This Week's Focus

Come to UFT-DOE safety training for chapter leaders on March 12

The DOE-UFT contract that went into effect on Feb. 14 provides a new and important vehicle for chapter leaders to address safety violations at the school level. The DOE and the UFT jointly created new safety standards for the entire system. We want chapter leaders to learn how to use these standards to create a positive school climate as well as to escalate any violations of the safety standards that cannot be resolved at the school level. The joint UFT-DOE training session, which will run from 3 to 6 p.m., will take place in seven schools in all five boroughs citywide. Let your principal know that you are attending the training so you can be released. See the online registration form for the training locations and to sign up.

Know your rights on programs and professional activities

The DOE-UFT contract’s provisions regarding teaching programs and professional activity assignments give teachers a voice while providing for a more objective selection process. Each spring, all teachers should receive a program preference sheet to indicate the three classes (including grade/subject and special education classes) they would like to teach in priority order for the following school year. All teachers should ask for assignments in their license area; this is especially important for probationary teachers, who could have their tenure delayed if they teach out of license. Most secondary school teachers and eight-period-day elementary school teachers are programmed to have one or more professional activity periods. Acceptable professional activity options specified in Article 7 of the DOE-UFT contract include small group instruction, one-to-one tutoring, cafeteria duty and common planning time. Teachers should list three professional activity choices in priority order. For more information about the procedures for programs and professional activities, see our latest Know Your Rights column on the UFT website.

Celebrate the UFT’s 59th birthday on March 15

Saturday, March 16, will mark the 59th anniversary of the union’s formation. Dignity and respect, professionalism, due process, competitive wages and health and pension benefits: Fifty-nine years ago, those things didn’t exist for New York City public educators. It has been progress hard-fought by our union. The anniversary gives you an opportunity to remind UFT members how far they’ve come as union members. You can show this two-minute video about the story of the UFT’s founding to set the tone at this month's chapter meeting for a conversation with your members about why the union matters to them. If you bring a cake or make a card to celebrate the anniversary, please send a photo to uftphotos@gmail.com.

Don’t miss the March 19 deadline to apply for a study sabbatical

UFT members who are teachers may apply for a sabbatical leave to enhance their teaching skills, restore their health if they are ill or achieve state certification in a shortage area. Eligible teachers who want to study to enhance teaching skills have until Tuesday, March 19, to submit an application on SOLAS for a study sabbatical for the 2019-20 school year. Tuesday, March 26, is the deadline for a principal’s recommendation to the superintendent. Coursework must be rigorous and related to one’s teaching assignment. All teachers are eligible for a one-year study sabbatical after 14 years of service. Junior high or high school classroom teachers with seven years on the job can also apply for a six-month study sabbatical for the spring semester only. Teachers earn 70 percent of their salary during a full-year sabbatical and 60 percent of their salary during a six-month sabbatical. Find out more about study sabbaticals, restoration of health sabbaticals and shortage-area study sabbaticals in our Know Your Benefits column on sabbatical leaves and the sabbatical leaves section of the UFT website. Members can read the current guidelines and eligibility requirements in the Chancellor’s Regulation C-650 on Sabbatical Leaves of Absence that the DOE updates and reissues each spring.

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Your Chapter Leader Checklist

