NYSUT United masthead
the upper end of a severed cord of red, white and blue

NYSUT United September/October 2024

NYSUT United masthead

NYSUT members are calling for a return to politics where compromise and healthy debate are valued. Because they know

common ground over chaos typography with an American flag graphic

is how we mend a country, build strength, and provide solutions for our student and communities.

the lower end of a severed cord of red, white and blue

September/October 2024

NYSUT UNITED [September/October 2024, Vol. 15, No. 1 ]
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, Kara E. Smith
Photography: J. El-Wise Noisette, Kimberly Pennant, Chris Sutorius
Lead Designer: Nicole Clayton
Art and Production: Dana Fournier
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 do wish 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, Frederic Stark, Gregory Perles, John Mansfield, Kevin Coyne, Kevin Toolan, Laura Spencer, Karen Blackwell Alford, Carl Cambria, Mary Vaccaro, Amy Arundell, 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

It’s a complicated time to teach civics.
NYSUT President Melinda Person and New York Assemblyman Doug Smith stand beside each other while attending a Foundation Aid rally on Long Island
NYSUT President Melinda Person and New York Assemblyman Doug Smith, R-Holbrook, attend a Foundation Aid rally on Long Island.
NYSUT President Melinda Person and New York Assemblyman Doug Smith stand beside each other while attending a Foundation Aid rally on Long Island
NYSUT President Melinda Person and New York Assemblyman Doug Smith, R-Holbrook, attend a Foundation Aid rally on Long Island.
Teachers are struggling with divisive and polarizing issues nationwide.

Recent polls show that members of both political parties view one another not just as misguided but increasingly as evil, using adjectives like “immoral” and “dishonest.”

Roughly one-third of Americans say political differences have damaged their family relationships.

Fear and distrust are being stoked by unprecedented polarization in our public debate and demonization of those who disagree.

But it does not have to be that way. Our members and public education can be a big part of the solution.

Educators are skilled in helping students learn to discern fact from fiction and to engage in civil discussions.

Disagreement doesn’t need to make us enemies.

Top ring spirals

COMING UP

Sept. 9–10
NYS Board of Regents meets
Sept. 20
Disconnected Conference, Albany
Sept. 20–21
NYSUT Board of Directors meets, Latham
Sept. 27–29
New Local Presidents Conference, Albany
Oct. 4–5
NYSUT Board of Directors meets, Latham
Oct. 5–27
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walks take place at locations around the state. See page 23 for details.
pink Breast Cancer ribbon icon
Oct. 7–8
NYS Board of Regents meets
Oct. 25–27
SRP Leadership Conference, Albany
Oct. 26
NYS Voter registration deadline
Nov. 5
Election Day
VOTE graphic
Nov. 8–10
Community College Leadership Conference, Bolton Landing
Please note some or all of these events may be conducted as virtual meetings.

On the Cover

NYSUT’s Common Ground Over Chaos campaign urges candidates to bridge divides and find real solutions to improve the lives of working families

Cover design by Mark Sharer and James Morrison

[ Fighting for you ]

AFT leads labor in historic Harris endorsement

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n the whirlwind launch of Vice President Kamala Harris’ candidacy for president, NYSUT members and leaders had a front seat and a supporting role.

On July 22, as AFT’s national convention kicked off in Houston, NYSUT President Melinda Person, acting in her capacity as an AFT vice president, made a historic motion during a special order of business to endorse Harris the day after President Joe Biden stepped out of the race.

NYSUT President Melinda speaking at the ATF national convention, makes a motion to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for president
Provided
NYSUT President Melinda Person makes a motion to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for president.
Delegates overwhelmingly voted to ratify the resolution backing Harris, making AFT the first union to officially do so. The AFT’s governing 47-member executive council had passed the resolution unanimously the night before.

The choice to back Harris is about optimism for a future that includes investments in public education, mental wellness, Career and Technical Education and community schools, Person said.

“I woke up this morning and I felt excited, excited about the possibility of electing the first woman president of the United States of America,” Person said to the more than 3,500 delegates gathered in Texas. “I stand here proudly recommending this motion … because I am genuinely hopeful about what we can accomplish with Kamala Harris as president.”

[ Fighting for you ]

Foundation Aid should meet promise of public education for all students

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he fifth and final Rockefeller Institute hearing on New York’s Foundation Aid education funding formula brought educators and advocates from across the state together at Guilderland High School on Aug. 14, all pounding the drum for a more consistent and equitable approach to state aid for schools.

Buffalo Teachers Federation President Rich Nigro speaking at podium
Buffalo Teachers Federation President Rich Nigro testifies at the Foundation Aid public hearing in Buffalo, New York.
“The guiding question should be ‘How can we fund our schools so that we provide all of New York’s students with the public education we promised them in our state constitution?’” NYSUT President Melinda Person testified to the assembled panel. “The question should not be, ‘How can we manipulate this formula to fit into a box or save money?’”

The aid formula is a vital mechanism for driving state support toward schools but some of the elements — like those defining district demographics and poverty levels — have not been edited since the formula’s creation in 2007, Person explained. She also urged the institute to consider the changing role schools play in communities and the emerging needs of students.

Kevin Coyne, president of the Brentwood Teachers Association, spoke to just that in his testimony at the Farmingdale hearing. “In communities like Brentwood, schools are the central hub. We provide all services normally associated with schools, but our community needs drive us to go above and beyond,” Coyne said. “Our schools are family centers, with pantries for food and clothing, counselors to provide help with housing, jobs, and connections that will assimilate families into our school community. These expenses, on top of the rising costs to educate students, place an enormous financial burden on our school community that can only be met by a Foundation Aid formula that accounts for our special circumstances.”

