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“That started my career,” she
continued, acknowledging the
physical, financial and emotional
challenges of the job. Despite the
obstacles, she said, “We go back every
day because we love our students,
and every person in this room is here
because they love what they do.”
In addition to deep involvement
in her union at the local, state and
national levels, Meltsakos is active
on the political front in her town.
“Though I don’t really like politics,”
she said, “I know how important it is
to all of us as educators.
“Don’t be afraid to speak up to
your School Committee and everybody
else,” she told the crowd. “Keep telling
your stories. Keep doing what you’re
doing — and someday we will be paid
what we deserve.”
During meals throughout the
conference, prizes sponsored by MTA
Benefits were awarded. The giveaways
are a popular feature of the conference,
and this year 25 members received
prizes from MTAB that included
Fitbits, Kindles, tablets and other
items.
B efore the conference wrapped up on Saturday afternoon, participants honored graduates
of the inaugural MTA ESP leadership
program, which is modeled on the
National Education Association’s
Leaders for Tomorrow program.
“Let me take you back to a cold
night in January — January 19 to
be exact,” said paraeducator Janice
McKeown, one of the graduates.
“It was still getting dark before 5.
We were tired after a long week, and
some of us were wondering, ‘What
am I doing? What did I sign myself up
for now?’ We have families. Second
or third jobs. Outside commitments.
that this three-weekend leadership
program would make us stronger as
individuals and within our union.”
McKeown continued, “We came
from five different districts. We come
from diverse backgrounds. Some of
us are career-changers relatively new
to education, while some are veteran
educators. Some of us are well known
in our unions and some of us are
just getting started. Most of us were
strangers on that night we met. But
now we are friends. And we hold
ourselves accountable to be the best
that we can be.”
The group of 12 graduates included
Burke and Susan Markievitz, both of
the Haverhill Education Association;
Tina Gaffney, Shannon Smith, Yahaira
Rodriguez and Elsa Trinidad of the
Educational Association of Worcester;
Roylene Hunte, Wendy MacMillan and
McKeown of the Brookline Educators
Union; Lisa Irvine of the Waltham
Educators Association; and Terry Anise
King and Valerie Price of the Classified
Staff Union at UMass Boston.
For more information about MTA
Education Support Professionals,
please visit massteacher.org/esp.
Continued from Page 10
ESPs are urged to continue speaking out and fighting for fairness
Members of a union coalition
representing UMass faculty, staff and
graduate students protested outside a
meeting of the UMass Board of Trustees
in Amherst on April 6 to draw attention
to stalled contract negotiations. The
unions are fighting for fair salaries
and improved working conditions for
members, who have been working
without contracts for more than 250
days. The coalition is also asking
trustees to publicly support the Fair
Share Amendment ballot initiative,
which would increase funding for public
higher education.
Photo by Scott McLennan
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