Units: Clearwater, Naples, Nature Coast, Sarasota/Manatee, Southeast (including Palm Beach County, Broward, Miami-Dade), The Villages/Ocala and Treasure Coast.

“It should come as no surprise that more than 17,000 NYSUT members call Florida their home and that is why we are heavily invested in keeping in touch with our retirees,” said NYSUT Second Vice President Ron Gross. “The work of our RC 43 units is critical due to the many unique challenges we confront with the Florida government. As they say, you can take the NYSUT retiree out of New York, but you can’t take the union activism out of the retiree. If you are calling Florida your home, please reach out to us so we can keep you informed and remain connected to our great union.”

Felicia Bruce, a retiree from the Brentwood Teachers Association, is RC 43 president. The Southern wing of the union’s daytime army hosts events to keep members connected with each other — and active in the community. In May, the council will present its successful spring symposium, which brings together union leaders and members from across the state to hear important updates from NYSUT, the United Federation of Teachers, Florida Education Association and others.

If you are interested in becoming involved with retired colleagues, even on a seasonal basis, contact Miriam Hanan, NYSUT Retirees Services Consultant, at 516-236- 0276 or Miriam.Hanan@nysut.org.

[ Local Unions in Action ]

Notice of Special Election Meeting NYSUT Board of Directors Vacancy Election Election District 20

A vacancy exists on the NYSUT Board of Directors for Election District 20. The vacancy was created by the resignation of John Mansfield, effective June 1, 2025.

In accordance with the NYSUT Constitution, Article IX, §§4(a) and 4(b): “Directors representing Election Districts shall be elected on a roll call vote by a majority of ballots cast by the representatives from their respective constituencies…[and in]…the event of a vacancy in the position of Election District Director, the President shall call a special election to elect a successor who shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term.”

Pursuant to NYSUT Constitution, Article IX, §4(b) and the approved NYSUT Campaign and Election Procedures, NYSUT members who were reported as elected delegates to the 2025 Representative Assembly representing the members of Election District 20 will be eligible to vote in this Special Election.

The delegates and alternates of Election District #20 are hereby notified that this vacancy will be filled by a Special Election Meeting to be held as follows:

DATE: June 2, 2025
TIME: 4:30 p.m.
PLACE: Panera Bread

Community Room 1025 Montauk Highway West Babylon, NY 11704

Nominations to fill this vacancy will be accepted in accordance with the Campaign and Election

Procedures approved by the NYSUT Board of Directors adopted for the 2023 Representative Assembly. In order to qualify as a candidate for this Special Election, a Nominating Petition must be fully completed and then signed by at least two (2) in-service members from Election District #20.

The completed and signed Nominating Petition must then be received by the NYSUT Elections Committee by the close of business (5:00 PM) on May 23, 2025. Any member in good standing from a NYSUT local within Election District #20 may be a candidate. Only in-service members in good standing from Election District #20 may sign a candidate’s Nominating Petition. Nominating Petitions are available by contacting the NYSUT Elections Committee at elections@nysut.org or by contacting the NYSUT Office of the President at (800) 342-9810.

At the Special Election Meeting, each candidate shall be given an opportunity to address the meeting for a period not to exceed three (3) minutes at a Candidates’ Forum scheduled for 4:30 p.m. on June 2, 2025, at the above location. The Special Election Meeting will remain in session until a successor director is elected. The number of votes to which a local is entitled will be evenly distributed among that local’s delegates present and voting.

The candidate elected will serve as successor Election District Director effective June 2, 2025, and continue to serve as the Successor Director through the conclusion of the 2026 Representative Assembly.

ll elected delegates or their alternates reported for the 2025 NYSUT RA from Election District 20 are requested to be present for this election meeting.

Kudos

Kudos typography

It’s an honor

Thomas Libardi, East Greenbush Teachers Association, was named New York State Coach of the Year in the Northeast Region by the National High School Strength Coaches Association. Libardi is a physical education teacher and strength and conditioning coach.

Jamie Porta, Brighton TA, has been selected as one of four recipients of the University of Rochester’s 2025 Singer Family Prize for Excellence in Secondary School Teaching. Porta was nominated by a former student and Class of 2025 university graduate.

In print

Donald Hartman, United University Professions–University at Buffalo retiree, has published The Female Hypnotist: Stories from the Victorian and Edwardian Eras.

Thomas Marrotta, South Colonie TA
retiree, has written Pain Before the Rainbow. The book, written under the pen name Jack Cooper, is a biomythographical anthology about growing up gay “in an unaccepting world — a time before the rainbow.” A portion of proceeds will be donated to LGBTQ organizations. For more info on the book due to be released in June, visit twosisterswriting.com.

Kudos recognizes the accomplishments of NYSUT members. Have good news you’d like to share? Email united@nysut.org; include Kudos in the subject line.

NYSUT United | May/June 2025

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NYSUT represents teachers, school-related professionals, higher education faculty, professionals in education, human services and healthcare, and retirees.

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