• NewApproval from the principal required to participate in Lobby Day in Albany: Due to your diligence as chapter leaders, registration is now full for UFT Lobby Day in Albany on Monday, March 18. Together we will encourage state lawmakers to increase funding for public schools and support the rest of the union’s legislative agenda. Remember, once they have registered for Lobby Day, UFT members must obtain approval from their principal. You can advise your principal that the Principal’s Weekly states, “As in past years, the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) is sponsoring a State Aid Conference in Albany. This year‘s conference will be held on March 18. Note that this day is authorized as a conference day for selected teachers and as a nonattendance day for selected paraprofessionals. You may receive a request from your UFT chapter leader or district representative to release staff members who have been selected. Staff members may also notify you directly that they have been selected and request permission to attend; note that they must obtain your permission and they must have been selected by the UFT in order to attend the conference.” Please make sure that members understand that anyone who formally registers for Lobby Day but does not attend must report for work or use a sick or personal absence day. If you have any questions, please contact your district representative or your borough’s political action coordinator.
• NewStart the discussion about SBOs with your members: The month of March is the time to begin discussing school-based options (SBOs) in your school. If your chapter would like to renew an SBO or implement a new SBO, you should discuss options at your next chapter meeting. An SBO allows staff at a school the flexibility to collaboratively modify contractual articles or to create positions not automatically allowed under the contract. You can use the SBO process to change your school schedule, including when members engage in professional development, parent engagement and Other Professional Work; change the dates for parent-teacher conferences; and create comp-time positions. An SBO can be proposed by either the principal or the chapter leader on behalf of the chapter. However, a principal cannot force the chapter to hold a vote on any SBO, and an SBO cannot be adopted unless at least 55 percent of UFT members at the school vote to support it. More information about the SBO process will be coming in future Chapter Leader Updates, so stay tuned. If you have questions, please contact your district representative.
• NewFollow UFT divisions and departments on Twitter: Did you know various UFT divisions and departments are on Twitter? To get the latest news and information, you can follow the UFT elementary schools division @UFT_Elementary; the UFT middle schools division @UFTMS_Division; the UFT high schools division @UFTTeamHS; the paraprofessional chapter @UFTParas; the pension department @UFT_Pension; the safety and health department @UFTSafety; the UFT Brooklyn borough office @UFT_BKOffice; the UFT Manhattan borough office @UFT_MBO; the Bronx borough office @BBOUFT; and the UFT Alliance of Charter Teachers and Staff @UFTACTS.
• The consultation form is not an operational issues complaint: As chapter leaders, you are responsible for convening a monthly meeting of your consultation committee with your principal. We’ve introduced the online school consultation committee summary form so you can capture the discussions you’re having, how your engagement with your principal is having an impact on school decisions and any difficulty you may encounter resolving issues. However, documenting an unresolved issue on the consultation form does not initiate an operational issues complaint. To initiate an operational issues complaint regarding paperwork, curriculum, professional development, basic instructional supplies, workload and space, you must submit an online paperwork and operational issues report (you must be logged in to the UFT website to access it) the day you attempt to resolve the issue with your principal through a one-on-one conversation, an email or your UFT consultation committee. The time clock begins on the expedited resolution process once you complete that report. Each of these tools has a distinct and important role in organizing and empowering your chapter and resolving school-level workplace issues. If you have any questions, please contact your district representative.
• School-based committees: School-based committees ensure that UFT members have a voice in decision-making at the school level and that all the work does not fall on the chapter leader’s shoulders. Make sure that you have the following active committees at your school: a consultation committee that meets monthly with the principal to discuss and attempt to resolve issues at the school level before they escalate; a professional development committee to plan and review the PD that is offered during the time set aside for professional learning in the contract; a school safety committee that meets monthly to address safety-related violations and issues such as crisis response, student removal procedures and fire drills; and a school leadership team that develops the school’s Comprehensive Educational Plan and makes sure it is aligned with the school-based budget. If you need support, please contact your district representative.

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Share with Your Members

New2019 UFT Welfare Fund Medical Learning Series flier

Paraprofessional Festival and Awards flier

Middle School Conference flier

Early Childhood Conference flier

2019 UFT Election Notice

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You Should Know

Evaluation

Know your MOSL: CORRECTION — Teachers evaluated under the DOE’s Advance teacher development and evaluation system should know the courses and measures included in their Measures of Student Learning (MOSL). To avoid future complications, teachers should log into their Advance web page, navigate to the reports tab (not the MOSL tab, as previously indicated) and review the information to ensure the measures listed there reflect their school MOSL Committee’s decisions. If the measures are other than the committee’s selections, the teacher should immediately contact the chapter leader and the principal.

Functional Chapters

NewFollow your colleagues on Instagram: The Social Workers and Psychologists Chapter now has an Instagram account. Follow them at @SWPsyChapter.

Chapter meetings for school secretaries: School secretaries are encouraged to attend borough-wide chapter meetings with School Secretaries Chapter Leader Doreen Berrios-Castillo in March and April at the UFT’s borough offices. To find out the date and location of your borough’s meeting, see the online registration form. The next one is Tuesday, March 12, in Queens.

