Teachers for Choice (TFC) is an American activist group based in New York. It was founded by Michael Kane, a national grassroots organizer for Children's Health Defense (CHD).[1]
On September 6, 2023, Judge Ralph Porzio of the Supreme Court of the State of New York ruled that ten New York City school teachers were to return to work with backpay, benefits and seniority from the time of their suspension.[2][3] The court found that the denials of the teachers' applications for exemption on religious grounds from the City's mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy were "arbitrary, capricious and unreasonable."[4]
Michael Kane presented at work the following day, joined by Matthew Connor of Bravest for Choice. Kane was told he was not allowed to work until he was contacted by the New York City Department of Education, which flagged the court decision as "under review."[5]
TFC solicits donations through the Health Freedom Defense Fund.[6]
Name | Position | Notes |
---|---|---|
Michael Kane | Founder[1:1] | United Federation of Teachers (UFT, former), Children's Health Defense (CHD), Honest Media Project |
Jessica Anderson | Steering Committee[7] | United Federation of Teachers (UFT) |
Anthony Bloch | Steering Committee | United Federation of Teachers (UFT, former) |
Crystal Bozeman-Palacio | Steering Committee | - |
Peggy Canfield | Steering Committee | New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) |
Valerie Domenech | Steering Committee | New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) |
Jen Farrell | Steering Committee | New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) |
Monique G. | Steering Committee | United Federation of Teachers (UFT) |
Dennison Joyce | Steering Committee | United Federation of Teachers (UFT) |
Renee Lucca | Steering Committee | United Federation of Teachers (UFT) |
Jill MacSwan | Steering Committee | New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) |
Melissa Melissinos | Steering Committee | New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) |
Mawuli Olivierre | Steering Committee | United Federation of Teachers (UFT, former) |
Kimberly Plush | Steering Committee | New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) |
Garrett Ramirez | Steering Committee | United Federation of Teachers (UFT, former), Left Against Lockdown |
Vicki Savini | Steering Committee | New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) |
Kate W. | Steering Committee | Clarence Teachers' Association (CTA) |
Sujata Gibson | Advisor[7:1] | - |
John Gilmore | Advisor | Autism Action Network |
Mary Holland | Advisor | Children's Health Defense (CHD) |
Joe Mugivan | Advisor | - |
Rita Palma | Advisor | My Kids My Choice |
Michael Sussmann | Advisor | Sussman & Associates |
Tramell Thompson | Advisor | Progressive Action |
Allies and partners of TFC include:[8][9]
Michael Kane. Children’s Health Defense. Retrieved January 4, 2023, from https://web.archive.org/web/20230104010224/https://childrenshealthdefense.org/authors/michael-kane/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Baletti, B. (2023, September 7). “Huge” Victory: New York Supreme Court Reinstates 10 Teachers Fired for Refusing COVID Vaccine. Children’s Health Defense. http://archive.today/2023.09.08-000914/https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/nyc-school-teacher-victory-covid-vaccine-mandate/ ↩︎
Pandolfo, C. (2023, September 8). NYC teachers win jobs back with backpay after refusing COVID-19 vaccine. Fox News. https://web.archive.org/web/20230908192734/https://www.foxnews.com/politics/nyc-teachers-win-jobs-back-backpay-refusing-covid-19-vaccine ↩︎
Porzio, R. J. (2023, September 6). Teachers for Choice v. City of New York, and the New York City Department of Education. Children’s Health Defense; Supreme Court of the State of New York. https://web.archive.org/web/20230908042725/https://childrenshealthdefense.org/wp-content/uploads/september-2023-new-york-teachers-decision-order.pdf ↩︎
Kane, M. (2023, September 8). I was NOT allowed to work this week. Substack; Teachers for Choice. http://archive.today/2023.09.08-193118/https://teachersforchoice.substack.com/p/i-was-not-allowed-to-work-this-week ↩︎
Health Freedom Defense Fund (HFDF). Anedot. Retrieved August 12, 2022, from https://web.archive.org/web/20220812000926/https://secure.anedot.com/health-freedom-defense-fund-hfdf/nytc ↩︎
New York Teacherv. (2020, October 4). Steering Committee Members and Advisors. Teachers for Choice. https://web.archive.org/web/20241004192803/https://teachersforchoice.org/2020/10/04/steering-committee-members/ ↩︎ ↩︎
About. Teachers for Choice. Retrieved September 8, 2023, from https://web.archive.org/web/20230908194832/https://teachersforchoice.org/about/ ↩︎
Allies. New York Freedom Rally. Retrieved March 7, 2023, from https://web.archive.org/web/20230307055242/https://newyorkfreedomrally.org/allies ↩︎