Hannah Brown
New York Teacher Reporter
Unafraid to speak up and speak out
UFT members share first-person accounts recounting their success resolving issues through the special education complaint process. The process is a powerful tool to safeguard students' welfare as well as members' workplace rights and members should not be afraid to employ it.
Talented triple threat
A team of three co-teachers at Harlem's Urban Assembly School for Global Commerce use their diverse teaching talents to help their students make huge leaps in ELA and ENL, earning them an Excellence in Education Award at this year's UFT Academic High School Awards.
Member Assistance Program’s Let’s Talk About It
Hundreds of middle school students took part in social-emotional learnng at the sixth annual Let’s Talk About It event in Queens, brought by the UFT’s Member Assistance Program (MAP), the MindUP social-emotional learning program and the UFT Teacher Center.
2026 Academic High Schools Awards
Some 300 members joined the UFT's Academic High Schools division to celebrate a broad spectrum of contributions across the city’s public school system. Excellence in Education awards honored teachers recognized for innovative pedagogy, while Community Champion awards celebrated school-related professionals who fostered warm and inclusive environments within their schools.
Educators Night on Broadway
Some 500 UFT members enjoyed a performance of Broadway's "Buena Vista Social Club," the featured event of this year's Educators Night on Broadway, an annual collaboration between the Broadway League and the UFT.
UFT Players performance
At their annual Original Plays Festival, held March 12 and 13 at UFT headquarters in Manhattan, the UFT Players Committee, a spirited troupe of educators-turned-performers, brought six original short plays to life—each one brimming with humor, heart, and just the right touch of the unexpected.
Matthew Colacurto
Matthew Colacurto helps noncompensatory students on a second pathway to educational success as a teacher with Pathways to Graduation, a program for those for whom traditional high school does not fit for reasons including housing or food insecurity, or the need to work full-time.
Therapists win 9th session
The diligent advocacy of the UFT and OT/PT members has resulted in the city Department of Education finally implementing a long-delayed policy allowing occupational and physical therapists to work a voluntary ninth session for additional pay.
Members push back against principal
Educators at Flushing High School called on the UFT and took a stand when the principal initiated a program that resulted in isolating ELL students. Instead addressing students' learning and language issues, they were isolated in two windowless classrooms, apart from their peers, except for lunch and physical education. Educators raised objections immediately and then went to work to fight back.
Paraprofessionals Awards Luncheon
More than 1,000 members and guests turned out to affirm the work of paraprofessionals at the annual Paraprofessional Awards Luncheon. A total of 16 honorees were recognized for their work supporting students across the city, with UFT leaders reaffirming their commitment to win passage of the RESPECT check legislation.