Frank Bua, Luci Legotti and Jeff Bernstein joined more than 700 delegates, alternates and visitors at the Nov. 6-7 conference at the Saratoga Springs City Center. A quick recap:
Below you will find hyperlinks to take you to the presentations that we attended. There is some incredibly valuable information contained within these PowerPoints!:
Remember, the GNTA is your local union -- we are NOT retirement experts. Develop your own NYSTRS account by using the link below. It's easy; you just need your NYSTRS Employee ID number! https://secure.nystrs.org/sma/security/RegisterAccount.aspx Best, Frank, Jeff and Luci Political Action and Internal Organizing Committees Invite You to Pizza (and a BOE meeting)10/14/2016 The Political Action and Internal Organizing Committees are inviting you to share pizza at 7:30 at JFK School before our next Board of Ed. meeting. This is a wonderful opportunity to share ideas, meet with friends, and get to know new GNTA members.
Please check your personal email for a link to sign up! If you have already signed up and may not be able to attend please just remove your name since we are trying to judge how much food to order. Our presence at these meetings is essential to our continued visibility to the community and the importance of our participation in and knowledge of the district decision making process. In Solidarity. Internal Organizing and Political Action Committees The Island Now: Thursday, September 8, 2016 9:59 am | Updated: 10:02 am, Thu Sep 8, 2016. By Joe Nikic The new Great Neck Teachers Association president, Jim Daszenski, said it was the “challenge of the job” that drew him to the position of representing the 750-member union. “I want the challenge. I want to work with the Board of Education and with the community,” Daszenski said. “I want to make sure that the Great Neck Teachers Association remains vital and that we are fairly represented.” The former association president, Sheila Henchy, retired this year, leaving a vacancy for the remaining year of her two-year term. Daszenski, who lives in Manhattan but has taught English at Great Neck South High School since 1999, was elected to finish the remainder of Henchy’s term, which ends in April. He said that while his immediate plan was to serve out the remaining year, he has an interest in serving longer. “I didn’t think of this as a short-term type of thing,” Daszenski said. “My intention is to do the best I can and I will serve as long as I have the honor of doing so.” He said he believes he has “valuable contributions” to make to the association and wanted to ensure that the school district remained in a positive light in the community. Daszenski also said that one of his main goals was to protect the professional rights and responsibilities of the members that he represents. “We’re middle-class people and what is more important than the job that we do?” he said. “To work with young people, to educate the young people in the community, it’s the most important thing there is.” Daszenski said his duties also include working with other New York State unions and handling the day-to-day operations of the association. The teachers association and the Board of Education, Daszenski said, have a “very strong working” relationship and he was looking to strengthen the partnership between the two. But, he said, he would like to see the board do more for the employees of the school district. “They’ve shown a real commitment to investing in the district’s facilities and technologies and we want that going forward,” Daszenski said. “We’re hoping that they will show the same commitment to the personnel.” On Nov. 20, 2015, association members voted to approve a four-year contract agreement with the school district. But two affiliated groups that the teachers’ association represents, the Paraprofessionals Association and Per Diem Chapter, currently do not have active contracts with the school district, he said. “My feeling has always been that people don’t move to Great Neck for the ocean beaches and mountain views, they come here for the world class education,” Daszenski said. “We hope to see a greater investment in personnel.” While the union understands the limits placed on the school district in terms of the state-mandated tax cap and other financial restrictions, he said more focus should be placed on the district’s employees, currently ranked 25th in salaries across Long Island. “We understand the financial realities and no one knows the tax cap situation better than we do,” Daszenski said. “But we also need to work to make sure that the community and Board of Education values the staff as much as they value their investments in facilities and technologies.” He said he has enjoyed teaching in Great Neck and wanted to continue to improve students’ performance, noting the success of Great Neck schools in Newsweek and Niche.com national rankings. “It’s an amazing place to be and I can say that because I’ve worked in two other school districts earlier in my career,” Daszenski said. “I hear a lot that Great Neck is unique and it’s true.” “I know I’m proud to be here, and we want to keep that success going,” he added. At the orientation held prior to the opening of the Great Neck Public Schools, new staff were welcomed by Board of Education Trustee Susan Healy; Superintendent Dr. Teresa Prendergast; Assistant Superintendents Dr. Joseph Hickey and Dr. Stephen Lando; new Great Neck Teachers Association (GNTA) President James Daszenski; new Association of Supervisors and Administrators (SAGES) President Sharon Applebaum; and other administrators.
