t this year’s Representative Assembly, delegates voted to uphold union values centering on democracy, solidarity and action, values that were — not coincidentally — also the theme of this year’s convention.

Nearly 2,000 delegates met in Albany May 1–2 to vote on the union’s leadership and to consider timely resolutions on immigration, recess and play-based learning, artificial intelligence, certification and licensure, student teaching, civics and other issues critical to educators and professionals.

The College and University Committee grappled with federal assaults on higher education and the incursion of AI companies into public education. “Higher education presents a threat to authoritarianism,” said Frederick Kowal, president of United University Professions, who rose in support of the Defending the Integrity of Higher Education Against Authoritarian Assaults resolution.

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 continues to advocate for reforms to the Tier 5 and 6 pension system to make the system fairer for every public worker. Following our historic Fix Tier 6 Rally in Albany in March (see pages 14–15), we have been hard at work speaking with legislators, stakeholders and others about the need to restore retirement equity.

We have also continued to advocate for increased Foundation Aid funding for our school districts and changes to the formula to ensure that each student and district receives what they are owed. NYSUT has also continued our advocacy for increased operating aid for SUNY, CUNY and our community colleges, and the critical investment in universal pre-K statewide.

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.

he statewide union filed a lawsuit in Albany County Supreme Court looking to hold the State University of New York Charter School Institute accountable for its decision to authorize new charter schools in Brentwood and Central Islip on Long Island. These authorizations were made despite the charter applications being rejected by the State Education Department Board of Regents and clear and significant opposition from the local communities.

“SUNY Charter Schools Institute’s actions left us no alternative,” said NYSUT President Melinda Person. “This entity has repeatedly ignored state law by dismissing community voices and overriding education experts in order to rubber-stamp charter applications. That is an abuse of its authority as a charter authorizer and a threat to public schools and the communities they serve. Public education works best when decisions are made with communities — not imposed on them — and that principle is worth defending.”

In October 2025, the SUNY Charter Schools Institute voted to approve the three charter schools. The recommendation to approve was sent to the state Board of Regents, which rejected the applications and returned them to SUNY in mid-December, citing community opposition among other factors.

he SUNY system is a crown jewel of New York. But it has been left without support for too long. Now the state is playing catch-up, but a couple years of increased funding cannot make up for decades of neglect.

NYSUT is asking the state Legislature for a $141.8 million increase in operating aid to SUNY campuses. United University Professions, a NYSUT local representing academic faculty and professional staff at the State University of New York, has launched a statewide ad campaign and is also calling for $41.8 million in direct, targeted aid to specific SUNY campuses: Buffalo State, Fredonia, Potsdam and SUNY ESF. UUP is also calling for the restoration of funding for the Educational Opportunity Program, along with an additional $20 million to expand the program.

UUP is running ads in Albany, Buffalo, Fredonia, Potsdam and Syracuse urging lawmakers to support SUNY as an economic engine and lifeline for students and families across the state. Specifically at SUNY ESF, NYSUT and UUP have called on SUNY and the state to increase support for this one-of-a-kind institution, especially at a time when the federal government is cutting research grants in the face of climate change.

Watch UUP’s ads at https://nysut.cc/uupads.

endy Castiglia considers herself “one of the lucky people” who knew from a young age what she wanted to do with her life. She felt called to help others, especially children. During a college externship where she shadowed working professionals, she learned that her calling had a name: school social work.

“I’ve always believed very firmly in giving children as much support toward a successful life as possible. That’s what drew me to social work,” said Castiglia. “If we can’t help them from the time that they’re children, what will happen to them as adults?”

After earning a master’s degree in social work, Castiglia, a Hamburg Teachers Association member and Buffalo-area native who calls herself a “Western New York lifer,” began working at a local school and has never looked back. After 23 years at an area middle school, she began working with elementary students and has been at Armor Elementary School in Hamburg for nearly a decade.

Castiglia is dedicated to being a caring, kind presence in her students’ lives.

ith over 555,000 accounts registered, more and more New York State and Local Retirement System members and retirees are realizing the benefits of Retirement Online. That’s because Retirement Online provides instant access to your retirement account information and a convenient, secure way to conduct business with NYSLRS.

Save time — skip printing forms, having them notarized and sending them through the mail. When you use Retirement Online, NYSLRS receives your requests immediately and is able to process them faster than paper forms. Go to the Retirement Online sign-in webpage (bit.ly/RO-sign-in) and click the Customer Sign In button to get started.

It depends.

Being able to change beneficiaries depends on the type of benefit payment you selected at retirement and whether you are eligible for a Post-Retirement Paragraph 2 Death Benefit. To check what beneficiaries you have on file, visit your MyNYSTRS account (https://secure.nystrs.org/MyNYSTRS/) or review your Retired Member Profile.

If you selected the maximum retirement payment, you were not eligible to name a beneficiary for your pension at retirement. Your pension benefits will cease upon your death. However, you may be eligible to name a beneficiary for a Post-Retirement Paragraph 2 Death Benefit.