Teacher Union Day Honorees
Teacher Union Day takes place around the anniversary of the 1960 strike that forged our union. On this day, we honor the past leaders who inspire us and celebrate our present leaders who continue in their footsteps.
2023 Honorees
Charles Cogen Award
For outstanding service to the union rendered by a veteran leader
- Debra Penny, UFT Treasurer
Jules Kolodny Award
Given to an individual who has shown outstanding leadership and commitment to the trade union movement with years of leadership yet to be fulfilled.
- Carl Cambria, Manhattan Borough Representative and chief union negotiator
David Wittes Award
Given to a person or a group that has shown outstanding courage, dedication and commitment to the ideals of the UFT
- Victoria Lee, Teacher-Member of Teachers’ Retirement Board
Audrey Chasen Award
Given in memory of Audrey Chasen, a former teacher mentor in the New York City public schools
- Rashad Brown, UFT Member Representative
Sidney Harris Award
Given to an outstanding union leader and educator
- Raul Garcia, Chair of School Psychologists & Social Workers Chapter
Backer-Scheintaub Award
Given to honor the lives of Gerald Backer and Mildred Scheintaub by encouraging potential new teacher union leaders
- Trisha Arnold, UFT Member Representative
- Emily James, UFT Member Representative
Marsh/Raimo Award
Given in recognition of political action
- Seth Gilman
- Clifford Hagen
- Seung Lee
- Benjie Leon
- Vincent Pedulla
- Aladji Sow
Albert Lee Smallheiser Award
This award recognizes the work of educators who strive to improve the working conditions of their colleagues
- Deshanna Barker
- Glenn Erlich
- Marquis Harrison
- Dina Hassan
- Stuart Kaplan
- Christina McGrath
- Caroline Murphy
- Penny Setoute
- Anesa Soleyn
- William Woodruff
Ely Trachtenberg Award
Awarded to outstanding chapter leaders
Elementary Schools
| School | Chapter leader |
|---|---|
| PS 9M | Tarissa Whitley |
| PS 72M | Fernando Alvarez |
| PS 94M | Victoria Orozco |
| PS 115M | Evelyn C. Vargas |
| PS 130M | Wai Mei |
| PS 184M | Brian Dornicik |
| PS 191M | Antiqua Lewis |
| PS 192M | Claribel Riss |
| PS 197M | Dawn Anderson |
| Central Park East II (M) | Clarissa Lynn |
| Thurgood Marshall Academy Lower School (M) |
Pamela Patterson-Moore |
| PS 5K | Sheree Choy |
| PS 12K | Maria Small Laidlaw |
| PS 40K | Tanya Burrowes |
| PS 46K | Medina Selmanovic |
| PS 67K | Evita Clemmons (Smith) |
| PS 84K | Denise Comenzo |
| PS 92K | Beverly Thenor |
| PS 99K | Kevin O'Donnell |
| PS 217K | Celeste Kurland |
| PS 222K | Kathleen Kelly |
| PS 279K | Elaine Haynesworth |
| PS 295K | Natalie Meade |
| PS 368K | Mark John |
| PS 384K | Peter Saccoccio |
| PS 41Q | Megan Smith |
| PS 88Q | Cari Ann Lobello |
| PS 96Q | Desiree Vining |
| PS 108Q | Danielle Romano |
| PS 112Q Dutch Hills | Jennifer Immello |
| PS 116Q | Leah Cromer |
| PS 120Q | Elizabeth Moloney |
| PS 121Q | Erika Croce |
| PS 124Q | Stacey Lynch |
| PS 135Q | Shantae Jones |
| PS 155Q | Grace Youmans |
| PS 184Q | Phyllis Kavadias |
| PS 186Q | Christina Tewksbury |
| PS 255Q | Evelyn Negron Ishicheri |
| PS 305Q Learners & Leaders | Danielle Dolan |
| PS 398Q | Kaitlynn Kelly |
| PS 30X | Sandy Wong |
| PS 47X | Genoveba Smith |
| PS 57X | Laurence Sachs |
| PS 146X | Simone Reed |
