Associated Press - June 24, 2009 4:55 PM ET

NEW YORK (AP) - Randi Weingarten is resigning as president of The United Federation of Teachers.

Weingarten has led New York City's teachers union since 1998. She announced Wednesday that she will now devote her full time to her role as the president of the nation's largest teachers union, the American Federation of Teachers.

Weingarten was elected to the 1.4 million-member national organization last July. She has said that it's no secret the two jobs have been weighing on her.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg praised her for her role in what he calls the "incredible turnaround" of New York City schools.

The union's executive board will select someone to fill out the remainder of Weingarten's term until elections are held in the spring of 2010.

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