‘We Must All Stand Together’: NEA Honors Top Educators
2017 National Teacher of the Year Sydney Chaffee and 2017 Education Support Professional of the Year Saul Ramos. (Photos: Calvin Knight, Scott Iskowitz)
On a day that spotlighted how NEA members advance professional practice, the more than 7,000 delegates to the 2017 NEA Representative Assembly celebrated two educators at the top of their profession: NEA Education Support Professional (ESP) of the Year Saul Ramos and National Teacher of the Year Sydney Chaffee.
In his address to the assembly, Ramos, a paraeducator at Burncoat High School in the Worcester Public School system in Massachusetts, said the professionalism and dedication of ESPs adheres to principles of service to students, parents, and members of the community,
“They (ESPs) are leaders, they are passionate about their work and the success of their students,” said Ramos. “I have learned that leadership is taking what is given to you and moving it forward.”
Educators don’t choose which students they work with, he added, “we don’t select and disregard the rest, we take who we are given and pour our hearts and souls into their lives.”
We must all stand strong together, and let our elected leaders know what we need as educators to nurture successful students” – 2017 Education Support Professional of the Year Saul Ramos
Ramos urged delegates to fulfill the promise of this year’s assembly theme: “Uniting Our Members and the Nation for Strong Communities, Empowered Professionals, Successful Students.”
“Our hearts and spirits are in the right place,” said Ramos, a self-taught braillist and advocate for the visually impaired. “We are full of passion and purpose and we will continue to work together to make a difference in the lives of our students.”
Ramos called attention to the dedication of educators as exhibited by their commitment to professional development, community involvement, and service to the whole child.
“As an educator, you want the same success for all your students,” he said. “You want'We Must All Stand Together': NEA Honors Top Educators: