Hinchey Honors Red Hook Math Teacher Martha Strever for Women’s History Month Celebration at the State Capitol

ALBANY, NY — Senator Michelle Hinchey honored venerable Red Hook math teacher Martha Strever last week at the New York State Capitol as part of the Legislative Women’s Caucus’ annual Women’s History Month celebration. Hinchey joined fellow Caucus members, Governor Hochul, and Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins in recognizing Strever and other trailblazing women from across the state who have had a profound impact on their communities.

Born and raised in Hyde Park, New York, Martha Strever is the longest-serving active teacher in the State of New York, as well as the longest active member of New York State United Teachers (NYSUT). Since 1961, Strever has taught math at Red Hook’s Linden Avenue Middle School, where she became the first woman to chair the math department. Over her remarkable 64-year career, Strever has shaped generations of students, often teaching multiple members of the same family, including Linden Avenue Middle School’s current Principal, Stacie Fenn-Smith. Strever continues to make a difference in the Red Hook school community today, teaching math to students with special needs—with no plans of slowing down. 

Senator Michelle Hinchey said, “As women fought for their rights in the workplace and across all spheres of life in the 60s, Martha Strever was becoming a math and science teacher at a time when these fields were often seen as inaccessible to women. She broke barriers as the first woman to chair the math department at Linden Ave. Middle School, brought computer science to the school for the first time and has served as a constant role model — paving the way for future generations of women in STEM and showing the profound impact a great teacher can have on shaping students’ lives for the better. We all remember that one teacher who believed in us and inspired excitement about the future ahead. For so many Red Hook students, that teacher is Martha. It’s a privilege to honor Martha as part of our Women’s History Month celebration and to thank her, on behalf of the State Legislature, for her extraordinary decades of service to our Dutchess County community.”

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