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Love as a language

While we tend to think of romantic love around Valentine’s Day, there’s also love of family and friends, self-love, and love of learning, nature, beauty and more.

School Counselors Chapter Newsletter - June 2026

Information about IPRs, excessing, performance reviews and personnel files.

School safety

School safety is a prerequisite for teaching and learning. The UFT’s Safety and Health Department is dedicated to protecting all UFT members from safety threats that can confront them in schools. Here are answers to some of the most common questions...

Truth or consequences

We can teach students to become critical consumers of information by teaching them information literacy. The goal is not just to help students distinguish between factual and fictional content but to encourage them to think critically about all the...

In support of caring and sharing

Caring for people in need and promoting equity were top of mind in the five resolutions UFT delegates approved at the Delegate Assembly on Nov. 19, including support for disaster relief in Jamaica and LGBTQIA+ rights.

Resolution in support of just, respectful and safe public safety practices for all

The United Federation of Teachers condemns all forms of police violence, particularly against Black individuals, and we encourage ongoing education and dialogue within our schools and communities to raise awareness about the impact of police violence...

Physical well-being

When it comes to being your best self, taking care of your physical health is one of the best ways to ensure your mental well-being.

Get some fresh air

Something as simple as being outside can improve your frame of mind. Seeing the world around you — clouds, birds, children and adults — can help you refocus away from yourself, which is helpful for anyone struggling with depression and anxiety.

The big lessons of smaller class sizes

Three teachers in Queens — the New York City borough with the most overcrowded classrooms — drive home the benefits of the state's class size law, which mandates smaller numbers of students per class, by sharing their experiences from the front lines...

Addiction & recovery

A growing number of people have turned to alcohol and other substances to deal with the stresses of the COVID-19 pandemic. If you are dealing with addiction or recovery, the UFT Member Assistance Program can help.

Daily meditation

Meditation can lower your stress level, reduce anxiety and depression, increase your ability to concentrate and bring a sense of calm and purpose to your life.

Finding a counselor

There are many reasons to seek counseling. But no matter what is motivating you to seek support, here are things to consider when finding a counselor who fits.

Cultivating joy

Find out how to cultivate joy on a daily basis and create an antidote to feeling miserable.

Healing from burnout

Burnout is a real risk for professionals in the helping professions, which include UFT members in education and health care. If you feel dread at the prospect of going to work, you may be suffering from this condition.

Recharge this summer

Everyone can benefit from a vacation during the summer months. Allowing yourself to take a true break also gives you the opportunity to cultivate new interests, catch up on reading, exercise (maybe even try a new form), painting, gardening or...

Preventing burnout

Most of us have stressful jobs with long hours and a range of challenges, and we may experience burnout as a result. Here are some signs of burnout and ways to address it.

Middle School Division scavenger hunt

Middle school members gathered in lower Manhattan for the Middle School Division's second annual scavenger hunt, scouring the Financial District for clues about the exploits of Founder Alexander Hamilton in the days leading up to the fateful duel...

Making moves to boost mood

Whether it's creating a dance troupe of educators at JHS 157 in Rego Park, Queens, or a walking club at PS 4 on Staten Island, teachers are creating opportunities for joy and self-care for themselves and their colleagues.

'Bronx plan' has bottom-up approach to helping schools

The Bronx plan in the proposed DOE-UFT contract to help schools that face the most challenges will be open to up to 120 schools, not just in the Bronx. These schools will receive additional funds and strategic support to better address the needs of...

Retirees stand up for workers

The Labor Solidarity Project connects RTC members with opportunities to support the labor movement as a whole. Members boost unionized workers' spirits, showing up on the picket lines in support of unionized workers as varied as those for theater...

Kudos to Amanda Dutton, PS 134, Manhattan

Amanda Dutton, the chapter leader at PS 134 in Manhattan, has stood up again and again for students with disabilities and the UFT members who work with those students at her school.

Humane education is a must

For over 100 years, New York State law has required elementary schools to teach students about the humane treatment and protection of animals, but many teachers are unaware of the legislation.
The UFT Humane Education Committee is working to change...

Managing stress

April is National Stress Prevention Month. Learn ways to manage stress that can benefit you all year round. You may not be able to fully eradicate stress from your life, but you can lessen it.

Switching schools

The Department of Education’s Open Market Transfer System gives UFT members the opportunity to transfer to a different school.

Tackling burnout

Educators have stressful jobs with long hours and a range of challenges, and they may experience burnout as a result. Here are some signs of burnout and ways to address it.

Some advice for handling challenging situations

As a new teacher, you are bound to encounter situations with students that are challenging to navigate. If you find yourself in one of the following situations, here is some guidance for making a plan of action.

Raising our voices for special education

UFT Vice President for Special Education MaryJo Ginese writes that our special education teachers, paraprofessionals and related service providers do incredible work supporting children with IEPs, but the DOE too often has not fulfilled its part.


Fostering fellowship on the fairway

Retiree Ann Mackey founded the Coastal New Jersey Chapter of the LPGA Amateurs, the recreational amateur arm of the Ladies Professional Golf Association, fostering fellowship on the fairway and empowering women, one golf swing at a time.

Addressing racial inequality

The historic uprising for Black lives in the summer of 2020 sparked educators at Brooklyn’s New Utrecht HS to launch an Equity Team to tackle racial inequality.

Stitching together the pieces in retirement

Louise Naples, a retired school secretary, has become an avid quilter in retirement. Her quilts were recently on display at The Center, a communal gathering space at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Kew Gardens, Queens.

Still fighting the good fight

The UFT’s Retired Teachers Chapter hosted a celebratory luncheon on March 6 to recognize 68 educators who have been union members for 50, 60 or more years. 


Battle to preserve premium-free health care

UFT President Michael Mulgrew warned at the Oct. 12 Delegate Assembly that the UFT and its fellow unions are entering a fierce battle to protect their premium-free health care.

Members win right to organize freely

UFT members at PS 35 in Hollis, Queens, won a hard-fought arbitration decision against a principal engaging in union animus. The decision confirms members’ rights to conduct union activity without interference or retaliation.

Summer thrills

Running through a sprinkler on a hot day. The taste of corn fresh from the grill. Swimming in a river, lake, ocean or pool. These are but a few of the joys of summer. Make sure to be in the moment and savor the simple pleasures of these long, bright...

Kindness, the cure that costs nothing

“Be kind, rewind” is a slogan that disappeared with VHS tapes, but it succinctly illustrates the basic elements of kindness: Even a small, seemingly trivial act can make life a little better for someone you don’t know.

The importance of being ‘seen’

Educators' extra efforts working collaboratively and leading their students at Francis Lewis HS in Queens paid off with an extra special Black History Month celebration featuring a number of high-profile speakers, including film director Malcolm Lee...