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Reaction comes in from across state
Jun 29, 2009 11:38 AM
UFT President Randi Weingarten’s annnouncement that she would be stepping down from the post effective July 31 drew response from leaders across New York State and some former students. Here’s a sample of some of those reactions:
Gov. David Paterson
“Randi Weingarten has been a tireless advocate for public education in New York. She is an innovative leader, a no-nonsense reformer, a tough negotiator and someone I am proud to call my friend. During her tenure at the United Federation of Teachers, she has led the effort to forge strong ties between parents, communities and teachers, and she has broken new ground on major reforms. While this is certainly a loss for the UFT, Randi will continue to fight for excellence in education on behalf of New Yorkers and educators across the nation as she now focuses on her role as head of the American Federation of Teachers. I applaud Randi’s advocacy and tenacity, and I look forward to continuing to work with her to help give all of our children a better education.”
Mayor Michael Bloomberg
“Randi has been a big part of many of the reforms we have implemented over the past seven years — and a big part of the incredible turnaround our schools have made. She’s a tireless champion of her members, and her leadership has benefited not only our schools, but our entire city. I look forward to continuing to work with her as she partners with the Obama Administration to replicate our reforms all over the country.”
Regents Chancellor Merryl Tisch
“Randi is a progressive leader and a dynamic figure and a symbol for what is possible. She will be missed but she will be remembered in New York for the leadership that she provided during a critical reform era.”
New York State AFL-CIO President Denis Hughes
“When it comes to labor leaders, Randi is the gold standard. She has an innate ability to lead. She knows how to bring people together, forge consensus and most importantly, get things done. Randi’s contributions to her members, the labor movement and all working men and women throughout this city and state go beyond words. We’re sad to see her go, but so very proud of the indelible mark of leadership, caring and commitment that she leaves behind.”
City Comptroller William Thompson
“During her tenure over the last decade, Randi Weingarten has exemplified the true meaning of ‘fighter.’ She has fought for smaller class sizes, for higher standards and for safer schools. Randi has been a fierce — and downright tireless — advocate for our city’s educators, for parents and for students. She has stood up to City Hall and the Department of Education when classrooms have swollen with too many students, when day care workers have not been paid properly, and when spending has spun out of control. Through it all, she has always viewed her role as a partner with a vested interest in improving our schools. We need more leaders like Randi Weingarten, who focus their energies on yielding better transparency and greater accountability in our system. I wish Randi the best of luck; our loss is the nation’s gain.”
Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum
“Randi Weingarten is a great, progressive labor leader, very much like my husband Victor. Over the course of her tenure, she has tirelessly stood up for the interests of teachers and has been a leader on education reform. I am grateful for her tremendous commitment to making our school system the best it can be and giving teachers a stronger voice in the decision-making process. I know her work will have a lasting impact on New York City public schools and I look forward to her continued strong and visionary leadership at her new post.”
City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn
“For the last decade, Randi Weingarten has been the leading voice for 80,000 New York City public school teachers. While her departure from the United Federation of Teachers is a huge loss for New Yorkers, the 1.4 million members of the American Federation of Teachers will benefit from the vast experience and numerous achievements she has made here at home. Randi has been a true friend to this City Council and a true friend to me. We wish her the best of luck as she continues on in the fight to keep our country’s teachers strong and our schools even stronger.”
Susan Wagner HS Chapter Leader George Anthony
“Randi is without question one of the greatest human beings I have had the privilege to know. A lot of what she does is subtle and behind the scenes, and I’m not sure people fully appreciate that. Earlier this school year, my attempts to get permission for a class of students to speak at the United Nations were stuck in bureaucratic limbo. We had literally tried for months, and I was just about to give up when I sent her an e-mail asking if there was any way the UFT could help. She got right back to me, made a few calls, and the very next day, the trip was scheduled. My students will never forget that trip, and I have Randi to thank. I have met some extraordinary individuals in my life, but Randi’s fearlessness and relentlessness on behalf of teachers and students only make you try that much harder in your own job. She has devoted her life to this work, and I admire her for that.”
Chris Cassagnol, former student of Weingarten’s at Clara Barton HS, who is a SAPIS counselor (Substance Abuse Prevention and Intervention Specialist) at Brooklyn’s PS 109
“Ms. Weingarten was always focused on making us better individuals. She was very generous with her time and really took an interest in our lives and our dreams. She pushed us to try harder and think bigger, and I owe her a lot for that.”
Tamika Edwards, former student and now director of legal education for Legal Outreach
“During the winter months of 1991-1992, a team of Clara Barton HS school students from my AP political science class and I spent long evenings at the Grand Army Plaza library and in a Congressman’s local office in Brooklyn, perusing Supreme Court cases, preparing for the city and later statewide championship rounds of the fifth annual Bicentennial Competitions on the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Ms. Weingarten was a phenomenal teacher and fine example of a legal advocate. Not only was she the first female attorney I had ever met, her passion for the law and young people coupled with her teaching prowess inspired me to pursue a career in law and serve New York City youth as well.”
