Twenty-five years ago, the AFT's first Paraprofessional and School-Related Personnel (PSRP) conference attracted, at most, 200 people from a handful of locals. When the conference marked its silver anniversary this April, it had grown to be one of the AFT's largest annual gatherings--almost 900 participants from 150 locals across the country.

Lorretta Johnson, who chairs the national union's PSRP program and policy council and has presided over the conference for most of its history, reminded the audience during the opening session not only of how far the conference has come but also how much the union's school-support division has progressed over the years. From its beginning with a small group of education secretaries in Chicago, who formed the first PSRP local in the 1930s, the division now represents more than 230,000 workers and is growing steadily. This was also the first conference since the AFT PSRP division's affiliation with the American Association of Classified School Employees.

The official theme of the Washington, D.C., gathering was "Solidarity Forever: Twenty-Five Years Growing Strong," but another common thread ran through many of the sessions. AFT president Sandra Feldman emphasized it in her opening address: PSRPs play a vital--but often underappreciated--role in education. "None of our schools, colleges or universities could run without you," she declared, calling the nation's 3.5 million PSRPs quiet "everyday heroes."

"Your work is too often ignored because your public profile is still too low," Feldman said, adding that many PSRPs report feeling overworked, underpaid and understaffed in their jobs. She pledged that the AFT will continue to fight for good wages and working conditions until every school employee "earns enough to provide a decent life for their children."

To help raise that profile and educate the public and decision makers about PSRPs, the AFT released a report in conjunction with the conference titled "It Takes a Team: A Profile of Support Staff in American Education," which pulls together a wealth of information on PSRPs nationally and in the AFT. (See the cover story for more.)

Feldman also introduced two New York City paraprofessionals whose heroism spread far beyond classroom walls on Sept. 11. Margaret Espinoza and Julia Martinez, who work at the High School for Leadership and Public Service, received a special award for helping save the lives of two wheelchair-bound students they work with at their school just two blocks from the World Trade Center.

Both women addressed the hushed audience and shared some of their experiences and thoughts about the event in the months since. "I pray to God that Sept. 11 will never happen again," Martinez said, "but if it did, I would do the same thing." Espinoza said she will never again take life for granted because the events showed her how "fragile and delicate" it can be. Investment broker Chris Gardner, on hand to help present the Albert Shanker PSRP Pioneer Award, was so moved by the women that he pledged $10,000 to their school.

Another general session, using interactive technology that allowed the audience to answer questions on electronic keypads and see the results almost instantly, revealed some of the misconceptions people have about school support staff. A panel that included a journalist, a state legislator and a school district negotiator discussed the results and generally agreed on the need for PSRPs to keep working to tell their stories to the public and policymakers and to educate society about what they do and why their jobs are so vital.

"You cannot do too much of this" grassroots campaigning to communicate your importance to legislators, said Charles Hudson, a Democratic member of the Louisiana House of Representatives. "It makes a difference." Larry McQuillan, a White House correspondent for USA Today, pointed out that Americans say they want to improve education but are rarely willing to raise taxes to do so. As a result, "You have to get your message out, but you have to do it in a way that everyone can relate to," he said. "You have to explain why what you do is important." Lorretta Johnson, who also participated on the panel, said that many of the things the AFT has long sought for PSRPs--certification, clear job descriptions, better professional development--are all related to this effort to upgrade the status of school support staff.

This year's conference bags included a disposable camera for attendees to use. Luncheon speaker Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Maryland's lieutenant governor and a front-runner to become the state's next governor, probably didn't know that when she agreed to stick around after her speech to pose for photos. Townsend praised the AFT as "one of the great unions in our country." She highlighted the achievements of the Democratic administration in her own state, which can boast one of the strongest pro-labor records in the country, and urged the AFT activists to "roll up their sleeves and pull a double shift" in the next election to help produce victories for working families. A daughter of Robert F. Kennedy, Townsend stayed around until many dozens in the audience had a chance to snap a photo to include in their conference memories.

Oregon leader wins Shanker award

AFT-Oregon president Debbi Covert, the first PSRP ever to serve as an AFT state federation president, was honored with this year's Albert Shanker Pioneer Award. The award is given each year during the conference to honor an outstanding AFT PSRP leader. Clearly surprised by her selection to win the award, Covert (pictured below right) also received a $10,000 check from Chris Gardner. Gardner, who heads Gardner-Rich Co., a securities firm based in Chicago, has supported the award for three years now. Half the money goes to the recipient and the other half is to be used at her worksite or for another local project.

"To be recognized as a union leader at that level is pretty awesome," Covert said.

Covert is a longtime member and officer of the Portland Community College Federation of Classified Employees. She has served at virtually every level of union leadership, from the building level up to the AFT's national PSRP program and policy council. In presenting the award, Lorretta Johnson also pointed out Covert's long family history in the labor movement: two grandparents were union members, her father was a union activist and her husband is a longtime member of the machinists union.