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Paraprofessional Awards Luncheon 2026

More than 1,000 paraprofessionals gathered at the New York Hilton Midtown on March 7 for their UFT chapter’s annual awards luncheon. The event included professional learning sessions, a resource fair and carnival, and the presentation of awards to outstanding paraprofessionals from all five boroughs.

UFT paraprofessionals join a cheer during the 2026 UFT Paraprofessional Awards Luncheon on March 7, 2026.

LaToya Leopold Albert (right) and Julia Alexander-Defoe, paraprofessionals at PS 705 in Brooklyn, join a cheer of “Para strong all day long.”

Erica Berger
Marizol Rizol (center), the Humanitarian Award recipient, is flanked by UFT President Michael Mulgrew and UFT Paraprofessionals Chapter Chairperson Priscilla Castro at the UFT Paraprofessional Awards Luncheon on March 7, 2026.

Marizol Rizol (center), the Humanitarian Award recipient, is flanked by UFT President Michael Mulgrew and UFT Paraprofessionals Chapter Chairperson Priscilla Castro.

Erica Berger
Shirley Cumberbatch (right) and Natasha Honore, paraprofessionals at PS 181 in Brooklyn, collect their wellness bags from the resource fair at the UFT Paraprofessional Awards Luncheon on March 7, 2026.

Shirley Cumberbatch (right) and Natasha Honore, paraprofessionals at PS 181 in Brooklyn, collect their wellness bags from the resource fair. The bags were full of self-care-themed goodies.

Erica Berger
Attendees take a group shot with UFT Paraprofessionals Chapter Chairperson Priscilla Castro at the UFT Paraprofessional Awards Luncheon on March 7, 2026.

Chapter Chairperson Castro (back row, second from right) and Marie Ridore, a Manhattan award honoree, smile for the camera and display their paraprofessional pride with educators from Ridore’s table.

Erica Berger
Colorful balloons and decor bring appropriate cheer to the registration tables at the Hilton for the UFT Paraprofessional Awards Luncheon on March 7, 2026.

Colorful balloons and decor bring appropriate cheer to the registration tables at the Hilton.

Erica Berger
Two colleagues dance together at the UFT Paraprofessional Awards Luncheon on March 7, 2026.

Brooklyn honoree Anika Branch dances with Michael Santos, the District 75 Manhattan borough advocate for the UFT Paraprofessionals Chapter, who is all decked out for the occasion.

Erica Berger
Attendees take part in the wellness fair during the UFT Paraprofessional Awards Luncheon on March 7, 2026.

Enjoying some pampering at the wellness fair are paraprofessionals Shearry Young of Frederick Douglass Academy in Brooklyn and Luis Olivo of PS 38 in Manhattan.

Erica Berger
James Tyrone Burris, aka Petawane, a District 75 paraprofessional and singer, treats the crowd to a performance after the UFT Paraprofessional Awards Luncheon.

James Tyrone Burris, aka Petawane, a District 75 paraprofessional and singer, treats the crowd to a performance after the awards ceremony.

Erica Berger
A paraprofessional in attendance at the UFT Paraprofessionals Awards Luncheon shows off her Mickey Mouse ears that she wears in class to amuse her students.

Theresa Marzigliano, a paraprofessional at PS 101 in Brooklyn, donning Mickey Mouse ears.

Erica Berger
Snapping a selfie after a workshop titled “From Bodegas to Broadway: Poetic Voices from the Five Boroughs” are (from left) paraprofessionals Maely Araujo of PS 50 in Queens, Izabel Alves of PS 152 in the Bronx and Alfida Morel of PS 28 in Manhattan.

Snapping a selfie after a workshop titled “From Bodegas to Broadway: Poetic Voices from the Five Boroughs” are (from left) paraprofessionals Maely Araujo of PS 50 in Queens, Izabel Alves of PS 152 in the Bronx and Alfida Morel of PS 28 in Manhattan.

Erica Berger
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UFT paraprofessionals join a cheer during the 2026 UFT Paraprofessional Awards Luncheon on March 7, 2026.

LaToya Leopold Albert (right) and Julia Alexander-Defoe, paraprofessionals at PS 705 in Brooklyn, join a cheer of “Para strong all day long.”

Erica Berger
Marizol Rizol (center), the Humanitarian Award recipient, is flanked by UFT President Michael Mulgrew and UFT Paraprofessionals Chapter Chairperson Priscilla Castro at the UFT Paraprofessional Awards Luncheon on March 7, 2026.

Marizol Rizol (center), the Humanitarian Award recipient, is flanked by UFT President Michael Mulgrew and UFT Paraprofessionals Chapter Chairperson Priscilla Castro.

Erica Berger
Shirley Cumberbatch (right) and Natasha Honore, paraprofessionals at PS 181 in Brooklyn, collect their wellness bags from the resource fair at the UFT Paraprofessional Awards Luncheon on March 7, 2026.

Shirley Cumberbatch (right) and Natasha Honore, paraprofessionals at PS 181 in Brooklyn, collect their wellness bags from the resource fair. The bags were full of self-care-themed goodies.

Erica Berger
Attendees take a group shot with UFT Paraprofessionals Chapter Chairperson Priscilla Castro at the UFT Paraprofessional Awards Luncheon on March 7, 2026.

Chapter Chairperson Castro (back row, second from right) and Marie Ridore, a Manhattan award honoree, smile for the camera and display their paraprofessional pride with educators from Ridore’s table.

Erica Berger
Colorful balloons and decor bring appropriate cheer to the registration tables at the Hilton for the UFT Paraprofessional Awards Luncheon on March 7, 2026.

Colorful balloons and decor bring appropriate cheer to the registration tables at the Hilton.

Erica Berger
Two colleagues dance together at the UFT Paraprofessional Awards Luncheon on March 7, 2026.

Brooklyn honoree Anika Branch dances with Michael Santos, the District 75 Manhattan borough advocate for the UFT Paraprofessionals Chapter, who is all decked out for the occasion.

Erica Berger
Attendees take part in the wellness fair during the UFT Paraprofessional Awards Luncheon on March 7, 2026.

Enjoying some pampering at the wellness fair are paraprofessionals Shearry Young of Frederick Douglass Academy in Brooklyn and Luis Olivo of PS 38 in Manhattan.

Erica Berger
James Tyrone Burris, aka Petawane, a District 75 paraprofessional and singer, treats the crowd to a performance after the UFT Paraprofessional Awards Luncheon.

James Tyrone Burris, aka Petawane, a District 75 paraprofessional and singer, treats the crowd to a performance after the awards ceremony.

Erica Berger
A paraprofessional in attendance at the UFT Paraprofessionals Awards Luncheon shows off her Mickey Mouse ears that she wears in class to amuse her students.

Theresa Marzigliano, a paraprofessional at PS 101 in Brooklyn, donning Mickey Mouse ears.

Erica Berger
Snapping a selfie after a workshop titled “From Bodegas to Broadway: Poetic Voices from the Five Boroughs” are (from left) paraprofessionals Maely Araujo of PS 50 in Queens, Izabel Alves of PS 152 in the Bronx and Alfida Morel of PS 28 in Manhattan.

Snapping a selfie after a workshop titled “From Bodegas to Broadway: Poetic Voices from the Five Boroughs” are (from left) paraprofessionals Maely Araujo of PS 50 in Queens, Izabel Alves of PS 152 in the Bronx and Alfida Morel of PS 28 in Manhattan.

Erica Berger