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Teacher Union Day 2024

About 1,500 UFT members, families and friends gathered at the New York Hilton Midtown on Nov. 3 to celebrate the organizers, activists and leaders who advanced the union’s mission over the past year. The annual fall event, which commemorates the 1960 strike that won collective bargaining rights for the UFT, honored 179 in-service and retired members.

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UFT President Michael Mulgrew with former Charles Cogen Award winner Tom Murphy at 2024 Teacher Union Day on November 3, 2024 at the Midtown Hilton

UFT President Michael Mulgrew presents the Charles Cogen Award, the union’s highest honor, to Tom Murphy in recognition of Murphy’s nearly 60 years of outstanding service as an educator, union activist, political director and Retired Teachers Chapter leader.

Jonathan Fickies
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Teacher Union Day Marsh/Raimo award winners take a group photo on Nov. 3, 2024 at the Midtown Hilton

Chapter leaders are congratulated by UFT Political Director Vanecia Wilson (second from left) after receiving Marsh/Raimo Awards for their political activism. Manhattan Member Representative Seung Lee (center) accepted on behalf of his wife, Chapter Leader Carmen Romero Lee.

Mike LoVerde
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District 79 Representative Pat Crispino is presented an award at Teacher Union Day on Nov. 3, 2024 at the Midtown Hilton

District 79 Representative Patricia Crispino (second from left) accepts the new Richard Procida Award from Ellen Gallin Procida (left), the wife of the late District 19 representative for whom the award is named, in recognition of her service to the union, commitment to labor relations and student advocacy, as Mulgrew and UFT Vice President Karen Alford look on.

Jonathan Fickies
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Forty-five elementary school chapter leaders receive Ely Trachtenberg Awards at the UFT's Teacher Union Day event at the Midtown Hilton on Nov. 3, 2024. .

Forty-five elementary school chapter leaders receive Ely Trachtenberg Awards for their exemplary service.

Jonathan Fickies
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Middle School Ely Trachtenberg Awardees take the stage for a group photo at Teacher Union Day on Nov. 3, 2024 at the Midtown Hilton.

Union officials gather on stage with the 10 middle school chapter leaders who received Ely Trachtenberg Awards for exemplary service.

Jonathan Fickies
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High School Ely Trachtenberg Awardees take the stage for a group photo at Teacher Union Day on Nov. 3, 2024 at the Midtown Hilton.

High school members who received Ely Trachtenberg Awards for their exemplary service as chapter leaders take a group photo with union officials.

Jonathan Fickies
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The crowd in attendance for Teacher Union Day at the Midtown Hilton on Nov. 3, 2024

About 1,500 members, friends and families pack the Grand Ballroom at the New York Hilton Midtown for Teacher Union Day.

Jonathan Fickies
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Albert Lee Smallheiser Award winners pose for a photo on stage at Teacher Union Day on Nov. 3, 2024 at the Midtown Hilton

Ten UFT members line up on stage with Mulgrew and UFT Secretary LeRoy Barr after receiving Albert Lee Smallheiser Awards in recognition of their efforts to improve working conditions for their colleagues.

Jonathan Fickies
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UFT Collective Action Award Honorees take the stage at Teacher Union Day on Nov. 3, 2024 at the Midtown Hilton.

Members are honored with the Collective Action Award for their success in organizing at their schools and NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn, which is represented by the Federation of Nurses/UFT.

Jonathan Fickies
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Backer/Sheintaub Award winners pose for a photo on the stage with union officials at the Midtown Hilton during Teacher Union Day on Nov. 3, 2024.

Member Representative Bradley Alter (center) accepts his Backer/Scheintaub Award, which is given to encourage new union leaders. He is flanked by (from left) Staten Island District Representative Sean Rotkowitz, who accepted IS 72 Staten Island member Clifford Hagen’s Backer/Scheintaub Award; Mulgrew; UFT Vice President for Middle Schools Richard Mantell; and Barr.

Jonathan Fickies
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Sidney Harris Award winner Elizabeth McGovern and UFT Vice President for Special Education MaryJo Ginese take a photo after the awards presentation.

UFT special education liaison Elizabeth McGovern (right) holds the Sidney Harris Award presented to her by UFT Vice President for Special Education MaryJo Ginese in honor of her leadership in special education.

Jonathan Fickies
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Audrey Chasen Award winners take the stage for a group photo at Teacher Union Day on Nov. 3, 2024 at the Midtown Hilton.

Staff members at four schools in Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island take a photo with UFT officials after receiving Audrey Chasen Awards, named for a former teacher mentor in city public schools.

