Delegates acted on resolutions aimed at steering NYSUT’s advocacy agenda in the coming year. These timely resolutions took on immigration, recess and play-based learning, artificial intelligence, certification, student teaching, CTE, UPK, civics and other issues critical to educators.

The College and University Committee grappled with federal assaults on higher education and the incursion of AI companies into public education.

“Higher education presents a threat to authoritarianism,” said Frederick Kowal, president of United University Professions, who rose in support of the Defending the Integrity of Higher Education Against Authoritarian Assaults resolution.

The resolution, which delegates passed, will support legislation, litigation and locals who are engaged in defending higher education.

Resolution 13, Addressing Excessive Screen Time, Strengthening Play-Based Learning, and Supporting Early Childhood Foundations for NY Inspires and the Portrait of a Graduate, which promotes play-based learning and advocates for limited screen time in learning environments and Resolution 14, Protect Play and Experiential Learning During the School Day, which protects unstructured play and experiential learning are both supported by child development research and aligned with state standards; both passed handily.

Delegates considered two resolutions aimed at solving teacher shortages by improving certification and student teaching opportunities. “At a time of shortage and changing demands, this is a practical labor solution,” said Ronald Roaldsen, president of East Williston Teachers Association.

Laura Franz, president of Albany Public School TA, said paid student teaching opportunities would make it possible to recruit externally and also internally, enabling skilled and dedicated paraprofessionals to move into teaching positions.

Both resolutions passed.

Delegates also passed a measure that supports mentorship and professional development opportunities for Career and Technical Education teachers, to reinforce the growing demand for this type of education. The resolution will be especially helpful for second-career professionals, who have high level of trade experience but don’t always have classroom management experience or familiarity with requisite paperwork to thrive in classrooms, said Donna Walters of the Erie 1 Professional Education Association.

The Civil and Human Rights Committee introduced a raft of resolutions focused on the defense of immigrant students against detention and deportation.

“We need to protect our immigrant communities and we need to put it in writing,” said Katherine Kurjakovic, United Federation of Teachers.

The measures passed to roaring applause.

Unionists stood strongly behind several green and healthy schools resolutions.

Delegates spoke out in favor of and approved a measure to revise the New York state electric bus mandate timeline, making clear that they support the transition to renewable energy, but that districts need more time and support to meet the requirements of the mandate.

Delegates highlighted the key challenges districts face with the mandate, including high cost of electric buses, capacity of the power grid to support the transition, and efficiency of the vehicles, especially in rural and hilly areas, and during cold weather.

Labor leaders rose to speak about the importance of preventing the privatization of public services. The proposal is consistent with other positions NYSUT has staked out on charter schools and social security. “I really think these are already NYSUT policies, but I could be wrong,” said Joan Perrini, president of Retiree Council 21.

Syracuse Teachers Association President Nicole Capsello said the matter should be referred to the Board to confirm that no NYSUT members, which include private sector employees, are adversely impacted by it, and delegates voted in accordance.

As charter schools continue to pop up across the state, draining resources from public schools, delegates also considered resolutions that called for greater regulation of charters and vouchers.

Nicole Brown, president of Hempstead Classroom TA, rose to say that her district has been one of the most impacted in the delegation, to the detriment of students and taxpayers alike. “Over $100 million from one little school district on Long Island is going to charter schools,” Brown said. “This is unacceptable.” The charter school system is straining district finances, and this in spite of the clear opposition of the communities they serve.

Vouchers have also been proven to be detrimental to communities, with research showing that they are disproportionately used by wealthy individuals whose children already attend private schools.

“Vouchers only continue to make the rich richer,” said Matt Haynes, Tri Valley TA.

Both resolutions passed.

Civics education and media literacy also took center stage.

UFT member Troy McGhie said that today’s young people are unaware of the roles and responsibilities of elected officials, branches of government, or checks and balances. “We must put civics back into our classrooms. We must put civics back into our communities,” McGhie said.

The resolution passed.

Delegates also approved a measure that calls for districts to reimburse the costs for maintaining licensure for medicaid reimbursed services.

A resolution referencing the ongoing opioid overdose scourge sought to make Narcan and related-training accessible to classroom teachers. Jeff Orlowski, Kenmore TA, shared a moving story about a Kenmore-Tonawanda student whose death was averted thanks to his quick thinking and the availability of Narcan. “Today, she’s alive and well,” Orlowski said. “We need to have this in our schools. We have AEDs. We need Narcan, too.”

The measure passed.

James Werner, Westchester Community College Federation of Teachers

James Werner has been an English professor at Westchester Community College since 2003. A devoted reader, Werner knew from an early age that he wanted to create a space for meaningful discussion. “What I like best about teaching is really the classroom ... being in the classroom with a bunch of smart people, talking about ideas that matter,” Werner said.

