John Bligh
- Retired Teacher
Retired teacher Sherylyn Bailey, a staffer in the UFT’s Staten Island borough office and the longtime UFT coordinator of Making Strides Against Breast Cancer for the borough, died suddenly on Sept. 10. She was 74.
Sherylyn began teaching in New York City public schools in September 1990. She taught at IS 72 in Heartland Village and PS 68 in Port Richmond, both on Staten Island, and retired in 2017 after 27 years of service.
Sherylyn held various roles in the UFT’s Staten Island borough office, including advocate for educators who received unsatisfactory ratings and grievance representative. She also worked on health and safety issues.
“She was a very positive person,” said Sean Rotkowitz, the Staten Island borough representative. “She had an infectious laugh.”
Sherylyn was determined and tenacious in her work, according to Rotkowitz. “Once she set her eyes on a task, it got accomplished,” he said.
An active unionist and two-time breast cancer survivor, Sherylyn was well organized as the UFT Strides coordinator for Staten Island and knew how to motivate people, former colleagues said. The Staten Island UFT Strides walk in October 2022 was dedicated in her honor.
Pamela Washington, a retired Staten Island educator who worked with Sherylyn on Strides, said Sherylyn was honored on her 74th birthday in late August at the Staten Island FerryHawks game. She wore a red dress, a pink-and-white “SURVIVOR” sash and a pink hat for the occasion, and players wore pink shirts that day.
“She was a phenomenal woman,” Washington said. “She’d give you the shirt off her back.”
Sherylyn was also a New York State United Teachers and American Federation of Teachers delegate.
Roseanne Alkhatib, a retired teacher and the UFT health and safety liaison for Staten Island, described Sherylyn as an exceptional teacher and a wonderful colleague and friend. The two had been friends for more than 20 years. What always shone through, Alkhatib said, was Sherylyn’s kindness, ability to listen and give thoughtful advice, and her passion for educating and inspiring children.
Also a lawyer, Sherylyn taught social studies and constitutional law at IS 72 and served as the school’s dean for some years before returning to teaching.
“She was always able to connect with the children and I think that’s the best thing that a teacher should be able to do,” Alkhatib said. “She wanted the children to know how our country evolved and the rights that we have. She spoke to them, not at them.”
Sherylyn was also an author of fiction and nonfiction. In 2013, she published “Protect the Butterflies,” a novel about race, religion and relationships in a fictitious Mississippi town. She also wrote a book about how to understand the New York City school discipline code and was in the process of updating it, Alkhatib said.
Sherylyn was also active in the community, joining the Historic Richmondtown board of directors in June 2019. She was elected second vice president of the historical society a year later and served on its Education Committee and its Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Committee, said Jessica Baldwin Phillips, the executive director and CEO.
“She was dedicated to children’s history education,” Phillips said. “She will be truly missed.”
Sheryl Pender, the School Secretaries Chapter leader, said she was devastated by the loss of her “true friend.”
“She was that special,” Pender said. “She was a keeper.”
Pender was working as secretary for the UFT’s Staten Island borough office when she met Sherylyn in the early 2000s. “She put her wings around you and she just took care of you, no matter what,” Pender said. “I was not ready to let her go. I’m going to make sure I pay it forward and I don’t let anybody down.”
Pender said Sherylyn enriched her life and the lives of her two children. Pender’s family lost everything in a fire during her son’s senior year of high school, and Sherylyn “opened up her home and her heart” and hosted a pool party for Pender’s son and his Curtis HS classmates.
“She had a heart of gold,” Pender said.
Sherry was an amazing woman. I’m a better person for knowing her.
Good friend. Good roommate. Great activist. Taken too soon. Rest in blessed peace.
She always had the best interest of children! Her smile was infectious and her dedication to our community was unmatched. She will be missed.
Sherry was a force to be reckoned with; she was a devoted mother, teacher and labor advocate. She was also a fun person to be with. We will miss her energy, spirit and professionalism. Rest in peace, dear friend.
Sherry left her mark on everyone she came in contact with. She was smart, funny and will be missed by all who knew her. It was definitely NOT her time to leave this earth.
I only met her at the Breast Cancer walks with my friend Pam she always gave me some extra knitted caps for my extra grands as Pam would tell her i had . I had to buy a shirt and will proudly wear it on Sunday .