One day, my principal told me I was terminated, effective immediately. I had worked at the same elementary school as a special education paraprofessional for 21 years. During that time, I saw four principals come and go without any problems.
The termination was horrible. In the blink of an eye, everything stopped: my health benefits, my paychecks. My principal tried to block me from filing for unemployment, and I had to fight for it. When my unemployment ran out, I worked for the health department. I wasn’t doing what I loved or making as much money as before. I struggled to support my daughter, who was still in high school.
The same day I was fired, I talked to my union representative. Every step of the way, she told me, “It’s going to be OK. We are going to fight this.” My principal said I’d physically threatened her after she asked to speak to me about selling candy in the cafeteria, and that was why I was fired. I never threatened her, but I did disagree with her once when she wouldn’t let me give a slice of pizza to a student. The pizza was for kids with perfect attendance, and he had missed one day but brought a doctor’s note. I guess the principal didn’t like that I questioned her.
The union brought my case to arbitration so it could be heard by a neutral person who doesn’t work for the DOE. I was represented by someone that the union specially trains to represent paras in arbitration. The arbitrator found that my behavior warranted discipline, but was not threatening or menacing. Instead of termination, he gave me a suspension and a second chance.
When I found out I had my job back after three years, I cried. I knew the truth, and the system had finally listened. Now I work at PS 11. It’s a lovely school. My life is just grand. I love working with kids and making a difference in their lives.
I tell a lot of people my story. You need to sign up, contribute and get involved with the union. I never thought this would ever happen to me, but it did.
Cassandra St. Felix is a paraprofessional at PS 11 in the Bronx.
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