NEWS. April 27, 2002.
'Everyday angels' are SRPs of the year
PICTURED: UFT President Randi Weingarten and NYSUT's Margaret MacCartney react to images of the Sept. 11 attack. Seated are Margaret Espinosa and Julia Martinez, who were honored by NYSUT for their actions rescuing two wheelchair-bound girls that day.
See also: "Heroic paras carry students to safety." New York Teacher, October 10, 2001.
See also: "SRPs of the Year ." New York Teacher, May 8, 2002.
See also: New York Teacher September 11 reports and resources.
See also: School-Related Professionals
Sometimes heroes turn up when you most need them.
The statewide union honored two of its heroes, New York City paraprofessionals and members of the United Federation of Teachers Margaret Espinosa and Julia Martinez, as its School-Related Professional Employees of the Year for their heroism on Sept. 11.
Both are one-on-one paras for two wheelchair-bound girls, Stephanie Sealy and Becky Zeng, at the High School of Leadership and Public Service. The 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 rescuing the girls from the debris, rubble, smoke and ash was told 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 my 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 what they witnessed during the rescue, were not emotional enough, the two paras were surprised on the podium dais by Sealy, Zeng and their parents.
"I'm all messed up," Espinosa told delegates, tears streaming 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, a native of the Dominican Republic, came to New York City at age 17. She hoped to finish school, but instead she got her first job sewing for 90 cents an hour. Telling delegates of her lifelong work to help support her family, she said the one thing she has learned is "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."
