New York Mandate Podcast, Ep. 13: Math Teacher Michele

“A lot of colleagues and people believe that this was our choice: ‘You must have had the money to be able to do this. You must be okay, and that's why you chose this.’ You have no clue! No, I chose this because I know there's something very wrong with the other road and that road I could never live with. [With] this road, I will wake up every day and be proud of my stance. As hard as it is, I made the right choice.” - Michele

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In this episode of the New York Mandate podcast, I talk with Michele, who taught math at the same middle school for 19 years. She applied for a religious exemption to the vaccine mandate and was denied in January 2022. In March 2022, her employment was terminated.

In June 2022, Michele discovered that her employment status had changed, and she is now classified as being on leave without pay. She was told by a UFT representative that her termination letter had been sent out in error, and that tenured teachers cannot be terminated without receiving a 3020-a hearing, which Michele did not receive.

Her status according to the NYC Department of Education’s Self-Service Online Leave Application System (SOLAS) is currently listed as “unpaid leave.” No further explanation of this employment status change has been provided by the DOE or the UFT.

Michele talked with me about her love for teaching, the financial and health consequences of losing her job, and why she has lost confidence in the medical establishment.

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Here are some links related to things we talked about during the episode:

3020-a Teacher Tenure HearingsTenured educators in New York may only be terminated if there is “just cause” pursuant to Education Law §3020.  Those facing termination are entitled to challenge the charges against them in a 3020-a hearing.

NYC Educator Wins Religious Exemption Case in State Court!This article from Teachers for Choice covers teacher Elizabeth Loiacono’s successful lawsuit against the New York City Board of Education to be granted a religious exemption to the vaccine mandate.

New York Mandate Podcast, Ep. 6: Attorney Sujata GibsonConversation with civil rights attorney Sujata Gibson, who is representing plaintiffs in two lawsuits opposing New York City vaccine mandates, Kane v. de Blasio and New Yorkers for Religious Liberty v. The City of New York.

United Federation of TeachersThe UFT is the union that represents teachers in the New York City public school system.

New York City Department of EducationThe DOE manages New York City’s public school system, which is the largest in the United States.

Announcement of NYC Department of Education Employee Vaccine Mandate This is the August 23, 2021, announcement of the vaccine mandate for New York City Department of Education employees by then Mayor Bill de Blasio, Schools Chancellor Meisha Porter and Health Commissioner Dave Chokshi.

Order of the Commissioner of Health and Mental Hygiene to Require COVID-19 Vaccination for City Employees and Certain City ContractorsThis is the order that former Health Commissioner Dave Chokshi issued on October 20, 2021 requiring New York City municipal employees and contractors, including teachers, to be vaccinated.

Order of the Commissioner of Health and Mental Hygiene to Require COVID-19 Vaccination in the WorkplaceThis is the order that former Health Commissioner Dave Chokshi issued on December 13, 2021 requiring all workers in New York City who work in a workplace or interact with other workers or the public to be vaccinated.

NYC Vaccination Requirement: WorkplacesThis is where you can find current information on New York City’s workplace vaccination requirements.

About the New York Mandate Podcast

The New York Mandate Podcast is an ongoing series of conversations exploring the costs and consequences of vaccine mandates in New York City. I’ll be talking with workers who have been directly affected by the mandates, as well as legal and policy experts.

In late 2021, the city introduced a series of requirements for workers to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. These requirements were put in place through executive orders issued by the administration of former mayor Bill de Blasio.

Current mayor Eric Adams continues to support the mandates, and they now extend to most working people in the city of New York. Private sector employers are required to affirm that their employees have been vaccinated, and public sector employees of city agencies have been terminated or put on unpaid leave for failing to comply with the vaccine requirement.

The views expressed in the New York Mandate podcast are the personal opinions of the people speaking, and are not intended to provide medical or legal advice.

Join the Conversation

Have you lost your job, been put on leave, or lost opportunities to work as an independent contractor as a result of your decision not to comply with a New York vaccine mandate? Did you take a vaccine against your wishes in order to keep your job? Please get in touch with me at [email protected].