The Jersey City Para-Professional Association (JCPPA) held its annual Para-Professional of the Year event on Friday, May 7, 2021. This year it was held virtually due to the pandemic, with almost 100 members in attendance. The event is held to recognize the outstanding work of the Association, the day to day work of para-professionals, as well as their advocacy work.
The JCPPA President, Keith Olkewicz hosted the event for his members and guests to enjoy. He welcomed guest speakers including NEA Vice President Princess Moss, NJEA President Marie Blistan, NJEA Vice President Sean M. Spiller, NJEA Secretary-Treasurer Steve Beatty; JCEA President Ron Greco, Beverley Senior, ESA president and Andrea Pastore, Hudson County Education Association president
The 2019-2020 and the 2020-2021 Para-Professionals of the Year were acknowledged for their outstanding efforts, alongside five community activists. The community activists received the Angel to a Para award for collaborating with the JCPPA to sponsor school and community events throughout the year. Their partnership ensures the voices and cares of para-professionals are recognized through their work in the community.
The event began with a slideshow honoring the accomplishments of the Jersey City para-professionals over the past two years. Those who passed away were honored and different events they organized and supported were highlighted. Those events included video messages from the JCPPA to students in the Jersey City Public Schools during the school closings due to COVID-19; food collection and distribution to students and their families; the endorsement of Petal Robertson for NJEA Secretary-Treasurer; efforts to increase member participation in the democratic process during the 2021 NJEA election; increased member participation in the annual NJEA ESP Conference; participation in creating care baskets for healthcare workers and so much more.
NEA VP acknowledges ongoing work of JCPPA members
“I am astounded at the work the members of the JCPPA are doing” stated Moss. She spoke of how her parents were school bus drivers in her home state of Virginia, which is why para-professionals are close to her heart. During her personal bout with sickness, members of the JCPPA showed her great support and encouraged her. She thanked them for their support. Moss acknowledged how JCPPA members continued to show up all over New Jersey during the pandemic helping families and students because they knew, long before COVID, that families were already experiencing disparities. Many families relied on school meals, and the members of JCPPA ensured students and families were able to eat. Moss emphasized how she sees the amazing things the JCPPA is doing via Facebook, and wants to encourage paraprofessionals all around the country to engage in the same work. She wants to implement equitable solutions to ensure every school has the resources educators need and that all students deserve.
NJEA was the first union in the United States to welcome all ESPs to join, as they realized it would take a village. The past two years, New Jersey’s public schools have been rated the best in the nation. Blistan believes it’s due to the para-professionals and ESPs working together. She shared her personal experience working alongside para-professionals as a classroom teacher. “I worked with at least one para-professional for most of my career, and have many success stories” said Blistan. “I have repeatedly said it wasn’t because of what I did, but everything we did. My paras and I were able to get so much done as a team.” NJEA gives para-professionals equal and full credit for their contribution to the education of students in New Jersey schools.
“Paraprofessionals are an integral part of the children’s village,” said Beatty. “The work they do is vital. They were going in keeping the facilities safe, managing the offices, feeding the students, and were being taught with as much social and emotional support as possible.” He shared the proverb “Individual voices cause ripples. Collective voices make tidal waves.” Members of the JCPPA were encouraged to keep making waves.
Educational Support Professionals (ESPs) were reminded of one of their greatest accomplishments from last year. Spiller stated, “After two years of waiting and advocating, educators returned to work this year with two new job justice bills.” ESPs participated with thousands of members sending emails, making phone calls, posting on social media, and attending rallies and meetings with politicians. Spiller declared, “The first law of due process is now the strongest in the country. They have the comfort of knowing their positions are safe because they can dispute disciplinary actions and have protections against unfair subcontracting of ESP jobs.” He extended congratulations because of both of their wins.
Para-Professional of the Year honors
Local officers gave their congratulations to the JCPPA recipients of the Para-Professional of the Year awards.
Grecco said, “Para-professionals are like trouble shooters, always taking care of whatever challenges come their way.” Senior spoke of how all the associations are all one family and thanked them for lending a hand when called upon.
“I hope you realize how important you are to the district, the staff, the parents, and especially our children,” remarked Pastore. “On behalf of the 20,000 members of the Hudson County Education Association, thank you.”
A clip from the JCPPA Executive Board was shared. “Thank you for all the outstanding work you do and the children you serve day in and day out,” said Olkewicz. His sentiment was echoed by JCPPA Second Vice President Samantha Pelletreau who said, “We appreciate you and love having a union work so well together because of all of you.” Each member of the Executive Board extended words of thanks and congratulations to the para-professionals of the year.
