Around the UFT
Daily News Hometown Heroes in Education Awards
6 members honored
Six UFT members were among the honorees in the third annual Daily News Hometown Heroes in Education Awards. Michael Konstalid, one of the honorees, is a physical therapist who uses his carpentry skills to build custom furniture for disabled students in public schools around the city. “It’s terrific, a great honor,” said Konstalid. “I’m hearing from other teachers inspired to do something similar. It doesn’t end with me.”
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New York Daily News
Scott Krivitsky
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New York Daily News
Scott Kutza
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Abeda Khanam
Also recognized was Scott Krivitsky, from PS 188 in Brooklyn, who created the first elementary school robotics program at his school. “I am very honored to receive the award for something I love doing every day,” said Krivitsky. “My goal is to expand the STEM pipeline with this program.”
Four other public school teachers were recognized: Abeda Khanam, a science teacher at the Robert Wagner Jr. Secondary School of Technology in Queens, who inspires her students with hands-on experiments; Theresa Kutza, a teacher and former nurse who includes medical ethics in her lesson plans at New Dorp HS on Staten Island; Patrick Wanninkhof, a former teacher at Fordham HS for the Arts in the Bronx who died this summer on a bike ride to raise money for affordable housing; and Rockeia Graham, a teacher at the Excelsior Preparatory HS in Queens who developed a successful approach to help high school students improve their essay writing on the Regents exam.
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New York Daily News
Michael Konstalid
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New York Daily News
Rockeia Graham
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New York Daily News
Patrick Wanninkhof
The awards were handed out at a breakfast at the Edison Ballroom on Oct. 1, where UFT officials, including President Michael Mulgrew, joined in the celebration.