From the start, Werner was an active member of his local, the Westchester CC Federation of Teachers. He served as a grievance officer, then vice president, and has been president of the local since 2019.

With Werner’s help, the local successfully negotiated a six-year contract last year, revised its constitution, and has been actively building alliances with other locals and legislators.

During that time, Werner has also been a leading proponent of A New Deal for Higher Ed, a campaign co-sponsored by NYSUT that calls on lawmakers to re-invest in public colleges and universities and reverse decades worth of defunding. Public higher education, Werner said, should be one of the state’s most important investments.

Community colleges play an especially important role in our society, Werner said, because they are accessible to everyone. “It really is democracy in action,” he said. “Community college is a springboard for students — that's available to anybody — and will speed them on their way to greater achievements in life.”

Second Vice President Ron Gross spoke to delegates Saturday afternoon at NYSUT’s RA following his re-election to the position. Gross spoke on the union’s One Job Should Be Enough campaign, launched this year “not only to draw attention to the fact that many of our members work multiple jobs to make ends meet, but to also provide the tools necessary for local leaders to negotiate contracts that will provide salaries to allow members to live with economic dignity,” he said.

Gross gave a shoutout to the thousands of NYSUT retirees who continue to support the work of the union decades after they have left their profession. “Our Union for Life philosophy was never more evident than seeing countless retirees supporting our fight to Fix Tier 6 and we are all indebted to them.”

He also noted the healthcare professionals and Collective Care teams that are engaging in training, organizing and advocacy. “Their voices are heard in board rooms and at bargaining tables as we fight for safer ratios, overtime limits and proper training,” Gross noted.

He also spoke of the natural beauty of New York that he has seen throughout his travels across the state, and the need to protect that beauty through democracy and action.

“As a teacher, I told my students that history isn’t just something that happened to people in paintings and black-and-white photos — it’s something we are actively writing,” said Gross. “We aren’t just witnesses to 2026, we are its authors.”

Gross ended his remarks by inviting his son, Ron Gross Jr. to lead delegates in a rousing rendition of “This Land is Your Land.”

State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli spoke to delegates at the 2026 NYSUT RA in Albany on Saturday. During his remarks, he praised the dedication of NYSUT members — and extolled the virtues of unions and public education.

“Well-funded, quality public education can transform the lives of students and families,” said DiNapoli. He recounted his own family’s story, how public schools and unions helped his family members get a quality education, and how teachers, including a history teacher named Mr. Brock, encouraged his start in public service by helping him run and get elected to the school board at 18.

DiNapoli also updated delegates on the health of the state pension systems. “Despite the volatility in the markets, the state retirement systems remain among the best funded pension systems in the United States of America. We are well funded.”

And because of those well-funded systems, DiNapoli told delegates that the state can afford to do more to Fix Tier 6. “Because of your advocacy, I really do believe there will be changes to Tier 6, you can count on that.” He continued by saying that no matter what the changes may be, the money will be there in the state pension systems for all the years to come.

DiNapoli also advocated for the same transparency standards for charter schools as public schools, highlighting problems found in recent charter school audits, and spoke of his support for funding for teacher centers across the state and fully funding SUNY, CUNY and community colleges before wishing delegates an early Happy Teacher Appreciation Day.

As we approach the nation’s 250th anniversary, NYSUT is calling on the state to reinvest in civics education and media literacy.

During Saturday’s general session, delegates watched a video about how educators across the state are promoting civic engagement and empowering students; this, in spite of the diminishing time and resources allocated for social studies instruction due to state test-driven prioritization of other subjects.

“America was always a diverse country right from the beginning and the framers acknowledged that,” said Pierson Bell, social studies teacher at Medina High School and member of the Medina Teachers Association and NYSUT’s Social Studies Subject Area Committee. “And so learning how you're going to interact with people who have different religious views, different life experiences, different ethnicities, and how you're going to work together to solve common problems is something that we really need to emphasize in school and give students opportunities to prepare for before we send them out into the world.”

NYSUT, in partnership with DemocracyReady NY is calling for an increased state investment of $22.5 million to ensure that students are democracy-ready upon graduation.

The proposed investment would support civic instruction in elementary grades, expand access to the Seal of Civic Readiness, support professional development for educators, add media and AI literacy to NYSED’s required instructional topics, and ensure that every school has a fully funded certified library media specialist.

To support civics education, NYSUT launched the $50,000 Classroom to Community Civic Readiness grant program, designed to help fund K-12 civics learning experiences, including field trips, projects, and special events.

Hudson Salley, a ninth-grader at White Plains High School addressed the assembly to share his learning experiences as he pursues the Seal of Civic Readiness.

