Leigh Anderson
New York Teacher Senior Editor/Reporter
Nurse Recognition Day
The Federation of Nurses/UFT honored 21 nurses for their patient advocacy and activism in the face of a health care landscape that puts profits before patients during its annual Nurse Recognition Day awards dinner.
Better Speech and Hearing Month Celebration
The city's speech teachers and their students were honored at the UFT's Better Speeh and Hearing Celebration, where a wide variety of therapies that speech teachers provide were highlighted.
Still fighting the good fight
The UFT’s Retired Teachers Chapter hosted a celebratory luncheon on March 6 to recognize 68 educators who have been union members for 50, 60 or more years.
With a song in his heart
“There is no music like live music. It’s a transcendent experience,” says Thomas Wright, the new music teacher at Edward R. Murrow HS in Midwood, Brooklyn.
Wright, who previously taught elsewhere in the country, took the job in September, attracted by Murrow’s robust music department.
Preparing for tenure
It is important for teachers in their probationary period (which lasts four years and a day) to be proactive about communicating with the principal about earning tenure and staying on top of their certification requirements.
Ask George
Members with questions about their union rights and benefits can now ask George, the UFT’s automated and interactive UFT Member Hub guide.
School Counselors Conference
About 250 school counselors enjoyed a packed day of professional development, networking and some precious camaraderie with fellow counselors for the union's 20th annual School Counselors Conference.
'Giving control to the people doing the work'
The Progressive Redesign Opportunity Schools for Excellence (PROSE) program, which affords schools the freedom to experiment and innovate, is marking its 10th anniversary this school year. Nearly 300 teachers, chapter leaders and principals from the now 217 PROSE schools citywide gathered at union headquarters on Dec. 12 to celebrate.
‘A game-changer’
Thanks to the PROSE program, Concord HS, a transfer high school for students ages 16 to 21 on Staten Island, has been able to revamp its school hours to meet the needs of its unique student population, who have not thrived in a traditional high school. That flexible schedule means that students don’t have to choose between school and shifts at Amazon or other work.
New agreement for VNS Health nurses
Federation of Nurses/UFT members who are Licensed Nurses employed by VNS Health overwhelmingly ratified a contract on Jan. 29 that provides a 15% pay increase over two years, additional money for experience differentials and improvements in scheduling.