Executive Board

GLEN BLACKS – Executive Vice President: Glen Blacks started working  for the Department of Education as a Loader & Handler in 1996.  He offered solid leadership through his  position as treasurer of Local 372 and continues to provide leadership to Local  372 in his new position as Executive Vice President.  Glen has always been active in Local 372 and  DC 37.  He was a shop steward, honorary  sergeant at arms, served as a Local 372 trustee, and is a DC 37 delegate.  Glen is also very involved in the  community.  He has been a volunteer and  mentor in several programs such as NAACP Youth Drive and Harlem’s Right to  Passage.  Glen is active in the PEOPLE  Program and is a member of the DC 37 PAC.   He is also involved in the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) and  Labor for Latin American Advancement (LLCLA)

 

CYNTHIA GRABSKY – 2nd  Vice President: Cynthia Grabsky has been a school aide for  over 25 years.  She was a grievance  representative for four years.  She is  currently a Local 372 Delegate to DC 37.   She is a Sergeant of Arms for CBTU.   She is a strong unionist and is the 3rd generation of a union  family.

 

 

CYNTHIA DOWDY – Secretary  Treasurer: Cynthia Dowdy has come up through the ranks  of Local 372 to become the Secretary-Treasurer.   She has been working as a SAPIS for over 30 years and has always been  active in the union.   Her previous  positions include being a shop steward, the SAPIS Chapter Secretary, the SAPIS  Chapter Chair.  She is a proud union  activist who has many years of dedicated service to Local 372.

 

MILAGROS RODRIGUEZ – Recording  Secretary: Milagros Rodriguez has proudly been an active  member of Local 372 for over 25 years.  For  the last 10 years, she has held the position of recording secretary for Local  372.  Milagros is a SAPIS in District 2  and is known for being attentive to the needs of the children she  services.  Milagros also serves as the  Local 372 representative at the Board of Education Retirement System (BERS) and  is very knowledgeable about our pension system.

 

SANDRA FOWLER – Sergeant  at Arms: Sandra Fowler has been working as a school crossing guard for over 30 years.  She is a strong union activist.  She has been the Sergeant of Arms for Local  372 for over 10 years.  Sandra is a Local  372 Delegate to DC 37 and is active on Local 372’s Political Action Committee.  She is also a shop steward.

 

 

MACK A. COHEN – Sergeant at Arms: Mack Cohen started working as a School Lunch Helper in the kitchen for the Department of Education. After 1 year he was promoted to Senior School Lunch Helper, the title he held for 19 years.  Currently Mr. Cohen is working as a Loader/Handler, the title he’s been holding for 23 years. Total of more than 40 years of service for the Department of Education earned Mr. Cohen some of the prestigious positions.  Such as; New York State Delegate, Delegate to D.C. 37 and Executive Board Member of Local 372. Mr. Cohen is a member CBTU and LCLAA. He is a loyal Local 372 member.

 

SHAUN D. FRANCOIS I – M/A School Lunch Chairperson: Shaun D. Francois I. has been working for the Department of Education for 18 years. Shaun first started as a substitute School Lunch Helper then he became a Senior School Lunch Helper soon being promoted to the Assistant Cook position where he would serve for 1 year. He would then be promoted to a Cook position for another year. After working and helping children of NYC for 1 more year as a Cook, Shaun then was promoted to be the Loader and Handler, the title he’s been holding for 15 years. Shaun Francois I was the Secretary for Union’s Monthly/Annual School Lunch Helpers chapter for 2 years and now he is elected to be the Chairperson of that same chapter. Shaun is a very dedicated Shop Steward for the Union. He serves in the Executive Board of Local 372 representing Monthly/Annual School Lunch Employees. He is the Chairperson for the ADHOC Committee for Next Wave, member of CBTU and also a member of LCLAA. Shaun was also recently appointed to the Secretary position of Local 372′s Cultural Committee. In addition to his wonderful personality and positive outlook, Shaun is a very dependable person, hard worker and a great motivator.

 

DONALD NESBIT – M/A School Lunch Secretary: Donald Nesbit started his tour of duty as a Senior School Lunch Helper at P.S. 299. After 5 years of service he was promoted to Assistant Cook position at P.S. 274 where he worked 1 year under this title. He then was promoted again as the Cook in Charge (S.L.A.) at Acorn High School for Social Justice. He has been working there for 7 years. After being elected as the Secretary for the Monthly/Annual School Lunch Employees Chapter of Local 372, Donald said at his first Chapter Meeting; “The reason I decided to run for Chapter Secretary is because I believe it is time for the best people to be in place when we meet the challenges that are ahead of us. I believe that one man can not move a mountain, it takes an an army.”

