Teacher Killed in Superstorm Sandy Accident
November 5, 2012
By Kara Smith – NYSUT Communications
This article appeared on the NYSUT website November 1, 2012: http://www.nysut.org/
Reprinted in Laborpress November 5, 2012
We are saddened to report the death of Jessie Streich-Krest, 24, a first-year special education teacher at Bushwick School for Social Justice in Brooklyn. She was struck and killed Monday during Superstorm Sandy by a fallen tree while walking her dog. The United Federation of Teachers member had conducted her first parent-teacher conference just last week.
The daughter of John Krest, executive director of New York Communities for Change, a longtime activist who led the battle to unionize car washes and supermarkets citywide; and Fran Streich, the UFT’s Manhattan Parent Coordinator, Streich-Krest also was an activist in her own right, helping organize Stop Horse Abuse, an organization aimed at the humane caring of carriage horses in Central Park.
“Education was Jessie’s true passion. A bright, young, special education teacher, Jessie wanted to devote her life not only to serving students most in need, but to fight to improve the public education system for students, teachers and parents. Jessie was an amazing young woman who was known and loved by many,” according to a tribute by NY Communities for Change.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to Jessie’s family, friends and colleagues.
