UFT President Michael Mulgrew (center) with chapter leaders (from left) Tim Rankin of Bronx Alliance MS, Carolyn Cristofalo of MS 142, Jamie Polzin of Baychester MS and Jeralyn Fuller of One World MS during the visit to their building on May 5.

Alice Cooper-Jackson, the UFT District 11 representative, and Ian Kanakaris, a music teacher at One World MS.

Stephanie Frisina and her husband Dominic Frisina, both teachers at One World MS, listen as Mulgrew addresses the group.

UFT Bronx Borough Representative Howard Schoor with Chapter Leader Carolyn Cristofalo (left) and payroll secretary Denise Humphrey, both from MS 142, which is scheduled to close this year. “We had a strong community of teachers,” said Cristofalo. “It’s bittersweet.”

Mulgrew chats with Jamie Polzin, the Baychester MS chapter leader. Polzin said that about 75 percent of the teachers in her school are just starting out and she invited Mulgrew to boost morale. “I wanted them to feel a support system other than myself,” she said.

Teachers Peter Klueber (left) and John Trumpy of the Bronx Alliance MS discuss the issues after the meeting.

UFT District Representative Alice Cooper-Jackson (right) with Bronx Alliance MS secretary Michelle Minetti.

UFT members from four middle schools listen as Mulgrew discusses the importance of teacher retention. “If we can get teacher retention over 65 percent, you’d see a great lift in student achievement,” he said. Mulgrew also praised the teachers for doing a job that is “harder than we’ll ever let on.”