At a NYSUT function for new members, four members of the Washingtonville Teachers Association, led by David Cantor, sat around a table sharing stories from their Orange County classrooms. Jennifer Micelli, a new middle-level music teacher, laughed about frequent schedule changes during her first few days. Alex Brown, a seventh-grade English teacher, talked about the joys of teaching at the middle level.

But these teachers are more than enthusiastic new faces — they are the future of NYSUT. At the Newburgh event, NYSUT provided training and opportunities to exchange ideas for some new members who are already showing leadership in their local and statewide unions.

"New-member involvement is critical to the ongoing success of any labor union," said NYSUT President Dick Iannuzzi. "By getting new members involved in union life, we are growing a strong cadre of leaders that NYSUT will need to face challenges in the coming decades."

NYSUT will need its new members like never before. Public education is in transition as baby boomers look to retirement.

A 2005 study by the National Center for Education Statistics found that nearly 30 percent of K-12 teachers are age 50 or over, meaning the next 10 years could usher in an unprecedented wave of retirements.

The same phenomenon has been observed in health care and higher ed and among School-Related Professionals.

As these retirements occur, local unions will be calling on new leaders. NYSUT and its local affiliates are working to educate new members on the importance of union involvement and leadership. A key to developing these leaders is making sure they have the tools to thrive in their new professions.

Creating professional success

As a professional organization, NYSUT makes sure new members receive quality professional guidance. At the Newburgh event, Shirley McCaffrey, a retired teacher from Hyde Park and an instructor for NYSUT's Education & Learning Trust, led a training session on discipline strategies.

David Rothfuss, a NYSUT staffer who was formerly with the State Education Department, led a session on navigating the process from initial to permanent certification — a topic he also covers through video conferences throughout the year. Fran Wolf, a labor relations specialist in the Mid-Hudson Regional Office, piloted a session on access to union services.

"We try to teach members that they should come to the union first, and not just turn to the union when they're in hot water," Wolf said.

Professional success comes from avoiding burnout — a leading reason teachers, health care professionals and SRPs leave.

Activities like the Newburgh event help new members share coping methods.

At the session on discipline strategies, Barbara Laird, an earth science teacher and member of the Newburgh TA, led by Phil Cordella, talked about the challenge of dealing with kids who come to class looking to pick a fight with a teacher.

ELT's McCaffrey stressed developing rules with consequences.

"Don't offer vague rules like 'be respectful,' she said, "because that means different things to different people. To some kids, respectful means they didn't swear at you today."

Social workers and school psychologists are especially prone to burnout and work-related stress. At the October event, social worker Alicia Smith and psychologist Jennifer Arroyo, both members of the Newburgh TA, swapped ideas on coping with difficult scenes they witness on a daily basis.

They say the key is finding guidance.

"Peer communication is important because it provides an outlet," Smith said.

Arroyo noted that it's hard to avoid internalizing some of the stories a psychologist may hear. "You really need to hook up with a more seasoned psychologist for advice."

Building value

New members are busy. "When you're asking them to get involved in union work, you are asking them to bump something else off their schedules," said NYSUT's New-Member Coordinator, Frank Ciarlo, at a training session during NYSUT's annual SRP Conference last fall. "You have to establish the value of the union."

One thing many new members need, Ciarlo said, is a history lesson. New members often believe the salaries and benefits they enjoy are part of the job. Many don't realize that unions fought to bring the salaries of teachers, nurses and SRPs to the current levels. They may not know that some factions in American politics would like to see education and health care salaries, benefits and pensions reduced.

In recent years, NYSUT and its local unions have been instrumental in beating back proposals that would have siphoned money from public schools and would have cut funding for health care and higher ed in New York, most likely resulting in job losses.

In fact, many of NYSUT's local unions work diligently to bring professional support opportunities to their members.

The Saratoga Springs Teachers Association, the United Federation of Teachers in New York City and the Faculty Association of Suffolk Community College are among unions working directly with their districts to select and train mentors for new members.

The Rochester TA hosts an annual four-day training program for new teachers.

Once members understand the value of keeping their union strong, they become eager to contribute.

"Ask them for two hours at a time," said Ciarlo. "Everyone has two hours to give."

The greatest asset new members have is their enthusiasm, clearly on display at the new-member event in Newburgh.

Sara Kelly of the Washingtonville TA talked about her first year teaching in Brooklyn, when a student who could not afford a gift gave her a favorite book instead. Laurie Falesto recalled her joy when one of her New York City students who struggled with reading stood and read an entire paragraph.

"I've met with thousands of new NYSUT members across the state and the one thing they all have in common is passion for what they do," said NYSUT Vice President Kathleen Donahue. "As they channel some of that passion toward union life, great things are going to happen for their local unions, for NYSUT, and for education and health care in New York."

The UFT's New Teacher Advisory Committee channels new-member enthusiasm to develop leaders.

The committee helps UFT, led by Randi Weingarten, find ways to better support and advocate for the one-third of New York City teachers who have been teaching five years or less. All committee members have been teaching five years or less.

"Those of you who stay will be the future of the union," Weingarten said in an open letter to new members.

Donahue said NYSUT has a commitment to prepare new members to effectively lead their unions when the time comes. Part of that commitment is letting new members know the union is there to support them.

"Education and health care are two of the most satisfying professions a person can enter," Donahue said, "but I can say from personal experience that being involved with a union makes the experience exponentially more rewarding."

For information about NYSUT new-member programs, call (800) 342-9810, ext. 6617.

— Kevin Hart