Last year, the union honored Sandra Feldman with its Albert Shanker Award for Distinguished Service. This year, the union is honoring the former AFT president by renaming its Outstanding Leadership Award in her memory.
Feldman's election as American Federation of Teachers' president in 1997 followed a distinguished 30-year career with the United Federation of Teachers in New York City, including 11 years as UFT president. On Sept. 18, she lost a courageous battle with breast cancer; she was 65.
"In her every action, Sandy defined courage. She stood tall for children, for education, for social justice and fairness, and she never wavered no matter how high the odds or how seemingly insurmountable the obstacle," said NYSUT President Dick Iannuzzi. "It is only fitting that this award stand as a symbol of her life's work and the work of so many outstanding women pioneers and union leaders."
In 2002, Feldman and Antonia Cortese, former NYSUT first vice president, received the inaugural Outstanding Leadership Award.
This year, Ray Frankel, a member of the UFT, and Josephine Sano of the Albany Public Schools TA will receive the Sandy Feldman Not For Ourselves Alone Outstanding Leadership Award. Frankel and Sano will be recognized for their longstanding service to their local unions, education and the labor movement.
NYSUT leaders will also unveil plans for a tribute to Feldman at the union's Latham headquarters.