"As a teenage immigrant at Franklin High School in the 1960s, Adam Urbanski was so ashamed of his dense Polish accent that he spoke with a hand covering his mouth."
A dose of confidence from a girl's whispered compliment changed that, and today, as he approaches his 30th year as president of the Rochester Teachers Association and vice president of the American Federation of Teachers, people listen when Urbanski speaks.
While Mayor Robert Duffy seeks to assume control of the Rochester School District, Urbanski's voice — and the influence he wields as one of the nation's most powerful teachers union leaders — might represent the best chance opponents have of thwarting the plan.
"I don't like systems that are built for one person," Urbanski, 63, said in an interview shortly after Duffy made his intentions clear. "What are these new ideas that Duffy would bring? Why haven't we heard any of them until now?"
Because Duffy's request for control of schools requires the approval of the state Legislature and the governor, Urbanski's sway and that of the state teachers union — which Urbanski said will support his opposition — will help decide the plan's fate.
"Adam Urbanski is there to serve the teachers and the members of his union," said Duffy, who met with Urbanski recently to discuss his proposal. "He is a very tough, experienced, successful union leader. In the current system, he has as much influence in Albany as anyone here."