Sandy Scragg
New York Teacher Reporter
All about the NYCE PPO plan
The NYC Employees PPO (NYCE PPO) health care plan will replace the GHI CBP plan for in-service city workers and pre-Medicare retirees on Jan. 1, 2026. The following are answers to members’ most common questions.
Tech tools to foster SEL skills
While it may seem counterintuitive to use technology to teach social-emotional skills, online resources make SEL strategies and curriculum more accessible and engaging, which helps boost their use.
Student journalism as ‘participatory civics’
A handful of New York City teachers, as part of the citywide Journalism for All initiative, are leading a revival: bringing back student journalism to public high schools.
Injuries in the line of duty
Pedagogical DOE employees who are injured or made sick on the job are covered by the Line of Duty Injury provision of the DOE-UFT contract — not workers’ compensation. The following Q&A answers some of the most frequently asked questions about Line of Duty Injury benefits and how to apply for them.
Building rapport from the start
As any seasoned teacher will tell you, it’s important to start the school year off on a good note. Along with essentials like reviewing classroom rules and units of study, ice breakers play a key role in setting the right tone and building rapport with a new group of students.
Doing a technology inventory
The start of the year is a good time to consider what equipment you have on hand, what you may need to obtain, your classroom protocols related to technology, and what technology projects you’d like to pursue. Here is a framework for doing this inventory
AI academy launches
This summer, the AFT and the UFT announced a $23 million partnership with Microsoft, Open AI and Anthropic to forge a first-of-its-kind teacher institute for artificial intelligence: the National Academy for AI Instruction.
The ins and outs of state certification
Summer is a good time to check on any outstanding items needed for state certification or to review state education policies if you are being appointed under a different license this upcoming school year. Read answers to common questions below and be sure to log in to your New York State TEACH account to check your progress.
Helping students identify real vs. fake
If someone possesses “information literacy,” they can find, evaluate and effectively use sources of information. With the advent of social media and AI, it’s become easier and easier to spread mis- and disinformation. How can we help our students differentiate between reliable sources of information and those with ulterior motives?
Stop shelving school libraries
Approximately 30% of New York City schools don’t have libraries, and there are only 250 certified school librarians throughout a system with more than 1,800 schools. School libraries are needed more than ever.