About 250 UFT members from academic high schools across the city gathered at union headquarters on April 25 to recognize the achievements of their colleagues and school communities. The celebration featured all the pomp and circumstance warranted in marking 10 years since the first Academic High Schools Awards.

UFT Vice President for Academic High Schools Janella Hinds stressed how crucial it is for high school educators to “actively cultivate joy, as doing so is an act of resistance” amid the challenges they have faced in the decade since the division’s inaugural awards night. This year’s honorees, their loved ones and colleagues nodded in recognition as Hinds recounted some of those challenges: COVID-19 and remote learning, immigrant safety, gun violence and the impact of social media on students.

“This work demands our strength, courage, often our resistance and always our unwavering solidarity,” Hinds told the attendees.

The UFT Academic High Schools Division gave out 21 awards, including five Team High School Awards, eight Outstanding Union Activist Awards, six Excellence in Education Awards and two Community Champion Awards.

UFT paraprofessional representative Ashlee Muniz of Mott Hall V in the Bronx, who received an Outstanding Union Activist Award, said she stepped into her role as a paraprofessional representative after winning a grievance, with the union’s support, over being assigned work outside her contractual duties.

But, Muniz said, she wants her members to know that the union is about more than fighting contract violations. She plans fun activities at her school to build solidarity. This school year, Muniz organized a Valentine’s Day scavenger hunt, a bingo game and a spirit week just for staff.

“Being involved in the union is such a positive experience, and it’s good to help people understand that we’re here to bring unity,” she said.

One of this year’s Team High School Awards, bestowed on an entire school community, went to Curtis HS on Staten Island. The school’s UFT Chapter Action Team organized a Walk Against Violence with nearby Ralph R. McKee Career and Technical Education HS last December after two gun-related incidents in the neighborhood in September. Since then, UFT members at Curtis have worked with the administration to hire new school aides to augment the security team and installed a Safer Access security system for the school entrance.

Curtis Chapter Leader Chris Alena credits the organizing success to the school’s close-knit school community. “A lot of our staff were students here and now their children go here,” he said. “When you have those tight relationships, it’s easy to persuade people to take action.”

The Excellence in Education Award, which recognizes outstanding teachers in each borough, went this year to six women who teach social studies and science.

Recipient Melisa Pinto, who teaches history at Queens Gateway to Health Sciences Secondary School, said she appreciated the recognition in a time when the political environment is alarming for many women who teach in those disciplines.

Pinto, who’s been teaching for almost 29 years, said high school teachers nationwide are feeling pressure to change how they teach U.S. history. “But all we talk about is the truth of what happened in the past and connect it to the present,” she said.

Pinto said she will never forget this year’s awards celebration. “I don’t look for praise,” she said, “but getting that recognition from the union felt amazing.”