“Many students go throughout school learning about the government in textbooks, and how past policies were formulated and implemented and how they impact society, but often, there's a little personal connection, and it can be hard to relate,” said Salley. “That is what inspired me to enroll in the Civics Readiness Program. I wanted to see how I could be a part of the process and not just learn about it.”

The Seal of Civic Readiness is a formal recognition that a student has attained a high level of proficiency in terms of civic knowledge, civic skills, civic mindset, and civic experiences, demonstrated through a combination of courses, special projects, Regents scores, and/or extracurriculars.

Piloted in 2021, the seal is now available in 500 high schools across the state, but NYSUT hopes to bring the seal to more districts.

Through the program at his high school, Salley had the opportunity to advocate for adequate drainage in his neighborhood and request a bikeshare program for his community.

He thanked the elected officials and community leaders he learned from during the program. “They teach us that our voices matter and that we have the ability to create change in our communities,” said Salley.

“Every student should have an opportunity like this,” he said. “Investing in civics education is investing in the future of our communities.”

NYSUT is financially solid, and its reserves are secure, said Secretary-Treasurer J Philippe Abraham. And a stable balance sheet is the bedrock for the work, he told the 2026 Representative Assembly.

"When our union is strong, our mission is strong," Abraham said. "And when our foundation is secure, our members are protected."

Abraham highlighted milestones, including the continued growth of the Members of Color Affinity and Action initiative and the BIPOC Pathways to Leadership programs. He also celebrated NYSUT's 25-year partnership with the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer campaign, which produced three consecutive years as the nation's top fundraising team and, for the first time, the country's top individual Strider.

Abraham reflected on nearly a decade of social justice work built on decency, fairness, equity, justice, inclusion, compassion and solidarity. In an era of division, he said, NYSUT's path forward runs through unity. As chair of the Member Benefits Trust, Abraham underscored his commitment to no-cost, high-quality benefits for every member.

"When we fight together, toward a common goal, we all win," he said. "Our members win. Our communities win. Our state wins."

In October 2025, Alex Lazaro Ramirez González and Yan Vázquez Hidalgo were detained by ICE during a scheduled immigration hearing in Syracuse. After months of being held at a federal detention center in Batavia, they were released … but a deportation order to Ecuador, a country neither man has ever been to, still hangs over their heads.

Delegates at the 2026 NYSUT RA honored González and Hidalgo, along with United University Professions – Upstate Medical Center Chapter President Mindy Heath, with a standing ovation in support of their fight.

“The true score of union leadership doesn’t come with a checklist,” said Heath. “It reveals itself when our members are hurting, when the stakes are high, and when doing the right thing demands more than we ever expected to give.”

“The union is strong,” said González. “All I want to say is thank you, thank you so much.”

“We are facing a challenging political environment, one that asks us again and again whether we will stand together or stand down,” said Heath. “Every time the union chooses to stand together. That is the power of NYSUT. That is the power of our union.”

NYSUT President Melinda Person presented González, Hidalgo, Heath and the UUP chapter with a proclamation for their efforts in the union and in their fight for dignity.

To support González and Hidalgo’s defense, Heath shared a GoFundMe.

Learn more about Alex and Yan's story here.

New York state is one of the wealthiest regions in the world — a global leader in industry, finance and innovation. Yet, one in five children in this state lives in poverty; meaning that more than 760,000 students aren’t getting their basic needs met.    

Every day, educators see first-hand how unmet basic needs keep their students from thriving, said NYSUT President Melinda Person. NYSUT’s timely film 1 in 5: Confronting Childhood Poverty in New York, which took a year to complete and includes the voices of educators, parents and advocates, explores the stark reality these students face in rural, suburban and urban communities. 

Saturday, delegates previewed the film during the general assembly, so they could have a window into the reality of so many New Yorkers.  

The full-length film shows the lengths to which dedicated educators are going every day to help address poverty’s effects on their students, including clothing closets, coat drives, food distribution programs, back-pack programs and more.  

The film also introduces some of the most promising policies for addressing this issue, including food programs, housing vouchers and community schools, which have proven to be remarkably successful when it comes to improving student outcomes.  

“One of the most effective tools we have is the community schools model. Community schools serve as vital hubs, providing wraparound services that support family health, community safety and children's needs,” said Person. 

From dental and eye exams and community food pantries to free childcare and housing assistance, these schools provide services tailored to their community's specific needs, and they are led by a community schools director or coordinator, who connects families directly with services, Person said. 

Currently, there is no dedicated source of state funding for community schools, but NYSUT is asking the state Legislature to provide $100 million in categorical aid to expand community schools; $4 million to sustain the United Federation of Teachers’ network of community schools; and $5 million for UFT’s United Community Schools to provide statewide technical assistance and support. 

