For the first time, Education Support Professionals had their own day of solidarity building and collaboration at the MTA Summer Conference. Held on a Sunday, because so many ESPs are forced by low wages to work additional jobs, the day encouraged members to reflect on their strengths and challenges as union members.
About 100 ESPs were registered for the daylong programming, which included small- and large-group discussions, workshops, an affinity-wall exercise and several rounds of MTA history trivia.
Held at UMass Amherst, the 2026 Summer Conference was free for ESPs to attend.
Marissa Fried, a member of the MTA ESP Committee, who participated in a panel discussion with several ESPs, said it was encouraging to see so many first-time attendees at a conference, and watch people collaborate across their classifications. ESPs are found throughout preK-12, as well as higher education, and make up about 20 percent of the MTA membership.
Despite their impact on education, ESPs often feel undervalued in their buildings, said Fried, a member of the Cambridge Education Association.
ESP Day at Summer Conference offered them respect by focusing on their needs and perspectives. “I hope other ESPs really gained a sense of solidarity, what brings us joy, what we’re working on,” Fried said. And hopefully, they know that if something happens in the future, “on the drop of a dime, other ESPs will be there to support them,” she said.
Diane Baez, a 10-year-plus veteran of Summer Conferences, said she got a lot out of the day. “It was nice to have something that was for us; making us feel recognized. We’re just as important as everyone else.”
Baez, a member of the Holyoke Paraprofessionals Association, was among those jotting down thoughts on small notes and pressing them to poster boards, which posed questions, such as: “How would it change your life if you could make a living or thriving wage?”
Baez, who lives with several family members, said the stress of making a salary that doesn’t keep up with inflation is always present. “The only reason I stay is because I love my job. I love the kids.”
Julia Brown, the chair of the contract action team for Unit B of the Concord Teachers Association, was a first-time attendee. Brown enjoyed the ESP focus, but she also took part in a health and safety organizing session that day at Summer Conference because her unit is working on ways to improve personal safety.
“I’ve been looking for an outlet my whole life for how to help workers,” Brown said. “Unions, especially a strong one like the MTA, are a good path to uplift the working class.”
If you are an ESP and missed Summer Conference, additional regional programming is available this school year.
The ESP Bill of Rights and Living Wage Organizing Lab, a series of weekend-long training sessions focused on organizing skills and campaign planning strategies, begins in mid-October. Registration is required before Sept. 1.
The Leadership Weekends program is a four-weekend course focused on leadership and communication strategies, strengthening interpersonal skills and supporting emerging leaders. The first sessions begin in mid-November. The application deadline is Sept. 1, 2026.
