posted: March 26, 2004.

See also: 'Union celebrates excellence among members'

NEW YORK, N.Y. March 26, 2004 - Celebrating excellence, New York State United Teachers today honored nine NYSUT members in six awards categories selected from different constituencies whose accomplishments in the union have been outstanding and who have made significant contributions to their professions.

"Our members are involved in making our school, college and university and health care systems run smoothly," said New York State United Teachers President Thomas Y. Hobart, Jr. "From teachers to bus drivers, teacher aides to cafeteria workers, school nurses to counselors; we make New York education work for our children."

The Teacher of the Year award acknowledges the dedication and innovation of one teacher in the state who inspires staff and students equally. Blending skill, creativity and passion for her work, Lynn Gatto, a 4th grade teacher in Rochester's Hendrick Hudson School 28, successfully uses grants to create unique learning experiences for her students. Gatto is a classroom innovator and motivator to her colleagues. She believes that "teaching is an act of caring," and that caring teachers create classrooms that inspire intellect, courage, compassion and empathy in their students.

NYSUT's tribute to women from all its constituencies is the "Not for Ourselves Alone Outstanding Leadership Award," which identifies and celebrates the contributions of trailblazing women who have led the union forward. This year, two honorees were added to this prestigious list.

"Being recognized by our fellow members for selfless service to the union is a humbling and rewarding experience," recalled NYSUT First Vice President Antonia Cortese, an inaugural recipient of the award. "We're truly not for ourselves alone, but for the half-million and growing members we serve."

Carol Slotkin, who recalls walking picket lines as a child with her father in New York City, is celebrating two milestones this year - 35 years of teaching social studies in Sullivan County and the 20th anniversary of an historic teachers' strike in Sullivan County in which she led her colleagues in a tough contract dispute. A member of the NYSUT Executive Committee and Board of Directors, Slotkin was instrumental in the formation of the NYSUT Women's History Committee.

Joining Slotkin as a recognized pioneering woman unionist is Jane Conetta. From the very start of her teaching career and association with the Patchogue Medford Congress of Teachers, Conetta knew the importance of being a unionist. Her battle with her district's board of education on tenure status is history-making. Her strong leadership has inspired and motivated young women to become interested in union activities. Conetta is also a member of the NYSUT Board of Directors.

The Health Care Professionals Member of the Year is JoAnn Walsh, United Federation of Teachers/Federation of Nurses (UFT/FN). A registered nurse working for the Visiting Nurse Service in New York City, Walsh is a specialist in wound care and has testified before Congress against President Bush's desire to overturn the OSHA ergonomic standards.

In the area of higher education, NYSUT saluted two exceptional members who each uniquely approach the fight for unionists' interest in the workplace.

Dr. Rosemary Hennessy is an associate professor of English at the State University of New York in Albany. Elected to United University Professions' Statewide Solidarity Board, she has facilitated a partnership between the higher education local union and the multinational Coalition for Justice in the Maquiladoras. In addition, her research on identity and class in contemporary culture has produced many published works.

Directing her energy to developing a new generation of labor activists, Lorraine Cohen - a social science professor at LaGuardia Community College in Queens - joins Hennessy as a Higher Education Member of the Year. Cohen is passionate about the implementation of a City Council bill that would increase access to education for people on welfare.

Adding a unique perspective to the union's ongoing success, two Retiree Members of the Year were honored.

Retiree Abe Levine is considered to be a giant in his union. Always ready and willing to share his wise opinions, Levine was an advocate for the formation of the United Federation of Teachers - leading to his appointment as union vice president to then education icon and UFT President Al Shanker.

Also honored was Lou Cammarosano, a born unionist and advocate of the union's political action program. He helped create teams of political activists in his area and emphasized the importance of contributing resources to the union's political action fund, VOTE/COPE. Although retired, he continues to spend days on the phone, getting out the message to the members. Demonstrating excellence in his field, Cammarosano continues to promote a positive image of what unions and union members are all about.

The School -Related Professional of the Year award went to Carol Odierno of the Sayville Teachers Association, School Related Professionals Chapter. For more than two decades Odierno has offered her expertise as an aide in special education. An active unionist, Odierno is one of the founding members of her SRP chapter. She is a positive and active force within her local union, eager to share her feelings about how unions help families.

NYSUT, the largest union in New York State, represents more than 500,000 classroom teachers and other school employees and retirees; academic and professional faculty at the state's community colleges, State University of New York and City University of New York; and other education and health professionals. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO.