Surrounded on three sides by sea life at the New York Aquarium in Coney Island on May 29 are (from left) Brooklyn paraprofessionals hyda Abdelaziz of PS 312 in Bergen Beach and Shazia Saleem of PS 99 in Midwood, and a fellow visitor.
Teacher Kenneth Maxwell of PS 312 in Bergen Beach, Brooklyn, checks out the harbor seats at the New York Aquarium.
The UFT’s New Member Initiative and Member Assistance Program welcomed new educators this school year with activity-based events in all five boroughs to foster fun, community and learning.
As UFT Vice President Karen Alford, the head of the New Member Initiative, explained, “An educator’s first few years can be challenging, so supporting one another is critical to members’ success in the classroom and career longevity.” All UFT members who joined the union in the last three years were welcome.
In the Bronx, the Oct. 10 bingo night in the borough office included prizes and refreshments as well as opportunities for members to learn about their rights and benefits.
On Feb. 26, Ricky Dong, a teacher at Cardozo HS in Bayside, Queens, braved the icy post-blizzard conditions to go to a new member event at a bowling alley in Woodside. Though initially nervous to attend, he quickly bonded with colleagues while discussing classroom management strategies.
Teacher Leyi Zhong (left) and paraprofessional Xiu Yun Zhang, both of IS 223 in Borough Park, Brooklyn, take a selfie at the new member event at Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden on Staten Island on April 30.
A new member lets one roll at a gathering at a bowling alley in Queens on Feb. 26.
Dong enjoyed himself so much, he signed up for a second event, the new member outing at Coney Island’s New York Aquarium, where the Wildlife Conservation Society led an interactive workshop for members on May 29. The CTLE workshop consisted of group discussion and activities focused on place-based learning and bringing real-world experiences into the classroom.
“Especially as new teachers, we need these resources,” Dong said.
Andrene Richards, a 4th-grade ICT teacher at PS 6 in Brooklyn, agreed. “Because it’s my first year, I just want to learn all I can,” she said.
On April 30, members enjoyed an intimate tour of the Chinese Scholar’s Garden — one of only two such gardens in the United States — at Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden on Staten Island.
New members study their bingo cards at the new member event at the Bronx borough office on Oct. 10.
The series of events closed with a game night scheduled for June 18 at the UFT Manhattan borough office.
Members who attended the gatherings found connection, enjoyment, information and professional development.
“It’s just nice to be around other educators in an interactive environment,” remarked Kenneth Maxwell, a special education teacher at PS 312 in Brooklyn who attended the aquarium event. “It comes with a certain mentality when you’re dedicating yourself to public education.”