 

WALTER OLIVER – Hourly School Lunch Chairperson: Walter Oliver has been an active Local 372 member for 20 years. He is a retired correction officer after serving for 21 years. Walter is a Delegate to District Council 37, a member of CBTU and also a member of NAACP. Being very active in the community and a dedicated unionist, Walter Oliver is spends most of his days helping union members and other people. Being a member of Alpha Grand Lodge, Vice President of Soundview Block Association, District Lay Leader of the N.Y./New England District of the N.Y./Washington Regional Conference, President of Mt. Zion CME Church Lay Ministry and Member of the Men’s Ministry, Trustee and Usher Boards are some of the tools he uses to help people.

 

WILMA WASHINGTON - Hourly School Lunch Secretary:
Wilma Washington

 

 

 

LILLIE TAYLOR – School Aides/Health Aides Chairperson: Lillie Taylor has always demonstrated experience, determination and commitment for helping Local 372 Members and improving their lives. Lillie has been a union activist for many years and 28 year employee of the Department of Education. She is a Delegate to District Council 37 and she was re-elected as the Chairperson for the School Aides/Health Aides Chapter for the union for the 4th consecutive terms.  Lillie is a member of Consumer, Housing, Women’s and Political Action committees of Local 372. She is also very active in Local 372′s Scholarship Committee constantly trying to raise funds for this program which gives Scholarships to Local 372 members’ children and grandchildren. Lillie is a member of Local 372′s Executive Board and she also serves as a member of the School Aides/Health Aides Negotiation Committee. She is a member of CBTU.

 

DEBBIE NUNEZ – School Aides/Health Aides Secretary: Debbie Nunez has been working within the Department of Education Department of N.Y.C. as a Health Aide for 28 years. She comes from a family of all unionists. Her mother was also a Local 372 member and her father was a member of District Council 1707. Debbie has been a Secretary of School Aides/Health Aides Chapter of Local 372 for 6 years and a Local 372 Shop Steward for 10 years. She is delegate to District Council 37. She was the Woman District Leader for the 54th District from 1983 to 1985. She also served as SLT Secretary and a Financial Liason. Debbie is a very active member of Local 372, while she chairs the Cultural Committee and co-chairs the Consumer Committees of the union, she is also a member of Women’s, Housing and Political Action Committees. She is also a member of District Council 37′s Latino Committee, CBTU and LCLAA.

 

BELINDA BANKS – Family Paraprofessionals Chairperson: Belinda Banks has been working as a New York City Board of Education employee for 25 years. She is very committed to serve the fellow Family Paraprofessional members of Local 372. She is the Chapter Chairperson for this title. She is very active in the union and in her community. Belinda is a member of Local 372′s Scholarship, P.E.O.P.L.E., Political Action, Housing and Consumer Committees. She is also co-chairing the Women’s Committee. Belinda is a very active Shop Steward for the local and also a D.C. 37 Delegate. She is also a part of D.C. 37′s Quality of Work Life Committee and D.C. 37 Political Action committee. A proud member of CBTU. She has the tremendous knowledge in union business and experience in her profession. Belinda is serving in the Executive Board of Local 372 successfully for several years.

 

NANETTE SEPULVEDA – Family Paraprofessionals Secretary: Nanette Sepulveda has been a Family Paraprofessional for 14 years. She is on the Executive Board of Local 372 serving as the Secretary of Family Paraprofessionals Chapter. Nanette is also a Local 372 Delegate to District Council 37 and a dedicated Shop Steward. She is also a member of N.Y.C LCLAA, C.B.T.U., Political Action Committee, Latino Heritage Committee and Scholarship Committee. “It is no doubt in my mind that the support we provide as liaisons between Schools, Parents and Students is a vital component to the Schools function. Therefore, insuring that our Children’s Educational needs are provided for by our involvement. It is in this light, that we are ALL called to Activism the key to Union. We must and will continue to move forward in the nurturing of our Children’s Education – which is our Life’s Work!” says Nanette Sepulveda.

 

DAVID KEYE – S.N.W./Community Associates. Chairperson: David Keye has been working for the New York City Board of Education since 1988. He currently works as a Parent Coordinator for the last 8 1/2 years. David is a Delegate to District Council 37, a former two time chapter secretary for the School Neighborhood Workers/Community Titles Chapter. He has been a Shop Steward since 1996 and a member of Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (C.B.T.U.) David is an advocate for families and students, a resource for his entire school community.