New Administrator Heather Sweet is the new assistant principal at E.M. Baker School. She replaces Jeffrey Ryvicker, who was recently appointed the school superintendent of the Quogue School District. (More about Dr. Sweet will appear in the future.) Elementary Teachers New elementary teachers are listed below, by school, with their subject areas in parentheses. Newly hired teachers at E.M. Baker School include: Douglas Kuveke (special education), Lisa Noonan (special education), Stephanie Schmidt (grade 4), Kimberly Sieh (grade 4), and Melissa Weibman (grade 5). New teachers at J.F. Kennedy School: Christine Deaner (special education), Kristen Milici (special education), Vanessa Nilsen, (special education), and Kelly Rosario (special education). Barbara Manzi is a new special education teacher at the North Shore Hebrew Academy and Mary Terriberry is a new prekindergarten teacher at Parkville School. New teachers at Saddle Rock School are: Rachel Barrer (reading), Jennifer Kerr (speech therapist; also at North Middle), and Deanna Phillips (special education). Secondary Teachers New secondary teachers follow, by school, with their subject areas in parentheses. Thomas Hahn is a new English teacher at North High. New teachers at North Middle School: Melissa Block (Languages Other Than English–LOTE), Alexandra D’Angelo (special education), Jennifer Kerr (speech therapist; also at Saddle Rock), Jeryl Lehmuller (special education), and Tracy Segal (guidance dept head). New teachers at South High School are Morgan Burk (physical education/health), Lillian Hsiao (English as a New Language–ENL), and Daniel Shadock (mathematics). New teachers at South Middle School include: Yanxia Chen (LOTE), Jessica Hemmerdinger (special education), Lindsay Manno (special education), Sandra Neuwirth (LOTE), and Catherine Sagevick (mathematics). Three GNTA members, selected as delegates by our membership in 2014, attended The AFT's 84th convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota, from July 18-21. Here's what our delegates have to say:
SANDI ROSENZWEIG-COOPER AFT DELEGATE Mid-July I was honored to represent the GNTA at the biennial AFT Convention in Minneapolis, If you want to be energized and empowered about our profession, this is the way to do it. With the attendance of more than 3,000 members nationwide, the 4-day convention begins at a fast pace and continues that way throughout the four days. First order of affairs is to review the multitude of resolutions that will be discussed and voted on in the days to come. At first glance, it can be overwhelming as the resolutions address issues and concerns that seem outside of the realm of education. I confess, for a long time I thought of the teachers’ union as a union created solely for the support of our profession and the concerns of our students. However, it quickly became clear that as a union, our focus goes far beyond the brick and mortar of our profession. From the ban on fracking, to the Flint, Michigan water crisis, from immigration and Islamophobia, to gun control, to Black Lives Matter and sepsis awareness/education, the breadth and scope of our union is incredible. The AFT Convention provides a forum for the voices of all our members throughout the country to be heard. Listening to a teacher speak about the Flint water catastrophe and the long term effects on Flints’ citizens, was bone chilling. Her plea for support for the people of her community and for all communities who may someday face the same end, was heard by all as we voted and passed the resolution to “unequivocally support the repeal of Michigan’s emergency manager law, Public Act 436, and support the Flint community in its ongoing efforts to have Flint declared a federal disaster area.” ‘Si se puede!’ became the rallying cry when raising the issues of improving the outcomes of Latino children and addressing the needs of the Latino community in general. As speakers rose to share their concerns about the Latino communities in their area, the members came together to pass the resolution which stated: “that the American Federation of Teachers will focus its efforts to elevate the importance of Latino issues to the union in three areas: programs and initiatives, policy and campaigns, and communications.” Additionally, the members unanimously, and strongly, passed a resolution that would “ensure that the union would lobby Congress to remove the congressional block on gun violence research.” I felt pride in the breadth of issues and concerns that the AFT put its energy and power behind. I felt energized by the commitment and dedication of our members. And, as I marched though downtown Minneapolis with fellow teachers and union members, demanding the respect for Philando Castile who was shot by a police officer not too far from where the convention was being held, and had been an active member of the St. Paul Federation of Teachers, I felt empowered by not only the numbers of members marching, but the passion each had for Philando and all lives being lost to these senseless shootings. We are the AFT and each day that we stand up against the inequities and inequalities around us, we make the AFT stronger. I am so honored to have been able to attend this year’s convention, and am even more honored to be an active member of the AFT and NYSUT. With pride and solidarity, Sandi Rosenzweig-Cooper Three GNTA members, selected as delegates by our membership in 2014, attended The AFT's 84th convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota, from July 18-21. Here's what our delegates have to say:
