Cast your vote to help these New York teachers spread kindness and share history

Two terrific New York teachers are finalists in a national contest to “Thank America’s Teachers” for their outstanding dedication and creativity in supporting students and their communities. Each is vying to win one of five $100,000 grants from Farmers Insurance for their dream projects.

Jamie Metivier of South Glens Falls Faculty Association started the Kindness Closet at her Tanglewood Elementary School, believing the items she purchased with her own money would help her students - many from families just barely scraping by. Metivier quickly realized that she had underestimated the deep-rooted poverty afflicting her community.

The pots and pans, diapers, toiletries and household items she purchased out of her own pocket found new homes almost immediately. It led Metivier to seek out donations from friends, union colleagues and local businesses so she could expand the Kindness Closet to all five buildings in her district, located in the foothills of the Adirondacks.

Christine McCartney of Newburgh Teachers Association is seeking to foster a sense of healing – and history – in her students and her Hudson River community. She has worked tirelessly with her high schoolers and with an architectural firm, MassDesign, and the Blacc Vanilla Community Foundation to design an interactive learning space that will help visitors to Newburgh learn about the city’s rich history – and its great potential.

Along the way, McCartney’s project - Healing, History and Hope - is bringing her students and her community closer together. “Our project is about hope and resiliency - just like what I want to see in my students and our community,” she said.

Metivier’s project, too, is about helping her community.

“When kids are sleeping on the floor, and they don’t have sheets, blankets and pillows, they don’t get a good night’s sleep. They come to school tired, and it impacts their academics," she said. "I want my kids to work up to their potential.”

No New York teacher has ever won the Farmers Insurance contest. NYSUT is fully embracing their efforts, which speaks loudly to the values of our union.

“This is a shining example of what it means when we say, ‘Our Voice, Our Values, Our Union,’" said NYSUT President Andy Pallotta. "Supporting students and their families and making our communities better places for all is most definitely a union value. Join me in voting for these worthy projects.”

You can vote for both New York teacher proposals, but you can can only vote once for the same teacher proposal per day. In December, the five proposals with the most votes will each win one of five $100,000 grants.