I Am Educator Inspired

I Am Educator Inspired typography
Michael Shea

Every year, Schuylerville Elementary School fifth grade students collaborate in creating a permanent artwork to leave behind as their final project before moving on to middle school. Many of these have taken the form of murals in a series of “streets” which our elementary hallways are named for. Each street mural is created in a different artistic style; there’s Pinetree Avenue based on the folk art of Grandma Moses, Apple Drive in the style of illustrators studied throughout elementary school, and Blueberry Road with bold figures in action like the creations of Keith Haring.

cropped view of the colorful mural titled "Mehan Trail" on a interior hallway wall
But for the 2024 mural, our fifth graders took inspiration from a teacher rather than an artist. Their mural “Mehan Trail,” was created in memory of veteran elementary teacher Dave Mehan, who passed away before the start of the school year. Mehan was known for his kindness, amazing sense of humor, and ability to connect with students.

Students began thinking of how to represent his teaching in the form of a mural. First, Mr. Mehan’s lessons often emphasized connections with nature, and he would teach his students outside as often as possible. Students decided this hallway mural should be a trail. While Mr. Mehan was most recently teaching fourth grade, he had taught students as young as pre-K. Students decided the mural should include students from all grade levels, and use real students from our school as models for the silhouettes. Mr. Mehan encouraged his students to explore. This inspired the fifth graders to create figures that appear to be on an adventure — leaping, hiking, reading, and drawing. And, lastly, students added silhouettes of teachers, including Mr. Mehan, to the mural; reading with them, guiding them along the way, and encouraging them.

Michael Shea, an elementary school art teacher, is a member of the Schulyerville Teachers Association.

[ Fighting for you ]

Elmira TA wins paid parental leave

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ith the ratification of their latest contract, Elmira Teachers Association members are celebrating a defining achievement: six weeks of paid parental leave.

Elmira TA’s negotiating team group photo
Provided
Elmira TA’s negotiating team, from left, NYSUT labor relations specialist Deb Lloyd-Priest, Dan Knaisch, President Jennifer Clark, Jill Girardi, and Mandy Sullivan. Not pictured: Angela Dutton.
“That was something that we really wanted,” said Elmira TA President Jennifer Clark. “It’s a huge need in our district, and it was the morally right thing to do.”

Elmira has many young members who were starting families, but without a paid parental leave policy, they were being forced to use all their sick time. That was putting them at a disadvantage.

“To me, it’s all about equity,” said Clark. “You shouldn’t be punished for starting a family.”

Elmira is one of the first cities in the region to negotiate paid parental leave into their contract, and Clark said she hopes it will catch on elsewhere. “I hope that once they see we’ve done it, it will open the door for other districts,” she said.

In addition to the policy being a good recruiting tool, the deal the TA presented to the district — allocating 12 sick days and six weeks PPL to new hires and 16 sick days to existing members (or the option to have 12 sick days and PPL) — helps solve an ongoing dilemma: finding adequate coverage for absent teachers.

[ Fighting for you ]

Union advocacy brings relief from classroom heat

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s hot, stuffy classrooms filled with students again this fall, educators and parents renewed their call for Gov. Kathy Hochul to sign the classroom heat bill into law.

In June, after NYSUT “brought the heat” to lawmakers — in the very real form of a portable sauna tent set up outside their Albany offices — they passed bill S.3397 (Skoufis)/A.9011 (Eachus) to set maximum temperatures in school buildings. The bill, which passed the Legislature with overwhelming bipartisan support, requires schools to implement practical measures to manage extreme heat but does not call for districts to make mandatory investments in costly HVAC systems or resort to school closures.

If classrooms reach a temperature of 82 degrees or higher, districts must have a plan in place to cool temperatures, including turning off lights, pulling down shades, using fans and other methods. If a classroom’s temperature reaches 88 degrees, districts need to find an alternative learning location that is cooler for the safety of students and staff.

“Extreme heat is a real danger to our students and educators, and we applaud state legislators for witnessing, experiencing and now acknowledging the severity of its impact in our schools,” said NYSUT President Melinda Person.

NYSUT Legacy Fund seal

Loretta Donlon,
committed activist

headshot of Loretta Donlon
Loretta Donlon is a living legend who continues to impact the lives of both retired and in-service NYSUT members.

Serving on the NYSUT Board representing ED 51 retirees, and as RC 7 president, Donlon began her union service as a Syracuse Teachers Association building representative eventually becoming executive vice president, an executive board member and, until her retirement, heading the Onondaga County TA.

Donlon, who was a driving force in the Syracuse TA’s campaign to affiliate with NYSUT, is the 2009 recipient of “Not for Ourselves Alone: The Sandy Feldman Outstanding Leadership Award,” the union’s highest honor for leadership.

For her many years of distinguished service, the Onondaga County TA recognized Donlon with a NYSUT Legacy Award.

“Loretta has led with unwavering strength, integrity, and unassuming poise,” wrote John Kuryla, NYSUT Board member. “On behalf of the Onondaga County Teachers Association, we proudly honor her.”

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

[ Fighting for you ]

Local Action Project: Boosting member engagement, local activism

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lthough sunny Lake George beckoned outside, the third-year NYSUT Local Action Project team members didn’t notice. They were busy putting their last LAP week to good use, fine-tuning plans to keep the work they started years ago ongoing in the months and years ahead.

