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When teachers came back to Long Island City High School on Tuesday, they reported to two bosses -- their principal of 16-years and a former colleague, who is now also the principal. Last week, four city schools gained a second principal -- an attempt by the city to convince the state to give it federal school reform money. Teachers say they expect more and more of the complicated politics of school reform to trickle down to individual schools this year.

"Some of our teachers are very angry at the federal government's mishandling of our school and our community," said Long Island City High School teacher Ken Achiron.

Long Island City High is one of the 34 schools the State labeled persistently low achieving. The federal government offered $6 million per school but demanded specific reforms, including removing all the principals. But the city wanted to keep some of them, so it hired a second leader to bypass the rule. Teachers say these convoluted politics get in the way of their work.

"Long Island City High School is a very, very good school and we need some changes at the federal government level on how you recognize certain schools," said Teachers Union President Michael Mulgrew.

More than three quarters of Long Island City's students now live below the poverty line; 27 percent more than in 2009. The number of homeless students also shot up from 14 students to 194. And these statistics are not unusual. Educators across the city say they're trying to help students who have less at home do more in school. All this while budgets are cut and reform efforts ramped up. But the city is not the only school reformer in town anymore. Both the state and federal governments have aggressive education reform agendas.

"That's going to be a continual struggle this year as we say, we need to identify what students needs are and then getting them the supports they deserve," Mulgrew said.

As they set up their classroom, caught up with colleagues and reviewed rosters, many teachers told NY1 they are nervous about what might happen this school year.

And it's not starting out on a collaborative note. The teacher's union president usually appears with the mayor and the schools chancellor on the first day of school. However, this year they will be ringing in the new year at different schools.