NYSUT Editor’s Note: Thanks to a Union-backed partnership, several Members of Buffalo Educational Support Team (BEST) recently graduated from Erie Community College's (ECC) Teaching Assistant Level III Certification Program.  From the left are: Janet Roberson; Buffalo Teacher Center Director Melinda MacPherson-Sullivan; Serma Nezha; Robin Capasso of ECC; ECC English Professor Jim Oliverio; Willitta Jones; Gwen Kelly; and LaToya Thomas.  (Photo Provided to WNYLaborToday.com by NYSUT)

(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) - Thanks to a Union-backed partnership, several Buffalo Teacher Aides have completed their training to become State-Certified Teaching Assistants. 

It wasn’t an easy feat.

It took two years of after-school community college classes and plenty of support and determination along the way. 

“The program ‘was awesome,’” said Serma Nezha, who has worked 14 years in Buffalo schools as a Cafeteria Worker and most recently as a Teacher’s Aide.

Nezha, who was an Elementary Teacher in her native Albania for 20 years before coming to the United States, said the program also boosted her English skills tremendously.

She gave a special shout-out to Erie Community College English Professor Jim Oliverio, who attended the group’s graduation.

“Wow, I learned so much!” Nezha said.

“It was a lot more involved than we thought it would be but we learned a lot in the process,” said Melinda MacPherson-Sullivan, who serves as the Director of the Buffalo Teacher Center.

At one time, the city district provided such training, but after that ended, Union Leaders stepped up to fill the void for interested Members.

With many districts experiencing a shortage of Teaching Assistants, MacPherson-Sullivan teamed up with Andy Sako, the President of the Faculty Federation of Erie Community College and a New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) Board Member, to put together the pilot pathway program.

“It ‘started out as a conversation’ at a Union Conference,” Sako said. “It was a ‘Union-to-Union effort that turned into a much-needed program.’”

Initially Sako and MacPherson-Sullivan were targeting Entry-Level Teaching Assistants to become State-Certified Level III Teaching Assistants, but they found more interest from Teacher Aides.

The key was providing Erie Community College courses directly at the Buffalo Teacher Center to make it more convenient for participants.

“These were classes twice a week, right after school or bus duty - so it was ‘easier’ for them to come to the teacher center ‘than to travel out to the community college,’” MacPherson-Sullivan said. “For some, transportation was a ‘major’ issue.”

Under the arrangement, ECC offered half-price tuition and the teacher center supplied a location, books and a $100 stipend if participants finished a course with a “C” or above.

The pilot offered other resources and support as well.

For those who had trouble passing entrance or placement exams, ECC Faculty provided tutoring in math and English language arts.

Some needed training in things like using a computer and e-mail.

MacPherson-Sullivan worked closely with Robin Capasso, who coordinates ECC’s Teaching Assistant Program and helped participants with registration, transcripts and finances.

To Continue Reading This Labor News Report, Go To: www.nysut.org/news/2019/june/union-provides-career-ladder-for-buffalo-teacher-aides