UFT President Michael Mulgrew takes questions from students in PS 197’s Self-Organized Learning Environment lab, where students work in groups to research questions on the Internet, during a visit to the school on Dec. 22. It is the only lab of its kind on the continent.

Mulgrew speaks with teachers at PS 133 about the new federal Every Student Succeeds Act, Gov. Cuomo’s recent about-face on teacher evaluations, and the Supreme Court case Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association, which threatens to torpedo public-sector unions’ financial base.

PS 133 Chapter Leader Kalvin Almonte poses with UFT District 5 Representative Zina Burton-Myrick and Mulgrew.

UFT District 5 Representative Zina Burton-Myrick (left) and Chapter Leader Kalvin Almonte listen as Mulgrew chats with PS 133 teachers Elvain Lovett and Maria Bonas (right).

PS 133 faculty and staff listen to Mulgrew’s presentation.

PS 133 teacher Alexis Grullon asks a question.

PS 197 Chapter Leader Conchita Fluitt poses with Mulgrew.

Listening to TED award winner Sugata Mitra — the Self Organized Learning Environment’s creator — via Skype from India in PS 197’s SOLE lab are (from left) PS 197 Chapter Leader Conchita Fluitt, Mulgrew, UFT District 5 Representative Zina Burton-Myrick and school staff and administrators.

Students are hard at work in PS 197’s SOLE lab.

Mulgrew and PS/IS 123 Chapter Leader Ernestine Augustus discuss issues at the school.

Mulgrew and PS/IS 123 Chapter Leader Ernestine Augustus stop by teacher Elona Mikelaj’s classroom.

UFT District 5 Representative Zina Burton-Myrick (right) chats with PS/IS 123 teacher Anna Marciszewska at the staff holiday party.