Health and Safety

NewLecture on breast cancer treatment: All members are invited to the UFT Welfare Fund Medical Learning Series lecture, "New Developments in the Medical Treatment of Breast Cancer,” presented by Dr. Larry Norton, the deputy physician-in-chief for breast cancer programs at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. This event is on Thursday, March 14, from 6 to 8 p.m. at UFT headquarters, 52 Broadway, 19th floor, rooms D/E. Light refreshments will be served. To register, call Christine Jittan at 212-539-0667. For more information, see the 2019 UFT Welfare Fund Medical Learning Series flier.

NewSpecial open-enrollment period for New York City health benefits: A special open enrollment period for NYC Health Benefits is available for in-service members during the month of April. Members can make changes during the entire month of April. These changes are effective July 1, 2019. Though any plan change can be made during this time, this period was specifically created to give members the opportunity to enroll in the restructured HIP HMO Gold Plan.

Opportunities

NewCommunity Learning Schools Showcase 2019: The UFT’s Community Learning Schools (CLS) initiative is holding its annual CLS Showcase on Thursday, March 21, 9 to 11 a.m., at PS/IS184, The Newport School, 273 Newport St., Brooklyn. This event will introduce participants to the history, impact and unique qualities of the CLS model. We’re offering breakfast at 8:30 a.m. and an optional half-hour school tour at 11 a.m. Space is limited. Register online by March 14.  If you have questions, please contact David Ng by email at dng@uft.org or by phone at 212-510-6322. For more information, see the Community Learning Schools Showcase flier.

NewSpeak Truth to Power video contest: High school teachers should encourage students to enter the “Speak Truth to Power” video contest, created by Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights in partnership with the American Federation of Teachers. Students should submit a three-minute video about a human rights issue that resonates with them.The judges include award-winning actors Keegan-Michael Key and Alfre Woodard. Winning submissions will be showcased at the Tribeca Film Festival. The application deadline is Wednesday, March 20. For more information, including previous winners and contest application, see the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights website.

Energy conservation poster contest: Teachers should encourage students to enter the DOE Office of Sustainability’s Energy Conservation Artwork Contest. Eligible students will submit a poster with an energy conservation call to action. The goal of the contest is to create a dialogue and, through art, to encourage students, teachers, administrative staff and parents to save energy. Fifteen winners will receive a prize, and their artwork will be featured in the Sustainability 2019-2020 calendar. The deadline for submissions is Friday, March 15. For more information, contact Lisa Williams at lwilliams85@schools.nyc.gov. Send submissions to NYC Department of Education, Sustainability Poster Contest, Lisa Williams, 5th Floor, 44-36 Vernon Blvd., Long Island City, NY 11101. For full contest rules, see the Energy Conservation Artwork Contest flier.

Attend the third annual Sustainability Showcase: Come to the third annual DOE Sustainability Showcase on Wednesday, May 22, at the Brooklyn Expo Center in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. This event celebrates school efforts, actions, innovation and dedication to sustainability across grade levels, topics and leadership. Participants will survey the extraordinary things that students, teachers, administrators, building staff and partner organizations are doing to pave the way to greater school sustainability. The Sustainability Showcase will include a student expo, awards, workshops and raffle prizes. Teachers are invited to submit a sustainability project for presentation and celebration at the event. Projects can win up to $2,500, and prizes will be awarded the day of the event. For more information, see the 3rd Annual Sustainability Showcase flier and view exhibits from last year’s event. The deadline is Friday, March 22.

Music Educator Award: Members are encouraged to nominate a music teacher for a Music Educator Award presented by the National Association for Music Education. The winner will fly to Los Angeles to attend the 62nd annual Grammy Awards next January and receive the Music Educator Award at a ceremony during Grammy Week. The winner will also receive a $10,000 personal honorarium. All finalists will receive a $1,000 honorarium and semifinalists will receive a $500 honorarium. Once you have nominated a teacher, they must complete a full application to be considered for the award. The deadline to nominate a teacher is Friday, March 15. The deadline for a teacher to complete the application is Sunday, March 31. For more information, see the Grammy in the Schools website. Please note: Teachers who plan to retire at the end of the 2018-19 school year are ineligible.

Award for integrating economics into high school classrooms: All high school teachers may apply for the Council for Economic Education’s Sloan Award, which promotes economic education at the high school level by honoring teachers who effectively deliver this important content in and out of classrooms. Applicants can teach any content area but must demonstrate how they integrate economics into their lessons. Winners will receive a $5,000 cash prize among other things. For more information, including eligibility requirements, see the online application form. The submission deadline is Friday, May 17.

