As always, it is the teachers in the classroom who are figuring out how best to serve their students in this unusual school year, with help from three hardworking union groups.

For one volunteer, the annual UFT-Coalition for the Homeless Christmas party in December at union headquarters in Manhattan was a chance to remember — and pay it forward.

This September, 3,000 new teachers have joined the city Department of Education’s ranks. Their interests and backgrounds are as diverse as New York City itself. But whether they teach 3-year-olds on Staten Island or high school biology in Brooklyn...

As early childhood educators, we know that social-emotional learning is just as crucial for our young students as number sense or early literacy skills.

Karen Alford is vice president for elementary schools. She spearheads the union's United Community Schools initiative, which strengthens schools by offering wraparound health and social services in the school building for the entire community.