Leigh Anderson
New York Teacher Senior Editor/Reporter
‘Scaffolding students’ dreams’
Will Dulin, a third-year teacher at Pathways to Graduation in Jamaica, Queens, takes pains to truly see his CTE students, helping them to forge pathways to educational success even when they can't quite envision them themselves.
Union wins more money for subs
After the UFT’s dogged advocacy, about 90 long-term substitute teachers received the higher pay and medical benefits they deserved before the end of the school year. In the 2024-25 school year, the UFT plans to keep up the fight to quickly secure Q-status for eligible long-term substitute teachers.
Introducing UFT Childcare Connection
This summer, the union launched Childcare Connection, a benefit to help UFT members find out if they qualify for free or reduced-cost child care as well as to find home-based child care providers near their home or work.
Union membership has its privileges
Membership in the UFT means never having to figure it out all alone, with union support and resources across the spectrum of financial, physical and mental wellness. Here is a list of resources available to UFT members.
Creating a ladder of learning
New special education teacher Emily Hang Duong, who teaches math and science at IS 234 in Brooklyn, motivates her students by never letting them forget that they have every opportunity to grow.
Request a selfie
Kindergarten teacher Samantha Shekian created a “request a selfie” station to give students the chance to request a photo of themselves and the work of which they are proud. Then she sends the photo to their parents.
New teachers join UFT’s ranks
About 1,500 new teachers became proud new members of the UFT at the opening day of the Department of Education’s annual New Teacher Week.
Spring Education Conference
UFT President Michael Mulgrew celebrated educators' resolve and hard work in the face of challenges as more than 1,000 UFT members turned out for the union's Spring Education Conference, which featured a town hall on literacy and a keynote speech by First Lady Jill Biden.
Good old-fashioned fun
The UFT welcomed its newest members this spring with a series of events, from bowling and arcades to nature walks and paint and sips, geared to build community, connection and camaraderie.
Speaking her students’ language
Candy Jorge, a Spanish teacher at Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School in Manhattan, came to the United States from her native Dominican Republic at the age of 17 with nothing. Now the 9th-grade team leader develops and implements curriculum infused with texts rooted in Latino culture to model success for her primarily Dominican students.