Ten years ago, the UFT saved the jobs of 10,000 members by quickly putting together a new training course on combating discrimination, bullying and harassment in schools. The six-hour training was required by the then-new state law, the Dignity for All Students Act, for teachers, paraprofessionals and school clinicians to maintain their state certification. Until the UFT stepped in, members were scrambling to find a way to comply.

Many of the trainers, past and present, came together on Feb. 8 to mark the anniversary.

“Those were crazy times,” said Miriam Vega, a former trainer, who recalled offering enough workshops to accommodate up to 2,000 UFT members per month.

Adhim DeVeaux, of the UFT’s BRAVE anti-bullying program, said that over the years, the team has gotten its workshops “down to a science,” while expanding online options and adding content about cyberbullying.

Luz Minaya, one of two former trainers who traveled from out of state to attend the reunion, said she was happy she’d been part of the initiative because school safety is “one of the most crucial aspects of teaching and learning.”

David Kazansky, the former UFT director of safety and health who led the initial DASA training effort and planned the reunion, said he felt amazement and gratitude seeing the group back together after the “unbelievably hard work” the initiative took.

“The work continues, and our members are better for it,” Kazansky said.