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UFT Spring Education Conference 2023

The union’s signature education conference of the year was a fun and inspiring day for more than 1,300 UFT members that featured a morning discussion on self-care, CTLE workshops, a performance by hip-hop icon Kurtis Blow and a gala luncheon.

A man holds a microphone up to a women's face for her to sing along

Hip-hop legend Kurtis Blow gives a few educators a chance to join in during his energetic performance. Blow also spoke about “hip-hop pedagogy” programs in schools and his newly formed labor union for artists, the Hip-Hop Alliance.

Erica Berger
A man raises his hands while on the stage to engage the crowd.

UFT President Michael Mulgrew leads the crowd in a karaoke rendition of “Come and Get Your Love” after a speech about using love to fight all the hate directed at educators.

Erica Berger
A man poses for a selfie with a group of attendees
Kurtis Blow poses for selfies with UFT members after his performance.
Erica Berger
A panel discussion at the 2023 UFT Spring Conference

Setting boundaries, work-life balance and managing stress were some of the topics tackled by townhall panelists (from left) Dr. Pina LoGiuduce, a a naturopathic doctor; Dido Balla from MindUp; Liza Reyes, a UFT Teacher Center site coach at PS/IS 266 in Queens; Tina Puccio, the UFT Member Assistance Program director; Michelle Jervis, a school social worker at IS 391 in the Bronx; and UFT President Michael Mulgrew, the moderator.

Erica Berger
A woman meditates at her table during a meditation exercise

Members take a moment for guided meditation and deep breathing during the town hall.

Erica Berger
A group of students perform on stage while holding flags.
The student chorus from PS 130 in Chinatown gives a joyful performance celebrating Asian and Latin American music traditions.
Erica Berger
A woman speaks at the podium
State Attorney General Tish James thanks educators for their professionalism and dedication and tells them that they are “over-tested and underappreciated.”
Erica Berger
A man and woman on stage point to the crowd

AFT President Randi Weingarten (left) and UFT President Michael Mulgrew (right) share a joke with the crowd during a luncheon full of rousing speeches and singalongs.

Erica Berger
A teacher works with his students at a computer

William Tsang, a CTE teacher and technical coordinator at In-Tech Academy (MS/HS 368) in the Bronx, works with his information technology students to demonstrate a video game on a student-built computer.

Erica Berger
Three people gather to check out a robot
UFT Vice President for Career and Technical Education Leo Gordon (at right), with the guidance of Bronx Aerospace HS engineering design teacher Marvis Grant, tries out a student-made robot at the CTE exhibit hall.
Erica Berger
A group of students with their teacher and a UFT representative pose for a photo

Donna Coppola, a UFT rep for Staten Island (back row, left) and Joseph Caputo, the CTE dental lab teacher at Tottenville HS, smile for the camera with dental lab students and some of the prosthetics they build at their school.

Erica Berger
A woman on the right leads a workshop of participants
Teacher Center Director Rosemarie LoMonaco leads a workshop about using “street data,” which takes the whole child into consideration and not just grades and test scores, to advance equity in the classroom.
Erica Berger
A woman on the right turns and speaks to the woman on her left.

Participants in the Autism in the Classroom workshop share their thoughts about the developmental disorder after reading a brief article about it.

Erica Berger
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A man holds a microphone up to a women's face for her to sing along

Hip-hop legend Kurtis Blow gives a few educators a chance to join in during his energetic performance. Blow also spoke about “hip-hop pedagogy” programs in schools and his newly formed labor union for artists, the Hip-Hop Alliance.

Erica Berger
A man raises his hands while on the stage to engage the crowd.

UFT President Michael Mulgrew leads the crowd in a karaoke rendition of “Come and Get Your Love” after a speech about using love to fight all the hate directed at educators.

Erica Berger
A man poses for a selfie with a group of attendees
Kurtis Blow poses for selfies with UFT members after his performance.
Erica Berger
A panel discussion at the 2023 UFT Spring Conference

Setting boundaries, work-life balance and managing stress were some of the topics tackled by townhall panelists (from left) Dr. Pina LoGiuduce, a a naturopathic doctor; Dido Balla from MindUp; Liza Reyes, a UFT Teacher Center site coach at PS/IS 266 in Queens; Tina Puccio, the UFT Member Assistance Program director; Michelle Jervis, a school social worker at IS 391 in the Bronx; and UFT President Michael Mulgrew, the moderator.

Erica Berger
A woman meditates at her table during a meditation exercise

Members take a moment for guided meditation and deep breathing during the town hall.

Erica Berger
A group of students perform on stage while holding flags.
The student chorus from PS 130 in Chinatown gives a joyful performance celebrating Asian and Latin American music traditions.
Erica Berger
A woman speaks at the podium
State Attorney General Tish James thanks educators for their professionalism and dedication and tells them that they are “over-tested and underappreciated.”
Erica Berger
A man and woman on stage point to the crowd

AFT President Randi Weingarten (left) and UFT President Michael Mulgrew (right) share a joke with the crowd during a luncheon full of rousing speeches and singalongs.

Erica Berger
A teacher works with his students at a computer

William Tsang, a CTE teacher and technical coordinator at In-Tech Academy (MS/HS 368) in the Bronx, works with his information technology students to demonstrate a video game on a student-built computer.

Erica Berger
Three people gather to check out a robot
UFT Vice President for Career and Technical Education Leo Gordon (at right), with the guidance of Bronx Aerospace HS engineering design teacher Marvis Grant, tries out a student-made robot at the CTE exhibit hall.
Erica Berger
A group of students with their teacher and a UFT representative pose for a photo

Donna Coppola, a UFT rep for Staten Island (back row, left) and Joseph Caputo, the CTE dental lab teacher at Tottenville HS, smile for the camera with dental lab students and some of the prosthetics they build at their school.

Erica Berger
A woman on the right leads a workshop of participants
Teacher Center Director Rosemarie LoMonaco leads a workshop about using “street data,” which takes the whole child into consideration and not just grades and test scores, to advance equity in the classroom.
Erica Berger
A woman on the right turns and speaks to the woman on her left.

Participants in the Autism in the Classroom workshop share their thoughts about the developmental disorder after reading a brief article about it.

Erica Berger