Former Assistant Principal Patricia Gil has been inspired all her life by Mark Twain’s saying, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness.” She has lived by those words from the moment she joined the U.S. Army Reserve as a college freshman to her current role as an assistant field director and member of the Veterans Council at the Council of School Supervisors and Administrators (CSA), AFSA Local 1, New York City.
Major Education organizations have urged federal leaders to immediately release reserve funds and use any other available flexibilities without reducing support for other nutrition programs.
AFSA has joined other labor unions in urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to ensure that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits continue without interruption.
This year’s convocation emphasized the intersections of culture, community, and change, encouraging attendees to embrace innovation while staying grounded in self-care and the shared strength of their union.
“We were once the No. 1 murder ZIP code,” Principal Nneka Warren says of her school community. “Now, I’ve been here almost eight years and am proud of the change in climate and academics. Even our grounds are nicer now. It’s night and day.”
The 2026 Diann Woodard Scholarship online application and guidelines are now open. If you have a graduating high school senior planning to attend college in 2026, now is the time to encourage them to apply!
AFSA honored five exceptional high school seniors with the prestigious Diann Woodard Scholarship in 2025, recognizing their academic achievements, unwavering dedication to community service, and exemplary work ethic.