“Internal communication is a big concern for us,” said Michelle Greenough, Fredonia Teachers Association president, explaining that LAP-derived initiatives like their local’s “kindness carts,” which volunteers use to deliver snacks and drinks to classroom teachers, help by providing opportunities for one-on-one conversations with members. The carts also spread goodwill and attract members who don’t usually get involved, Greenough continued.

“We’re starting a campaign to reduce class sizes, so as we took the cart around, we asked how larger class sizes are impacting them.”

The Faculty Association of Suffolk Community College launched a professional development series for members. The TA of Cheektowaga Sloan, an informal buddy mentoring program for new hires. The East Syracuse Minoa Teaching Assistants Association worked to revamp their “successful failure” — a push for professional development that’s relevant to the actual work they do. Efforts to discuss programming changes with administrators over the past year weren’t well received.

[ Fighting for you ]

Union summer ‘24 as busy as ever

Stacy Moran and Jennifer Catalano attending a panel at the AFT Convention
Provided

AFT Convention

Newburgh Teachers Association president Stacy Moran, right, and member Jennifer Catalano brave the July Texas heat to represent for NTA members.
NYSUT Leadership Institute members
CHRIS SUTORIUS

NYSUT Leadership Institute

Since 1997, the NYSUT Leadership Institute has prepared new and emerging union activists to assume greater leadership roles within their locals and the statewide union. This year’s class includes 48 members from across the state, from locals large and small.
Leslie Rose, Laura Franz, Natalie McKay, and Cordelia Anthony attending the NEA Representative Assembly
Provided

NEA Representative Assembly

From right, Leslie Rose, Hewlett Woodmere Faculty Association; Laura Franz, Albany PSTA; Natalie McKay, Schoharie TA; and Cordelia Anthony, Farmingdale Federation of Teachers, represent the Empire State at the NEA RA.
[ Fighting for You ]

Celebrate Retiree Recognition Day — Oct. 21!

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hey phone bank, rally, fundraise and are always willing to lend a helping hand. They’re NYSUT retirees and this year the statewide union has set aside a special day to say thanks. Monday, Oct. 21, marks the inaugural celebration of Retiree Recognition Day, which honors the contributions of the union’s daytime army of more than 260,000 retiree members.

“NYSUT has one of the most active and successful retiree programs in the country,” said Ron Gross, NYSUT second vice president, whose office coordinates the union’s retiree services program. To help retirees organize and stay connected, NYSUT has a network of 11 retiree services consultants who serve as liaisons between retired members, retiree councils and NYSUT headquarters.

In honor of Retiree Recognition Day, Gross suggests reaching out to retiree chapter members to learn more about your union’s history. “Many locals have fascinating backstories, such as contract battles, strikes or organizing struggles,” said Gross. “Speaking with retired members about their experiences preserves that history for future generations.”

To learn more about NYSUT’s retiree program, visit nysut.cc/retirees.

[ Fighting for You ]

NYS AFL-CIO Women:
The path to equality is built on equity

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trong union women from across the state gathered at NYSUT headquarters in July for the inaugural New York State AFL-CIO women’s committee meeting. Inspired by NYSUT’s long-standing Women’s Committee, the event featured workshops on a range of topics including the impact of labor laws on women, and maternal childbirth mortality rates in the African American community.

NYSUT President Melinda Person last June proposed the resolution encouraging the committee, noting that women comprise 49 percent of the NYS AFL-CIO membership. The lack of representation highlighted the need for a group committed to women’s issues and to nurturing and supporting the next generation of female union leaders. “The Women’s Committee of the NYS AFL-CIO envisions a future where the path to equality is built on equity … we believe that union membership plays a crucial role in empowering and educating women.”

In the workshop “Women in Labor and Politics,” a panel of union women political directors highlighted the challenges they face as female leaders and stressed the importance of authenticity. “Being your authentic self can be very important for someone coming up behind you,” said Michelle Crentsil, political director of the state Nurses Association. “It inspires the next generation and brings new leaders into the movement.”

[ Social Justice ]

NYSUT 2024 Social Justice Academy graduates nine new locals

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n an unassuming brick building along the outskirts of Albany’s downtown, a team of NYSUT members were hard at work. The group, the 2024 cohort of the NYSUT Social Justice Academy, painted walls, sorted books, raked lawns and unloaded supplies to help prepare the South End Children’s Cafe for a fall opening at its newly purchased site, the former home of a local church.

NYSUT Social Justice Academy graduates posing together
kimberly pennant
NYSUT Social Justice Academy graduates are dedicated to raising awareness and advocating about social justice concerns in their communities.
“We always want to have a hands-on service component to this work and the stars really aligned with the timing of the cafe’s move,” said NYSUT Secretary-Treasurer J. Philippe Abraham, who heads the SJA and pitched in cleaning windows during the group’s visit.

Established in 2015, the South End Children’s Cafe provides free daily dinners and after-school enrichment year-round to more than 100 area children. “The cafe does great work, and we always want to support them when we can.”

Grounded in NYSUT’s belief that social justice lies at the heart of unionism, the NYSUT Social Justice Academy launched last year with five locals, educating them about social justice issues and helping them raise awareness and advocate for change in their communities. The goal is for participants to form a local social justice or civil and human rights committee and leave with a concrete plan to increase awareness and activism within their schools, locals and communities. Grant funding to help with implementation is available.

[ OUR SRPs ]

Getting to know … Renee Shea

Renee Shea headshot
Renee Shea is president of the School Related Professionals of Pine Plains.
Tell me about your job.

