Former NYSUT Executive & Political Director Melinda Person chosen to champion demands of 700,000 members statewide
ALBANY, N.Y. April 29, 2023 – Delegates to the New York State United Teachers’ Representative Assembly on Saturday elected Melinda Person to a three-year term as President of the nearly 700,000-member union.
“There is no greater honor than to represent hard-working professionals in education and health care from across this state. I firmly believe they are the backbone of our classrooms, communities, and society. They deserve a strong voice in Albany and Washington advocating for better pay, working conditions and respect,” Melinda Person said. “I’m proud to be that voice.”
Melinda has served as NYSUT’s executive director and political director since 2019, overseeing the union’s staff and coordinating its far-reaching political action and organizing operations. She is credited with initiating and developing numerous successful statewide programs aimed at amplifying members’ voices on critical policy issues while growing the union’s internal strength through member-to-member organizing.
Melinda’s vision for the future of NYSUT is rooted in the priorities of NYSUT members and leaders, along with her personal experiences and two decades of work to strengthen our public education systems. Melinda is committed to creating learning environments where students and educators can thrive, ensuring members’ professions are enticing, sustainable career choices and growing NYSUT’s power.
Prior to joining NYSUT in 2006, Melinda worked in the governor’s Budget Office and the state Assembly, and student-taught in a sixth-grade classroom in the Boston public schools. Her NYS teaching certification is in Childhood Education (Grades 1-6). Melinda is a dual-graduate of Cornell University. She and her wife, Kelly, have four children.
In addition to electing a new president, delegates also elected Jaime Ciffone of New York City’s United Federation of Teachers as executive vice president; re-elected Ron Gross as second vice president and J. Philippe Abraham as secretary-treasurer; and voted in members of the NYSUT’s Board of Directors.
New York State United Teachers is a statewide union with nearly 700,000 members in education, human services and health care. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, the National Education Association and the AFL-CIO.