CEJ's Lifetime Achievement - Marcella Fugle

Marcella Fugle

The winner of this year's Lifetime Achievement Award at our "Cirque de 99%" Annual Awards Celebration, Marcella Fugle, is currently the Chair of the NYSUT Retirees of WNY Political Action Committee. We thought we would take a moment to bring you up so speed on some of her accomplishments over the years - so you would understand why we are so honored to present her with this award!

Marcella began teaching in the fall of 1964, teaching regents Biology at a Junior High School in Hamburg, where she taught for 20 years. An early member of NYSUT, she was involved in the first contract fight for the Hamburg Teachers’ Association in 1968.

She became President of the Hamburg Teachers’ Association in 1974, serving in that capacity until 1990. Marcella also was active statewide for NYSUT, serving on the board of directors from 1976-2000 while participating on many of the committees. During this time, she also served on several committees for the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).

In 1985, she helped form the Southtown Teachers’ Center, where she worked from 1985 to 2000, when she finally retired from work. However, she would go on to become active in the NYSUT Retirees of WNY, where she is currently the Chair of the Political Action Committee. As such, her main objective is working to increase political engagement of teachers and move NYSUT members to political action. A recent success was their role in the election of Kathy Hochul to Congress. Marcella looks forward to the upcoming elections this fall – and whenever you see NYSUT members getting-out-the-vote – you will know that Marcella had her hands on this. She is also working hard to make sure school budgets are voted in as we celebrate tonight.

In addition, Marcella has been a long-time CEJ member. In 2000, she was asked to join CEJ’s board of directors, and has long worked to get teachers involved in organizations like the Coalition for Economic Justice.