Constance F. Griffin, Valley Central Teachers Association

Constance Griffin has been caring for students as a school nurse for 32 years. As a registered nurse at Valley Central School District, Griffin plays an active role in safeguarding students’ health and safety, and ministers to both chronic and acute conditions. She takes pride in watching students grow and learn to care for themselves independently.

School nurses also help with preventive care, she said, including hearing and vision screenings and physicals for athletics. “As a school nurse, we may be the first to observe and identify changes, and we also can see the long-term effects of our care and how we help students achieve,” Griffin said.

A national board-certified nurse, Griffin sits on the steering committee for NYSUT’s School Nurse Connection, which provides valuable training, on-the-job support, and advocacy for this underrepresented sector of the healthcare industry. Griffin has also been part of NYSUT’s Collective Care Team advocacy efforts and helped push for legislation that would develop school health and mental health professionals-to-student ratios in public schools and mandate all school districts and BOCES employ at least one registered professional nurse in each school building; currently, districts are not required to have RNs at every school.

Sharing the value of school nurses is paramount, said Griffin. “They keep children in school healthy and ready to learn.”

Maria Paradiso, Federation of Nurses/United Federation of Teachers

Maria Paradiso exemplifies the very best of healthcare professionalism and union advocacy.

A highly skilled registered nurse in the recovery room at NYU Langone Hospital —Brooklyn, Paradiso is recognized for her unwavering commitment to patient well-being. Colleagues and patients alike praise her as an “exceptional caregiver” who delivers not only outstanding clinical care but also compassionate, humanitarian support.

Throughout the pandemic, she worked tirelessly to secure critical resources and protections to support her colleagues. “COVID was a warzone. We lost a lot of nurses and doctors … a lot of colleagues during that time.”

Beyond the bedside, Paradiso is a fearless and dedicated leader within the United Federation of Teachers. She is a powerful voice in the fight for systemic improvements in healthcare, particularly in addressing chronic understaffing in hospitals. Her advocacy underscores a deep commitment to her colleagues and the communities they serve.

Paradiso has also demonstrated remarkable courage in holding hospital leadership accountable, challenging what she sees as an undervaluing of nurses’ contributions. “If I see that there is something wrong, I have to speak up. Not only for my patients, but for my colleagues,” Paradiso said. During contract negotiations, she stood firmly with her fellow nurses, emphasizing their resilience and willingness to take collective action if necessary.

Paradiso represents the highest ideals of her profession — championing safer conditions, stronger protections and better care for all.

Karen R. McLean, Herricks Teachers Association

Karen McLean has served the Herricks school district as payroll supervisor for more than 30 years and as treasurer of the Herricks Teachers Association for the past 15. She first ran for treasurer at the encouragement of a past HTA president, lost by a single vote, requested a revote, and won by 49.

“The fiduciary responsibility that I hold in this office means a whole lot to me,” McLean said, crediting her executive team as the reason the work runs so smoothly.

Her leadership reaches well beyond the local. McLean chairs NYSUT’s SRP Advisory Committee and serves as one of five ERS consultants who travel to locals to help members understand their pension options. She is also helping to pilot a new SRP Mentoring Program at Herricks that she hopes will inspire mentees to eventually become mentors themselves.

McLean’s advice to new members is simple: come in with an open mind. The contracts and benefits members enjoy every day, she said, were won by people who sat at the bargaining table on their behalf. “We all have a voice,” McLean said. “Open up your mouth. Speak, ask questions.”

Born in Jamaica, McLean moved to the United States at 13. Her family didn't have a lot, but she never forgot the people who “poured into her along the way.” That gratitude fuels everything she does — in the union and in her community.

Naomi R. Rodriguez, United Federation of Teachers

“I lead with respect, and I require that back. I am accountable and I hold them accountable,” said Naomi Rodriguez. Those qualities and others are central to her success.

As the leader for the United Federation of Teacher’s Teachers Assigned chapter, Rodriguez represents New York City Department of Education employees whose work often parallels that of a school-based teacher. Her work requires her to mentor and support educators from 15 different early childhood programs within public schools and community-based organizations in the pre-K, and 3K settings, and help guide them to the best and most effective teaching practices.

Rodriguez, currently in her 16th year as an educator, began her career as an instructional coordinator 10 years ago and knows intimately the struggles her members face.

In 2022, when the DOE announced its misguided intention to excess the education professionals in the Teachers Assigned chapter, Rodriguez and her members set out to demonstrate the value of this unit by inviting department personnel into the classroom and showing them all the ways that Teachers Assigned contribute.

“We showed them that our work is impactful. We make significant moves within the DOE and we deserve dignity.” It was meaningful to her, too, that parents, teachers and superintendents spoke on their behalf and praised their work. “We are professionals. We do this job not only from a place of leadership, but a place of love,” she said.

Representatives from Long Island Against Charter Schools, a community advocacy group based on Long Island, spoke before the 2026 NYSUT Representative Assembly to call on NYSUT members to support local control over charter schools opening in communities.

Alison Chaplar, president of the Uniondale Teachers Association, and Greg Wallace, president of the Riverhead Central Faculty Association, told NYSUT delegates about the effects that charter schools are having on their districts.

“We set out to inform the public about how charter schools are funded and the impact on public school growth,” said Chaplar.

In Uniondale, $27 million goes to charter school payments, contributing to the loss of more than 30 teaching positions next year. In Riverhead, $16.5 million went to charter schools last year, a $2.7 million increase over last school year. This increase sucked up 55 percent of the district’s Foundation Aid increase, and the district has lost 62 teaching positions over the last three years.

Long Island Against Charter Schools is calling for local communities to be able to vote on the opening, renewal, or expansion of charter schools in their communities.

“If a charter school is coming into that community and drawing funds from that community, then people living there should have a say,” said Wallace. “This is not controversial, this is democracy.”

To let your legislator know you want local communities to have a voice in charter school decisions, click this link.

Paul Cole, Lewiston-Porter United Teachers

Paul Cole, one of NYSUT’s founding activists and executive director of the American Labor Studies Center, spearheaded the successful preservation efforts of the Kate Mullany House, establishing the home as a National Historic Site — one of the few that celebrates women’s contributions to the labor movement.

Mullany was a young Irish immigrant laundry worker who organized the first all-female labor union in 1864.

Prior to his turn at historic preservation, Cole was a high school social studies teacher for 23 years who developed a course on labor history and served as the former president of the Lewiston-Porter United Teachers. Cole has held numerous leadership positions within NYSUT and the American Federation of Teachers and currently serves as secretary-treasurer emeritus of the state AFL-CIO.

“Someone said to me once, ‘You don’t retire from something, you retire to something.’ And I think that’s what I’ve done with this project,” Cole said.

Cole worked diligently to assemble the funding and support necessary to turn the formerly blighted three-story building in downtown Troy into a fully functioning, restored historic site, with exhibits and a re-creation of Mullany’s living quarters. The site officially opened to the public in 2023.

The building is also home to the American Labor Studies Center, where Cole and other labor leaders will help teachers bring the labor movement into their classrooms.

Sterling Roberson, United Federation of Teachers

A nationally recognized leader in Career and Technical Education, Sterling Roberson has had a transformative impact across public education, workforce development and policy.

As vice president for CTE high schools at the United Federation of Teachers, he championed systems that equip students and adult learners with college- and career-ready skills aligned to labor market demands. Roberson has played a pivotal role in advancing CTE at the local, state and national levels. His leadership extended through service on the American Federation of Teachers CTE Committee, the NYSUT Board of Directors, and the New York City CTE Advisory Council, where he helped drive policy alignment, expand access, and promote equitable pathways to economic mobility.

“We need to ensure that every student, every adult and young person has a pathway into their career of interest,” Roberson said. “They have the talent; they have the energy; they just need our knowledge and our experience to guide them.”

A proud graduate of the Success Via Apprenticeship program, Roberson began his career teaching technical electronics. After serving as a violence prevention facilitator and school safety specialist, he later became UFT director of school safety.

In retirement, Roberson remains an influential voice in education and workforce policy. Through his Substack publication, CTE Champion, he continues to shape conversations on education equity, labor market alignment, and the future of career-connected learning.

Following her re-election as NYSUT Executive Vice President, Jaime Ciffone thanked delegates for their hard work and support and reiterated the promise she made three years ago to “… stay close to the work. Not just the policy work, not just the legislative work, but the classroom work.” She touched on her visits to classrooms and workplaces in every region of the state and how she brings those important conversations with members to rooms where decisions are being made.

Ciffone also touted NYSUT’s Science of Reading initiative that launched last fall and the glowing reviews from members who completed the course. “The reviews have been better than we could have hoped: participants report having stronger confidence, clearer strategies, and immediate results with students,” Ciffone said. More than 1,500 educators have already completed this course which Ciffone says was designed to bring decades of research — from cognitive science, neuroscience, linguistics and education — directly to classroom practitioners.

Additionally, she highlighted the importance of professional learning led by educators at teacher centers and promised to continue growing NYSUT ELT “to provide meaningful learning that is relevant and desired by our colleagues.”

Ciffone praised the progress being made to transition to STEPs, Standards-Based Educator Evaluation and Professional Support System Plans, from APPR and expand local control over teacher evaluations. “It reflects what we’ve long advocated for: professional respect, collaboration, and authentic growth,” she said.

