YFT Committees
As involvement in the total school community extends to the community at large, we invite our members to join our YFT Leadership Committees. Participation in these committees can demonstrate many of the positive indicators in the NYSUT Rubric.
YFT Leadership Educational Issues Committee
Lia Council,
Members of the Educational Issues Committee believe that direct involvement is the best way of expressing its commitment to improving education. The committee researches the impact of various mandates, trends, district policies, and educational initiatives. The committee meets once a month. Successful members are dedicated to pursuing an impact in the direction of education. Many articles in our newsletter are the product of this committee.
YFT Leadership Health and Safety Committee
Christine Morrone,
The purpose of the Health and Safety Committee is to record and report all health and safety violations, based on OSHA/NYCOSH standards. The district wide committee is comprised of YFT members, CSEA members, PTSA members, Teamsters members and Central Board members (including the sitting Facilities Director). A Health and Safety survey is made available to all members on a yearly basis. This committee is extremely important and could work as a resource for school-based Health and Safety committees. All schools should have one.
YFT Leadership New Teacher Committee
Leanne Schwan,
The New Teacher Committee is dedicated to helping and guiding new teachers during their first three or four years in the Yonkers Public School system. Responsibilities of this committee include writing articles for new teachers in the YFT newsletter, co-sponsoring the New Teacher reception held at the beginning of the year, helping to coordinate NYSUT programs and activities that are beneficial to the new teacher. This committee is looking for people to do outreach to our new members.
YFT Leadership Newsletter Committee
Christine Morrone,
The Newsletter Committee writes and produces The Yonkers Teacher. The award winning publication is received by over 3,300 teachers (both active and retired), administrators, and community members. The Yonkers Teacher is published approximately 11 times a year. Committee members volunteer for about three to four hours every three to four weeks (writing, producing and/or helping with distribution packaging). The newsletter is now also online.
YFT PD Leadership Training Committee
Kara Popiel,
The Leadership Committee along with the NYSUT Elmsford Regional Office plans the YFT’s Leadership training needs. Committee members are responsible for planning every detail involved in this acclaimed annual event including interacting and negotiating with NYSUT staff, data management, information dissemination, workshop and menu selection as well as collating materials. This committee directs the PD presented by the NYSUT and YFT staff.
YFT Leadership PTA Committee
Erin Gorman,
We are hoping to reestablish a PTA Committee dedicated to helping children and parents in the Yonkers community. With the help of an Executive Board member this YFT/PTA committee activities include community events which show teacher involvement and interaction with the community at large. Relay for Life is one activity. They work with the COR committee.
YFT Leadership Public Relations Committee
Arline Frey and Kenneth Texler,
The Public Relations Committee has the charge of planning events and informing the public of YFT’s philanthropic endeavors. Annual events such as the “Storybook Bonanza” and “Yonkers Family Day” are some of the events that help this initiative. The annual Yonkers Chamber of Commerce “Back to School” breakfast allows the YFT President to address the business community concerning the “state of education” in the City of Yonkers. The committee is also responsible for creating a “Welcome Back to School” advertisement, holiday advertisement, and also creates advertisements as needed for issues that may arise during the year. In recent years the committee has organized advertisements to educate the public as to the results of drastic cuts.
YFT Leadership Scholarship Committee
Roselyn Kendrick-Jones,
The Scholarship Committee is charged with reviewing applications for annual scholarships given to college bound high school seniors. Nine scholarships are given (three to children of YFT members and six to students attending a Yonkers Public High School). The committee also reviews and adapts the criteria and actual scholarship application as necessary. The committee meets in the month of May to review all applications.
Vote-Cope/Political Action Committee
Samantha Rosado- Ciriello,
Voice of Teachers in Education-Committee on Political Education (VOTE-COPE) is NYSUT’s non-partisan political action fund. This allows the YFT to fund our annual political action drive each October, as well as our mobilization for primaries and special elections. The YFT has a bank of two dozen phones, telescripts, and YFT member volunteers who send out up to 10,000 pieces of mail each year on behalf of pro-education candidates and incumbents. Political Action Committee members represent the YFT during local candidate interviews and attend a variety of political events in the Yonkers community.
YFT Leadership- YFT Community Outreach Committee (COR)
Debbie Collier and Emiko Castro,
The YFT Community Outreach Committee (COR) is a liaison between the YFT (school community) and the community at large. It was established to implement service projects in the Yonkers Community to aid those in need and/or in emergency situations, thus allowing teachers to give back to our community. COR sponsors and works with NYSUT for the Breast Cancer Awareness Walk at Manhattanville College. The Toiletry Drive has COR promoting family health by providing personal hygiene kits to those in need and to families who are homeless or displaced by fire or other disasters. The COR committee also coordinates an annual Toys for Tots Drive and Food Drive. The committee ends the school year with an annual Book Drive, putting together book bags of assorted reading materials for its Yonkers school children and those in community youth centers. The YFT COR Committee through its various outreach efforts has given to various organizations and agencies throughout Yonkers and Westchester including The Nepperhan Community Center, YMCA, YWCA, My Sister’s Place, The Sharing Community, Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, as well as various schools, community agencies, youth centers, food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters.
YFT Leadership- Civil and Human Rights Committee
Mitch Polay and Lynn O'Donnell,
The YFT
YFT Leadership- Women's Committee
Elizabeth DeLuca and Kemba Ellerbe,
The Yonkers Federation of Teachers Women’s Committee aspires to educate female members about the work of the union, highlight women-specific issues, involve more women in leadership roles, and support individuals throughout the Yonkers Public Schools and neighboring organizations. Our committee meets monthly to collaborate, putting our words into action, and empowering our female students and community organizations. If you are interested in giving back with intention, call the YFT office and inquire about our upcoming meetings!
YFT Leadership- Retiree Committee
Pat Puleo and Lynn O'Donnell,