Paraprofessionals Pushing for Dignity, Respect on the Job

When it comes to the outsized role of paraprofessionals in our public schools, Council 4 member Stacie Harris-Byrdsong knows what it’s like to be important yet overlooked in the classroom.

Harris-Byrdsong, AFSCME Local 3194 President and a lead educator at Capitol Region Education Council Schools (CREC), spoke for all paraprofessionals when she testified at the Connecticut General Assembly on House Bill 5321: AN ACT IMPLEMENTING CERTAIN RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE SCHOOL PARAEDUCATOR ADVISORY COUNCIL

“For many students that special person who moves them to learn, who moves them to grow, is an unsung hero: a paraeducator,” Harris-Byrdsong told the Education Committee during their March 21 public hearing.

Harris-Byrdsong and paraprofessionals represented by Council 4 urged Education Committee members to recognize the unsung heroes by supporting HB 5321, which would implement some of the recommendations of the School Paraeducator Advisory Council including professional development, certification and career path opportunities.

Hyclis Williams, president of New Haven Paraprofessionals Union, AFSCME Local 3429, told legislators HB 5321 is a good starting point but needs to expand its focus.

“Paraprofessionals in New Haven work alongside teachers serving as the backbone of teaching and learning,” she said. “As paraeducators we support children at their level of need, maintaining and facilitating a learning environment that supports the emotional, physical, and intellectual development of each child.”

“However, we do not receive the same type of support from our employer,” Williams added. “We work under severe stress with little or no support. We are grossly underpaid and our cost share for insurance is higher than that of administrators who make more than ten times our salaries.”

Other Council 4 paraprofessionals echoed Williams’ sentiments.

“HB 5321 is an opportunity to begin to treat Connecticut’s paraeducators with the respect and dignity we have earned,” said Sheryl Elliott, vice president of AFSCME Local 2267 in Bristol. “However, it needs to go further to ensure that paraeducators are compensated fairly and respectfully as part of our career path.”

“Many paras have to take a second job to make ends meet. You can’t live on this job alone,” Elliott added.

During the 2021 legislative session, the General Assembly passed and Governor Ned Lamont signed into law House Bill 6621, which directed the Advisory Council to conduct a study and compile a series of legislative recommendations concerning the development of a statewide, uniform system for paraeducator qualifications, career development, pay rates and retirement and health care benefits, among other issues critical to paraeducators.

Council 4 Staff Representative Tricia Santos, who co-chaired the Para Advisory Council, called on legislators to be bold in addressing the poor pay and lack of respect afflicting the profession.

“A more comprehensive bill that includes all [of the Advisory Council] recommendations would be a better approach and would show that paras are valued and appreciated for the work we do,” said Santos, a former paraprofessional in Killingly and past president of AFSCME Local 3689.

“We’ve spent the last two years helping students adjust to very difficult challenges and deal with COVID. We need a bill that would include recommendations to lower health care costs, create better pay for paras and will improve their lives significantly,” she added.

Michelle Mania, president of AFSCME Local 1996 which represents Stonington paraprofessionals, summed things up when she said that HB 5321would help paras participate in professional development to broaden their skill sets, but hopes there will be further changes.

“The last thing paras want to do is to leave the children behind because we can’t make a fair living wage,” she said. 

Thanks to all those who took the time to testify on HB 5321:

  • Barbara Curtis, Local 1303-392 (Litchfield BoE)
  • Sheryl Elliott, Local 2267 (Bristol BoE)
  • Stacie Harris-Byrdsong, Local 3194 (CREC)
  • Michelle Mania, Local 1996 (Stonington BoE)
  • Margaret Martin, Local 1303-189 (Plainfield BoE)
  • Tricia Santos, Council 4 Staff Rep
  • Sherrie Weller, Local 1522 (Bridgeport BoE)
  • Hyclis Williams, Local 3429 (New Haven BoE)

Paraeducator Roundtable Coming Up:
In conjunction with Paraprofessional Recognition Week (April 3-9), the Connecticut AFL-CIO is sponsoring a Paraeducator Roundtable on Thursday, April 7 at 4 p.m.

State Department of Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker and members of the General Assembly’s Education Committee will be join the virtual event.

Council 4 encourages our paraprofessional members to join the conference.