Now three years into her leadership, Ciffone told delegates she feels more energized than ever and assured them that her mission remains the same to empower educators to be the architects of reform.

Now in its third year, the retiree flash mob that graces the NYSUT Representative Assembly has become a huge hit.

Filling the exhibition hall floor, retirees from all over the state came together to dance to Latin pop music, including Miami Sound Machine’s “Conga,” showing just how active our retiree members continue to be in and out of our union.

NYSUT’s “daytime army” is one of the most active and successful union retiree groups in the country. Organized through the NYSUT Retiree Services Program, retirees regularly take part in our rallies and conferences and volunteer in many of our other endeavors.

“I want to say thank you. You set a standard and a tone for the rest of the labor movement in the state. You make us that much stronger every time you win, so thank you for that.”

Cilento spoke to delegates at the 2026 NYSUT Representative Assembly Friday, praising members for their work and their advocacy. He said that NYSUT makes itself heard on every single one of the issues of the day that affect not only NYSUT members, but the larger labor movement in the state.

Cilento also brought good news for the overall labor movement in New York: since last May, union membership in New York has increased by 129,000 members. “They see people fighting for what they believe in. They see people fighting for a better retirement, they want that for themselves, for their family. That is a credit to each and every one of you.”

As the fight to Fix Tier 6 continues, Cilento recounted the historic rally in Albany from March, when 15,000 people filled the MVP Arena to advocate for a dignified retirement. And he left NYSUT members with a single promise, “As sure as I am standing here, I know that when this budget is done, we will have fixed Tier 6.”

Patricia Crispino, United Federation of Teachers

A lifelong union advocate, Patty Crispino has devoted nearly four decades to advancing the values of solidarity, equity and service.

As the United Federation of Teachers representative for District 79 and Transfer Schools, she has been a tireless champion for educators and students, ensuring that often overlooked communities receive the attention and resources they deserve.

Crispino’s impact extends far beyond her local role. A trailblazer in the labor movement, she has been a leading voice for LGBTQ+ rights and inclusion at every level. She served as NYC chapter chair of Pride at Work and has led nationally as chair of the American Federation of Teachers Pride Caucus, while also contributing to LGBTQ committees within both AFT and NYSUT. Through these roles, she has helped shape policy, promote equity and ensure that all members are represented and respected.

Throughout her years in the classroom, Crispino was known for ensuring her classroom was not just a place for academics, but a sanctuary for all.

Her humanitarianism and commitment to service is perhaps most powerfully illustrated by her courageous work during the AIDS crisis, when she helped operate a critical hotline, providing lifesaving information and compassion to those in need. “The AIDS epidemic came up when I was a young adult. I lost my best friend in 1984 … so when I got the opportunity to work in (the UFT office) it made me feel better about all the friends I had lost,” Crispino said.

A mentor, leader and parent to Liam and Julia, Crispino is dedicated to developing the next generation of advocates, ensuring the continued fight for justice and opportunity.

Sara Rodland, Buffalo Teachers Federation

Sara Rodland has been a labor champion since 1976, and colleagues praise her selflessness and her ability to connect with people.

Rodland started in Buffalo Public Schools in 1971 as an elementary teacher who delighted in watching children’s minds at work. The Buffalo Teachers Federation strike in 1976 galvanized her union involvement and, over the years, she served her local in various capacities, including building delegate chairperson, Political Action Committee member and co-chair of the public relations committee. She was eventually elected secretary for the BTF. “There was always something going on that needed to be addressed, and we needed to stand up and fight for what was right,” Rodland said.

Rodland was also an NEA NY board member and delegate, NYSUT Board member and delegate, and NEA, AFT and NYSTRS delegate.

Mentorship and professional development have always been important to Rodland and, during her teaching career, she mentored all the new elementary teachers in her district. She was an active member of the policy board for the Buffalo Teacher Resource Center and went on to be named co-director of the center.

Rodland reluctantly retired from teaching in 2010, only to be almost immediately elected vice president of the still-nascent Retiree Council 44. With her organizational skills and indefatigable energy, she helped build the new retiree organization into a vital part of NYSUT’s daytime army. Rodland was elected president of RC 44 in 2017 and continues to serve in that capacity.

Rodland volunteers as the school liaison for The Teacher’s Desk, a non-profit organization that annually distributes more than $8.5 million worth of classroom supplies for students in need.

In a rousing speech on Friday, New York Attorney General Letitia James offered a passionate defense of public education and lauded RA delegates for their dedication to New York’s children and families.

James fondly remembered one of her own teachers, Miss Ryan, who taught second and third grade at PS 39 in Brooklyn. “Miss Ryan decided to take me on and help me to read. Miss Ryan saw something in me,” said James, crediting her teacher for making her current career possible. “The reason I am the attorney general is because of Miss Ryan.”

