Pleas to City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams to bring the “RESPECT check” bill to a vote:

It’s easy to say no when you don’t have to worry about putting food on the table or supporting your children. Many of us paraprofessionals are working full time, raising families and trying to earn our master’s degrees. We deserve the RESPECT check.

Alanna Estrella, paraprofessional 
College Academy, Manhattan, via Instagram

Paraprofessionals are the backbone of our schools. They support our students academically, emotionally and behaviorally, often going above and beyond for families and staff. Many of us still struggle to make ends meet, despite doing some of the most important work in our school system.

Your leadership has the power to bring this long-overdue support across the finish line. Please stand with us paraprofessionals, who stand with our children every day. We deserve recognition, respect and the financial stability this bill would provide.

Brittany Vieux, paraprofessional, 
PS/MS 138, Queens, via Facebook