Gentile, a member of the UFT, is an educator, unionist and a leader. For the past 30 years she has been deeply involved in school reform at the city, state and national levels with a focus on student achievement.

Collier began her education career in 1978 as a special education teacher in Yonkers schools. She quickly became active in the union and rose through the ranks to her current position: vice president of special areas.

An assistant biology professor, Mezik is vice president of the Herkimer County Community College Professional Association and serves on the negotiating committee

Richard Ognibene joined Fairport High School in suburban Rochester in 1992, and is a popular chemistry and physics teacher known for reaching out to students.

Soldini served as a delegate with the Alliance for Retired Americans and has lobbied on a number of issues critical to retirees.

Alarmed by friends who were leaving teaching because of the emphasis on testing, Grammy-winner Tom Chapin turned to song.

In 1998, building on his career as an educator, Chris Pendergast founded Ride for Life, an organization dedicated to informing people about ALS and raising funds for research and support services.

On Friday, delegates viewed a video that outlined NYSUT's role in a groundbreaking conference, "Every Child Counts," that was held last October about ending the gap.

Levine-Rosenthal has been active in the union for more than 35 years. Throughout her in-service career, she held all but the office of president in the Mineola TA.

This year's School-Related Professionals Member of the Year is Thelma Shaw, a teaching assistant and president of the BOCES Educators of Eastern Suffolk.

A health care professional for 30 years, Cora Shillingford demonstrates excellence in her practice as a home care nurse.

Cermele, recognized in the Professional Staff Congress at CUNY as a great organizer, is chapter leader at New York City College of Technology.

In 1965, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. named Lowery chairman of the delegation to take demands of the historic Selma-to-Montgomery March to Alabama Gov. George Wallace.

Marna Davidson is a member of the UFT's Retiree Council 2. She has been an active union leader and activist for 42 years.

If you're looking for Renee Setteducato, you can always find her out front.

As one of NYSUT's original retiree organizers, Alvin Graham helped shape the current NYSUT retiree structure.

Jane Young has been a strong advocate for faculty at Borough of Manhattan Community College, where she serves as chapter chair for the Professional Staff Congress at the City University of New York.

NYSUT salutes Howard T. Herber Middle School (Malverne) 5th-grade teacher Marguerite Izzo, the state's 2007 teacher of the year, as "a model teacher who represents the very best of what our profession has to offer."

In addition to serving the Faculty Association of Suffolk Community College for more than 30 years - including 28 years as its president and chief negotiator - Ellen Schuler Mauk is a deeply involved unionist at the statewide and national levels.

Get an inside look at the efforts of NYSUT members who are working to make sure that every child receives access to quality education from pre-K through post-grad.

After 25 years as a teaching assistant in North Syracuse, Mary Jo Roberge still continues to do it all. Roberge was honored Friday morning as NYSUT's SRP of the Year.

Marianne Hegge may only be in her eighth year of teaching, but she has already made a tremendous impact for the Western Sullivan United Teachers and School-Related Professionals.

A union's strength lies in its chapters and locals. That belief has governed Elizabeth Langiulli's career since she became a union activist while teaching English at John Adams High School in Queens.

When Jeanette Pietrantoni returned to Syracuse in 1968 after serving in the Peace Corps, a lot had changed.