News

On her very first day of student teaching at Linden Avenue Middle School in Red Hook, N.Y., Martha Strever pushed, pulled and pounded on the school’s door, which was locked. No one came. Where was everybody? It was, after all, the first day of school.

It turned out everybody was exactly where they were supposed to be: inside, having entered through the school’s front entrance. Strever had been knocking on a side door. Flustered but undeterred, she not only found her way inside, she also found her life’s calling.

Strever’s sentences are punctuated with laughs when she recounts the story to

Paraprofessionals and school-related personnel are often overlooked because of their support roles. They are the last ones hired and often the first ones fired when budgets get tight. This certainly seems true right now as the Trump administration withholds nearly $7 billion in education funds, effective July 1, which has hamstrung summer school programs, hindered English language support, halted professional development this summer, and left before- and after-school programs in limbo for the coming school year.

Paraprofessionals are key employees in all these programs. For example, in Alabama

Thank you for all you do!

As the school year draws to a close, all of us at NYSUT want to thank you for your tremendous dedication. It’s been a challenging year — but through it all, you've stood strong and persevered. Over and over, you've shown how public schools are the place where students, parents and educators come together as a community.

U.S. Supreme Court hands down landmark cases

This week, the Supreme Court handed down multiple decisions that will touch the lives of millions of Americans. Earlier this week, in Carson v. Makin, the court laid the groundwork that states must provide publ

Union wins APPR reprieve

Gov. Kathy Hochul Friday signed a bill suspending, for an additional year, the Annual Professional Performance Review process. Advanced through grassroots advocacy from NYSUT members and lobbying by union legislative staff, the bill recently passed both the state Senate and the Assembly.

“As we come to the end of another school year that has been anything but normal, we welcome the governor’s decision to suspend the APPR process for another year,” said NYSUT President Andy Pallotta. “We will continue working with the legislature and the governor to address the APPR

RA 2022 celebrates 50 years, and plans for future

“We stand on the shoulders of giants!” said President Andy Pallotta in his address to more than 1,300 delegates as he kicked off the 50th annual NYSUT Representative Assembly at the Albany Capital Center. It was a weekend for delegates to celebrate the history and look to the future. Attendees acted on dozens of resolutions to set a course for action, including a move to support Ukraine in its struggle against the Russian invasion. Gov. Hochul, Comptroller DiNapoli, AG Tish James and more special guests inspired the gathering. Go to nysut.org/ra

Livestream program commemorates Black History Month

NYSUT’s Many Threads, One Fabric social justice initiative presented an online event this week to mark Black History Month. Hosted by Secretary-Treasurer Philippe Abraham, it focused on the unique struggles underrepresented groups face with regard to mental health and wellness in the United States. Other highlights included award presentations to BHM honorees, testimonials from NYSUT members and artistic expressions from students and community partners.

• You can still get a free BHM poster for your classroom from NYSUT.

Take action! Urge

We knew this moment was coming.

Wealthy special interests have been fighting for years to undercut unions and roll back the benefits earned by working families. Today’s Supreme Court decision in Janus vs. AFSCME shows how far they are willing to go to attack working families. Anti-union forces think they can seize this opportunity to convince our members to abandon our union in an effort to diminish their voice in the workplace and weaken their strength at the bargaining table.

We are going to prove them wrong.

NYSUT fights to protect the collective bargaining rights that help secure higher

RHEA would like to congratulate the following members on their upcoming retirement. Thank you for your hard work and dedication to Rush-Henrietta students!

• Nancy Beikirch
• Patricia Burns-Skomsky
• Caroline Harrington
• Colleen McCarthy-White
• Mary Oakes
• Sue Sanbury
• Carol Stevenson
• Mary Laio
• Rich Thompson

Click below for additional dates, times, and locations of the Fall 2013 Flu Clinics.

Roth Middle School

Tuesday, Oct. 8, 3:30-5:00 p.m.

Crane Elementary School

Thursday, Oct. 15, 7:00-8:30 a.m.

Transportation & Operations Center

Thursday, Oct. 15, 9:30-10:30 a.m.

Senior High School

Friday, Oct. 18, 3:00-5:00 p.m.

Fyle Elementary School

Monday, Oct. 21, 3:00-4:30 p.m.

Ninth Grade Academy

Wednesday, Oct. 23 2:30-4:30 p.m.

Burger Middle School

Wednesday, Oct. 30, 3:30-5:00 p.m.

• Please bring your insurance card to the clinic.  Most insurance is accepted. For those individuals not insured, the cost is $30