Press conference scheduled with Connecticut 2nd District Representative to share experience of working alongside paraeducators at Mansfield Middle School
WHAT: "Walk A Day In My 'Para' Shoes" Press Conference with Congressman Joe Courtney, CSEA/SEIU Local 2001 members working at Mansfield Middle School, and school administrators
WHEN: Wednesday, March 20 beginning at 10:55 a.m.
WHERE: Library of Mansfield Middle School, located at 205 Spring Hill Road, in Storrs.
DETAILS: Following a morning of observing and working alongside public school paraeducators with students in a variety of classroom settings, Congressman Joe Courtney will speak to the press about his experiences. Members of CSEA/SEIU Local 2001 are coordinating this first-in-the-state "Walk A Day In My 'Para' Shoes" event to raise awareness of the job responsibilities and expectations of paraeducators.
"I thank Mansfield Public Schools and the members of CSEA/SEIU for inviting me to experience first-hand the difficult, but rewarding work of our nation's paraeducators" Congressman Courtney said. "All students have unique needs, which our schools are better equipped than ever to address, but we have a long way to go to provide paraeducators with all of the tools and resources they need to perform even better" he added.
CSEA/SEIU Local 2001 represents eighty-six instructional assistants working in Mansfield Public Schools and over 2,100 paraeducators in thirty-five districts across Connecticut. Its members are committed to closing the state's "achievement gap" by raising the profile of paraeducators, many of whom provide critical one-on-one instruction to students with special needs, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
"We play a critical role in the lives of the students we serve" said Carlos Figueroa, an instructional assistant who has worked at Mansfield Middle School for four years. "We provide academic and social education, we assist in traditional classroom instruction, and that's why it's important elected officials see the impact we have" he added.
CSEA/SEIU Local 2001 members will be available for comment in the library following the press conference. Members of the press may contact CSEA/SEIU Local 2001's Communications Director Matt O'Connor at 860/951-6614, extension 129, or by sending e-mail to moconnor@csea760.com to schedule interviews.