 May 8, 2002 SRPs of the Year Paras play the part of 'everyday angels' 
Margaret Espinosa hugs her colleague, Julia Martinez. Both are UFTers.
RELATED RESOURCES The statewide union honored two heroes from that day of heartbreaking tragedy and courage, Sept. 11. New York City paraprofessionals and United Federation of Teachers members Margaret Espinosa and Julia Martinez were recognized at the convention as New York State United Teacher's School-Related Professional Employees of the Year. Espinosa and Martinez are one-on-one paras for two wheelchair-bound girls, Stephanie Sealy and Becky Zeng, at the High School of Leadership and Public Service. Their school is just one block from the World Trade Center complex and was one of eight schools evacuated after the terrorist attack brought the twin towers crashing down. The part the paras played in carrying the girls from the rubble, smoke and ash was shown to delegates in an emotional video. "A lot of people don't know what paras do," said Sealy. "She's my hands when I can't move. She's my legs when I can't walk. They are our everyday angels." Overcome by emotion on the video, Sealy told Martinez, "I thank God for you. In my heart you'll always be." As if the video - in which Espinosa relived the tragedy and courage of Sept. 11, giving vivid details about the painful scenes from the rescue - were not emotional enough, the two paras were surprised on the convention-hall dais by Sealy, Zeng and their parents. "I'm all messed up," Espinosa told delegates, tears running down her face. "I want to thank every one of you, but first I want to thank God, and I want us to remember all of those who lost their lives on that horrible day." Martinez came to New York City from the Dominican Republic at age 17. She hoped to finish school. Instead, she got her first job sewing for 90 cents an hour. Martinez learned "to never take any day for granted. We will continue to do our jobs the best way we can, but we will never take it for granted." |