Assemblyman Nader Sayegh with Governor Kathy Hochul at bill signing
Assemblyman Nader Sayegh’s Legislation to encourage young people to become teachers has been signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul. The Legislation (A.68A) directs the commissioner of education to issue guidance to school districts for developing programs to attract underrepresented candidates into the teaching profession.
“As a lifelong educator, I understand and appreciate the importance of an ethnically and racially diversified Teaching Faculty and Staff,” said Assemblyman Sayegh. “With our projected shortages in the teaching profession, it is the time to encourage our youth to become teachers and especially those from underrepresented communities. My Legislation “Grown Your Own Initiative” was well supported by the NYS United Teachers and Yonkers Federation of Teachers and will accomplish such. I thank Governor Kathy Hochul for signing this Legislation into law especially as our students return to an academically rewarding school year.”
Governor Hochul said: “Today, I’m signing legislation that’ll help increase the number of underrepresented teachers in our classrooms that are helping our kids and award funding to districts to help them accomplish this goal. Because we know teachers make it all happen and they shape our future. They mold the characters of our children. They spark their curiosity. They do so much.”
The Education Trust-New York supported Sayegh’s Legislation. Its Deputy Director Jeff Smink says seeing teachers of color in the workforce is critically important to students of color and there is research that shows having a diverse teaching workforce will reduce drop-out and suspension rates.
The bill signing was held at the headquarters of the United Federation of Teachers in New York. UFT is the parent organization of the New York State United Teachers which supported the measure during the 2023 Legislative Session.