I believe that the Cold Spring Elementary Learning Center (where I am a typist) is the beginning of learning for our students. I love the staff; they make the location very special as a first step for learning and make it home for the kids. In many ways I am a master of all — scheduling, substitute coverage, problem solving and helping teachers schedule events. My brain is always moving. One of the things that I set up to assist with all of the moving parts in the office was a monthly filing system.

How did you get involved with the union?

I started as a building rep. When the current president chose to leave her position, I was elected president. Part of my learning curve was understanding that things do not happen overnight; it takes time. I really enjoy problem solving. As the union president, I continue to learn patience. This also helps with other facets of my life, including with my own three teenagers.

[ our srps ]

Nov. 19 is New York State SRP Recognition Day

SRPs rise to the challenge infographic
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ince 2007, the third Tuesday in November has been set aside to recognize those professionals who are often in the background, but whose work allows schools to run — custodial and maintenance workers, food service personnel, transportation staff, teacher aides and teaching assistants, technical staff, clerical staff and many more.

SRP Recognition Day, celebrated this year on Nov. 19, is the direct result of years of advocacy by volunteer lobbyists and NYSUT staff. The day is a great way to acknowledge the contributions SRPs make in helping to educate the whole student.

“This year’s theme is ‘SRPs Rise to the Challenge: Our Work Matters,’” said NYSUT Second Vice President Ron Gross, whose office coordinates SRP concerns for the union. “The work our SRPs do contributes so much to a successful educational experience for all students.”

Whether your SRP unit decides to create its own celebration, to work collaboratively with your affiliated teacher unit, and/or to work with your district and parent teacher association, visit nysut.org/srpday for celebration ideas and to order your celebration kit. Nov. 12 is the deadline to order materials, including buttons for SRPs and stickers for teachers to wear in support of SRPs.

[ Teaching & Learning ]

Districts fight back against technology distractions

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n school hallways, cellphones are almost as ubiquitous as backpacks; and educators say that is a big problem.

In April, Pew Research Trust released a new study, “What’s It Like to Be a Teacher in America Today?” that asks educators to identify the biggest challenges their students face, and what’s getting in the way of teaching.

According to the study, poverty, absenteeism, anxiety and depression topped the list of student challenges, but teachers also said that cellphones are an impediment to learning. In fact, 33 percent of teachers surveyed said students being distracted by their cellphones is a major problem in their classrooms. In high schools, the issue is even more prevalent; 72 percent of high school teachers say there’s cause for concern.

Cellphone policies in New York vary from district to district, building to building and even classroom to classroom. This summer, Gov. Kathy Hochul kicked off a “listening tour” to hear from educators and parents about the impact of cellphones on students, as part of her goal of developing a statewide policy about phones in schools.

[ Teaching & Learning ]

Why I teach

Jonathan Schulman is a civics teacher and member of the United Federation of Teachers
Like many New York City teachers I know, the profession came calling to me later on in life. It wasn’t something I thought of much, nor thought I’d be very successful at.

Growing up in the ‘70s and ‘80s, my friends and I mostly thought of careers that our parents had. So when college graduation came, it was only natural that I’d go into law, since that was what my father and grandfather did. But after six years of practicing in Brooklyn, I remained unfulfilled.

And though I was making a good living and helping people, with my dad about to retire and the keys to the firm ready to be handed over to me, I had to make a decision — should I stay or should I go?

With The Clash’s song in my head, my instincts kicked in. I needed a change and this was my opportunity.

Having the conversation with my father wasn’t as difficult as I had imagined it to be. I informed him that I applied to the NYC Teaching Fellows program, but didn’t know what to expect. He was in full support and told me he knew I’d figure out the rest — which I did.

[ A closer look ]

NYSUT launches Common Ground Over Chaos campaign

Union urges candidates to bridge divides, find real solutions
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n Aug. 15, seven congressional candidates in competitive New York state races signed NYSUT’s “Common Ground Over Chaos” pledge, committing to working in a bipartisan manner to find practical solutions to the real-world needs and challenges of everyday Americans. Pledge events took place in Onondaga, Orange and Nassau counties. Signing the pledge were John Avlon (NY-01), Tom Suozzi (NY-03), Laura Gillen (NY-04), Mondaire Jones (NY-17), Pat Ryan (NY-18), Josh Riley (NY-19) and John Mannion (NY-22).

“NYSUT is thrilled to endorse House candidates in New York who have committed to returning Congress to a place where democracy, compromise and healthy debate are valued. Across the political spectrum, our members agree that we need legislators who are willing to find common ground so that they can deliver results to improve the lives of working families,” said NYSUT President Melinda Person, noting that the seven are among the more than 200 candidates from both parties to receive union endorsements or recommendations. Person added that all endorsed candidates will be urged to sign the pledge.

The mid-August signings kicked off NYSUT’s Common Ground Over Chaos campaign, mobilizing thousands of members statewide to make calls and knock on doors on behalf of endorsed candidates in vital swing districts. “We need to turn the page on chaos and division and make sure we have leaders in place who know how to compromise without sacrificing values,” said NYSUT Board member Matt Haynes, Tri-Valley Teachers Association president. Haynes moderated the Orange County event with fellow NYSUT Board members Kim McEvoy, Anthony Nicodemo and Sparrow Tobin.

[ teaching & learning ]

The Banned Librarians

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he conversation around book bans has been simmering for years, but recently the issue boiled over in several New York communities where book challenges made headlines and turned school board meetings into battlegrounds.

In Auburn, a small city in the Finger Lakes region, the controversy started back in 2022, when a group of parents called for the removal of the autobiography All Boys Aren’t Blue. The group wanted the book banned from the high school library, alleging that it was too sexually explicit. Others complained that the book was “promoting” homosexuality.

