Leigh Anderson
New York Teacher Senior Editor/Reporter
Standing union strong
Some 750 members — the union’s largest bargaining committee ever — gathered at UFT headquarters for their first in-person meeting to start the work of crafting demands and negotiating a new DOE-UFT contract.
Making the most of having a mentor
First-year teachers who have not had prior teaching experience are entitled to one-to-one mentoring. Find out all you need to know about making the most of this time set aside for you to receive confidential and nonevaluative support.
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walks
Hundreds of UFT members in all five boroughs and on Long Island participated in the Strides walks on the last two Sundays in October, raising money and awareness in support of breast cancer research and the fight for a cure.
Wear Pink Day 2026
All across the city on Oct. 14, UFT members donned pink shirts, pants, shoes and assorted flair to celebrate breast cancer survivors, pay tribute to loved ones who have died from the disease and raise awareness about the importance of early detection.
Early childhood civics lesson
Queens teacher Johanna McNeal shares how a crafted ballot box in her classroom can teach pre-K and kindergarten students vocabulary, math as well as the importance of voting.
Tips for preparing your classroom
Arranging your classroom in a way that works for you and your students is an important first step toward a successful year. Veteran teachers share ideas and tips on help you set up your classroom — whether for the very first time or as part of a refresh after the summer.
Phys ed teacher goes the extra mile
Physical education teacher Jenine DeMarzo brings culture and connection to her incarcerated students at St. John’s Residence for Boys in Queens by setting up a makeshift pickleball court in her classroom.
Ready to fight for our rights
A record 750 members have volunteered to help negotiate the next DOE-UFT contract, which is set to expire on Nov. 28, 2027. Planning for the upcoming rounds of bargaining is already underway.
Creative approach yields big results
Teaching is a natural fit for the creative and energetic Selinda Edwards of IS 117 in the Bronx.
Colleagues say her thoughtful and dynamic teaching style is yielding big results with her 6th- and 7th-grade math students.
Building fluency with basic math facts
A 4th-grade math teacher at PS 284 in Brownsville, Brooklyn, outfits her classroom with a colorful math calendar that builds fluency and grounds them in the start of the school day.