Martin Sommer

pvpondman@aol.com

AFT 2510

Serving as a school counselor for 39 years before retiring from Southern Westchester BOCES 
in 2014, Martin Sommer provided counseling and coordinated support services for students at the
Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center. He created a renowned program for students with hearing
and visual disabilities which was cited for excellence by both the United States Department of Education
and the New York State Education Department.  
 
The uniqueness of the program resulted in the enrollment of students from Westchester County and, for
the first time, beyond to New York City. Students from the NY School for the Deaf and Blythedale Union
Free School District in Westchester; Lexington School for the Deaf in Queens; St. Joseph’s School for the
Deaf, NY Institute for the Blind, and the Lavelle School for the Blind in the Bronx; were given access to a
rich and rigorous career and technical education with appropriate accommodations.  
 
Martin’s extensive advocacy efforts on behalf of the CTE students and faculty led to his involvement
with post-secondary institutions around the country; most importantly the SUNY Colleges of
Technology, labor unions, and allied organizations such as the Westchester-Putnam-Rockland
Counseling Association and the Southern Westchester College Conference Committee, which he still
serves on to this day. 
 
In service to the members of the Southern Westchester BOCES Teachers Association, Martin held
positions of building representative, grievance chair, social justice coordinator, political action
coordinator and ultimately, president. Martin additionally served on several New York State United
Teachers (NYSUT) statewide committees where he worked with others to improve the quality of public
school education and working conditions across New York State. 
 
For the past ten years, Martin has been a NYSUT Political Action Coordinator for local teacher unions in
Westchester and Putnam Counties. He is also a vice-president on the executive boards of the
Westchester-Putnam Central Labor Body and the NYSUT Westchester-Putnam Retiree Council. As
always, Martin continues to promote and advocate for the advancement of career and technical
education, labor unions and the rights and benefits of all working people. 
 
Martin is the proud husband of his loving wife, Carol and dad of Amanda and Georgia; all of whom are
public-school educators. Martin’s sons-in-law, Adam and Justin, are both New York State employees.
 Grandchildren, Gordon, George and Juliet, have expanded the family and added even more joy and
meaning to a wonderful life.  It is the love and support of this family that enables and motivates Martin
to help build a brighter future for generations to come.