Apr 26, 2007 10:58 AM
Like many of their colleagues in the school system, UFT district representatives Karen Blackwell and Servia Silva are back on the job after giving birth.
Blackwell said she had no choice. At a meeting last October with chapter leaders, one of them said, “You just pop that baby out and get back right away. We need you here.”
Although there are still some narrow-minded principals who treat pregnant teachers differently, it’s a long way from the days when pregnant teachers could be fired. “If they didn’t fire you, they made your life so difficult you wanted to quit,” recalled George Altomare, one of the founders of the UFT, who started teaching in 1954.
Going back to work wasn’t as easy as she thought it would be, Blackwell said. “The first day back I cried the entire way to work. I stayed home a year with my first child (Kayla) yet only took two months with my second child (Jaden). It was really difficult leaving that first day.”
As women know all too well, there is no easing your way back to work.
“You become totally consumed once you are back,” Blackwell said. “While on maternity leave I loved spending the day with my baby, but once I returned I realized that I missed the fight and the energy of the union. Every day is an ongoing fight to get my members — my district family — what they deserve and need to educate our children.”
The news of the pregnancy came as something of a surprise to Blackwell.
“I did not find out I was pregnant until I was almost four months,” she said. “We thought I had vertigo, an inner-ear infection. My balance was off and I was constantly dizzy, but I wasn’t nauseous.
“One day when I couldn’t take it anymore, I went to the emergency room because I wasn’t getting any better. I told the intake nurse about my condition: vertigo. After some tests, she told me my condition: pregnancy. You can’t imagine my shock. My husband and I are both only children. We were quite content with one child. My family just laughed at me. But now Jaden is here and he is absolutely delicious.”
It’s important to have mentors, Blackwell added.
“I have learned from [UFT Vice President for Elementary Schools] Michelle Bodden that it is important to find a balance between home and work. My life is a constant juggling act. I have learned to be very organized and work smarter.”
Another mentor was her mom, who retired last year after 351/2 years of service. “I come from a family of educators,” Blackwell added. “Two retired principals, eight teachers and two speech pathologists. There is always ‘teacher talk’ every holiday around the dinner table.”
Blackwell also said she received “a lot of help” from Barbara Meranus, a UFT Teacher Center specialist. “She did demo lessons for me, got me involved in Thinking Math and Literacy Network and helped me with the content. Both she and my mother did what my principals did not do.”
She said the late Andy Schnure, a former UFT District 23 representative, “helped me to bring a sense of the union and unity to my school.”
Both of Blackwell’s parents were unionists. Her dad, now deceased, was a police officer and a member of the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association. Her mother was a chapter leader for 13 years until her retirement. “And she is still active as a retiree,” Blackwell said. “I was raised understanding the benefit and value of being a union member.”
Silva was luckier during her pregnancy, with no physical setbacks.
“I had no morning sickness or nausea,” she said. “The pregnancy was wonderful. I had lots of energy; I was so excited because this was my dream.”
She took a leave on Nov. 22 and the baby was born Nov. 29. But an infection delayed her return to work until Feb. 22.
Her happiness the day after the baby was born was “overwhelming,” Silva said. “I couldn’t believe I had a baby. I was always putting it off. I am getting very old and I didn’t want to wait any longer.”
Silva, 41, has the energy of a 21-year-old. As the day to get back to the UFT approached, Silva said she felt “sad and guilty” leaving her son, Andres Alejandro. “It was hard to say goodbye, but it was fun to be back at the union with adults.”
One group happy to have Silva back was the UFT Political Action Department. A few years ago, when she was honored for having every member in her school contribute to COPE, a teacher was asked why Silva was so successful in getting people to sign the donation cards.
“She chases you down the hall, she keeps after you,” said Marta Molina-Perez. “She haunts you and if that doesn’t work, she puts a spell on you. Then you sign.”
Silva, too, has a strong union background. Her mother was a seamstress and was a member of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union. Her father was a construction worker. “I was always told the union would protect you,” Silva said.
Her parents were born in the Dominican Republic and arrived in New York in the late 1950s. She caught the teaching bug early, she recalled. “I didn’t want to play outside so I helped my teacher when I was in the 5th grade,” she said.
Before long, she was tutoring other students in the school. Her friends advised her to go into business to make a lot of money, “but I loved the kids too much,” she said.
On her first day as a teacher, “I walked in and faced two empty bookshelves and they handed me a box of chalk and said ‘teach.’” She said she cried on and off for two weeks.
Silva said her success in the union was due to the help of Yvette Geary, her predecessor as District 9 representative; former District 32 Rep Linda Selesnick; Borough Representative Jerry Goldman and special reps in the Manhattan office; and UFT officers.
In their absence, members were served by the capable Heidi Melendez in District 9 and Debbie Polous in District 23.
Welcome back, ladies.