Sue Humanick
President
This is my first term serving as Union President. Prior to this, I was the NBHS Vice President for seven years. I have also been on the elections committee and served as the committee chair. Additionally, I have been the advisor for the NBHS Asian-American Club for the past several years. Currently, I am in the position of Teacher Retention and Placement Specialist for the district, which works directly with teacher prep programs, colleges and universities, and our new teachers, student teachers, and interns. I love working for the greater good of our membership and believe we can change things with a collective unified voice. On a personal note, I love anything to do with the ocean and my travel revolves around places where I can surf. Some short term goals are to surf in Morocco, learn the ukulele, and get my pilot’s license.
Basia Maselek
High School Vice President
As a product of our New Britain public school system, and a second generation New Britain teacher, giving back is very important to me, both to the students and to the teachers. Since my first few years of teaching I have been an active member of the NBFT attending meetings and becoming informed about the power of the union. I began as a union building rep in 2007, e-board Liaison to the professional council, and for the last 8 years I have been the NBFT recording secretary. I am married to my wonderful husband Mariusz and have 2 sons, Jozef and Adam who love to travel, ski, and take hikes.
Laura Skinner
Elementary Vice President
I have been a second grade teacher in New Britain for 27 years. I am a TEAM mentor and cooperating teacher. I have served on many NBFT committees and positions during my tenure (union rep, liaison to the board of education, negotiations, public relations, PDEC, and most recently elementary vice president). I love teaching my students and working with new teachers. Teacher advocacy is also something that is important to me. Personally, I enjoy spending time with my family. I attend lots of sporting events as the mom of three boys. When I have time to relax I enjoy reading, knitting, and sewing/quilting.
Stephen Gray
Elementary Vice President
Being the Elementary Vice President of the Union has afforded me the opportunity to speak on behalf of our union members and advocate for our teachers Being part of an active Union and standing up for our rights are lessons I share with my daughters on a regular basis. We need the future to realize the positive impact Unions have had on our country.
William Sanford
Treasurer
Hi my name is Bill Sanford and I am your local 871 Union Treasurer. I have been employed in the New Britain school system since 1996 working at New Britain High School as a math teacher. I have been an officer in the union since 2007 starting as the Recording Secretary. I got involved in the union because I wanted to make sure all of local 871 members are treated fairly.
Daniel Blanchard
Executive Secretary
I think my entrance to the union as an officer for the NBFT was just a natural thing. I was teaching social studies at the high school when a fellow social studies teacher asked me to run for a union position with him. We had talked a lot about labor and unions in our social studies classes, and the union had helped me out on a couple occasions, so I said, "Yes."
Now all these years later, I still teach social studies and see on a regular basis how important of a role unions and labor play in this country. Also, I now have five children of my own, and I want every one of them to have a fighting chance to live a decent life where there work is respected and paid well.
The unions help bring respect to labor, and are the only thing big enough to push back the assault on the working class this country has been engaged in for the last 50 years. Every one should do something to help unions so they can also indirectly help themselves, their off spring and the working class of America.
Geoffrey Ponticelli
Hello! My name is Geoffrey Ponticelli and I am your NBFT 871 Recording Secretary. I have been a special education teacher in New Britain since 2011. I have worked at Smalley, DiLoreto, and Gaffney. I am a TEAM mentor and cooperating teacher.
Derek Jeter once said, “Work hard, love what you do, put your best foot forward, and never forget the kid in you” and that is a quote at school that I read every morning before the day starts. I truly enjoy being a mentor, cooperating teacher, and union rep; but what I love doing more than anything else is to teach! My hope under this new role is to have more members come to meetings and get more members actively involved in our union NBFT local 871.
Cliff Parker
Middle School Vice President
Although I have been a union member since 1977, I have been a member of this union since 2006 when I began as a special education teacher at NBHS. I moved to Slade and in 2015 became a building representative for Slade Middle School. In 2021 I became the middle school vice president and currently serve in that capacity based at Slade Middle School. I am a New Britain resident and have two grandchildren in school here in New Britain; one at NBHS and one at Slade.