PeopleofSuperintelligence

Public voice

Randi Weingarten

Also known as Rhonda Weingarten

Randi Weingarten has led the American Federation of Teachers since 2008, and she has taken a public role in national debates over AI in classrooms. After earning a labor relations degree from Cornell in 1980 and a law degree from Cardozo in 1983, she taught at a Brooklyn high school. In 1998 she was appointed president of the United Federation of Teachers, and in July 2008 she was elected AFT president. In July 2025 the AFT launched the National Academy for AI Instruction, a $23 million program, and TIME named her to its TIME100 AI list in August 2025. As of October 2026 she is AFT president, and delegates re-elected her at the union's 2026 convention.

Now at
American Federation of Teachers

Timeline

  1. 1980–1983

    Labor relations, then law

    She earns a labor relations degree from Cornell's ILR School in 1980 and a law degree from Yeshiva University's Cardozo School of Law in 1983.

  2. 1991–1997

    Teaching in Brooklyn

    From 1991 to 1997 she teaches at Clara Barton High School in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.

  3. 1998–2008

    President of the UFT

    In 1998 she is appointed president of the United Federation of Teachers, and she wins reelection by consistently wide margins.

  4. July 2008

    Elected AFT president

    In July 2008 she is elected AFT president, succeeding Edward J. McElroy.

  5. July 2025

    An AI academy for teachers

    In July 2025 the AFT launches the National Academy for AI Instruction, a $23 million program that gives all 1.8 million members free AI training.

  6. August 2025

    On TIME's AI list

    In August 2025 TIME names her to its TIME100 AI list.

  7. May 2026

    Limits on AI in schools

    In May 2026 she calls for a ban on student-facing AI in elementary schools and a tax on big tech companies.

  8. As of October 2026

    Re-elected to lead the AFT

    She is AFT president, and delegates re-elect her at the union's 2026 convention.

Sources and credits

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  1. Randi Weingarten - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org. Checked 15 October 2026.
  2. AFT to Launch National Academy for AI Instruction with Microsoft, OpenAI, Anthropic and United Federation of Teachers | American Federation of Teachers aft.org. Checked 15 October 2026.
  3. What We're Reading - May 27, 2026 wwr.whiteboardadvisors.com. Checked 15 October 2026.
  4. AFT President Randi Weingarten wants stricter limits on AI, screens for younger students - Chalkbeat chalkbeat.org. Checked 15 October 2026.
  5. Top national officers re-elected, recommit to fighting for a better life for all | American Federation of Teachers aft.org. Checked 15 October 2026.