My union made sure I didn’t lose any of my benefits as a paraprofessional while I completed my pre-service training as a Teaching Fellow.
I have worked as a paraprofessional at the Bronx Leadership Academy HS since 2011. When I first started out, my plan was to someday teach in an elementary school but I found my passion and commitment with high school students. I was working with kids who are struggling, and I saw the need and knew I could make a difference.
When I was nominated last spring by my principal to enter the NYC Teaching Fellows program, I followed up by calling the UFT. I had so many questions!
I wanted to get my certification as an English as a New Language teacher. I needed to do three months of student teaching as part of my pre-service training. I was very concerned that I would lose my health benefits if I left my paraprofessional position to do this student teaching. But a rep from the union told me that as a paraprofessional, I could take a student leave. I didn’t know about that. The union also let me know that if I returned to the classroom as a paraprofessional by Dec. 14, I would get paid for the whole month.
I know three or four other paraprofessionals who became teaching fellows. They did not talk to the union and didn’t know about student leave. They resigned their positions as paraprofessionals to be in the program and lost their health benefits.
The union helped me in another way, too: I already had a Master’s degree in guidance, and I had a student loan from those studies. The union sent me all of the information I needed for the Student Debt Relief Program and held my hand through the process of acquiring documentation about my loans.
I am so grateful to my union. The UFT has always been there for me.
Evely Ozoria is a Teaching Fellow at Bronx Leadership Academy HS.
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