Student teachers in New York state do not receive a stipend during their time in the classroom, so many of them end up paying quite a bit out of pocket for class supplies, commuting and professional development.
Gabby Neet ’26 wants to help change that. The early childhood/childhood education major, who is currently student teaching at Orenda Elementary School in Clifton Park, N.Y., recently helped rally nearly 400 teaching colleagues at a March 9 lobbying event by New York State United Teachers (NYSUT).
Held at the Albany Hilton, the rally also advocated for the reform of New York’s Tier Six pension plan (“Fix Tier Six”).
“I heard about the opportunity to publicly address these issues, and I knew I couldn’t pass it up,” said Neet, who was the only student teacher to speak at the rally. “If the state adopts funding to pay student teachers, it will positively impact so many of us, as well as our students.”
Neet’s advisor Jim Kahler, lecturer in education at Siena, praised her advocacy and her classroom teaching.
“Gabby is a dynamo. She has fully embraced student teaching,” Kahler said. “Her talent and enthusiasm have not only won over her students, but also have made her a valued member of the school community. Her speech at the NYSUT rally was amazing and was well received by the large audience! She is certainly building bridges for her future career.”
Christina Pfister, Ph.D., associate professor and coordinator of Siena’s birth-grade 6 education program, called Neet “an amazing representative” of the program.
“Making a presentation to speak in front of the NYSUT representative assembly in Albany was a wonderful opportunity to share her ideas, an opportunity that very few people have,” said Pfister. Gabby spoke about her experiences as a student teacher and advocated for positive changes to benefit others. I’m really proud of her!”