I remember that when I became a New York State United Teachers member almost 20 years ago, I was confident that this state organization’s mission was to fight for due process, better pay and outstanding benefits for teachers—the ultimate goal being to improve education for our children.

I also remember at that time that NYSUT was not a fan of public school choice—including vouchers and charters schools. More specifically, NYSUT spent large amounts of money lobbying against these educational concepts on the dime of their own members.

Lengthy published dissertations, continuous and expensive travel to Albany, and costly research was their mission—all at the price of their member teachers’ salaries and benefits. So, readers may find it ironic that NYSUT’s mission has taken a sharp turn. Their dues-paying members may find it confusing. NYSUT members’ dues are now being used to recruit the very charter schools they have been criticizing and trying to keep from opening for decades.

I know, it may sound ridiculous that an organization that continues to fight against the existence of an organization would be looking to represent them as a union. But, it is true.

NYSUT currently has over 600,000 members. And, no, they are not all educators. I will let you draw your own conclusions as to why you think NYSUT, which has published an essay illustrating how “charter schools are a failed experiment,” is now representing them as their local union.

When such a large entity changes its mission, people notice. And, it is becoming apparent to traditional public school teachers and charter school teachers alike that their monies are being used against one another. This is not the mission I paid for.

In addition, when a grass-roots charter school advocate is falsely accused of making an anti-union statement, people notice that too.

When Mike Deeley, the local NYSUT representative charged with recruiting our Western New York Charter Schools, told The Buffalo News that I told teachers they would lose their jobs if they participated in collective bargaining, he lied. That couldn’t be further from the truth.

I serve to inform teachers. I do not “take sides.” I will let you draw your own conclusions as to why Mike Deeley would make such a comment. He didn’t misquote me. He’s never even heard me speak. Mike Deeley’s responsibility here is an immediate apology to my constituents and me. Then, maybe NYSUT can get back on track to find their mission.

Corrinne Cristofaro, executive director of the Western New York Charter School Coalition

Buffalo