A Message from UFT President
Randi Weingarten

Welcome to New York City’s public school system and to your union, the United Federation of Teachers. We know you’re eager to get to work in a career that is sure to challenge, stretch and hopefully reward you – and we’re ready to help from your first days in school through the rest of your career.

The education of our children is the most important work adults can do. Study after study shows that with the exception of parents, the single most important factor in a child’s success in school is that child’s teacher.

We wrote the New Teacher Handbook to help you. In it you will find ideas and answers to many of your questions. We hope you’ll be an active member of the UFT throughout your career, as we try to improve your professional and economic status, and to help make every public school one where educators want to work and parents want to send their children. In the meantime, please take advantage of the UFT services, courses and benefits that are mentioned here. And if you need advice about how to become a great teacher, please reach out to us. We are your union, and we want to help.

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