Wallkill Teachers' Association

10/06/2026

The public hearing to oppose the charter school renewal in Poughkeepsie is THIS WEEK!

The NYSUT page has information about the lack of oversight and mismanagement in this school. There is also an action that anyone can take even if they cannot attend the hearing. At the bottom of the NYSUT site they can fill in with ideas of how Poughkeepsie could use the extra $3 million it would keep if the charter is not renewed to benefit students and the certified finger printed staff and members.
https://www.nysut.org/resources/special-resources-sites/safe-and-strong-schools

Reminder: The Poughkeepsie City School District is holding a public hearing regarding Little Water Preparatory Charter School’s charter renewal application. At the hearing, community members will be able to provide comment regarding the proposed charter renewal.
The hearing will be 6 p.m. this Wednesday, Oct. 7, at Poughkeepsie High School, 70 Forbus Street.
All are welcome to attend. Please see the attached flyer for details.

10/06/2026

Today we celebrate World Teachers’ Day!

While we work each day to honor educators and the work they do, this global day of appreciation recognizes teachers globally and the impact they have on their communities and students.

Thank you teachers 🌎

09/28/2026

🏆 Congratulations to Our 2026 Susy Gaetano Award Recipient, Marie Lysandrou! 🏆

The Susy Gaetano Award recognizes individuals whose dedication, leadership, advocacy, and compassion create a lasting impact on students, colleagues, and the educational community. This year, we are proud to honor an educator who embodies these qualities each and every day.

✨ Marie Lysandrou is an extraordinary educator, mentor, advocate, and colleague who consistently goes above and beyond for her students, coworkers, and school community. Whether she is supporting a student, helping a colleague solve a challenge, sharing her expertise, or offering words of encouragement, Marie is always among the first to step forward and help.

As a teacher, Marie is deeply committed to ensuring every student feels supported, valued, and empowered to succeed. She builds meaningful relationships, provides individualized support, and approaches her work with unwavering care and dedication.

Marie is also a trusted mentor whose knowledge, professionalism, patience, and compassion have helped countless colleagues grow and thrive. Beyond the classroom, she is a passionate advocate for public education, serving in leadership roles including VOTE-COPE Coordinator and Political Action Coordinator, demonstrating a steadfast commitment to the profession she loves.

Marie's leadership, mentorship, advocacy, and service have touched countless lives and strengthened our school community in immeasurable ways.

👏 Please join us in congratulating Marie Lysandrou, a truly deserving recipient of the 2026 Susy Gaetano Award!

💙 Thank you, Marie, for your dedication to students, colleagues, and education.
NYSUT - A Union of Professionals

09/08/2026

Happy from us here at NYSUT!

We hope you have a moment to celebrate all the great things the labor movement and workers have won throughout the years as we continue our fight for better working conditions, benefits and wages nationwide.

08/31/2026

🎉 A big WELCOME to our newest teachers! 🍎💙
Today was all about making connections, building community, and kicking off a new chapter together! ✨

We welcomed our newest members at our New Member Meeting, where they got to learn more about our Wallkill Teachers' Association, meet with union leadership, and connect with district administration.

We’re thrilled to have these amazing educators joining our schools and becoming part of our Wallkill family! 🤝📚

Here’s to a great school year filled with new beginnings, new connections, and lots of success! 🎉

Welcome to the team — we’re so glad you’re here! 💙🍎

NYSUT - A Union of Professionals

08/27/2026

🌟 National Night Out 2026 was a great success in Plattekill! 🌟
We were proud to be part of this wonderful community event and enjoyed connecting with so many of our students, families, neighbors, and community members.

As educators, we know that strong schools are built on strong communities. Events like National Night Out give us an opportunity to come together, build relationships, and celebrate the partnerships that help make our community a great place to live and learn.

We’re especially grateful for the opportunity to support positive partnerships between our community and local law enforcement while strengthening neighborhood camaraderie and connection.

Thank you to everyone who helped make the evening such a success. We’re proud to stand with our community! 💙

08/25/2026

Great turnout at Saratoga for the 2026 Mid Hudson Regional Office Annual Summer Leadership Conference! Thank you NYSUT-Mid Hudson Regional Office and NYSUT - A Union of Professionalsfor getting us ready for the new school year!

06/26/2026

🍎🎓 It’s the LAST DAY! 🎓🍎
And while we’re celebrating the start of summer, we’re also sending off our incredible retiring teachers in style! 🥳

Thank you for all the laughs, lessons, and lives you’ve shaped along the way. You’ve truly left your mark (and probably a few extra stacks of papers behind 😉).

We loved celebrating you at last week’s party—it was the perfect send-off and so much fun! 🎉 You’ll be missed more than you know, but we’re so excited for all the adventures ahead of you.
Cheers to sleeping in, no alarm clocks, and doing whatever you want every day! ☀️

👏 Give our retirees some love in the comments! 👏
NYSUT - A Union of Professionals

06/16/2026

The Upper Hudson Valley CLC hosted their annual Labor Heroes dinner on June 12th. Many influential labor leaders were honored, including NYSUT’s own Matt Haynes, ED 13/14 director. It was a wonderful night and such a pleasure to honor these union advocates!
NYSUT - A Union of Professionals

06/15/2026

🎉 Celebrating Excellence in Teaching 🎉

The WTA is very proud to share the wonderful news about our fellow teacher, Marie Lysandrou!

Marie has been named the recipient of the 2026 Mid-Hudson School Study Council Teaching Excellence Award — and we couldn’t be happier for her!

This award is designed to recognize teachers who have demonstrated excellence in achieving the educational mission at their district level and recognizes educators who go above and beyond for their students and truly make a difference in their schools. Anyone who knows Marie sees that dedication every single day. She brings passion, care, and commitment to her students and to our entire school community.

Being recognized by the Mid-Hudson School Study Council is such a meaningful honor, and it reflects the impact Marie has made not just in her classroom, but across our district.

Marie, we celebrate you and all that you do. This is so well deserved, and we are lucky to learn and grow alongside you every day.

❤️ Congratulations! ❤️
NYSUT - A Union of Professionals