Political Action

Take Action Tell state legislators to fund teacher centers: The governor’s proposed budget eliminates all funding for teacher centers statewide. Teacher centers provide comprehensive, ongoing professional development and support services to educators and are critical for teachers, parents and other school-related professionals. The NYSUT Member Action Center is asking UFT members to urge lawmakers to support funding for teacher centers and other critical tools for teachers. For more information and to take action, see the online form on the NYSUT website.

Have a COPE drive in your school: Our annual COPE enrollment and education drive has begun. Every UFT borough office has received COPE materials, so speak with your district representative about how to obtain and distribute these materials to the members in your chapter. Let’s get the message out about the importance of using our collective voice to strengthen our schools and communities and to improve our working lives. UFT COPE is one of the most effective ways to help elect candidates who support our schools and professions. When the stakes are high, UFT COPE is there to fight back against programs and policies that would hurt educators and their families. Be sure to explain to members that COPE is entirely funded by voluntary contributions; we do not use union dues for political action. Please contact Glen Lopez, the UFT’s COPE coordinator, by email at GLopez@uft.org or by phone at 212-598-9244 for COPE materials or reports.

Join the CTE Proud campaign: Career and Technical Education educators have incredible stories to tell about what their CTE students are learning, from culinary arts to robotics to marketing and finance. We need your help to make the case about the importance of funding existing CTE programs and supporting their expansion so even more students will have these opportunities. Our new CTE Proud campaign will showcase CTE educators who persevere against great odds and tight budgets to provide students with an education that prepares them for success in high-tech careers. If you are a CTE educator who is proud of your work with students, please join the CTE Proud campaign. With your ideas, we will write stories and produce podcasts and videos highlighting innovative CTE programs. Make sure to share your stories and photos on social media and include the hashtags #CTEProud and #UnionProud in your posts supporting this campaign.

Recognition

NewEmpire State Excellence in Teaching Award: All pre-K to 12 teachers may apply for the Empire State Excellence in Teaching Award. This award recognizes innovative educational leaders who exemplify professional work and strive to attain New York State standards and foster critical thinking for all of their students. Winners receive a $5,000 stipend for continued learning and professional endeavors. For more information, see the State University of New York website. For full eligibility requirements and to submit an application, see the online form. The application deadline is Friday, March 22.

Salary and Personnel

NewNew vendor for commuter benefits: New York City is changing its commuter benefits vendor from WageWorks to Edenred Commuter Benefit Solutions beginning this spring. If you participate in the commuter benefits program, a new card will be sent to you. Balances on your WageWorks card will be automatically transferred to the new card. Please verify your email and mailing address by logging on to the DOE payroll portal/Employee Self Service/Wageworks commuter website or by calling the DOE Payroll Benefits Unit at 718-935-3545. For more information about transit benefits, see our Know Your Benefits column on transit programs.

NewApply to become a Teacher Leader: The application period for Teacher Leader positions is open through Monday, April 1. Teacher Leaders receive an additional $7,500 for the Model Teacher role and $12,500 for Peer Collaborative Teacher (PCT), as well as yearlong professional learning including opportunities to collaborate and network with other Teacher Leaders in their community. For eligibility requirements and to apply, see the online form. For updates about the program, sign up for the DOE mailing list. You can also read the FAQ or email the DOE at teacherleadership@schools.nyc.gov.

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This Week in Education and Labor News

AFT launches campaign to boost school funding: The American Federation of Teachers on March 4 announced a major education initiative aimed at pressing state and federal lawmakers to increase funding for public schools, reports U.S. News and World Report. The initiative, Fund Our Future, focuses on the fact that 25 states spend less on K-12 than they did before the 2008 recession. It calls on state lawmakers to prioritize education spending, especially for the most disadvantaged students. “The root cause of every single one of those teacher walkouts that have been roiling the country is the lack of appropriate investments," said AFT President Randi Weingarten.

Georgia school voucher bill fails in Senate: A Republican-backed proposal in Georgia to use taxpayer money to send students to private schools in a voucher program failed in a close vote on March 5, according to AJC.com. The bill, which stalled in the state Senate, sought to establish “scholarship” accounts through which parents could direct the $5,500 on average in state money now going to their child’s public school to a private school or other educational costs instead. Parents receiving this money would have had to commit to educating their children outside the public system, whether at home or in a tuition-based school. The bill was expected to eventually cost as much as half a billion dollars annually.

Kentucky teachers hold “sickout”: Kentucky’s largest school district on March 6 staged a massive teacher "sickout" in response to a school choice proposal, reports the Courier Journal. The bill, which still has a chance of squeaking through in the final days of the 2019 legislative session, would encourage Kentuckians to donate to private school scholarship programs in exchange for annual dollar-for-dollar tax breaks of up to $1 million. Educators across Kentucky have voiced opposition to the bill, which they say would drain money from the state's revenues and ultimately hurt public schools.

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Events Calendar

Featured

Saturday, March 9: REGISTRATION CLOSED — The 15th annual School Counselors Conference will be held at UFT headquarters, 52 Broadway. The theme is “School Counselors Are the Heart of the School.”

Saturday, March 16: The UFT’s 12th annual Early Childhood Conference will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at UFT headquarters, 52 Broadway. The registration deadline is today, Friday, March 8. For more details, see the Item in Professional Learning Opportunities.

Saturday, March 23: The UFT’s 38th annual Paraprofessional Festival and Awards Luncheon celebrating the 50th anniversary of the UFT Paraprofessionals Chapter is from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the New York Hilton Midtown at 1335 Sixth Ave. This year’s theme is “Uplifting Hearts and Minds: Pathways to Social Emotional Learning.” The registration fee is $25. For a full list of workshops and to register, go to the online form.

Saturday, March 30: The UFT’s sixth annual Middle School Conference will take place from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at UFT headquarters, 52 Broadway, 2nd floor, Shanker Hall. The theme will be “William Shakespeare, In Recognition of His Relevance and Impact 400 years after his Death.” Participants can attend two workshops of their choice on topics including teaching Shakespeare in the middle school classroom to science exploration and educating our ELL students. Participants can earn up to four CTLE hours. See the day’s agenda and workshop choices. The special guest speaker will be Mark Treyger, chair of the City Council’s Education Committee, and our keynote speaker will be Dr. Jeff Gardere, known as “America’s psychologist.” The conference includes breakfast, guest speakers, lunch, workshops and giveaways. For more details, download the conference flier and post it on your UFT bulletin board. For fee breakdown and to register, see the online form.

This Week

Wednesday, March 13: The academic high schools citywide meeting will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. at the UFT Brooklyn borough office, 335 Adams St.

Wednesday, March 13: The UFT's Member Assistance Program invites new members to the first art therapy group of this spring. Art therapy involves the use of creative techniques such as drawing and sculpting to help people express themselves. It can help you explore your emotions, improve your self-esteem, build self-awareness, manage addictions and relieve stress and anxiety. The workshop will take place from 4:30 to 5:45 p.m. at UFT headquarters, 52 Broadway, 2nd floor, room A. There is a $10 registration fee. Register online.

Wednesday, March 13: The UFT's Member Assistance Program invites those with family members affected by mental illness or addiction to Weathering the Storm support group: Stigma. This support group will meet from 4:30 to 5:45 p.m. at UFT headquarters, 50 Broadway. You'll learn coping strategies and get practical information. This support group is led by a trained mental health professional and is held in a safe and confidential space. In this session, we'll discuss the stigma of mental illness and addiction as public health issues. Register online.

Thursday, March 14: Join the UFT for social workers appreciation day at UFT headquarters, 52 Broadway, Shanker Hall B, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Thursday, March 14: All members are invited to the UFT Welfare Fund Medical Learning Series lecture, New Developments in the Medical Treatment of Breast Cancer, from 6 to 8 p.m. at UFT headquarters, 52 Broadway, 19th floor, rooms D/E. For more information and to register, see the item in Health and Safety.

Friday, March 15: All members are invited to join the UFT's Asian-American Heritage Committee for a Lunar New Year banquet to celebrate the year of the pig. This event will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. at Delight 28 Restaurant, 28 Pell St., between Doyers and Mott streets. The cost to attend is $46 per person. To register, download the mail-in coupon.

