Western New York districts put spotlight on human rights

Showcasing the benefits of collaboration, NYSUT members, school administrators, board members, parents and students gathered at the recent Western New York Human Rights Summit. They came together to share best practices and encourage more widespread participation by students in human rights initiatives. Participants heard about the nationally recognized Summer Institute for Human Rights and Genocide Studies run by the Hamburg district, as well as student-led outreach projects in Africa and Afghanistan.

Above: front row, from left, Rebekah Mills; Janet Utz, Retiree Council 2; Emma Reid; Travis Kile; Kayla Ciccotti; and John Burns, NYSUT Board member. Back row, Faith Benson; Shannon Lederer, AFT; NYSUT Secretary-Treasurer Lee Cutler; and Lori Raybold, Summer Institute program coordinator.

Right: James Gang, development director for the Summer Institute, presents a Rwanda photo to Shannon Lederer of the American Federation of Teachers' International Affairs department. Photos by Dennis Stierer.

Heart health

Suited up as "SouthPaw," mascot for the Tri-City Valley Cats minor league baseball team, sixth-grade teacher Michael Springstead, a member of North Colonie TA, meets NYSUT staffer Chrissy Phillips at the union's information booth at the American Heart Association's Capital District Heart Walk. NYSUT Vice President Kathleen Donahue led a team of NYSUT walkers at the recent fundraiser in Colonie.

Not for Ourselves Alone

Three winners of NYSUT's "Not for Ourselves Alone" award were united recently when Retiree ED51 Director Loretta Donlon spoke at a meeting of the board of the Coalition of NYSUT Retirees of Western New York. From left are Marcella Fugle, Retiree Council 1 vice president; Donlon; and Jane Kauffman, NYSUT retiree services consultant.