“I’m walking away with materials and ideas I can implement and apply right away,” said teacher Cheryl Saunders as her busy day at the second annual UFT Middle School Conference on Feb. 28 drew to a close. “I’m so grateful for this organization that addresses our challenges and supports our needs, and so proud to be a teacher.”

The math and science teacher from JHS 240 in Midwood contributed to the energy buzz at union headquarters as more than 450 educators took part in the daylong conference.

The educators attended two 90-minute workshops from a choice of 14 options, ranging from teaching math, science and social studies to LEGO in the classroom and digital literacy.

It was the interactive nature of most workshops that kept energy levels high throughout the day and that the participants found most rewarding.

“I loved the hands-on involvement,” explained Thalia Ann Bethel of PS 306 in East New York as she polished off her creative-writing assignment in the Igniting Writing workshop and joined in the discussion and critique of the work of the other authors in her group.

UFT President Michael Mulgrew welcomed the capacity crowd that filled Shanker Hall on a wintry Saturday morning and thanked them for “the passion and dedication you bring to your profession” and for having “the patience of saints.”

Keynote speaker Daniel Dromm, a teacher for 31 years and now chair of the City Council Education Committee, voiced his opposition to raising the charter school cap and “corporatizing” education.

“Education is not a business and not about producing robots,” Dromm insisted. “Those who fund the governor fund charters. Follow the money.”

Dromm introduced himself as a “proud teacher, proud chapter leader and proud to fight Cuomo.”

UFT Vice President for Middle Schools Richard Mantell used an Einstein quote — “In the middle of a difficulty lies opportunity” — to sum up the theme of this year’s conference. He invoked both Spider-Man and the 18th-century philosopher Voltaire in describing the quest of educators to meet the challenges of teaching middle school students.

Mantell spoke about “what it means to be in the middle of the twists and turns of adolescence” and the skills of educators who “must tiptoe through the minefields of middle school.”

Ben Schwartz of IS 49 on Staten Island, a 27-year veteran music teacher, said he returned this year after having a great experience at last year’s conference.

“I just love learning new stuff,” said Schwartz. “It’s energizing.”