JIM DASZENSKI President, GNTA It was a tremendous honor to be one of GNTA’s three representatives (and one of over 3000 that gathered from all across the United States) to attend the American Federation of Teachers biennial convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota this summer. From July 17-21, delegates were treated to numerous speeches by political big shots and educational luminaries. However, one speech stood out from the others. Not because it was the most humorous or the most poignant (it was neither of those), but because it was, by far, the most significant and promising for our cause as educators and unionists. It was the first time in a very long time that I heard a presidential candidate for a major political party express intelligent and common sense ideas not just about the state of education in America, but to proclaim the positive role that public unions play in educating our young. I’m referring, of course, to the speech given by Hillary Clinton. AFT President Randi Weingarten introduced Clinton and framed this year’s presidential election as “a moment of reckoning for our country,” saying that this November’s contest is a “battle for [America’s] soul and for our children’s future.” Weingarten was certain to note Clinton’s lifetime of fighting for public and early childhood education, human rights, economic opportunity for all, and universal healthcare. She sharply contrasted the Democratic nominee with her opponent, Donald Trump: “What do you call it when a candidate for president debases an entire religion, mocks a disabled reporter, refers to women as pigs, and calls Mexicans rapists? I call it a threat to civil society, to decency, and to the values that underpin our country. Frankly, it is perilously close to fascism.” Hillary Clinton received tremendous applause as she went on to outline her vision for public education in the next four years. The (then) presumptive Democratic nominee rejected a return to the kind of top-down reform we’ve seen under the Obama administration. Instead, she acknowledged that real educational improvement comes when those in power forge a partnership with the teaching professionals on the front lines. She said, “I want to thank you for being one of the essential partners for everything we need to do to move the country in the right direction. I want to say right from the outset that I’m with you. When I’m president, you will always have a partner in the White House, and you will always have a seat at the table.” Most impressive, however, was her unabashed support for public unions and the values that we espouse. Clinton is an advocate for higher salaries for teachers and school-related professionals, career-long professional development, and relief from the oppressive burdens of student debt. And, she insisted, that to make these a reality would require the active participation of unions: “If we are serious about supporting educators, we need to support unions.” She vowed to be an enemy in the White House to those who support reckless charter school expansions, the privatization of public education, and the imposition of vouchers. The following day, AFT delegates voted overwhelmingly to endorse Hillary Clinton for president. To this delegate, the choice is clear. Clinton has the opportunity to make history in November, not just because she could be the first woman ever elected president, but because she truly understands and values the importance of what we all do every day in our classrooms and in our buildings. I would urge you to watch her speech for yourself andmake sure you’re registered to vote in this November’s election. In solidarity, Jim Daszenski GNTA President & AFT Delegate Three GNTA members, selected as delegates by our membership in 2014, attended The AFT's 84th convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota, from July 18-21. Here's what our delegates have to say:
JEFF BERNSTEIN GNTA High School Director I attended the biennial AFT Convention in Minneapolis this July representing the GNTA. It was my first AFT convention, and it was an honor to represent our members. Having attended the NYSUT Representative Assembly for the past three years, I was not surprised to find how similarly the AFT operates. Of course the major difference is that there were representatives from around the country, and although there are issues that are particular to different states, there is much that unites us. From union leaders to leading politicians, the lineup of speakers was inspiring and made clear the power and reach of the AFT. We heard from Leo Gerard, the President of the United Steelworkers and Dolores Huerta, one of the founders of the United Farm Workers, Congressmen Keith Ellison and Bobby Scott, Governor Mark Dayton, Senators Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar, and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. International speakers included a young woman member of the Israeli Knesset, and a Palestinian educator and an Israeli educator working together to build schools where Israelis and Palestinians can learn together and from each other. There was recognition and discussion of events in our country beyond education. A number of Florida educators were wearing #Orlando United shirts, which are a fundraiser for the OneOrlando Fund for the benefit of the survivors and families of the victims of the shootings at the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando. Because of the interest of members from around the country, the link to order was posted and announced from the chair a number of times. http://www.orlandocitysc.com/post/2016/06/14/orlandounited-t-shirts I ordered one online and had it within days. In the weeks leading up to the convention, Alton Sterling was shot by police in Baton Rouge and Philando Castile was shot by a police officer not too far from where the convention was being held. Philando Castile worked in a school in St. Paul and was an active member of the St. Paul Federation of Teachers. Many teachers joined with activists to protest these killings. http://www.startribune.com/teachers-join-activists-to-protest-castile-shooting/387511391/#1A special order of business on fighting for safe communities and racial justice for citizens and for first responders was overwhelmingly passed by members. During the business portion of the convention there were many resolutions discussed and debated in committee and then on the convention floor. The issues they addressed ranged from education to international events. The complete list can be found at http://www.aft.org/about/resolutions. One of the more controversial debates had to do with a proposal to change the way in which AFT endorses candidates. Those supporting