Mary Vaccaro is the UFT vice president for education. Elected by the union’s Executive Board in September 2020 and re-elected in 2025, she is a union activist with 30 years of teaching experience, driven by her passion to advance the profession by amplifying member voice and vigorously advocating for the quality education students deserve.
A career public school educator, Mary began her teaching career as part of the faculty of District 3’s PS 180 in Manhattan’s Harlem neighborhood. She then taught kindergarten at both District 24’s PS 16 in Corona, Queens, and District 26’s PS/IS 266 in Bellerose, Queens.
Mary served as the UFT’s District 26 representative for 16 years and continues to serve educators at the local, state and federal level. She is also a member of the UFT Executive Board, and a delegate to New York State United Teachers and the American Federation of Teachers.
As executive director of the UFT Teacher Center, whose continued growth is a source of great pride for Mary, she strongly believes that educators need high quality professional development that is provided by colleagues who are experts in the field. Through the UFT Teacher Center, Mary has created partnerships with outside organizations that can support the mission and mastery in schools with UFTTC sites. The UFT Teacher Center has continued to grow by expanding UFTTC field staff, UFTTC district coaches and content specialists during her time. The National Academy for AI Instruction was unveiled this summer at UFT headquarters in collaboration with the AFT and the UFT Teacher Center.
Mary has long taken a stand against high-stakes testing, particularly in the early childhood grades, school overcrowding and unfair contracts for our membership. She is especially proud of her work with parent, civic and community groups, as well as serving in a community that shares her core values: fostering educators’ voices and challenging students to higher achievement.
A graduate of Adelphi University, she received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education and her master’s degree in early childhood and elementary education, with a certificate in whole language. A lifelong learner, Mary completed a fellowship from Bank Street College in elementary science education and continues to attend classes, workshops and lectures at colleges and universities to hone her craft.
She remains involved with her sorority, Delta Gamma, and with other community-based nonprofit organizations that provide wraparound services for our members, New York City students and families.
Mary is married to Vincent Vaccaro, a retired NYC teacher and an adjunct professor at Queensborough Community College. She is the proud mother of Vincent and Matthew, and mother-in-law of New York City teacher Cristina.