James continued, “We know that strong public education changes lives, because it changed mine.”

James highlighted her office’s efforts to protect children online, thanking NYSUT members for their help in passing the SAFE for Kids Act. “I want to thank you for your dedication, which benefits millions of students and families … When it comes to protecting New York children and their families, NYSUT always stands strong,” said James. “You inspire more New Yorkers than you realize.”

In closing, James promised to stand up every day and protect the rights of New Yorkers, especially children, and to stand with NYSUT, earning cheers from the crowd.

To see highlights from Attorney General James's speech along with other elected officials, click here.

In a passionate address Friday, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten asked New Yorkers to lead the way when it comes to fighting for our democracy and protecting the American Dream.

In the past, workers built America and shared in its prosperity. “If you worked hard, things would work out. That was the American Dream,” Weingarten said. “That is what we are fighting for now.”

Today, 67 percent of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, and the wealth gap continues to widen, she said.

Weingarten highlighted the work AFT and NYSUT are doing to fight back against damaging federal cuts and policies, including more than 25 lawsuits. Thanks to the labor movement, she said, DEI is still part of K-12 curriculum, federal funding and research funds have been preserved, and educators rights are being protected, she said.

She recalled how the labor movement responded to the Janus decision of 2018, organizing to rebuild membership ranks, and increase worker power. She exhorted unionists to use that same power now, and lift their voices to restore our democracy.

“The courts are not going to save us. In a democracy, the only thing that saves us is working together,” Weingarten said. “If we don’t fight, we will never win, and our members will never forgive us for not making that fight.”

During Friday’s general session, delegates watched a video highlighting several locals that successfully negotiated paid parental leave into their contracts. Emily James, United Federation of Teachers, opened the video with her personal story, describing how she exhausted her sick time after her first pregnancy and didn’t have enough left for her second, forcing her to take unpaid leave. She also detailed the key role she played in UFT’s campaign to secure paid parental leave, which they ultimately won in 2018.

James was joined by other local presidents from Long Island, the North Country and the Southern Tier who emphasized that paid parental leave is not only about the physical and mental health of parents and newborns, but also a matter of fairness. They noted that male members were often able to cash out larger payouts from unused sick time at retirement while female members, who were more likely to use that time to care for their children and families, were left at a disadvantage.

Democracy. Solidarity. Action. These weren't slogans when NYSUT President Melinda Person took the stage at the 2026 Representative Assembly — they were a rallying cry.

In a speech that drew a through-line from her own educators to the educators in the room, Person began with the teachers who shaped her: who noticed she was squinting at the chalkboard and got her her first pair of glasses; who encouraged her to use her powerful voice; who introduced her to Jonathan Kozol and Thurgood Marshall and lit a fire for justice that, she said, has never gone out.

"Every person in this room has their own version of this story," Person said. "And that is also who you are. You are that person for someone else." Person then turned to the moment. Attacks on public education, cuts to food assistance and Medicaid, immigrant families being targeted, and an economy where 67 percent of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck — including NYSUT's own members.

"But it is not hopeless," she said.

Person ran through a string of victories that prove the union moves outcomes: fully funded Foundation Aid, restored local control of APPR, workplace violence protections, universal school meals, extreme heat protections for schools, phone-free classrooms, and real movement to Fix Tier 6 — with more to come thanks to this year's historic rally.

"It won't happen because of a deal cut in a back room," she said of efforts to Fix Tier 6. "It will happen because 15,000 of us showed up on March 8."

Person also issued a challenge on preserving American democracy, calling for expanded civics education and stronger media literacy and arguing that with students, the goal should not be telling them what to think, but teaching them how.

As she closed, Person reflected on the young version of herself who believed deeply in this country's promise. That belief, she said, grew up, and today it's grounded in something stronger than ideals alone.

"We are not waiting for change," she told delegates. "We are responsible for it. We are the people we've been waiting for."

Albany is the longest continuously chartered city in the US and has been the state capital since 1797 — just about 20 years younger than the Nation itself. NYSUT's opening RA video celebrated this year's themes of democracy, solidarity and action while acknowledging the struggles ahead but celebrating all of the gains union members have made in the last year.

The Local & Retiree Council Presidents Conference kicked off this year’s Representative Assembly in Albany with a packed schedule of seminars on today’s most in-demand topics in education, including phone-free schools, civic readiness, AI and APPR.

During the opening lunch and plenary session at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center, NYSUT President Melinda Person and Guilderland High School student Anika Bhupati led a fast-paced and engaging Q&A with Catherine Price about the impact of devices and technology on our society. Price is the author of How to Break Up with Your Phone and The Power of Fun, and co-author, with Jonathan Haidt, of The Amazing Generation: Your Guide to Fun and Freedom in a Screen-Filled World.

