Did you know that every time you eat a steak, you may be contributing to the demise of the Amazon rain forest? The woods are regularly cleared to grow soy used for cattle feed throughout the world.

This was just one example of global connections used by famed explorer Jean-Michel Cousteau before a capacity crowd at the third annual Teaching & Learning Celebration.

Held this month in New York City, the celebration brought together teachers from across America for three days of professional development.

NYSUT is a sponsor of the event, run each year by Channel 13, a public television station.

"NYSUT's role is an outgrowth of its continuing commitment to ending the achievement gap," said NYSUT Vice President Maria Neira.

Attendees also heard from famed primate researcher Jane Goodall and other dignitaries, ranging from astronaut Barbara Morgan to broadcast journalist Judy Woodruff.

The event had a strong union flair, with NYSUT President Dick Iannuzzi and United Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten participating in panel discussions. The UFT is NYSUT's affiliate in New York City public schools.

Iannuzzi was joined by New Jersey Education Association President Joyce Powell on a panel called "Teachers at the Center of the Action," where the two labor leaders discussed the role of teachers in bringing about positive change in the American education system.

Iannuzzi talked about the challenges New York faces in closing the achievement gap, saying schools must do more to engage parents and tackle issues relating to poverty, health care and safety.

"If we're not addressing the issue of poverty, we're not going to make the difference we want," he told attendees.

One of the topics discussed by the two leaders was how to keep educational investment strong in a down economy. Iannuzzi took issue with the Bush administration's lack of focus on education, saying it was more interested in tax cuts and rebates.

"Education, unquestionably, is the key to changing the economy," he said. "I'm not sure sending people checks is a better choice than investing in education."

NYSUT also hosted a large booth at the event, highlighting the union's work on closing the achievement gap and the college and in-service courses offered by NYSUT's Education & Learning Trust. ELT hosted seminars on topics such as improving science instruction.

- Kevin Hart