Brooklyn native Vanecia Wilson, a UFT special representative and 31-year veteran educator, continues her advocacy on behalf of teachers, students and school communities as the union’s new political director.

Wilson, who was appointed in June by UFT President Michael Mulgrew, has been a special representative in the Brooklyn borough office for the past nine years. For seven of them, she was the borough’s political action coordinator.

Wilson fought for the rights of her students and school community as a classroom teacher and broadened her focus to include the political arena when she saw that many issues affecting education are outside the control of educators, Mulgrew said.

“Vanecia’s political work has been grounded in protecting and investing in our public schools,” he said. “As the UFT's new political director, she will be continuing and expanding this vital work, and we are glad that she is taking on this new role.”

Wilson, the first Black woman to hold the position, is tasked with engaging and empowering members on the UFT’s legislative and policy priorities, developing partnerships with elected officials and school communities, and coordinating electoral efforts.

Wilson said she wanted members to be more aware that political action “is crucial to the growth of our profession and the growth of our public school system because it’s what we’re going to use to bring a voice to what’s needed most to grow our students, to grow our schools, to grow our profession.”

Wilson became a teacher to “empower children with knowledge” and spark a passion for lifelong learning, she said. From 1998–2013, she taught pre-kindergarten through 3rd grade at PS/IS 332 in Brownsville, Brooklyn, and took on the chapter leader role for seven years. She became active in the union to ensure educators knew their rights and had a strong voice at the school.

“I became an advocate because I believe in justice for all, and I believe speaking truth to power commands the attention of the public to seek equality, equity and enlightenment,” she said.

PS/IS 332 was one of the first city public schools to be targeted by a charter school wanting to co-locate, Wilson said. When the DOE announced plans to close it, there was a community outcry against the plan. Wilson – known for her oratory ability – organized and led protests against it.

“At that moment, I just felt like this is what being in a union looks like. This is true activism,” she said.

While their fight was successful, the DOE closed PS/IS 332 several years later.

Karen Alford, the UFT’s vice president for elementary schools, was district representative when Wilson was chapter leader. Wilson was a “phenomenal” leader who was organized and vocal, tackled problems immediately and was able to work with an administration that was at times difficult, said Alford. She also had a gift for building relationships and “making members feel seen and heard.”

Wilson worked part time for the union while teaching and became a full-time special representative at the Brooklyn borough office in 2014. She was the environmental health and safety liaison for the borough, handled grievances, filled in as an interim district representative and coordinated political action.

Wilson said she is guided both by her strong faith and her desire for social justice. She has taken on the roles of educator and advocate in her religious life since the 1990s, serving as a youth minister, Sunday school director and chief curriculum officer in her congregations.

Wilson received her master’s in divinity from the New York Theological Seminary in 2002 and currently is pastor of congregational life at the Agape Tabernacle International Fellowship in Brooklyn. She describes herself as an “arm of support” — someone who provides spiritual and everyday guidance to parishioners.

“I relate to people. I don’t have a problem meeting people where they are and just listening to people,” she said.

Brooklyn Borough Representative Elizabeth Perez said Wilson’s passion for what she does is rooted in her commitment to fighting for civil and human rights. She also has a “sixth sense of knowing people and knowing what they feel.”

“She’s organized, she’s thorough,” she said, “and she is a spiritual, loving, dedicated individual and that shows every day in what she does.”