HCT Executive Board returned to Albany for the first Representative Assembly since the pandemic began and celebrated the RA's 50th anniversary. Governor Kathy Hochul addressed the crowd of almost 2,000 educators and labor leaders from across the state. She recognized the hard work and dedication of all public school teachers, like the one she had for 8th grade Social Studies who helped her understand the power of government. "A teacher is the reason I am here today," she said.

NYSUT president Andy Pallotta said he believed this year may actually be harder for educators than the last. He thanked teachers for “doing everything you have done, for getting our kids back in the classroom safely.” He also announced a new NYSUT campaign to “Fix Tier 6!” He mentioned that more than a third of the membership is in Tier 6. “It won’t be quick or easy, but that fight begins today.”

Other speakers included NYSUT Executive Vice President Jolene DiBrango, NYS Attorney General Leticia James, New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, U.S. Congressman Paul Tonko, National Education Association President Becky Pringle and AFL-CIO president Mario Cilento.

Delegates voted on many resolutions, including a special order of business calling for NYSUT to condemn anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in many states and support efforts to defend the teaching profession and LGBTQ+ educators and students.

HCT received the Ken Kurzweil Award for Social Justice for its commitment to community service and equality.

For more information on the RA, visit https://www.nysut.org/resources/special-resources-sites/representative-assembly.

Teachers, students, parents, and administrators from across the district celebrated the 34th Annual Scholars Dinner Thursday, April 7th, at Crest Hollow Country Club. Attendees were excited to recognize graduating seniors in the top twenty percent of their class. Students selected one teacher from each building who was an influential part of their educational journey. Congratulations all!

Lydia Butler - Burns Avenue School

Thomas Glenn - Dutch Lane School

Scott Starkey - East Street School

Nancy Ruisi - Fork Lane School

Michael Caruso - Lee Avenue School

Christine Kani (nurse) - Old Country Road School

Caryn Napchan - Woodland School

Dina Ditrano - Hicksville Middle School

Russell Garcia - Hicksville High School

View photo gallery

Brand new styles and colors are available now. Head to the HCT online store and check out the new inventory.

Since this is a negotiations year, we want to present a unified front by wearing HCT-branded clothing every Wednesday. In addition, we'll be sharing photos on social media of our members proudly wearing their HCT gear.

Use the hashtag #WeAreHCT on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. If you do not use social media and/or would like me to post your photos, feel free to email them to jketyer@gmail.com and I will share them. Remember to Wear it on Wednesdays!

If you missed our fall clothing sale, there is a limited supply of HCT apparel available for sale at the HCT office. View items here.

Don't miss this fun annual event!

Mark your calendars now for the HCT End of Year Party.

If you are willing to help teachers in your home school district fight to preserve public education, please reach out using the contact information below.

 fftlocal1889@farmingdaleteachers.org

See details and to purchase tickets for all games except Yankees Teacher Appreciation Week

Questions, email Alison at ajsilvest@hotmail.com

$31.25 per person

Each person needs a paid admission to enter the park

As always, parking is free!

Have a season pass? Come down and enjoy the park with other HCT Members and their families.

Print and complete payment voucher and send with cash or check (made payable to the HCT) to Alison Silvestri at the High School. Questions, email Alison at ajsilvest@hotmail.com

The State Education Department will administer all of the June Regents exams this year. NYSUT is pushing for the Regents to include a safety net for students similar to the one provided the past two years where students will get credit if they pass the course and do not pass the exam.

Parents and teachers continue to raise questions about students opting out of standardized tests. To help answer these questions, NYSUT has updated their fact sheets for parents and teachers on test refusals. View updated fact sheets for grades 3-8 here.

To help the people of Ukraine as they fight for the lives and the future of their nation, the statewide union is encouraging members and the general public to consider donating to the NYSUT Disaster Relief Fund, the union’s 501(c)3 organization. NYSUT will be partnering with relief agencies to make sure that the funds collected get to the people in areas that are most in need due to this humanitarian crisis.

NYSUT Retiree Services Consultant, Claire Zatorski, will be offering a Pre-Retirement Seminar via Zoom on Monday, May 9, 2022, from 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm. This workshop is available to members who are part of the New York State Teachers Retirement System (NYSTRS) and who plan to retire within the next 2 years. Eric Iberger, NYSTRS Trustee, will be the featured presenter at this seminar. 

Members must register in advance for this meeting. Register here.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. If you have any questions or need additional information, please email Claire Zatorski, NYSUT Retiree Services Consultant at claire.zatorski@nysut.org.

Join Share My Lesson and Catherine Zack, a meditation teacher and executive mindfulness coach, for more stress solutions for educators.This experiential workshop series is designed to give you both a better understanding of the science of stress and its impact on your body and real tools that you can use right now to manage stress, avoid feeling overwhelmed and create resiliency-building daily habits. You’ll leave this series with the foundations of a daily meditation practice and learn the building-block basics of mindfulness-based stress reduction.

Register here.

K-12 educators and SRPs can learn how to reverse the impact of trauma on students’ abilities to trust and behave in school through @NYSUT ELT Professional Learning. Here are more topics for Getting Back On Track.

ELT offers a variety of wellness seminars to help members cope with these difficult times. For example:

Learn about more topics available to NYSUT members here.

Register here.

School-related COVID questions should be directed to Gail Hunker.

If you are interested in being listed in our tutor database or would like to remain in the database, please download and complete the Tutor Referral Form and mail it to the HCT at 535 South Broadway, Suite 212, Hicksville, NY 11801. If you prefer, you can scan the completed form and email it to Hicksville_Teachers@verizon.net.

Joe Hartig (High School Social Studies) is selling 1.5 credits for LIU Post. For more information, contact Joe at joehartig@gmail.com

Len Goldberg (High School Social Studies) passed away recently in Florida. Sympathies to his wife Claire and his family and friends.

Jeffrey Wichmann, son of former Hicksville Middle School Librarian Jane Wichmann, has passed away at age 58 from cancer. May Jeffrey rest in peace and his family comforted in this time of sorrow.