Beth Cuddy sitting at a table in a library
Library media specialist Beth Cuddy, Auburn TA.
The parents filed a formal complaint, which was reviewed by the district’s reconsideration committee, as per the district’s policy. The committee ruled that the book should stay on the shelves.

Beth Cuddy, the library media specialist at Auburn High School, and a member of the Auburn Teachers Association who testified at the school board meeting, was gratified by the decision but said that the aftermath was frightening and alienating.

“A narrative was being created that I had some nefarious motives for what I was doing, and social media was then used as a way to fuel this narrative,” Cuddy said. “I felt very uncomfortable just to go to the doctor’s office and say my name, and wondering, ‘Does this person think I’m this horrible evil librarian who’s trying to corrupt the youth of Auburn?’”

[ Teaching & Learning ]

APPR: What you need to know

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he new APPR law is being greeted with enthusiasm by school administrators, parents, and educators alike, who say critics do not understand how much was wrong with the Annual Professional Performance Review system to begin with.

“What people don’t grasp about the APPR system is that it wasn’t working,” said Bob Lowry, deputy director for the New York State Council of School Superintendents. In fact, a 2023 NYSCOSS survey showed that more than 40 percent of superintendents said that APPR was having a negative impact on improving teaching.

Administrators also said the old APPR system came with a lot of cumbersome provisions and paperwork that took time and manpower to execute. The new law will refocus the evaluation process on professional development, where it belongs.

“Professional evaluations are supposed to be a form of feedback. They are not supposed to be a ‘gotcha’ system, and unfortunately, that’s what APPR was,” said Tony Cardamone, president of the School Administrators Association of New York State. “This new system … will be something that is being done ‘with people’ and not ‘to people.’”

[ health & safety ]

Mindfulness techniques helpful for students and educators

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wenty-five NYSUT members from across the state attended a six-day RISE mindfulness train-the-trainer session at NYSUT headquarters in July. Led by Kripalu trainer Sam Chase, RISE is Kripalu’s evidence-based approach to stress management. The program teaches practitioners how to achieve greater clarity and resilience, improved situational awareness and better decision making and work/life balance through mindfulness techniques.

group of people wearing NYSUT shirts at the RISE mindfulness train-the-trainer session
NYSUT hosted its first RISE mindfulness train-the-trainer session at headquarters in July.
“This is part of our commitment to our members’ overall well-being,” said NYSUT President Melinda Person, explaining that professional burnout due to work stress is one of many factors contributing to the state’s ongoing teacher shortage. Although the union strives to improve workplace conditions for members, there are many aspects that can’t be fixed immediately, she continued. “We want to give our members some tools they can use in their work and personal lives to help them better navigate that stress.”

It’s What We Do

It's What We Do
Savvy Sewers
Rochester Teachers Association
close up of Savvy Sewers using a sewing machine
This spring, Rochester TA’s Savvy Sewers group celebrated its 12th anniversary.

Every month for the last 12 years, the group of 20 retirees has met at the RTA offices, sewing machines in tow, to make dresses for the Dress a Girl Around the World program. Their pretty, practical dresses help bring dignity to girls and thwart human trafficking.

“Sometimes people try to take advantage of these young women, but the dress sends a message that the girls are cared for, and that makes people think twice,” said Gaya Shakes, a program volunteer. The Dress a Girl ambassadors who distribute the dresses also educate families about human trafficking, including how to protect themselves against some of the most common schemes.

Since their founding, the RTA retirees have made more than 2,000 dresses for girls in countries as far away as Honduras, Tanzania, Cambodia, Thailand and Uganda. Despite the distance, the retirees feel a kinship with these young women. “It’s girls helping girls,” explains Sandra Martinez. Each dress comes with a pair of underpants and a handmade doll.

The Savvy Sewers have also responded to other community needs; the retirees have made blankets for homeless shelters and donated cleaning products to food pantries for SNAP recipients.

To learn more about the RTA Savvy Sewers, visit nysut.org/itswhatwedo.

On the job and in the community, NYSUT members make a difference
[ Health & Safety ]

ACS VOICES seeks to improve health outcomes for Black women

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ancer can affect anyone, but it does not affect everyone equally. In fact, according to the American Cancer Society, Black people have the highest death rate and shortest survival of any racial/ethnic group for most cancers in the U.S.

American Cancer Society Voices of Black Women logo
Terrain Reeves, a woman of color with a large afro, smiles for a selfie in a car
Provided
Terrain Reeves, United Federation of Teachers, is a cancer survivor helping to spread the word to Black women about the importance of cancer screenings and early diagnosis.

Now, the national cancer advocacy and research organization is launching an initiative aimed at uncovering the factors that lead to these disproportionate health outcomes. VOICES of Black Women, a longitudinal health study funded by the American Cancer Society and run by the population science department, will recruit and monitor the health of 100,000 Black women, ages 25–55 for the next 30 years to better understand cancer and other health conditions among Black women and improve outcomes.

NYSUT will play a key role in this latest effort, recruiting members to participate in the VOICES study.

“NYSUT is proud to support the latest American Cancer Society initiative, VOICES of Black Women. Our members are determined to ensure that everyone with cancer receives the best possible treatment, regardless of their race or gender,” said J. Philippe Abraham, NYSUT secretary-treasurer, whose office coordinates the statewide union’s social justice initiatives.

NYSUT has been a flagship sponsor of the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walks since 2002, and during that time, NYSUT volunteers have raised more than $16 million to fight the disease and save lives, Abraham said.

