Around the State
Principal retaliated against teacher, UFT charges
The United Federation of Teachers has filed a lawsuit charging a Brooklyn principal with violating a state whistleblower law.
Kimani Brown, a special education teacher, was removed from his middle school classroom and transferred to a temporary reassignment center in May after insisting his students receive required services.
According to the lawsuit, principal Marian Bowden also made false and defamatory statements about Brown's professional conduct to his colleagues, students and at least one parent.
"This is a clear case of a principal retaliating against an educator who had the nerve to stand up for his students," UFT President Randi Weingarten said. Representing educators in New York City, the UFT is NYSUT's largest affiliate.
Brown, a UFT chapter leader, had clashed with Bowden on Academic Intervention Services and other issues.
— United Federation of Teachers
Deposit job fair a boon to kids, community
An employment fair organized by Deposit Teachers Association members Jackie Arnold-Sullivan and Mark MacCrabie gave high school students an opportunity to polish their resume-writing and interviewing skills and it reached out to adult job seekers.
The fair, open to all Deposit students age 15 and older, included local and regional employers. Students learned about summer and post-high school job opportunities. The fair also gave students a chance to interview with potential employers or to simply learn about careers they had never considered.
Once students had completed the event, the fair was open to adult job-seekers.
— The DTA Hatchet
Two schools win character awards
Babylon Memorial Grade School and Waterloo Middle School were among 11 winners recognized nationwide as 2008 National Schools of Character. Winners receive a $20,000 award from the Character Education Partnership. The grants must be used to train and mentor other schools and districts seeking to improve their character education efforts. The schools were chosen from 25 finalists.
— Character Education Partnership
Union sees way to help needy students
Because educators are "critically aware of the importance of good vision to a child's success in school," the Yorktown Congress of Teachers has partnered with a community optical firm to provide needy students free eye exams and eyeglasses.
"Members of the Yorktown Congress of Teachers feel that this program is a real service to the community," said local president Bob Faigle. "We are happy to help in providing screening and referrals so that the program can go forward."
Rochester teacher gets shout out from famous student
Rochester School of the Arts dance instructor MaryLee Miller has made an impact on hundreds of students throughout her 21-year career. One of those students recently shared how much of an impact the Rochester Teachers Association member had on his life.
Actor Taye Diggs selected Miller as his favorite educator for the "Behind Every Famous Person Is a Fabulous Teacher" campaign, sponsored by the nonprofit Teachers-Count group. The ads feature celebrities and their favorite teachers and will run in Time Inc. magazines throughout the year.
On teacherscount.org, Diggs says his former teacher taught him "to earn artistic freedom through discipline" and to strive to make every performance his best.
— Rochester Democrat and Chronicle; The Rochester Teacher
LI teachers honor active parents
The Sewanhaka Federation of Teachers recognized several community parents with exemplary service awards. Each year, the Long Island local honors one set of parents from each of the five high schools in the community. Parents, nominated by members of the SFT, were chosen based upon their service to the community, the schools, and the students.
Criteria considered for the "Making a Difference" award include energetic participation in organizations such as PTSA, and Dad's Club; active support for school programs; and commitment to sports teams, school productions and homecoming.
— Sewanhaka FT
Students urge SUNY to reject 'Killer Coke'
Students at two State University campuses waged campaigns to oust Coca-Cola products from their universities. A years-long "Killer Coke" campaign sponsored by labor and human rights activists has shed light on abuses at Coca-Cola plants in places like Colombia, where union leaders and sympathizers have been threatened, killed or simply disappeared.
At SUNY Stony Brook, members of the Social Justice Alliance convinced the college in June not to renew its contract with Coca-Cola. They presented a petition signed by more than 1,200 students and cited resolutions passed by United University Professions — NYSUT's affiliate at SUNY — and the Graduate Student Organization.
Armed with the same information and a campaign supported by students, faculty and community members, SUNY Albany still opted to renew its on-campus Coke contract.
In 2005, concerned that Coca-Cola was complicit in human rights abuses in Colombia, delegates to NYSUT's annual convention approved a resolution calling on the statewide union and its affiliates to refrain from serving or selling Coca-Cola products at its offices or union events.
— Solidarity Notes