Tickets are still available for the UFT Spring Education Conference — the union’s signature education event of the year — on Saturday, April 26, at the New York Hilton Hotel in midtown. The deadline to purchase tickets is April 11.

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Last year, nearly 2,000 UFT members and education advocates were on hand, and most of them arrived bright and early for the popular town hall session.

This year’s morning town hall will feature Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña.

Fariña has said her focus is improving middle schools and professional development for teachers. Fariña has also said she would like to move away from high-stakes testing, and she has stressed the importance of improving communication and collaboration between the Department of Education and parents and teachers.

The chancellor will address the crowd and members will have the opportunity to ask her questions.

“Since she’s taken the job, the chancellor has been telling me she wants to hear from the educators,” UFT President Michael Mulgrew said. “This will give her a chance to explain her priorities to our members, and also give her a chance to find out what our members feel those priorities should be.”

Conference participants will attend two workshops of their choice. The offerings include: using digital technology in the classroom; practitioner-developed and student-focused performance assessments; making, managing and refining school program partnerships; building a comprehensive early childhood foundation; using Apple technology to transform classroom learning; and using support strategies to address challenging student behavior.

Read detailed descriptions of the workshops >>

The event will also feature an exhibitors’ fair and a gala luncheon, at which Mulgrew will deliver an address.