George Altomare, a founder of the UFT who led with insight, devotion and a great deal of heart, died on Aug. 20, at age 92 after a long illness. He loved teaching and dedicated his life to improving public school education for New York City students...

The UFT in August won an important grievance filed on behalf of guidance counselors at a Queens middle school who were forced by their principal to cover for the teacher assigned to their school’s SAVE room, instead of meeting with students that they...

After striking for more than three weeks in November, the Portland, Oregon school district and the union representing teachers, school counselors and other employees reached an agreement that boosts salaries and planning time. But the new contract...

This school year, as outside consultants took over most of the training, teachers grew increasingly frustrated with their lack of voice and the lack of support. So we headed to the bargaining table to demand changes. The revised curriculum policy...

The expectations that society puts on teachers are as old as time, but this year, it’s gone to a whole new level. I knew going into this year we would have our work cut out for us.

UFT members expressed their growing concern with the Trump administration’s policies and the threat of cuts to education funding by rallying in the streets and wearing red in schools as part of an AFT national Day of Action.

The UFT posthumously honored two accomplished members who died this year and presented their families with memorial plaques: Ron Jones, a former vice president for elementary schools, and Richard Miller, a former vice president of middle schools.


Summer is a good time to check on any outstanding items needed for state certification or to review state education policies if you are being appointed under a different license this upcoming school year. Read answers to common questions below and be...

As a paraprofessional interested in an education career, the UFT’s Career Training Program helped me obtain a DOE voucher to earn my bachelor’s in early childhood education and psychology

More than two dozen new members from Manhattan schools turned out for some food, fun and fellowship on Jan. 24 at the UFT's new member event at a Manhattan bowling lounge.

Tom Murphy, the union's political director for 16 years and the chair of the Retired Teachers Chapter for 15, received the Charles Cogen Award, the union's highest honor, at Teacher Union Day on Nov. 3.

The cold, short days of late winter can drain even the most enthusiastic teachers and students. Seasoned educators know that keeping kids — and themselves — engaged and energetic requires some strategic planning. Here are a few tips from veterans to...

Spring was in the air on March 19 at the UFT’s 14th annual Early Childhood Conference, where laughter, play and learning emerged after a difficult winter for nearly 400 educators — a blend of in-person participants at UFT headquarters and remote...

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Sept. 8 signed into law landmark legislation that will lower class sizes in New York City by a third over the next six years, closing a decades-long gap in class sizes between the city and the rest of the state.

New York City public school educators delivered testimony before the Rockefeller Institute of Government’s hearing on the state Foundation Aid Formula.

UFT President Michael Mulgrew delivered testimony before the New York City Council Committee on Education on the city's preliminary budget for fiscal year 2026.

In presenting the Cogen Award to UFT Treasurer Debra Penny, UFT President Michael Mulgrew spoke of her compassion. “It’s the humanity she brings to her job at all times,” he said. “She’s just a person who never stops caring.”

As a result of intense negotiations with the DOE over educators’ concerns with the NYC Reads curriculum, the city Department of Education has released key policy updates to all elementary school educators and principals.

For some teachers, summer is the time to take teacher institutes offered by notable organizations across the country that provide practical and unique learning experiences expressly designed for educators. 


Bronx teacher Jamala Roper asked her 5th-graders to reveal their emotions “to” their masks. "Every emotion you can think of was shared behind their masks," she says.

Thanks to the PROSE program, Concord HS, a transfer high school for students ages 16 to 21 on Staten Island, has been able to revamp its school hours to meet the needs of its unique student population, who have not thrived in a traditional high...

As any seasoned teacher will tell you, it’s important to start the school year off on a good note. Along with essentials like reviewing classroom rules and units of study, ice breakers play a key role in setting the right tone and building rapport...

Pets in the Classroom, a program that gives financial support to pre-K through 9th-grade teachers for small animals to keep in their classrooms, provides teachers with one initial voucher or rebate to purchase a pet and necessary supplies and then a...

The dynamism of New York City’s career and technical education high schools was on display at the exhibit hall during the conference. Teachers and students from 17 schools across the city shared their passions and projects.

UFT leadership delivered testimony before the New York City Council Education Committee on their financial support of various UFT initiatives.

UFT Vice President for Education Mary Vaccaro submitted testimony to the New York City Council Education Committee oversight hearing on COVID impact on English language learners.

Some 30 educators, academics, activists and representatives from community-based organizations gathered together on Nov. 29 for a Summit to Support Newcomers to discuss how to best assist educators confronted with the thousands of asylum-seeking...

Play fosters a lasting love of learning, and must be protected in early childhood classrooms. Research overwhelmingly reinforces the benefits of play-based instruction. Children who engage in cooperative play generally have higher self-esteem, and...

UFT President Michael Mulgrew submitted testimony to the City Council on the coming fiscal year's city education budget.

About 425 school staff, students, community leaders and local elected officials packed Villa Barone Manor in the Bronx for the UFT District 11 Scholarship Dinner Dance, which raised more than $10,000 for scholarships for District 11 students.

I have been an occupational therapist for the city for over eight years. I love working with children inside and outside the classroom. However, it seems to me in all the schools I’ve been in (I’ve worked in more than 13 schools, including a number...

Hundreds of protesters demanded that the city Department of Education restore more than $215 million in school budget cuts at a rally on June 24 outside City Hall, where the City Council was holding an emergency hearing to probe the reductions in the...

There is a lot at stake in the 2022 Florida midterm elections, with races for the governor’s office, a U.S. Senate seat and congressional seats. Retired Teachers Chapter Leader Tom Murphy and political action coordinators in Florida are seeking...

UFT members and their families who participated in the the the union's eighth annual 5K family run/walk on May 14 raised more than $5,000 for the UFT Disaster Relief Fund to benefit educators and their families in war-torn Ukraine.

The garden at PS 146 in Howard Beach, Queens, is a place of learning and encourages gratitude, and therefore responsibility, for the natural world.

Nearly 180 children living in temporary housing gather at UFT headquarters for the union's annual Thanksgiving Luncheon. They enjoyed the dozens of activity tables and an early Thanksgiving dinner before leaving with a new coat, gloves and hat.