HERstories

What is the GTA HERstory event?

Our Why...

In 2020, COVID and hybrid teaching turned our world upside down. Members of the NYSUT Women’s Committee wanted to show colleagues how much we valued, cared for, and recognized their hard work—often going above and beyond. We created a celebration to make them feel appreciated and seen. This small event has grown steadily ever since.

What and when is the HERstory event?

HERstory celebrates the lived experiences of women in GTA. The Women's Committee believes Women’s History Month is the perfect time to honor everyday heroines who make a difference in the community. The celebration takes place during the last full week of March with two events.

The main event is a Zoom call featuring GTA nominators, nominees, BOE members, district leaders, union leadership, and Women’s Committee members. Leaders share welcomes, gratitude, or reflections on women’s issues, while nominators highlight their nominees and explain their significance. The inspiring and heartfelt stories shared during the call make it a memorable experience.

The second event is an informal ALL-GTA Mixer held on the Friday following the Zoom call. This gathering focuses on honoring the nominees and their contributions to the Greece community. GTA celebrates them with camaraderie, appetizers, and swag alongside their families and friends. The event is always well attended and filled with positivity.

How does it work?

In January, GTA distributes a nomination form through its meeting minutes, encouraging members - male or female- to nominate candidates. After collecting nominations, the committee invites each nominee but keeps the nominator’s identity confidential until the Zoom event.

Meanwhile, BOE, Union Leaders, and GASA representatives are invited to participate and prepare remarks on women's empowerment or related issues. GASA consistently supports the event with a financial donation, which the Women's Committee uses to assemble gift baskets complete with a book and other locally found trinkets that promote self care. The book later becomes the centerpiece of a historically well-attended Professional Learning session - usually in July.

HERstory Honorees 2025

Congratulations to our 5th HERstory Honorees!!! We are so grateful for you and your dedication to others. Our evening was full of smiles, heartfelt moments of gratitude, grace, and a whole lot of love.

Thank you to our Rochester Regional Chair and NYSUT co-Chair of the state-wide Women's committee, Marne Brady for your words of encouragement. Thank you to our district leaders and Board members: Superintendent Jeremy Smalline, Terry Melore, Megan Ferra, Catherine Coffee, and Kevin Thorton, for your words and time.

Also thanks to our GASA and GTA unions for joining together with our BOE to honor our every day heroines. By representing together at this event, we know we are valued and appreciated for the work we do.

We welcome BOE, GTA, GASA, family, and friends to join our informal public event March 28th at T.C. Hooligans from 3-5pm. Bring well wishes for past and present honorees and mingle with colleagues you may not normally see from across the district. Our goal: get to know each other and build camaraderie .

All our Honorees will receive

-a $10 gift card to New Roots Coffee House 1273 Long Pond Road (drop off a donation for the Blessing box if you stop by)

- a bracelet set from Emerson and Oliver and a 30% off coupon

- a book for our new book study (see the PD points page)

- and a coffee mug to remind them they are loved and admired filled with encouragement pens and sticky notes

HERstory Nominees 2024

Let's Celebrate our 4th group of HERstory nominees! These fantastic ladies that work hard everyday to pay it forward to others. Thank you to GASA, Superintendent Kathy Graupman, GTA President Brian Ebertz, BOE members Sherita Traywick and Tracey Farmer for supporting the event as our opening speakers.

Be sure to join us in person to celebrate these-- and other GTAWN HERstory nominees -- at BRU in Greece April 12 from 3-5(ish)pm.

Check out our HERstory GTA women 2023

Congratulations to Cheryl Marrese, Anne Carmack, Bethany Berger, Corinne "Cori" Salvaggio, Cristina Dermody, Barbara Schmitt, Kendra Damann, Genna Wilson, Meaghan Davis, Jessica Rogers, Jillian Velekkakan for being our HERstory nominees for 2023! Thank you for ALWAYS finding ways to EMPOWER those around you. Your dedication and drive are something to celebrate. Congratulations to you all! THANK YOU to Marne Brady, Dr. Sherita Traywick, Kathy Graupman, Stacey Brindisi, and Tracey Farmer for joining us and making this event a truly LOVING experience. We appreciate your dedication to uplifting us and encouraging us to persevere. This event reminds us that we are better together and that every day actions matter.

Check out our HERstory GTA women 2022

A special thank you to Stacey Brindisi and GASA for supplying our gift baskets, to Superintendent Kathy Graupman, and to Board Members Sherita Traywick, Terry Melore, and Tracy Farmer for opening our event and showing these women just how important they are to our district and community. We are so appreciative of your time and energies in making this a special night for our members.

Check out our HERstory GTA women 2021!

Did you know that we have some truly amazing folks working in Greece?! We celebrated some of them on February 3rd at7PM. Check out the zoom recording below! Be sure to scroll through the images and see these amazing leaders in our ranks.

A special thank you to Gina Larsen and GASA for supplying our gift baskets, to Superintendent Kathy Graupman, and to Board Member Sherita Traywick for opening our event and showing these women just how important they are to our district and community. We are so appreciative of your time and energies in making this a special night for our members.

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