Pro tips from PSRP leaders

At the AFT Paraprofessionals and School-Related Personnel program and policy council meeting April 3-4 in Portland, Ore., PSRP leaders offered advice that can help you, your fellow members, your students and the community we serve. 

Among their good ideas and smart practices:

• Remember that the most ironclad language is your union’s contract language. Legislation is only the beginning; the real work begins by getting that language into contracts and then enforcing those contracts.
• Help your union advance local, state and federal legislation that strengthens the voices of school and college support staff.
• Don’t let the foes of public education take away hard-won gains, like unemployment insurance in the summer.
• Get ready for big fights ahead as the Trump administration tries to replace public education with private school vouchers. They’re already coming after federal employees, but education will be targeted next.
• Advocate for the PSRP Bill of Rights, reintroduced in the House and Senate last month by Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.). Contact your members of Congress to demand good wages and working conditions for the support staff who keep schools and colleges running.
• Invite prominent legislators and officials to your telephone town halls. During a recent town hall meeting, the Buffalo (N.Y.) Educational Support Team hosted U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland and New York State Attorney General Letitia James.
• In the wake of COVID-19, school employees are seeing more behavioral issues than ever. Violence is among the top reasons why districts are having trouble hiring—not to mention administrators who try to throw the blame back on victims, asking: “What could you have done differently?” If you find yourself needing to sit in your car before school to get emotionally prepared for the onslaught, let your school community know there’s a problem.
• Keep making sure your students have food to eat over the weekend. Like school employees do all over the country, members of the Jefferson Federation of Teachers in Metairie, La., fill backpacks for kids every Friday with food that doesn’t need to be refrigerated, such as protein bars, lunch packs, applesauce and fruit cups.
• Encourage fellow members to attend local town hall meetings and other forums like coffee hours so that elected officials can learn about your work. Lawmakers tend to ignore petition drives, but they do pay attention at meet-and-greets. Go there prepared with a short, detailed message. If you speak up, others will too.
• Whatever the governing body—from school board to state senate—keep explaining your work to the public. Hold learning sessions over lunch hours or testify during public hearings to pass along your expertise. Keep it simple. Educate people about how you contribute to the community.
• Some immigrant parents are not even driving their kids to school right now because they’re afraid of getting picked up by federal agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The AFT’s advice: Follow your school district’s guidance.
• Plan for who will come after you as a PSRP leader. Experiment to find what members like to do, including those who use artificial intelligence and social media. Find those who are committed to the work and want to win. If people volunteer to pitch in, give them something to do. They’ll see that it doesn’t require a lot of time.

[Annette Licitra]