Here We Go Again! The Teachers Union, Its Power, Rochester's Children, And The Need For Community Intervention
Here we go again! The same old, tired, worn-out pattern appears to be unfolding within the Rochester City School District (RCSD). And, once again, Rochester Teachers Association (RTA) President Adam Urbanski and his predominantly white, suburbanite, sycophantic supporters are at the center of it.
For decades, we've witnessed a repetitive cycle: Contract negotiations, highly sensationalized public criticism of district leadership, votes of no confidence, demands for new leadership — and eventually, another superintendent packs up and moves on.
And round-and-round we go!
The question is: How much longer will Rochester's children be caught in the middle of these calculated power struggles, which always revolve around increased wages (even though academic conditions continue to worsen)?
Let's be clear. The teacher shortage is real. The problems within RCSD are real. But so is the question of whether Urbanski and RTA leadership are using these long standing problems primarily to advance their negotiating interests, rather than helping to develop meaningful solutions.
Consider the pattern Urbanski described in a recent video regarding increasing numbers of mainly white, suburbanite teachers leaving RCSD.
Due to the chronic teacher shortage throughout Rochester, Monroe County, New York state and the nation, opportunities are opening up for teachers, especially in lily-white suburban districts, that were not available in the past.
In my view, many of these teachers ended up working in city schools because suburban districts wouldn't have them. So, don't be fooled by that old, tired, worn-out okee-doke about every teacher choosing city schools because they love and want to help city children.
The truth of the matter, I believe, is that many were suburban rejects. Now, with the shortage becoming so dire, predominantly white suburban districts are welcoming some of their former rejects back home.
And, of course, Urbanski doesn't talk about this!
Instead, he emphasizes RCSD having "hundreds of vacancies and hiring teachers who have not yet completed their certification" — as if Rochester's situation is some sort of unique anomaly.
It certainly is not!
According to the Learning Policy Institute, in July 2026, an estimated 387,843 teachers nationwide were not fully certified for their assignments, while 37,569 positions remained unfilled in states reporting vacancy data. Combined, these figures represented at least 425,412 teaching positions — approximately one in eighth nationally.
So, clearly, Rochester is not alone in confronting these challenges.
Of course, national shortages don't eliminate the district's responsibility to address its own problems. But neither should these problems automatically become ammunition against whoever happens to occupy the superintendent's office.
Also, merely describing dire issues and problems is far from being the same as helping to solve them.
After describing what he considers horrendous conditions, Urbanski turned around and stated, "we're trying to address [this] through negotiations, but they're resisting."
Now, just think — what exactly could they possibly negotiate that would begin to solve all these issues and problems, or any of these issues and problems for that matter?
Urbanski also suggested that the particular kind of class-size consolidation RCSD is implementing is problematic. Pay close attention: He did not say consolidation was unnecessary, but implied it wasn't being done properly.
Yet, why didn't we hear specific alternatives?
Hopefully, those paying close attention recognize the operative term in all of this: NEGOTIATIONS!
Urbanski and RTA leadership have repeatedly used the district's long standing difficulties as leverage for contract demands. And when superintendents resist, the familiar campaign begins.
First comes the highly sensationalized public relations campaign, emphasizing problems that have festered for decades, but suddenly receive renewed attention during negotiations.
Of course, mainstream media have helped elevate Urbanski to near-celebrity status as the go-to spokesperson regarding Rochester education.
Has anyone else pondered why most of us probably can't name another local teachers union president in Monroe County? Why is that???
I digress.
Next comes the familiar VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE, followed by a steady sycophantic-drumbeat demanding new leadership — until superintendents decide they've had enough, pack up and move on.
Here's the kicker: When superintendents come under attack, they often lack strong community support, especially from politically-spinless, local politicians who are reluctant to challenge the union's influence, which is more than likely connected to campaign contributions.
Parents and community members also have a responsibility to become more engaged.
Now, it appears that this time around, we just might have a superintendent who is willing to stand and stay.
If that is, in fact, the case, the community must be prepared to stand with him, while holding everyone accountable — including district leadership and the union.
Rochester's children deserve better than another round of institutional battles, leadership instability, and the same decades-old problems.
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Howard Eagle is a longtime educator and local anti-racism advocate, known for his campaigns for the Rochester school board and prolific political and social commentary. Eagle taught social studies in the RCSD for 23 years, before retiring in 2010, and was an adjunct professor in the Department of African American Studies at SUNY Brockport for 19 years before retiring in 2020.
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