Save the Date

Saturday, May 18: The UFT Spring Education Conference will take place at the New York Hilton Midtown, 1335 Sixth Ave., Manhattan. See the coupon for conference details, including workshop descriptions. Please use the online form to register.

Upcoming LearnUFT workshops

LearnUFT, the UFT’s professional development institute, offers an array of affordable workshops and professional learning opportunities for UFT members. The cost to register, unless otherwise indicated, is $30 for teachers seeking CTLE hours and $15 without CTLE hours. The cost for all paraprofessionals is $15. Participants will earn two CTLE hours for each workshop, unless otherwise specified.

These workshops will take place at UFT borough offices, unless otherwise indicated:

See LearnUFT courses in the Bronx »
See LearnUFT courses in Brooklyn »
See LearnUFT courses in Manhattan »
See LearnUFT courses in Queens »
See Learn UFT courses on Staten Island »

For a full listing of upcoming LearnUFT workshops, see the LearnUFT page on the UFT website.

For more events, go to uft.org/calendar.

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In Case You Missed It

Union Proud testimonial: Margaret DeSimone on how the UFT helped her during a medical crisis

Photo Gallery: Men in Education Symposium 2019

Team High School newsletter March 2019

Social Workers and Psychologists Chapter newsletter March 2019

Chapter News: DOE Academic Policy Trainings 2019

Resolution to increase New Yorkers' participation in the 2020 federal census

Resolution endorsing Debra Penny for re-election to the NYC Teachers' Retirement Board

Resolution to honor those who founded the UFT

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Professional Committees

UFT Professional Committees offer a wide range of workshops, presentations and exchanges, enabling all members to take an active part in their professional growth. Unless indicated, meetings are at UFT headquarters, 52 Broadway, Manhattan. Check in the lobby for exact locations. For further information, contact us at 212-598-7772 or visit us online.

Asian American Heritage Committee

• Friday, March 15, from 6 to 9 p.m., Chinese Lunar New Year Banquet, Delight 28 Restaurant, 28 Pell St., between Doyers and Mott streets. The cost to attend is $46 per person. To register, download the mail-in coupon.  

Association of Teachers of Social Studies/UFT and UFT Jewish Heritage Committee

• Sunday, March 24, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., annual Holocaust for Educators Program with American Society for Yad Vashem. For more information, see the Holocaust for Educators Program flier.

Capably Disabled

• Thursday, March 21, 4:15.to 6 p.m., General Membership Meeting. Speaker: Patricia Hazell, TV host of “Patreesha’s Potpourri.” For more information, see the Patreesha’s Potpourri flier.

Hellenic American Educators Association

• Friday, March 22, 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., Celebration of Greek Independence Hellenic Heritage and Culture. For more information, see the Celebration of Greek Independence Hellenic Heritage and Culture flier.

Irish American Heritage Committee

• Thursday, March 21, 4:30 p.m., annual heritage celebration. For more information, see the Annual Heritage Celebration flier.

Italian American Heritage Committee

• Tuesday, March 19, 6:30 p.m., St. Joseph’s Day Dinner. For more information, see the St. Joseph’s Day Dinner flier.

New York City Art Teachers Association

• Friday, March 22, 4:30 p.m., Creative Reuse for Teachers Workshop. For more information, see the Creative Reuse for Teachers Workshop flier.

Players

• Friday, March 15, 5 to 7 p.m., “Story Slam.”

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We are committed to making the Chapter Leader Update as interesting and relevant as it can be. Please fill out this online form to let us know what you found most valuable in this week's newsletter and how we can improve the Chapter Leader Update.

Editor: Peter O’Donnell

Executive Editor: Bernadette Weeks

Contributors include: Karen Alford, George Altomare, Amy Arundell, LeRoy Barr, Jackie Bennett, Hannah Brown, David Campbell, Joseph Colletti, Catherine Creegan, Evelyn DeJesus, Crystal Deoraj, Doug Friedlander, Anthony Harmon, Sarah Herman, Janella Hinds, Junior Linton, Joe LoVerde, Samantha Mark, Deidre McFadyen, Michael Murphy, Gabriel Nott, Suzanne Popadin, Debra Poulos, Jeffrey Povalitis, Nadine Reis, Sterling Roberson, Michael Sill, Anne Silverstein, Geofrey Sorkin, Rosemarie Thompson, Miriam Vega, and Shelvy Young-Abrams.