New York special education teacher Gabrielle Gayle stood up for the rights of her colleagues, literally.
I often encounter stories about educators who work towards bettering the lives of their colleagues. This is true of Gabrielle Gayle, a fourth grade special education teacher from New York City. Sadly, this particular educator passed away from complications of Covid-19 on April 25, 2020.
Gabrielle Gayle taught at Merrick Academy, a public charter school located in the Queens. In a career that spanned 12 years, four of them were spent at Merrick Academy. Her fellow teaches remember her fondly as a generous person, willing to help both students and co-workers. She was known for her long days. One time she even stayed so late she got locked in the building!
This indefatigable educator was also a union representative. During the most recent contract negotiation, her colleagues describe what they describe as Gabrielle’s “Norma Rae” moment. “Our Board of Trustees was not giving us a date to negotiate, and Gabby and I organized staff to come to the Board meeting,” recalled colleague Christine Hernandez. “We all wore black and agreed we would determine the right time to stand up and be recognized. Gabby texted me, ‘I can’t take it anymore! I’m going to stand up.’ She stood up and she said, ‘We, the Merrick Academy teaching staff, demand that you recognize us. We’ve been waiting for a date for negotiations and we’re not going to wait any longer,'” Hernandez continued. Everyone stood up with Gabby, and educators soon got their negotiation date. “She really lived her principles and would not back down. She was not afraid to be vocal and stand up for what she knew was right,” Hernandez concluded.
While educating New York City schoolchildren, Gabrielle also served as a softball coach for Roosevelt Middle and High schools. At Utica College, where she double majored in special education and general education, Gabrielle mentored other students and fought for equity for women and students of color. She was also pursuing an advanced degree. She had only one semester to go before completing the requirements for her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Grand Canyon University.
When she passed away, Gabrielle was only 34 years old, and pregnant with her second child. She leaves behind a husband and four-year-old daughter. To read her obituary, see this link to New York State United Teachers.
