[ OUR SRPs ]

Applications open for SRP peer mentor program

A wide shot of four people sitting at a table with laptops, papers, and drinks. The two women on the ends are looking at the camera and smiling, while the woman and man in the middle are laughing. The background shows a large conference room with many other people seated at similar round tables, all attending a professional development session. At the top of the image is the logo for NYSUT and the words “SCHOOL-RELATED PROFESSIONALS”.

Leslie Fottrell
Working together to develop skills and create plans for a peer mentoring program in their district the RHEA team includes (from left) Jessica Mattice, Katy Smith, NYSUT LRS Jon Hickey, and Colleen Brennan.
K

aty Smith heard about the NYSUT SRP Peer Mentoring Program at a statewide School-Related Professionals Leadership Conference a few years ago. “I was a new local president looking for help getting acclimated,” said Smith, who leads the Rush-Henrietta Employees Association, Paraprofessionals Chapter in Rochester. Smith’s local was accepted in the 2024 cohort.

A close-up of a large sheet of paper taped to a wall with handwritten text in blue marker. The text is titled "OUR WHY..." and reads: "Our program will help support staff develop connections, encourage dialogue, improve performance, increase satisfaction and boost retention, as well as enhance the educational experience of students. By doing this, all K-TSEA members will be proud of themselves, their work, and their union!"

The NYSUT SRP Mentor Program is designed to help SRP leadership teams develop the skills, identify the resources, and create plans to build peer-to-peer mentor programs in their school districts.

“The program walks you through the steps of creating a mentoring pilot for your local,” said Smith.

The NYSUT program, a hybrid learning opportunity, consists of an online asynchronous portion to be completed in November and December, and in-person training Jan. 30–Feb. 1 in Albany.

Locals that successfully complete both the online and in-person trainings may submit a grant request proposal to NYSUT to help get their programs up and running the following school year.

Smith and Josh Frasier, president of the Kenmore-Tonawanda School Employees Association, will serve as facilitators for the next cohort of NYSUT’s SRP Peer Mentoring, along with SRP leaders from Vermont.

Interested local presidents should contact their NYSUT labor relations specialist, who will submit the application and participate in the program. For more info, visit nysut.org/srpmentoring. Applications will be accepted until Oct. 14.

Grow as an SRP leader

The 2025 NYSUT School-Related Professionals Statewide Leadership Conference will be held Nov. 7–9 at the Hilton Albany. This exciting professional development and leadership opportunity includes workshops and plenary sessions suitable for SRPs in all career categories. This year’s theme is “One Job Should Be Enough.”

Don’t miss this opportunity to grow as an SRP leader! Visit nysut.org/srpconference.

A colorful, circular graphic illustration representing various school-related professionals. In the center, large blue and black text reads, "OUR WORK MAKES SCHOOLS RUN." Around the text are illustrations of a yellow school bus, a person in a police uniform, a woman with a headset, a person mowing a lawn, a student in a wheelchair with a person assisting them, and a person in a cafeteria worker's uniform. All the illustrations are connected by orange, blue, and yellow lines with arrows, suggesting a continuous cycle.

Celebrate SRPs Nov. 18

The third Tuesday in November is annually recognized as New York State SRP Recognition Day. This year’s theme is “Our work makes schools run.”

Visit nysut.org/srpday to order your celebration kit. Available materials include buttons, stickers and placards.

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