Message from Mindy

By MINDY KARTEN BORNEMANN
Chapter leader

This has been another difficult year with fights around every corner. From the looming budget crisis to the State Education Department trying to change speech mandates, we have been active every step of the way. Hundreds of speech teachers attended our rally at City Hall, which was one of the largest rallies ever.

Assistant chapter leaders Kathy Lewis and Sandy Robinson, Queens representative Lisa Arian and I met during the year with Linda Wernikoff to discuss the new Standards of Practice.

We have planned two general membership meetings for this spring. On April 27 at UFT central from 4:15-6:00 p.m., UFT legal consultant Elizabeth Truly, Vice President Carmen Alvarez and I will discuss with members the new Standard Operation Procedure Manual (SOPM) and long-term goal changes. Please make sure to RSVP if you plan on attending this meeting.
On May 18 we will have a second general membership meeting with Linda Wernikoff, who will discuss the new Speech Standards of Practice and other changes in special education. Our new speech chapter members will receive a UFT flash drive with the New Teacher Manual from the New Teacher Committee.

Many of you had also requested that we help you with writing annual goals now that the need for short term objectives has been eliminated for students who participate in regular assessments. A committee of executive board members is working on collecting and distributing them. Call us if you want to submit goals as we collect them throughout the city.

By now you should have received the flyer for our April 25 workshop with Dr. Barbara Ehren. Please make sure to register as soon as possible as space is limited.

I hope to meet all of you as I continue to travel around the city and attend your speech meetings. In the meanwhile, please contact our hotline number at (212) 598-7774 if you need help or information. Also please make sure we have your personal e-mail address so that we can contact you immediately if an issue arises. I promise that you will get all information in a timely fashion if we have your e-mail address. I can be reached over e-mail at MBornemann@uft.org. The only secure e-mail is your personal account. Please do not contact me from your DOE e-mail address; it is not private.

Fraternally,

— Mindy Karten Bornemann

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