the proposal felt that the early endorsement of Hillary Clinton during the Democratic Primary was premature and should have been done with greater member input. This was similar in many ways to the debates at the NYSUT RA over the election of regional directors that I wrote about after the RA earlier this year. As at the RA, many from UFT, which is run by the Unity Caucus that requires its members to vote as a bloc directed by their leadership, and which had the largest number of votes at AFT of any local in the country by far, argued that the process works and there is no need to make it more democratic. The proposal was defeated. Respectfully submitted, Jeff Bernstein GNTA President Sheila Henchy is retiring at the end of this school year. This is her final President's Report: As many of you know, in my years BGN (Before Great Neck) I taught in private schools, where joining a union was not an option. This didn’t trouble me greatly, because I was naïve enough to believe that good teachers didn’t really need a union, other than to negotiate contracts. Then I ran afoul of a new administrator, having dared to raise my voice against his injustice toward several colleagues, and I faced professional ruin as a result. It took me two years to overcome the repercussions of that event, and it changed me forever. When I came to Great Neck and joined GNTA twenty- seven years ago, I finally understood what union is all about. Yes, negotiating contracts is an important responsibility, and it’s always good to know that you’ll have union representation if you need it. But a union-YOUR union-is so much more than that. It guarantees you a voice in just about every aspect of your professional life (think BCG, SDM, selection committees). It protects your right to respond to perceived unfairness or inaccuracy in the evaluation process and disciplinary matters (think BRC). It provides you with opportunities to participate in political activity to address the issues that affect you as a teacher: APPR, the tax cap, threats to unionization (think Political Action Committee) and the governance of GNTA (think the Delegate Assembly, the Elections Committee and the Contract Improvement Committee...and stay tuned). It creates opportunities for building bridges between our profession and the community at large (think the Internal Organizing Committee...and stay tuned there, too!). Your participation in any of those committees or its events is participation in your union. The last two years have been incredibly challenging for GNTA. Our contract negotiations, in particular, were difficult and created far more turmoil than we’ve ever experienced before. To some degree, we are a microcosm of the nation as a whole: in the face of economic hardships and professional concerns, we do not always have consensus about how to handle the issues we face. For a brief time, after the contract ratification vote last November, I was deeply concerned that our divisions would prove to be irreparable. Instead, there are signs that-UNLIKE the nation at large-positive member engagement has increased. There’s always a spike in Delegate Assembly attendance during negotiations, but this year that spike has been sustained all year. Delegates continue to ask questions to increase their awareness of how our union is run and make thoughtful suggestions for our future. Many buildings have reported that not only are more people volunteering for BRC: in many cases, BRC elections are contested. GNTA Executive Board offices have been contested, too, and- unlike the Presidential race in the nation at large-these races have involved courteous discourse about ideas, not attacks by candidates on each other. Participation on the Elections Committee and the Internal Organizing Committee have been higher than ever before. These are signs of our health as a union, and I know that the Executive Board will continue to work hard to develop more opportunities for GNTA members to be active. Perhaps you don’t have time to join one of the groups mentioned above. That’s fine-at least, for now! But don’t make the mistake of perceiving “the union” as being your building BRC or the Executive Board. Don’t make the mistake of believing that GNTA is an entity separate from yourself. Your union is you, and your union needs your thoughts, your energy, and your perspective. Give of yourself in whatever way you can. The poet Gwendolyn Brooks could have been speaking of unions when she wrote, “We are each other’s harvest; we are each other’s business; we are each other’s magnitude and bond.” As I rapidly approach retirement, I want to thank you all, from the deepest part of me, for the opportunities you’ve given me through GNTA to experience your magnitude and bond. - Sheila Henchy, GNTA President On May 25, GNTA celebrated the careers of our colleagues who are retiring this spring. We thank them for their years of professionalism and dedication to the children of Great Neck. Here's the complete list: LAKEVILLE David Graham Donna Peirez Dina Siegel NORTH MIDDLE Bonnie Bleck Lynn Kelly Robert Vigus PARKVILLE Alisa Altabef SADDLE ROCK Jill Rubin Adria Salmon SOUTH HIGH Debra Cruz Linda Dragunat Eileen McPartland SOUTH MIDDLE Andrew Berlin Sheila Henchy Gail Keyes Eileen Mangiacapre Claudia Re Rhonda Rieger OFFICE STAFF Kathleen Daly Vincent Delucca Catherine McAllen Dorothy Mogenis Louise Millevoi Antoinette Solowsky Antonia Sciacca PARAPROFESSIONALS Lucy Cacciatore Rita Conception Gail Heifetz Leopoldine Jacklitsch Roberta Begel Joan Carrell Sophia Mazurkiewica In a show of solidarity, GNTA members walked the picket line with our striking Verizon union brothers and sisters in Jericho on May 24. These members of CWA Local 1104 and over 40,000 other Verizon workers from Massachusetts to Virginia have been on strike for over 40 days. The reasons: they say they cannot accept Verizon proposals that would allow additional outsourcing of call center workers to the Philippines and Mexico, greater use of nonunion contract installers, and the assignment of union employees to other cities for up to two months at a time.
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