10 toes on the Line

Standing with Jamie Polzin

In 2018, I attended the Bronx Ball as a representative of the UFT—ironically, at the direction of then-political director Paul Eagan. The Bronx Ball is a major Bronx political event where we engage with elected officials on our union’s priorities. That year, one of the honorees was Tarana Burke, the founder of the Me Too movement. Her presence was powerful—especially during a time when women across the country were rising up to demand accountability and respect in workplaces, politics, and beyond.

The following year, Paul Egan was quietly removed from his high-paying position at the UFT following credible complaints from multiple women about his inappropriate behavior. According to a New York Daily News article published on March 29, 2019, Eagan was ousted from his role over an “office sex scandal” involving a subordinate staff member (source).

Despite what some of Paul’s defenders now claim, this was not just a sudden reassignment. It was the result of a credible investigation and accountability process. Even long-time union observer and ABC ally Norm Scott noted on his Ed Notes Online blog in real time that Eagan’s abrupt removal—right before UFT Lobby Day, one of our most high-profile political events—clearly signaled that something serious had occurred behind the scenes (source). The timing was too critical, and the silence too intentional, for this to be anything but a serious internal response.

During this election season, Paul has attempted to rewrite that history on social media—minimizing the entire episode as nothing more than a consensual relationship he had with a UFT attorney at the time. But Jamie Polzin is not a lawyer. Her recollection of his behavior while she worked under his supervision makes clear that what happened was not consensual—and certainly not appropriate. Dismissing credible harassment as merely a consensual relationship is not only disingenuous—it’s dangerous.

As ABC tries to say "look over here" by disingenuously stating they want to focus on the issues, let’s be clear: this is the issue. We are a pink-collar profession—a union of workers whose job is to educate, nurture, and protect. The safety of women to be free from sexual harassment by their supervisors is not a distraction. It is core to our work. It is a bread and butter issue that we cannot ignore. Any union worth its name must defend its members—especially when power is abused from within.

I know I have written about it and met the challenge of keeping the confidence of my colleagues who do not wish to have their trauma in the spotlight. And now, in 2025, as Paul seeks to return to one of the most powerful roles in our union, the truth can no longer be ignored.

This month, my colleague Jamie Polzin bravely shared her story of being sexually harassed by Paul Eagan while he supervised the UFT Chapter Advocates. Jamie didn’t go public at the time—she was moved out from under his supervision, and like so many women, found some peace in simply being removed from the harmful situation. But peace doesn’t last when harm is allowed to resurface.

Jamie felt compelled to speak up again—not because she wanted attention, but because Paul is now seeking power over her and others once again. And worse, Amy Arrundell, the candidate for UFT president and a woman who publicly champions empowerment, has dismissed Jamie as “problematic” and has actively worked to discredit her story.

This is not what leadership looks like.

Let me be clear: Jamie’s story is not an isolated incident. I, and others, have held—and will continue to hold—the confidence of multiple women who experienced Paul’s behavior. When a now-retired staff director confirms on social media that several women came forward with complaints that led to Paul’s resignation, we must take that seriously.

And here’s something that deserves recognition: it was UFT UNITY leaders—people who had moved up the ranks alongside Paul Eagan—who, when faced with the choice of protecting a powerful friend or standing with women, chose the right path. They asked for Paul’s resignation. Not because it was easy, but because protecting our union's integrity and the dignity of its members mattered more than protecting someone they had worked closely with. They could have chosen silence. They chose accountability.

That’s what real leadership looks like. That’s what allyship looks like.

Because allyship isn’t a title you give yourself. It’s a choice you make—especially when it’s uncomfortable. Especially when it means standing beside someone who’s vulnerable, even when it comes at a personal or political cost. Being an ally means putting all ten toes on the line next to those who are most impacted. That phrase—ten toes down—was powerfully shared by Kim Watson-Benjamin, the LGBTQIA+ and Health Coordinator for the NYC Public Advocate's Office, during the Bronx Trans Day of Visibility Panel on March 28. Her call to action reminded me that real solidarity means being willing to show up fully and visibly for those who need us. Her words are still echoing in my heart.

I was proud to sit in the audience representing the UFT that day, and I will share more thoughts soon about the significance of that event and the voices lifted there. But today, I’m answering Kim’s call by standing ten toes down with Jamie Polzin.

Meanwhile, I’ve watched in disbelief as people like Noah Silverstein, Carolyn Greenwood, Beth Schwartz Haft, and Marie Wausnock (Marie Para) publicly try to discredit Jamie on social media. They’ve twisted themselves in knots trying to defend Paul’s actions, shaming a woman for speaking out—because her truth disrupted their preferred political narrative.

And Amy Arrundell? She’s actively spreading misinformation. Claiming that Karen Alford conducted an investigation—when anyone who understands UFT’s internal processes knows that HR under the Staff Directors handles such matters, not a divisional VP—is misleading at best, and dishonest at worst. If Amy knew the truth and still chose to undermine Jamie, what does that say about the kind of president she would be?

We are a union made up primarily of women. How can we fight for their safety and dignity in schools and workplaces if we are willing to ignore, downplay, or excuse abuse from our own leadership?

Jamie Polzin’s courage should be celebrated. Her willingness to relive her trauma to protect others deserves our respect, not scrutiny. I stand with her—not just in words, but with all ten toes on the line.

We have a choice: we can continue excusing bad behavior because it’s politically inconvenient, or we can live our values and demand accountability. Paul Eagan should not return to leadership. Amy Arrundell should not be rewarded for enabling harm. And those who shame survivors to protect power should not be the voice of our union.

The fight for dignity, equity, and justice starts at home. If we can’t live that inside the UFT, how can we possibly claim to fight for it elsewhere?

Reference:
NYC teachers union honcho ousted in office sex scandal — NY Daily News, March 29, 2019

https://ednotesonline.blogspot.com/2019/03/rumor-paul-egan-out-at-uft-everyone-is.html