The event was brought to a close by recognizing the two recipients of the Outstanding Para-Professionals Achievement Award. The 2019-2020 award was given to Ligia Brito from the Danforth Early Childhood Center for stepping up and educating the children when her co-teacher was unable to work. She ensured they had a familiar face to come to school to. Donna Phillips from Dickerson High School received the 2020-2021 award for creating a pantry for the students, allowing them to go into a separate location for clothing or food to eat. Olkewicz hopes the pantry program can be implemented in other schools throughout the district.
Olkewicz thanked the NEA leadership team, the NJEA leadership team, the Hudson County leadership team, and the Executive Board of the JCPPA. He thanked the members for all they do and ended with a virtual cheers, humorously noting the glass was full of nothing but soda. It was a celebratory evening to remember.
Here is a full list of all recipients of rewards at the Para-Professional of the Year event.
| School Site | 2019-20
Para-Professional of the Year Award Recipient |
2020-21
Para-Professional of the Year Award Recipient |
| Franklin R. Conwell-PS#3 | Carolyn Wilson | Lori Franciosa-Appello |
| Franklin R. Conwell-MS#4 | Charmaine Tarawally | Ominique Taylor |
| Dr. Michael Conti-PS#5 | Sonia Jusino | Lydia Diaz |
| Jotham W. Wakeman-PS#6 | Eileen Smith | Naomi Gilyard |
| Franklin Williams-MS#7 | Assunti DiSantis | Nellie Wallace |
| Charles E. Trefurt-PS#8 | Yasnia Andujar | Brenda Martinez |
| Martin L. King Jr.-PS#11 | Mayda Lugo | Sandra Coulter |
| Julia A. Barnes-PS#12 | Wanda Benitez-Trowell | Anastasia Kourmousis |
| Ollie Culbreth-PS#14 | Felecia Fluellen | Shadia Rozek` |
| Whitney Young-PS#15 | Charles Dux | Ellen Glover |
| Joseph H. Brensinger-PS#17 | Francis Ramos | Dawn Walker |
| Dr. Maya Angelou-PS#20 | Nagesrie Eva Resal | Nadia Little |
| Rev. Dr. Ercel F. Webb-PS#22 | Maribel Camacho | Theresa Smalls |
| Mahatma K. Grandhi-PS#23 | Michelle Gardner | Renee Bronner-Green |
| Chaplain Charles Watters-PS#24 | Angell Allen | Patty Wright |
| Nicolaus Copernicus-PS#25 | Sandra Rodriguez | Lathea Small |
| Patricia Noonan-PS#26 | Ashley Hale | Crystal Holmes |
| Alfred Zampella-PS#27 | Marcelene Cole | Lalaine Greco |
| Christa McAuliffe-PS#28 | – | Mayra Morales-Roman |
| Alexander D. Sullivan-PS#30 | LaQuetta Jordan-McDougle | Valarie Ling |
| Barack Obama-PS#34 | Danisha Persaud | Jacqueline Sims |
| Rafael de J. Cordero-PS#37 | Antoinette Badger | Casandra McClinton |
| Dr. Charles P. DeFuccio-PS#39 | Franicis Manzo | Donta Mack |
| Ezra L. Nolan-MS#40 | Mario Santana | Vanessa Rivera |
| Fred W. Martin-PS#41 | Marie Seibert | Tiffiney Small |
| Regional Day School | Katrell Daise | Margaret “Peggy” LoCicero |
| Wm L. Dickinson High School | Shonika James | Ashia Garnes |
| James J. Ferris High School | Sonia Spaldo | Anne Ross |
| Abraham Lincoln High School | – | Alicia Wooten |
| McNair High School | Diana Castro | Marlene Colon |
| Danforth Early Childhood Center | Mirta Foley | Lisa Higgins |
| Cunningham Early Childhood Center | Kimberly Corley | Aracelis Arroya |
| Westside Annex Early Childhood Center | Melinda Acosta | Valerie Larry |
| J.F. Kennedy Early Childhood Center | Annie Britt | Madhu Sethi |
| School Site | Outstanding Para-Professional Achievement Award Recipient |
| Dickinson High School | Donna Phillips |
| Danforth Early Childhood Center | Ligia Brito |
| Angel to a Para Award Recipient | Community Affiliation |
| Ellen Ruane | Assistant Superintendent of Jersey City Public Schools |
| Bruce Alston | Jersey City Community Activist |
| Sean Conners | Former Jersey City Police Officer and Community Activist |
| Bishop Tina Bland | President of B.I.T.E. Organize and Community Activist |
| Donald Davis | DJ Wiz |