NYSUT keeps growing, and it keeps garnering awards for that growth.

At left: At a December meeting of the statewide union's Board of Directors, NYSUT President Dick Iannuzzi, left, presents Director of Field Operations Mark Chaykin and Executive Director Pauline Kinsella with one of the three Carl J. Megel membership growth awards NYSUT received from the national affiliate, the American Federation of Teachers, for membership growth.

NYSUT received the top honor for overall growth, adding 26,715 active members to the union from 2006 to 2007. Most of that growth was due to unification with the New York state chapter of the National Education Association. NYSUT also won top honors for most new locals chartered — 256 — for a total of 1,273 in 2007.

NYSUT received a third honor for percentage of membership growth. The additional 26,715 members brought a total of 415,197 active members, a growth of 7 percent in 2007. West Virginia grew by just over 19 percent to earn the top honor and Idaho grew by 19 percent to earn second honor.

NYSUT represents more than 585,000 teachers, School-Related Professionals, higher-education staff, professionals in education and health care, and retirees.