Karen Alford

Karen Alford has served as the UFT Vice President for Elementary Schools since 2008. A lifelong advocate for public education and labor, she brings decades of experience as an educator, unionist, and organizer to the fight for equity, dignity, and respect for all who serve New York City’s youngest learners.

Guided by the principle that to whom much is given, much is required, Karen is steadfast in her commitment to advancing policies that support and uplift the nearly 500,000 public school students and over 40,000 elementary educators across the five boroughs. She believes that when educators are given the tools, support, and respect they deserve, they empower children to thrive and communities to grow stronger.

Karen is a skilled negotiator and strategic thinker. In contract negotiations, she has delivered key victories for elementary educators—securing long-overdue benefits that had previously been afforded only to their middle and high school counterparts and, through collective bargaining, creating an intra-transfer plan specifically for early childhood educators. These wins reflect her unwavering dedication to ensuring that all educators are seen, heard, and valued.

A product of a union household, Karen’s labor roots run deep. Her advocacy journey began at PS 156 in Brooklyn’s Ocean Hill–Brownsville community, where she was elected chapter leader as an untenured teacher—a rare feat that underscored her natural leadership and organizing acumen. She rose through the UFT ranks, working as an educational liaison and later as District 23 representative, where she helped build a culture of unionism, collaboration, and collective strength.

As Vice President, Karen centers professional growth, educator voice and empowerment. She has championed robust professional development, believing that when school staff are empowered to lead, our profession is elevated. Under her leadership, the UFT Elementary Schools Division engages directly with school communities to strengthen schools from the ground up—fighting for fair policies, building local leadership, and affirming educators as the cornerstone of student success.

Karen’s vision for public education is holistic. In 2012, she became the helped create the UFT’s New York City United Community Schools initiative.  As Executive Director, she’s worked to found an innovative model that weaves together strong academics, health and wellness supports, and family engagement to create sustainable, community-rooted schools. Today, that network has grown to over 30 schools across New York City and Albany, serving as a national model for what is possible when a union leads with vision and purpose.

In response to the growing national teacher shortage, Karen was tapped to lead the UFT’s New Teacher Initiative. With an unwavering focus on retention, she works to build strong connections between new members and their union—instilling pride and ensuring they see themselves as vital contributors to their profession and the labor movement.

Karen’s influence extends beyond the UFT. She serves as an American Federation of Teachers Vice President, New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) Board of Director, co-chairs the UFT’s Peer Intervention Panel and Disaster Relief Fund and is a proud alumna of the NYS AFL-CIO Cornell Union Leadership Institute. Her affiliations include the W.E.B. DuBois Scholars Institute, Eleanor’s Legacy, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated-organizations that reflect her deep commitment to scholarship, equity, and public service.

A mother, educator, and movement builder, Karen Alford embodies the belief that her strong union builds strong schools, and strong schools build strong communities. Her work continues to inspire educators to organize, lead, and never stop fighting for what’s right.