The MTD is proud to welcome American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Executive Vice President Evelyn DeJesus to its Executive Board. AFT President Randi Weingarten made the announcement on August 18.
Sister DeJesus began her career in education working as a state-certified parent educator. She then served as an assistant director for the Even Start Program for pregnant teens while she was working on her bachelor’s degree. She holds a B.A. in psychology and M.S.Ed. in education and administration from Baruch College as well as another M.S.Ed. in reading and curriculum development from Fordham University.
DeJesus’ activism started when one of her daughters became ill during a school construction project. She publicly exposed the toxic environment leading to what is known as the Great Asbestos Scandal of 1993.
As an educator, she got involved with New York City’s United Federation of Teachers (UFT). She was tapped to become its District 2 representative, then was the Manhattan borough representative for seven years. In 2014, she became the UFT vice president for education. That same year, she was elected an AFT vice president.
DeJesus chairs the AFT Latino Task Force. She serves on the union’s Civil, Human and Women’s Rights Committee and its English Language Learners Cadre. In 2021, she became the secretary-treasurer of the AFL-CIO’s Labor Council for Latin American Advancement.
Married, she is the mother of two daughters and has five grandchildren.
“We look forward to Sister DeJesus working with the MTD Executive Board,” said MTD President Michael Sacco in welcoming her.