Current job title: Eighth-grade social studies teacher / North Bergen School District
Local: 1060 / North Bergen Federation of Teachers
Union positions: AFTNJ Pre-K to 12 Vice President
Local 1060 Correspondence Secretary (2017-present)
Local 1060 Union representative (2004-17)
My union story: As far as I can remember, my father was a member of unions. First he was a member of the porters union and then a custodial union. During the 1980s, my father appeared on the front page of a local newspaper where he was holding a sign up during a labor strike. As I matured, I came to realize that my father was standing up for his and his union brothers’/sisters’ rights. This is what I do, this is what we all do: Stand up for our rights!
Career highlights/achievements: I have been teaching for 20 years in the public-school system. I have taught from the kindergarten level to the collegiate level.
Interests/hobbies: I am a huge fan of music and play guitar whenever I can.
Looking ahead: My goal for the next few years is to empower our educators with knowledge of their rights, educational mandates and innovative educational strategies. This way our educators could be strong advocates for themselves as well as for their students.