Jonathan Fickies
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District 5 Representative Zina Burton Myrick (left) is joined by Manhattan Borough Representative Servia Silva after receiving the David Wittes Award at Teacher Union Day on Nov. 3, 2024 at the Midtown Hilton

District 5 Representative Zina Burton Myrick (left) is joined by Manhattan Borough Representative Servia Silva after receiving the David Wittes Award for her outstanding courage, dedication and commitment to the ideals of the UFT.

Mike LoVerde
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UFT Teacher Center coach Evelyn Edwards accepts the Jules Kolodny Award at Teacher Union Day on Nov. 3, 2024 at the Midtown Hilton

UFT Teacher Center coach Evelyn Edwards accepts the Jules Kolodny Award for outstanding leadership and commitment to the trade union movement.

Jonathan Fickies
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District 75 members attend Teacher Union Day at the Midtown Hilton on Nov. 3, 2024

District 75 members attend Teacher Union Day with District 75 Representative David Doorga (center).

Jonathan Fickies
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PS 200, Brooklyn, teachers (from left) Kris Norris, Danielle Caracciolo and Christine Perez arrive at Teacher Union Day on Nov. 3, 2024 at the Midtown Hilton.

PS 200, Brooklyn, teachers (from left) Kris Norris, Danielle Caracciolo and Christine Perez arrive at Teacher Union Day to support their school's honoree – Chapter Leader Katherine Lameras, who received a Trachtenberg Award.

Jonathan Fickies
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Past and present Wings Academy staff pose for a group photo at Teacher Union Day on Nov. 3, 2024 at the Midtown Hilton.

Charles Goasdoue (standing, at left), the chapter leader at Wings Academy HS in the Bronx, celebrates his 2024 Trachtenberg Award with retired UFT Special Representative John Monteforte; Ross Chadon (sitting, at left) and past Trachtenberg Award winners from Wings Academy HS Matthew Foglino and Shannette Richards.

Mike LoVerde
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Marsh/Raimo awardee Chris Alena (third from left), the chapter leader at Curtis HS in Staten Island, enjoys the reception that followed Teacher Union Day with Mulgrew (fourth from left) and Staten Island supporters.

Marsh/Raimo awardee Chris Alena (third from left), the chapter leader at Curtis HS in Staten Island, enjoys the reception that followed Teacher Union Day with Mulgrew (fourth from left) and Staten Island supporters.

Jonathan Fickies
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UFT President Michael Mulgrew with former Charles Cogen Award winner Tom Murphy at 2024 Teacher Union Day on November 3, 2024 at the Midtown Hilton

UFT President Michael Mulgrew presents the Charles Cogen Award, the union’s highest honor, to Tom Murphy in recognition of Murphy’s nearly 60 years of outstanding service as an educator, union activist, political director and Retired Teachers Chapter leader.

Jonathan Fickies
Image
Teacher Union Day Marsh/Raimo award winners take a group photo on Nov. 3, 2024 at the Midtown Hilton

Chapter leaders are congratulated by UFT Political Director Vanecia Wilson (second from left) after receiving Marsh/Raimo Awards for their political activism. Manhattan Member Representative Seung Lee (center) accepted on behalf of his wife, Chapter Leader Carmen Romero Lee.

Mike LoVerde
Image
District 79 Representative Pat Crispino is presented an award at Teacher Union Day on Nov. 3, 2024 at the Midtown Hilton

District 79 Representative Patricia Crispino (second from left) accepts the new Richard Procida Award from Ellen Gallin Procida (left), the wife of the late District 19 representative for whom the award is named, in recognition of her service to the union, commitment to labor relations and student advocacy, as Mulgrew and UFT Vice President Karen Alford look on.

Jonathan Fickies
Image
Forty-five elementary school chapter leaders receive Ely Trachtenberg Awards at the UFT's Teacher Union Day event at the Midtown Hilton on Nov. 3, 2024. .

Forty-five elementary school chapter leaders receive Ely Trachtenberg Awards for their exemplary service.

Jonathan Fickies
Image
Middle School Ely Trachtenberg Awardees take the stage for a group photo at Teacher Union Day on Nov. 3, 2024 at the Midtown Hilton.

Union officials gather on stage with the 10 middle school chapter leaders who received Ely Trachtenberg Awards for exemplary service.

Jonathan Fickies
Image
High School Ely Trachtenberg Awardees take the stage for a group photo at Teacher Union Day on Nov. 3, 2024 at the Midtown Hilton.

High school members who received Ely Trachtenberg Awards for their exemplary service as chapter leaders take a group photo with union officials.

