UFT members at the six sites that make up District 31 Pre-K Centers on Staten Island are no longer staying silent in the face of mistreatment from their principal, thanks to Chapter Leader Amy Craine.

For five years, the principal has ignored members’ contractual rights and “relies on confusion, fear, intimidation, hostility and dismissive behavior to create a toxic work environment,” according to Craine.

“It should be a wonderful place to work but it’s not because of who they’ve given us as a leader,” she said.

Not willing to continue in such a hostile environment, 33 UFT members have resigned over the past five years, she said.

Craine, the chapter leader since 2020, has tapped into her members’ anger to organize a stronger chapter with staff willing to speak out and hold the principal accountable.

Craine has filed 21 grievances since the 2021–22 school year on contractual violations and staff issues, including unsatisfactory ratings, untimely letters to file, denial of paraprofessional release time, failure to provide preps and more.

In June, she rallied her members for a vote of no confidence in the principal. Ninety-six percent of the roughly 130 members at the six sites — also known as Richmond Pre-K Centers (Cohort B) — supported the vote.

She has organized a strong, engaged chapter action team with representation from all six sites to mobilize members. The CAT turned out members for two Panel for Educational Policy meetings this fall, where they voiced their concerns and urged panelists to intervene.

Students, families and staff “deserve a principal who will take responsibility and support everyone, not someone who hides in their office and places blame on anyone to avoid taking responsibility,” she said during the open session at the October PEP meeting.

Craine is a strong leader who “has rallied the school,” said Kelly Baldino, a teacher and CAT member. Under Craine’s leadership, she said the CAT has strengthened communication among staff at all sites, ensuring the message about what members want stays consistent “and that we’re continuing fighting until we get a result.”