United Federation of Teachers member Terrain Reeves, a teacher and chapter leader at Edward R. Murrow High School in Brooklyn, signed on to be an ambassador based on her strong history of advocacy — and her own experiences with cancer. “I am a cancer survivor myself, and I’ve had several people close to me, including my mother and aunt, die of breast cancer.” Reeves’s mother was diagnosed in her 40s and died at 53; her aunt was diagnosed in her late 50s and died in her early 60s.

Make Strides with Team NYSUT

pink breast cancer themed running shoe

NYSUT has been a flagship sponsor for the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk for more than two decades, helping to support groundbreaking research and much more. Visit the Team NYSUT page for more information about walks across the state and to join a team in your area, nysut.org/JoinMakingStrides.

  • Oct. 5: Grangabel Park, Riverhead, Suffolk County
  • Oct. 13: Otsiningo Park, Binghamton; Innovative Field, Rochester
  • Oct. 19: Terminal B, Buffalo Outer Harbor, Buffalo
  • Oct. 20: Washington Park, Albany; Central Park, Manhattan; Jones Beach State Park, Nassau County; Clinton Square, Syracuse; Manhattanville University, Purchase; Woodbury Common Outlets, Hudson Valley; Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens
  • Oct. 26: Watertown Fairgrounds, Watertown
  • Oct. 27: Bay Plaza, Bronx; Coney Island Boardwalk, Brooklyn; Glens Falls City Park, Glens Falls; Mohawk Valley Community College, Utica; Midland Beach, Staten Island

[ resources for you ]

Free School Nurse Connection poster

an NYSUT School Nurse Connection hearing poster

Just in time for back to school comes a new poster from the NYSUT School Nurse Connection. A followup to resources on vision, the SNC hearing poster includes info on the ear’s anatomy, contributors to hearing loss and the importance of hearing screenings.

For a free, downloadable copy of the poster and for more info about the School Nurse Connection, visit nysut.cc/snc.

Limited print copies are available. Email patricia.geisel@nysut.org.

Little endorsed for NYSTRS Board

headshot of Donald Little wearing thick rimmed glasses

Donald Little, Syracuse Teachers Association second vice president, was endorsed by the NYSUT Board to serve as a teacher-representative on the New York State Teachers’ Retirement System Board of Trustees. His selection has been submitted to the State Education Department for appointment.

Little was endorsed to fill the vacancy left by former Baldswinville TA President Beth Chetney.

[ retirees in action ]

NYSUT retirees help keep our union strong!

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YSUT retirees are a vibrant, driving force within the statewide union. From supporting the work of local charities, to winning awards and representing NYSUT on the national stage, NYSUT retirees prove again and again that they are an important part of what keeps our union strong.

Retiree Council 10 members smiling for group photo behind table full of teddy bears while they hold some in their hands
photos: provided
Retiree Council 10 members gather at NYSUT headquarters to decorate “Joy Bears.” The toys will be donated to those undergoing cancer treatment. RC 10 has been involved in this project for over a decade.
NYSUT retiree activists smiling for group photo
A sizable contingent of NYSUT retiree activists traveled to Houston Texas for the AFT Convention in July. In a special motion, delegates voted to become the first and largest union to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for president.
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Quotes - Right

Quotable

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RWDSU
The @AFLCIO 2024 Executive Paywatch report is here — and we’re righteously angry! The median worker at an S&P 500 company would’ve had to start working in 1755 (prior to the start of the American Revolution) to earn what the average CEO made in 2023! https://aflcio.org/paywatch
(@RWDSU)

Bill Auclair
Billionaires and corporations hate unions, because they empower workers to demand what they are entitled to for their labors, with a voice that is too loud to ignore. #UnionStrong (@bill_auclair)

Jaime Ciffone
Environmental justice for our students and communities: “Improvements to public schools are long overdue : heating+cooling systems, ventilation+insulation and more.” #eicongress @AFTunion @nysut @AFTIntlAffairs @AFTVPDeJesus (@JCiffone)

More Perfect Union
Coca-Cola has been hiding “astronomical levels” of profit in tax havens to shield it from the IRS, a judge found. They now have to start paying back $16 billion in taxes — enough to wipe out a year and a half in profits. It’s time for every big corporate tax offender to pay up. (@MorePerfectUS)

Natalie McKay
Thank you @nysut, @AFT, @rweingarten, and Microsoft for creating the opportunity for educators to have a voice in EdTech development. (@SchoharieTAPrez)

[ voices ]

5 Questions for Stacey Rattner

5 Questions for... typography
5 Questions for... typography
Stacey Rattner
Schodack Faculty Association elementary school librarian
1.

You organized the June ¡Celebración! Book Festival in your district highlighting the works of Latinx authors and illustrators. How did you come up with the idea for a Latinx-themed book festival?

My friend, author Pablo Cartaya, and I had wanted to do a festival focused on Latinx authors and illustrators for a long time. I met Pablo six or seven years ago as part of an annual Newbery Project I do with my students. They select a Newbery award contender, and make a case for why it should win. When Pablo’s book, The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora, was nominated, my kids wrote him fan mail, and I scheduled a Skype meeting with him for the class. I later met him in person and we connected and stayed in touch.

2.

How did you get authors and illustrators to participate? And how many attended?

We started brainstorming for the event in September with a goal of having six authors and illustrators — we met our goal. I sent out an email to people whose books we knew and loved, who were friends of Pablo, or who I had previously connected with. The response was great; lots of excitement and many of the authors told us they’d never done something like this before in a school. They’d been part of panels but having a whole celebration centered on their work as Latinx creators, and highlighting their culture was new.

