UFT President Michael Mulgrew visited the staff of PS 272 in Canarsie, Brooklyn, for a wide-ranging discussion that included an update on UFT contract talks, the upcoming mayoral election and teacher evaluations.

New research is finally catching up to what most educators already know: A decade of teaching to the state tests has not produced deep learning or well-educated students.

PS 38 in Staten Island’s Midland Beach took quite a pounding from Hurricane Sandy. Flooding caused the loss of most of its classroom libraries and supplies although, thanks to a quick cleanup of the gymnasium and donations of food and clothing that were set up there, the school was able to remain open as an emergency community center, providing much-needed supplies to devastated families.

UFT members from the union’s Family Child Care Provider, United Cerebral Palsy of New York and Bureau of Non-Public Schools chapters joined UFT President Michael Mulgrew for a Valentine’s Day “Meet the President” event at UFT headquarters on Feb. 14. Mulgrew spoke to the group about rising income inequality, the upcoming mayoral race and specific issues faced by each of the three different chapters in attendance.

UFT President Michael Mulgrew met with 70 Richmond Hill HS teachers and staff on Feb. 13 to view conditions at the schools, one of the 24 “turnaround” schools that the DOE tried to “close” and reopen with new names in order to replace half the staff until an arbitrator blocked the maneuver. Members thanked Mulgrew for securing their jobs and the school’s future. The chapter told Mulgrew that the school is improving, despite hurdles such as severe overcrowding. On his tour, Mulgrew saw 22 trailers used as classrooms despite a longstanding DOE pledge to build an annex.

Members from the Brooklyn and Bronx RTC sections attended their annual meetings, where they discussed the most recent information about pensions, retiree programs and services.

About 50 UFT members joined a march across Brooklyn Bridge and rally at City Hall on Feb. 10 in support of striking school bus drivers and matrons from Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1181.

The 53rd annual Greater Metropolitan New York Social Studies Conference was built around a theme — Social Studies: A Mosaic of Historic Global Connections — that echoed in a wide range of workshops.

A large crowd of 340 UFT members, other union supporters and local elected officials turned out to celebrate black history month at the UFT African Heritage Committee’s 10th annual awards dinner dance on Feb. 1 in Queens Village. The theme was “Answering the Call,” commemorating the 50th anniversary of the famous March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.