Tom Brown reelected TRS trustee
Tom Brown
Tom Brown, UFT assistant treasurer and the current chair of the Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS) Board, was decisively reelected to a three-year term as a TRS Board trustee, according to results released by the city Department of Education on June 2.
A Spanish teacher of 29 years and UFT chapter leader for 18, Brown began working in the UFT Pension Department in 1997. He has served on the TRS Board for the last 12 years and has participated in retirement and pension boards across New York State and the nation.
The reelection vote — which was open only to in-service TRS members — was conducted by the DOE at schools on May 13. Besides UFT members, those represented by the Council of School Supervisors and Administrators and CUNY’s Professional Staff Congress also voted for the position.
Christina McGrath, one of the three teacher-members on the TRS Board, said she feels that UFT members could not be in better hands. “Working side by side with Tom, I know that his commitment to safeguarding the pensions of New York City’s educators is unparalleled,” she said. “He’s on the phone with members every day helping them navigate the system, and there’s nothing more important to him than making sure that our people are taken care of.”
McGrath noted that Brown has been a staunch advocate for many notable pension reforms, such as five-year vesting, final average salary calculation reduced from five to three years for Tier 6 members, pension credit for discharged LGBTQ+ military veterans and the recent significant win that lowered the retirement age for Tier 6 members to 58, from 63, after 30 years of service.
Brown was endorsed by the Delegate Assembly on Feb. 11 for reelection as a teacher-member of TRS. The resolution to endorse Brown, who currently serves as chair of the TRS Board, was approved with 83% of the delegate vote.
Brown said he was “humbled and deeply grateful” to be reelected to the TRS Board. “The confidence that the UFT membership has shown in me is inspiring. I look forward to continuing to serve New York City retirees with dedication and integrity.”
The seven-member TRS Board consists of three teacher-members, the city comptroller, the schools chancellor and two mayoral appointees.