| Rose Hill Pre-K Center (X) | Nadine Lubka |
| PS 46R | Grace Seddio-DiMaio |
| PS 78R | Randi Leibson |
Junior High/Middle Schools
| School | Chapter leader |
|---|---|
| MS 114M | Melissa Nathan |
| NYC Lab MS for Collaborative Studies (M) |
Alexandra Fischer |
| IS 30K | Traci Tucker |
| IS 98K | John Tutone |
| IS 346K | Mashantuck Bell |
| IS 349K | Lee Resnick |
| IS 392K | Michelle Lowe-Calixte |
| MS 51K | Kristin Golat-DeFendis |
| MS 266K | Viola Scott |
| MS 936K | Jonathan Baras |
| Middle School for Art & Philosophy (K) |
Dexter Braithewaite |
| Brooklyn Collaborative Studies (K) | Tamika Styles |
| IS 5Q | Nicole Keaster |
| MS 462X | Dawnette Phelps |
| One World Middle School @ Edenwald (X) |
Jerilyn Fueller |
High Schools
| School | Chapter leader |
|---|---|
| Eleanor Roosevelt High School (M) | Arturo Molina |
| Lower Manhattan Arts Academy High School (M) | Christopher Ahern |
| Stephen T. Mather Building Arts & Craftsmanship HS (M) |
Ivette Dobarganes |
| Union Square Academy for Health Sciences (M) | Colin Lerner |
| Brooklyn Academy of Global Finance (K) | Pauline Brown |
| Brooklyn International HS (K) | Amanda McKenna |
| Brooklyn Institute for Liberal Arts HS (K) | Jamecia Forsythe |
| Brownsville Academy HS (K) | Jennifer Browne |
| Cobble Hill School of American Studies (K) | Melissa Back-Ulloa |
| George Westinghouse HS (K) | Jennifer Gorman Stokes |
| HS for Innovation & Media (K) | Anthony Fusari |
| HS for Service & Learning (K) | Thomas Nixon |
| Professional Pathways HS (K) | Elizabeth Weinert |
| Science Technology & Research HS (K) | David Connelly |
| Sunset Park HS (K) | Dan Wever |
| Grover Cleveland HS (Q) | Paula Levine |
| Pathways to Graduation HS (Q) | Michael Friedman |
| Port Richmond HS (R) | Donna Ryan |
| Susan Wagner HS (R) | Alison Kaminsky |
District 75
| School | Chapter leader |
|---|---|
| PS 368K | Mark John |
| PS 94M | Victoria Orozco |
District 79
| School | Chapter leader |
|---|---|
| Professional Pathways HS (K) | Elizabeth Weinert |
| Brownsville Academy HS (K) | Jennifer Browne |
| Pathways to Graduation HS (Q) | Michael Friedman |
Functional Chapters
| Chapter | Chapter leader |
|---|---|
| Hearing Education Services | Raquel Sepulveda |
| Speech Improvement | Caroline Murphy |
Union Service Awards
| 10-Year Chapter Leaders | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Arthur Avila Marie Baker Corrine Barros Pauline Brown Guido Caligara Fred Cassara Pellumb Cela Sandra Cohen James Council Maria Difava Elizabeth Green
|
Amy Gruttadaro Nichele Haynes-Trant Denise Huggins Dana Kirton Susan Kowal Grace Law Susan Leblanc-Mark Michele Mosca Beatriz Perez Fredda Pichardo Nick Rimpici
|
Jessica Rivera Robert Roache Yalisa Rodriguez Daniel Rosenbaum Lauren Ruddy Craig Scheiner Jacquelyn Shendler Marcia-jo Shepherd Jodi Siegel Katy Terry Tara Walsh Juan Yearwood Anthony Zalak |
| 15-Year Chapter Leaders | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Derrick Brown Bessie Chance Debra Elhari Federico Fraguada |
Luther Lohr Christina Lopez Tammie Miller Georgia Nikoloudakis |
Virginia Nunez Joann Pagano Chanelle Poole Elizabeth Ramos Nannetta Smith |
| 20-Year Chapter Leaders | |
|---|---|
|
Tracie Abrigo Jennifer Deluca Lee Nelson |
Lauri Posner Sandra Wilks- |