“There’s always something new to learn” at the UFT’s School Secretaries Chapter events, said Gloria Cahill, the secretary at PS 182 in Jamaica, Queens. Cahill, in her first year as a school secretary, said her new job is “very hectic,” but she doesn’t “feel alone” thanks to the support of the union. The annual School Secretaries Seminar, held this year on Jan. 11 at UFT headquarters in Manhattan, was one event where secretaries from all over the city found support. The secretaries attended presentations on paid parental leave, the rollout of the new version of the payroll program CyberShift, and the UFT’s Empower, Organize, Engage campaign. Doreen Berrios-Castillo, the UFT chapter leader for school secretaries, said her members must be “computer savvy” but also have people skills, as they care for students, parents and staff. School secretaries devote a Saturday to professional development every year “because they care,” said Berrios-Castillo. “They want to grow and learn. That’s where passion comes in.”