Getting to know … Katy Smith

Katy Smith, a technology teaching assistant at Crane Elementary School, is president of the Rush Henrietta Education Association’s Paraprofessional Chapter. She was interviewed by Anthony Andrews, Rochester Association of Paraprofessionals and a member of the NYSUT SRP Advisory Committee.

I provide technical assistance to teachers and help students learn how to use and take care of their Chromebooks. I assist teachers, especially the library media specialist, deliver lessons with a focus on technology integration, as well as teach lessons in digital citizenship and typing.

The most wonderful part of my job is helping our third-grade students with Royal Comet Television. Each week a group of third graders deliver news and information to the school via our Crane YouTube channel. Seeing the growth our students achieve through this amazing enrichment opportunity is a highlight of my career as an educator.

In the spring of 2019, with the approval of the president, I took over as building rep and finished out the term of our retiring unit vice president. I was anxious to learn more about the union and how I could help make our unit more active with NYSUT and in our community. In the spring of 2020, I was duly elected vice president and began my first term on July 1, 2020. When elections came back around in 2023, I ran for president and won a contentious election.

Since then, I have received a grant from NEA to start a Paraprofessional Peer Mentor program and attended the NYSUT Leadership Institute. I have gotten many members involved in union work and am working toward a more transformational unit that will be a force for good in our district as well as in our community, and within the NYSUT structure.

Our negotiations committee just bargained and passed an amazing contract with historic wage increases. For the first time ever, we have one in-service paid day for professional development for unit members. I am invited to collaborate with our Special Education department and our director of professional development to help create a meaningful training program for our unit members.

Our unit has begun offering some community outreach activities, such as a pumpkin carving event in the fall of 2024. We are planning a similar event for this spring.

I spend a lot of time with my grandchildren. I make their birthday cakes and Halloween costumes. I even made wedding cakes for my son and my youngest daughter recently. I also spend a good deal of time helping my elderly mother.