Jonathan Fickies
Image
The crowd in attendance for Teacher Union Day at the Midtown Hilton on Nov. 3, 2024

About 1,500 members, friends and families pack the Grand Ballroom at the New York Hilton Midtown for Teacher Union Day.

Jonathan Fickies
Image
Albert Lee Smallheiser Award winners pose for a photo on stage at Teacher Union Day on Nov. 3, 2024 at the Midtown Hilton

Ten UFT members line up on stage with Mulgrew and UFT Secretary LeRoy Barr after receiving Albert Lee Smallheiser Awards in recognition of their efforts to improve working conditions for their colleagues.

Jonathan Fickies
Image
UFT Collective Action Award Honorees take the stage at Teacher Union Day on Nov. 3, 2024 at the Midtown Hilton.

Members are honored with the Collective Action Award for their success in organizing at their schools and NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn, which is represented by the Federation of Nurses/UFT.

Jonathan Fickies
Image
Backer/Sheintaub Award winners pose for a photo on the stage with union officials at the Midtown Hilton during Teacher Union Day on Nov. 3, 2024.

Member Representative Bradley Alter (center) accepts his Backer/Scheintaub Award, which is given to encourage new union leaders. He is flanked by (from left) Staten Island District Representative Sean Rotkowitz, who accepted IS 72 Staten Island member Clifford Hagen’s Backer/Scheintaub Award; Mulgrew; UFT Vice President for Middle Schools Richard Mantell; and Barr.

Jonathan Fickies
Image
Sidney Harris Award winner Elizabeth McGovern and UFT Vice President for Special Education MaryJo Ginese take a photo after the awards presentation.

UFT special education liaison Elizabeth McGovern (right) holds the Sidney Harris Award presented to her by UFT Vice President for Special Education MaryJo Ginese in honor of her leadership in special education.

Jonathan Fickies
Image
Audrey Chasen Award winners take the stage for a group photo at Teacher Union Day on Nov. 3, 2024 at the Midtown Hilton.

Staff members at four schools in Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island take a photo with UFT officials after receiving Audrey Chasen Awards, named for a former teacher mentor in city public schools.

Jonathan Fickies
Image
District 5 Representative Zina Burton Myrick (left) is joined by Manhattan Borough Representative Servia Silva after receiving the David Wittes Award at Teacher Union Day on Nov. 3, 2024 at the Midtown Hilton

District 5 Representative Zina Burton Myrick (left) is joined by Manhattan Borough Representative Servia Silva after receiving the David Wittes Award for her outstanding courage, dedication and commitment to the ideals of the UFT.

Mike LoVerde
Image
UFT Teacher Center coach Evelyn Edwards accepts the Jules Kolodny Award at Teacher Union Day on Nov. 3, 2024 at the Midtown Hilton

UFT Teacher Center coach Evelyn Edwards accepts the Jules Kolodny Award for outstanding leadership and commitment to the trade union movement.

Jonathan Fickies
Image
District 75 members attend Teacher Union Day at the Midtown Hilton on Nov. 3, 2024

District 75 members attend Teacher Union Day with District 75 Representative David Doorga (center).

Jonathan Fickies
Image
PS 200, Brooklyn, teachers (from left) Kris Norris, Danielle Caracciolo and Christine Perez arrive at Teacher Union Day on Nov. 3, 2024 at the Midtown Hilton.

PS 200, Brooklyn, teachers (from left) Kris Norris, Danielle Caracciolo and Christine Perez arrive at Teacher Union Day to support their school's honoree – Chapter Leader Katherine Lameras, who received a Trachtenberg Award.

Jonathan Fickies
Image
Past and present Wings Academy staff pose for a group photo at Teacher Union Day on Nov. 3, 2024 at the Midtown Hilton.

Charles Goasdoue (standing, at left), the chapter leader at Wings Academy HS in the Bronx, celebrates his 2024 Trachtenberg Award with retired UFT Special Representative John Monteforte; Ross Chadon (sitting, at left) and past Trachtenberg Award winners from Wings Academy HS Matthew Foglino and Shannette Richards.

Mike LoVerde
Image
Marsh/Raimo awardee Chris Alena (third from left), the chapter leader at Curtis HS in Staten Island, enjoys the reception that followed Teacher Union Day with Mulgrew (fourth from left) and Staten Island supporters.

Marsh/Raimo awardee Chris Alena (third from left), the chapter leader at Curtis HS in Staten Island, enjoys the reception that followed Teacher Union Day with Mulgrew (fourth from left) and Staten Island supporters.

Jonathan Fickies

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