Melinda Person has been reelected to another three-year term as president of the New York State United Teachers, the union announced Saturday.
Person has been president of the union since 2023, when she was elected to replace Andy Pallotta, who retired from the leadership post. Pallotta had endorsed Person to replace him.
“Every single day, across the state, NYSUT members prove something different is possible,” Person said in a speech Friday to the union’s delegates. “When we come together, we don’t just respond to challenges: we change outcomes. And we do that through action.”
The union highlighted significant changes that have taken place in schools during Person’s tenure, like fully funded Foundation Aid, a statewide bell-to-bell cellphone ban, universal free school meals and returning teacher evaluations to local control, among other things.
Person joined the union in 2006, and prior to being president, served as executive director and political director of the NYSUT. She is credited with initiating and developing several successful statewide programs.
She has a New York state teaching certification in childhood education.
Union delegates also reelected Jaime Ciffone as executive vice president.
The NYSUT has nearly 700,000 members.