RANDI WEINGARTEN is president of the AFT, a union of 1.875 million people who work in education, health care and public services. The AFT is dedicated to the belief that every person in America deserves the freedom to thrive, fueled by opportunity, justice and a voice in our democracy.
Prior to her election as AFT president in 2008, Weingarten served for 11 years as president of the United Federation of Teachers, representing approximately 200,000 educators in the New York City public school system. Weingarten taught history at Clara Barton High School in Brooklyn’s Crown Heights neighborhood from 1991 to 1997, and helped her students win several awards debating constitutional issues.
Weingarten holds degrees from Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations and the Cardozo School of Law. She practiced law at Stroock & Stroock & Lavan from 1983 to 1986. Weingarten resides with her wife Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum in New York City.