LaShonda Bradberry is a member of the NYSUT/Cheektowaga Central Teachers Association Local 02020, a NYSUT Delegate, and PAC Coordinator. Her passion for political education and leadership took root early in her childhood. Growing up in Lockport, New York, just outside Buffalo, she first felt the power of history and representation in fourth grade when she was chosen to portray Sojourner Truth in a Black History Month school play. That experience sparked more than a love of learning—it awakened a sense of responsibility and possibility. At the same time, her mother, an employee at General Motors and active member of the UAW, was deeply engaged in union-based political education.
LaShonda describes her mother as someone who “made lemonade out of lemons.” As a single parent, she worked tirelessly to provide for her children and saw the union as a critical source of protection, dignity, and collective power. When LaShonda was just nine years old, her mother was a member of the Civil Rights Committee and a founder of the Chaplin Committee in the UAW Local 686 in Lockport. Through conversations at the kitchen table and participation in union spaces, LaShonda learned about the Civil Rights Movement, the events in Selma, and the leaders who shaped the struggle for justice. These formative experiences—both in school and at home—instilled in her a deep understanding of the connection between education, activism, and community empowerment.
Today, LaShonda serves as a high school teacher in Cheektowaga, where she teaches African American Studies and Cultural Studies. In her classroom, she creates space for students to critically examine history, identity, and power. She believes that by understanding how social structures and institutions developed, students are better equipped to navigate the world beyond graduation. For her, education is not simply about content mastery; it is about equipping young people with the tools to question, analyze, and advocate for themselves and others. Her courses are designed to help students connect the past to the present and see themselves as active participants in shaping the future.
In addition to her work in the classroom, LaShonda plays an active leadership role within her union as a NYSUT Delegate and Political Action Committee Coordinator. Through the Union Leadership Institute (ULI) program, she continues to build confidence and refine her leadership skills. She values learning alongside fellow union members from across the state and draws inspiration from their diverse experiences. She also credits her union president, Melinda Person, for encouraging her growth and supporting her leadership journey.
For her ULI fieldwork project, LaShonda is focused on expanding access and opportunity by developing regional versions of the NYSUT Members of Color Affinity and Action (MOCAA) in Buffalo, Syracuse, and Rochester. She believes that creating intentional spaces for leaders of color is essential, particularly amid ongoing social and political shifts that disproportionately affect educators of color. Regional conferences would make these spaces more accessible while strengthening networks of support and collaboration.
LaShonda is committed to ensuring that Black leaders and teachers of color are present in every space where decisions are made. Her work in the Political Action Committee—and her efforts to mentor and engage younger educators in political advocacy—reflect that conviction. As she often reminds others, “If you are not at the table, you are on the menu.”
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