Just last week, Ballston Spa teacher Jan Montesano was working on a project with her first-graders, asking them what they want to be when they grow up.

"It's safe to say, none of them wanted to be a health and safety advocate," Montesano told a roomful of knowing colleagues at the NYSUT Health and Safety Conference in Saratoga Springs, who responded with laughter.

They were gathered to honor Montesano, who received NYSUT's first "Unsung Heroes" award for a health and safety advocate.

A member of the Ballston Spa Teachers Association, led by Frank Colgan, she has helped protect colleagues and students from diesel fumes, asbestos, mold, chemical off-gassing and respiratory illnesses.

Advocates like her seem to be made, not born.

"You're here because of an experience," she said to her fellow professionals, noting that advocates usually get their start because of something that happened to them, a colleague or family member.

Vigilance advised

Ongoing vigilance is needed now because of the state budget crisis, said NYSUT Vice President Kathleen Donahue, who oversees health and safety issues for the statewide union.

"Health and safety may be compromised when finances are tight," she told a crowd of 200 advocates. "It makes your job more critical."

Montesano's path began at the same starting point as many other champions-to-be.

Healthy when she began teaching in 1978 in her Saratoga County school, she became regularly beset with bouts of pneumonia and bronchitis. In 1984 she was "constantly ill" and diagnosed with asthma. She noticed colleagues suffering from allergies and breathing difficulties.

By 1990 she organized faculty and had 83 percent of the staff read testimonials presenting "overwhelming evidence of serious health concerns."

This resulted in a major renovation of the school's heating ventilation and air conditioning system, which revealed that the fresh-air vents had been closed since 1978 during an energy crisis.

"The return air had been recycling for years through subterranean ductwork that was contaminated by groundwater," she reported.

That's when she learned about the Eastern New York Occupational Health Program, which she called on to investigate her health concerns and the school environment.

But more challenges lay ahead: During construction of a new wing in 1993, fumes and contaminants came into occupied classrooms, she said. Five years later installation of a polyresin gym floor created harmful solvent off-gassing.

Again, she sought the help of ENYOHP to get the gym closed until the floor was removed and replaced the following year.

That same year, she advocated to get 43 buses to stop running during the arrival and dismissal of 1,200 students to protect them from toxic diesel fumes.

In 2000, she finally won approval for a district health and safety committee.

"It only took 10 years and the passage of legislation," she said.

NYSUT plans to regularly honor an "Unsung Hero" to raise awareness about health and safety concerns and show the difference one person can make.

Contact Liza Frenette at lfrenett@nysutmail.org.