In July, over 20 paraeducators from New Fairfield stood outside their district’s Central Office, united in a call for dignity, equity, and a livable wage. Their message was clear: despite years of service to students and the community, they are being left behind by a school district that refuses to offer a fair contract.

Paraeducators across Connecticut are the backbone of public education — providing academic support, one-on-one care for students with disabilities, classroom stability, and safety for students with behavioral and emotional needs. But in New Fairfield, like in most districts, these essential professionals are being paid wages so low that they fall below the poverty line — even for full-time work.

Many of our paras are full-time employees, local residents, and committed professionals who remain in their roles out of dedication to the students and community, often at personal financial hardship. The consequences of this neglect are felt every day: staffing shortages, overworked educators, burnout, and disruptions to student learning. Many paras take on second or third jobs just to get by. Others leave the profession altogether — not because they want to, but because they can’t afford to stay.

New Fairfield paras have made repeated good-faith efforts to reach an agreement with the Board of Education. But even after two consecutive years of increased education spending, the district continues to offer substandard wages and limited benefits. The result? High turnover, staffing shortages, and a system that shortchanges students as much as staff.

The demonstration in New Fairfield followed positive news coming out of nearby Danbury where after months of organizing, CSEA paras made major progress on starting wages, moving from $16/hour to $20/hour. As with all of our work, this victory represents a step towards a better future for the students we serve and our families we provide for. But this once again proves that when paraprofessionals are united, organized, and backed by a strong union, they can achieve real, transformative change.

The CSEA Para Council includes chapters from districts across Connecticut, from Fairfield County to the Quiet Corner. Across these communities, a pattern is emerging: districts that respect their paraprofessionals see greater staff retention, improved student support, and stronger school communities. Those that ignore their paras face constant turnover, understaffing, and growing tensions between workers and administrators.

So the fight to confront the longstanding injustice of underpaid, undervalued care paraeducator work continues. Because we know - when we fight, we win.