[ classifieds ]

  • Real Estate Sales
    Florida — buy sell rent. Specializing in country clubs, active adult communities and beach areas from Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Jupiter Palm Beach Gardens, Fort Lauderdale and surrounding areas. Proudly serving NYSUT members for over 20 years. Call Ed and Elly, REMAX Select Group, Boca Raton, FL 561-302-9374.
    San Juan, Puerto Rico 00921 — Two-family house for sale. Four bedrooms, one large bathroom on each floor. Two-car garage. Asking $400,000. Call 787-438-7717.
  • Vacation Rental
    St. Augustine Beach — Three bedrooms, two baths, remodeled. Weekly rental. 716-830-4635. Jobers150@gmail.com.
    Help Wanted
    ALL teachers/school employees: Tutor near home/work. All subjects/grades/licenses. facultytutoring@aol.com. 718-886-2424.
  • Education
    Are classroom discipline problems ruining your teaching career? Make student misbehavior a thing of the past. FREE book for NYSUT-UFT members. Don’t wait! Act now! Email: teacherservices044@gmail.com. (Please include your name and address). Or write: Free Discipline Book, 1941 Edward Lane, Merrick, NY 11566.

an NYSUT cover

Want to see your ad here?
Visit nysut.org/advertising

[ passings ]

Richard N. Guibord | May 18, 2024
Copiague Teachers Association

Fred E. Haag | May 14, 2024
North Syracuse Education Association

Jean Lee | June 30, 2024
Copiague Retired Teachers Association

Richard J. Piva | April 28, 2024
Associate Member

Thaddeus C. Rajchel | April 9, 2024
Retired Utica Teachers Association

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 ]

Free NYSUT posters celebrate Hispanic Heritage, LGBTQ+ History months

NYSUT LBGTQ+ History Month celebration poster featuring Activist Marsha P. Johnson
NYSUT Hispanic Heritage Month celebration poster featuring Representative Nydia Velázquez

NYSUT celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month, Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, with a poster honoring Nydia M. Velázquez, a representative for New York’s 7th Congressional District. During her tenure in Congress, she’s made history several times. In 1992, Velázquez became the first Puerto Rican woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. In 1998, she became the first Hispanic woman to serve as a ranking member of a full House committee. In 2006, she made history again when she served as the chair of that same committee, the House Small Business Committee.

Velázquez is a longtime human and civil rights advocate. In the late 1990s and the 2000s, she was a leader in the successful Vieques movement which sought to stop the United States military from using the inhabited island as a bomb testing ground. The U.S. Navy closed its last remaining base on Puerto Rico in 2004.

Congresswoman Velázquez was named “Woman of the Year” by Hispanic Business Magazine in recognition of her national influence in both the political and business sectors and for her longtime support of minority enterprise.

The poster is available in both English and Spanish-language versions.

Marsha P. Johnson (1945–1992) was an American gay liberation activist and prominent figure in the Stonewall Uprising of 1969. A founding member of the Gay Liberation Front, Johnson co-founded the activist group Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries with friend Sylvia Rivera and, in 1987, became an AIDS activist with ACT UP. In 2019, Johnson became one of the first 50 American “pioneers, trailblazers, and heroes” included on the National LGBTQ Wall of Honor at the Stonewall Inn. It is the first U.S. national monument dedicated to LGBTQ rights and history.

Both posters are available for download; limited print quantities are free for NYSUT members and leaders at the statewide union’s online publications ordering catalog, nysut.org/publications.

Registration now open for NYSUT Community College Conference

NYSUT’s 45th annual Community College Conference will be held Nov. 8–10, at the Sagamore in Bolton Landing. Members representing community college locals from across the state will gather under the theme “Telling our Story, Preparing for the Future.”

The annual event offers higher education union leaders the opportunity to network with their peers while also attending informative and timely workshops, including:

  • AI technology on campus and the union;
  • Negotiating language through a DEI lens; and
  • Academic freedom on campus: Student and faculty rights roundtable.

There are also several sessions geared toward adjunct faculty.

The conference will recognize Tony Cruz, the 2024 NYSUT Higher Education Member of the Year. Cruz is president of the Orange County Community College Faculty Association.

Ten percent early-bird discounts end Sept. 20. The conference registration deadline is Oct. 1. For more information or to register, visit nysut.cc/CCC-2024.

[ member benefits ]

Helping to protect NYSUT members for over 40 years

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YSUT Member Benefits offers an annual update each September about the operation of the department, its endorsement process, and information about the many endorsed benefits available to members.

NYSUT created the Member Benefits Trust in 1983 as a separately funded trust to utilize the unified buying power of its membership and offer quality insurance and benefit programs to its members. Since that time, Member Benefits has grown to include the Member Benefits Corporation and Catastrophe Major Medical Insurance Trust — allowing for a significant increase in the offerings available to members.

These three entities are each overseen by a board of appointed trustees/directors who help to ensure our endorsed benefits meet the needs of NYSUT members. Member Benefits is under the leadership of NYSUT Secretary-Treasurer J. Philippe Abraham, chairperson of the Member Benefits Trust, and managed by Peggy Jacobsen.

[ Your ERS Pension ]

All About ERS Tier 6

W

hen you joined the New York State and Local Retirement System, which administers the Employees’ Retirement System, you were assigned a tier based on your date of membership. Your tier determines your eligibility for benefits and how they are calculated. If you joined ERS on or after April 1, 2012, you are a Tier 6 member.