“One of the things I've heard from students since we passed the Phone-Free Schools legislation is, ‘Well, I was against this before, but now I see your point,’” said Person. “One of the things that I take away from the books that you've written is that it's not just about protecting them from technology, it's actually giving them access to the stuff they're missing.”

During another session, “Strengthening Civic Education: Why New York? Why Now?” members learned about the importance of a comprehensive civics education and the need to prepare students to be active participants in our democracy.

In a discussion moderated by Nan Eileen Mead, co-executive director of DemocracyReady NY, panelists Mandel Holland, a teacher at Greenburgh central schools; Charles Johnson, political action chair, NAACP NYS Conference; Karissa O’Reilly, library media specialist at Carmel High School; and Cleana Brummell, an Albany High School senior and school board student representative, talked about their successful efforts to empower students with the knowledge and skills to decipher fact from fiction, think critically, and contribute meaningfully to their communities.

This year, NYSUT, in partnership with DemocracyReady NY, is calling for an increased state investment — a total of $22.5 million — to support civic learning and media literacy instruction beginning in the earliest grades and targeted toward underserved districts.

“I'm so grateful to NYSUT for making that connection between media literacy and civics education because I feel like in the library world, we're often shouting about how important those information literacy skills are, but we're not often heard,” said O’Reilly. Library media specialists, who are highly skilled at information seeking, sorting and sifting, are critical to building these core competencies in students, she said.

NYSUT also launched the Classroom to Community Civic Readiness grant program in February. The $50,000 grant program is designed to enhance K-12 civics learning experiences, including field trips, projects, and special events.

Offering hands-on learning experiences and real-world examples is vital to getting students involved and ensuring their continued civic engagement. “Civic education should begin in the classroom, but continue in the community,” said Johnson.

At the “AI in Collective Bargaining” seminar, Jonathan Rubin, deputy executive director and director of field and affiliate services, Kyle Arone of the American Federation of Teachers, and NYSUT regional staff directors Jeremy Ginsburg and Heidi Miller presented on a new and growing issue for bargaining across the state: artificial intelligence.

“The AI issues are new, but the overall issues aren’t – due process in evaluations, transparency in observations, and job security,” said Rubin.

To assist with this, NYSUT has provided locals with template or model language for bargaining, but presenters emphasized this language is a starting point, not a requirement. Presenters also told attendees that bargaining won’t always get it right the first time, but that it is essential to keep AI as a subject of bargaining and to stay on it to continue to make sure work is protected with new technologies.

In a session focused on APPR and Standards-based Teacher Evaluation and Professional Support, leaders discussed successes and challenges they faced when submitting their plans, meeting with the State Education Department, and implementing their locally bargained evaluations.

After NYSUT helped get the APPR system fixed in June of 2024, Williamsville Teachers Association President Michelle Licht said they got to work right away and implemented their plan at the beginning of the 2025-26 school year.

Licht alerted the union leaders that SED was “really adamant about our Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education and Social-Emotional Learning. We had to re-do all of our rubrics so there was a separate line for each.”

She also provided tips to help make the transition go as smoothly as possible. “We made a website that includes all of our information so that everyone has a spot to go to when they have questions and we put an FAQ on it that we’re constantly updating.” Licht added that they created electronic score sheets using Google Sheets so that “the assistant superintendent can see when people are being evaluated and can hold the principals accountable for doing their jobs.”

In Erie County, Larry Grisanti, East Aurora Faculty Association past president, drew interest with his district’s accepted STEPS Plan that allows for a five-year evaluation cycle for tenured teachers. “Our agreement is, so far, a success,” he said. “There are bumps in the road and at the end of this year we’ll get back together and try to smooth out the process. A piece of advice for those of you who are starting to negotiate: don’t start from the portal and work your way out, because that will be impossible. Make your plan, come up with your agreements, and then, if necessary, shoehorn that into the portal.”

On Long Island, Brentwood TA President Kevin Coyne said his district submitted its plan in May 2025 and received approval this year in February. He said one obstacle they ran into with SED focused on the weighting, but “for the most part it has been smooth sailing. I’m very pleased with the support we’ve received from NYSUT especially when I felt like SED kept trying to move the goal post on us.”

All districts will need to submit a STEPS plan to SED by June 30, 2032.

NYSUT’s Higher Ed Policy Council met and discussed the state budget and other issues of concern for higher ed members, including the role of AI in higher education, intellectual property protections for faculty, and job security. Attendees also reviewed and discussed the AFT’s new national campaign for higher education, and applying its pillars — students’ right to learn; affordability and accessibility; strengthening communities; and respecting and empowering faculty, staff, and student workers — to their local campus and context. The meeting also marked the retirement of Roberta Elins after 12 years as HEPC Chair.