From ‘Just a Para’ To Paraprofessional

Minnesota paraeducators opt for ‘strength and knowledge’ by joining the merged NEA-AFT state affiliate.

Photos by Janet Hostetter

Duck if you dare call someone “just” a paper-copying, diaper-changing “para” when you’re visiting Minnesota District 279, a multi-community suburban school system northwest of Minneapolis. That’s because many of the education support professionals (ESPs) there do a whole lot more than many assume: They reinforce classroom instruction, stay after school to help students with homework, get kids safely on buses, and even remind them what materials to take home.

And some are mobile decision-makers, such as 13-year para Becky Hespen, who closely monitors what special ed students in a community-based vocational assessment and training program “can and can’t do” in the workplace.

“Most of our paras want to excel at what they do,” observes this veteran union activist, but, sadly, “they haven’t gotten help from the district to do it.”

The duties required of these ESPs had snowballed long before the so-called No Child Left Behind law (NCLB) mandated that Title I paras become “highly qualified.” But District 279 never kept up with the times by offering para staff development, preparation for the state-administered ParaPro certification test, or any other path to professional recognition.

That all started to change in March, when District 279’s long-independent paraeducator association voted to affiliate with Education Minnesota, the merged state organization of NEA and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).

Affiliation proponents campaigned for “strength and knowledge” through the resources of a powerful statewide organization. Now a newly minted local, the 750-member Education Minnesota Osseo Educational Support Professionals (EMOESP), has the backing it needs to improve the paras’ bargaining agreement and professional standing.

But there’s plenty of hard work ahead, caution Hespen, the local vice president, and local membership coordinator Pam Cheney, a media/AV para at Osseo High School. EMOESP must bring in more members, bridge old staff divisions, and bargain, bargain, bargain.

Among other things, EMOESP will need to negotiate for ESP parity with teacher rights, a fairer pay scale, and meaningful staff development provisions.

Most of all, stress Hespen and Cheney, these paras will need to push for added respect on the job. On that score, “we can help this group,” says Education Minnesota President Judy Schaubach. “Part of it can be done through bargaining, part through relationship building with administrators, and part through the backing of teachers. The support of teacher leaders of Education Minnesota Osseo has already been outstanding.”

And much can be done by EMOESP members themselves, who have a track record of roll-up-your-sleeves advocacy. “We took care of ourselves,” points out Cheney, “although it’s kind of intimidating to handle a top-level grievance by yourself.”

That too has finally changed. Education Minnesota has now assigned a field representative to assist the new local affiliate. “These are capable people,” concludes Schaubach. “We just need to empower them for what they need to do.”

—Dave Winans

‘Iron Sharpens Iron’

Paraeducators in Minnesota District 279 don’t stand alone anymore. By linking with the NEA-AFT-affiliated Education Minnesota, they now have:

Help with the No Child Left Behind law (NCLB).

Education Minnesota has passed legislation authorizing “voluntary” para standards and portable certification, and runs workshops to prepare para members for the state ParaPro certification test.

“A lot of paras, in both independent groups and other unions, come to us for help because we’re the ones who know about what’s going on with NCLB,” says Education Minnesota President Judy Schaubach.

New allies and new ideas. Besides enjoying the opportunity to network through state and national union conferences, this new affiliate becomes part of the ESP local “presidents’ council” that advises Schaubach on ways to meet para needs.

“Iron sharpens iron,” says local Vice President Becky Hespen. “We need to bounce problems off each other and get new ideas. It widens our circle and makes us feel stronger!”

More ESP stories in this issue:

• Indiana bus drivers mentor new hires and subs
• More than 6,000 Utah ESPs affiliate with NEA