Most ERS Tier 6 members are in the Article 15 retirement plan (named for a section of the New York State Retirement and Social Security Law). If you see Plan A15 listed in the ‘My Account Summary’ section of your Retirement Online account (bit.ly/RO-sign-in), you’re in this plan. Visit osc.ny.gov/retirement/publications/1530 for comprehensive information about your benefits.

Important ERS Tier 6 milestones

  • With five years of service, you are vested and eligible for a pension once you reach your plan’s minimum age requirements.
  • You are eligible to retire once you are age 55 and have at least five years of service. However, for most Tier 6 members, there would be reductions to your benefit if you retire before age 63.
  • You can retire with full benefits at age 63.

[ Your TRS Pension ]

COLA increase slated for September

digital illustration of piggy bank, calculator, percentage sign, and upward arrow
Q :

Can retirees expect a Cost-of-Living Adjustment for the upcoming year?

A :

Yes, they can. The COLA for September 2024 through August 2025 is 1.8 percent. That means that eligible retirees who have an annual benefit of $18,000 or more will receive a monthly increase of $27 beginning with the Sept. 30 pension payment. The permanent, automatic COLA, which is determined by New York state law, is designed to help offset the adverse effects of inflation on the fixed retirement benefits of the state’s public retirees.

The 1.8 percent COLA for 2024–25 will apply to the first $18,000 of the maximum retirement benefit, which translates to a $27 monthly increase. Those receiving less than $18,000 will get a smaller (pro-rated) monthly COLA increase. This latest COLA brings the cumulative maximum monthly increase since COLA legislation was enacted in 2000 to $508.50. Visit the Retirees/COLA page to learn if you are eligible to receive the COLA.

[ Local Unions in Action ]

Oneida County BOCES Teachers Association

Diana Giffune congratulating Zoie Tomaino with a hug
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Oneida County BOCES TA President Diana Giffune, left, congratulates recent retiree Zoie Tomaino at the local’s Fuel Up for Summer party and retiree celebration. The event raised almost $900 for the local’s scholarship fund.
About 80 Oneida County BOCES TA members came out to recognize their colleagues and raise funds for a good cause. The local, led by President Diana Giffune, hosts an annual end-of-the-year Fuel Up for Summer party to celebrate members who are retiring or have retired during the school year.

“We raise money all year for the scholarship fund by having monthly raffles as well as a 50/50 on Day One,” Giffune said. “We have snack/drink machines in all of the teachers break rooms and the proceeds from those sales benefit (the scholarship) as well.” The local raises almost $2,000 annually for its scholarship fund. Members at this year’s Fuel Up for Summer party raised about $900 to benefit the scholarship fund. This year, the local awarded seven scholarships to students continuing on to a post-secondary school.

Brewster Teachers Association

Paul George smiling behind a wagon full of food while holding reusable bag filled with food
Provided
Paul George, president of the Brewster Teachers Association, presents food collected during the local’s annual food drive to Deborah Lurin, a Putnam Community Action Partnership caseworker.

The Brewster TA collected 200 pounds of food as part of its annual food drive. A 20-year tradition, this year’s haul was donated to the Putnam Community Action Project and to the district’s own Brewster Bear Essentials program.

“The Brewster teachers believe it is important to give back to the community and our annual drive along with the Bear Essentials program strengthens the connection between our members and the community we serve,” said Brewster TA President Paul George. “By running this annual food drive, we can help ensure that students have access to nutritious food, which is essential for their health, well-being, and academic success.”

Carmel Teachers Association

This year, the Carmel TA awarded $30,000 in scholarships to 30 deserving seniors. The CTA has been raising funds for student scholarships since it was established in 1948. Over the years, funds were raised through a lot of different efforts, including a faculty talent show and golf outing.

For the past three years, the local raised most of these funds through their CTA 5K and sponsorships, supplemented by union dues, raffles, and other fundraisers.

“Any graduating senior is eligible to apply for the scholarship and then our selection committee makes their decisions based on academic merit, school/community service, and financial need,” said Dave Zupan, Carmel TA president.

Share news about your local’s union or community events at united@nysut.org; include LIA in the subject line.

Kudos

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It’s an honor

Joan Caliendo, Carle Place Teachers Association retiree, was crowned Ms. New York Senior America. Caliendo will compete in September for the title Ms. USA Senior America.

Two New York teachers received the Singer Family Prize for Excellence in Secondary School Teaching from the University of Rochester. The teachers were nominated by former students and Class of 2024 graduates from the university. Frances Krisch, Glen Cove TA, was nominated by Caitriona Greene. David Kozlowski, Geneseo Central School Faculty Association, was nominated by Max Neiderbach.

In print

Joseph Despres, Ed.D., Connetquot TA retiree, and Richard Blumenthal, have published the fifth edition of their popular book Major Decisions: The Guide to College Majors. The book describes more than 150 of the most sought-after majors, including high school preparation, college courses, and possible careers after graduation.

Gabriella Gizzo, Lavelle School Professional Staff Association, has published Sophie’s Special Story. The children’s book is about her relationship with her dog, Sophie. The storyline has embedded speech therapy goals to target communication skills and is available at Barnes and Noble.

Mala Hoffman, Newburgh TA retiree, has published Dispelling the Shadow: Activities Exploring Life and Death with Young People. Co-written with her daughter, Lucy Moran, the book provides a context for navigating through the challenges and emotions that children may experience when discussing the cycle of life through prompts, activities and resources. The book is available at routledge.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 | September/October 2024

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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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Thanks for reading our September/October 2024 issue!