 

CHARLES G. THOMAS – S.N.W./Community Associates. Secretary: Charles G. Thomas.

 

 

 

 

RODGER MURRAY – S.A.P.I.S. Chairperson: Rodger Murray has been a SAPIS for 25 years. Presently a SAPIS III in District 5, also a Credential Prevention Professional. Rodger is involved in the union as a Shop Steward, working the phone banks, volunteering at elections, attending rallies and meetings, most importantly SAPIS Chapter meetings. He is also a part of Central Harlem Coalition in Central Harlem. Rodger keeps all SAPIS workers informed with updates and happenings within the Department of Education. He represents the SAPIS in all union affairs. He invites important speakers to SAPIS Chapter meetings to address the issues pertinent to SAPIS such as CASAC, CPP/CPS hours; pension information. He fights for all SAPIS and other union members’ rights.

 

AIDA ROSS – S.A.P.I.S. Secretary: Aida Ross was born in Puerto Rico on September 22. In her early childhood she was introduced to the benefits of the union by her parents who were both heavily involved with unions. Growing up in Puerto Rico, Aida remembers the pride her father had representing his union, taking Aida to union meetings, rallies and other union events. Her mother worked as a seamstress in a factory and she belonged to the ILGWU (International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union).
Aida is a proud and committed member of Local 372. She is the Secretary for the S.A.P.I.S. Chapter for Local 372 and also a Chair-person for Local 372′s Women’s Committee. Aida has been a union activist for 26 years and she has been involved with most union events and activities, attending rallies, volunteering for various Political Action Campaigns, attending all General Membership, District, Chapter and Committee meetings. She represents fellow S.A.P.I.S. members to the best of her abilities. She is always committed to keep all S.A.P.I.S. employees updated on all information from the Department of Education as well as becoming and remaining well versed in the elements of their contract. She always encourages members to get involved in the union, to read and understand the contract and to fight for their rights. Aida is the proud parent of a son, who also respects, understands and appreciates the importance of the Unions.

 

SHIRLEY MILLER - School Crossing Guards Chairperson: Shirley Miller.

 

 

 

IMELDA JEFFREY – School Crossing Guards Secretary: Imelda Jeffrey has been a dedicated School Crossing Guard at the 79th Precinct in the borough of Brooklyn for 40 years. She has been a Local 372 Shop Stewards for 13 years serving the fellow members tirelessly. Imelda has been the Secretary for the School Crossing Guards Chapter of Local 372 for 6 consecutive years. She is also very active in the union. Imelda is a member of Political Action, P.E.O.P.L.E. and  Women’s committees. She is a proud member of CBTU, a D.C. 37 Delegate and a very dependable activist in both D.C. 37 and in Local 372.

 

GENITHA ISAAC – 2 Year Trustee: Genitha Isaac has been actively involved with the union since 1993. She started her journey as the Community Coordinator.  Genitha held a position in Local 372′s Executive Board in the past as the Secretary for the Family Paraprofessionals Chapter and now she in on the Executive Board as the 2 Year Trustee.   She chaired Local 372 Political Action Committee, as well as the  Screening Committee in the past.  In 2007, she  graduated from Cornell University Labor Studies Program, attended Women’s Summer Institute, was trained at the Leadership Institute in Washington, D.C. Genitha is a member of Task Force of Assemblyman William A. Scarborough at 29th A.D., she is on Queens Hospital Center Advisory Council and also part of East Queens Teen & Women’s Program.  Genitha is also a Community Coordinator in South East of Queens for DC 37’s Political Action Department. She has been a Family Paraprofessional for  over 15 years, a Local 372 Shop Steward and a Delegate.

 

JEWEL RANKIN – 2 Year Trustee: Jewel Rankin has an experience with the Department of Education extending back some 30 years when she served as President of the P.T.A. at P.S. 122. She co-chaired District 10 Chapter 1 Advisory Council for 10 years. Jewel has been an employee of the Department of Education, working as a School Aide at P.S. 94 for the past 17 years. Jewel is also a Shop Steward for the school she works in and in 2011 she was re-elected for the second term as a 2 Year Trustee for Local 372′s Executive Board. She is a member of Political Action Committee, Women’s Committee, a Delegate for Local 372 and a members of C.B.T.U. Jewel is a very active member of Local 372, participating all rallies, lobby days, phone banks and voter registrations. She is also very active in her community and in church.

 

SHILA KILLIEBREW – 3 Year Trustee: Shila has been a school crossing guard for over 30  years.  She is a strong union activist  who has served the union as a school crossing guard union representative.  Shila is also a shop steward.