NYSUT put out a challenge to locals to submit photos, quotes, and activity information as to how SRP Recognition Day was celebrated in their schools. We received a great response and have chosen the winners. 

Congratulations to:

• Cambridge FA – first prize
• Olean ESPA – second prize
• Middletown TA – third prize

For first prize, the Cambridge FA won a two-for-one credit to attend the 2012 SRP Leadership Conference in Saratoga Springs. Local president and teacher Donna Phinney sent and had published a letter to the editor of her local newspaper, The Eagle, explaining who school-related professionals are and the important role they play in the lives of our school children. They also sent out a Recognition Day thank you flyer to staff reminding them of the day. Every SRP, from bus drivers to secretaries, to cafeteria staff, to teacher aides and custodial workers each received goodie baskets themed, "Let's Give our SRPs a Boost!" The baskets contained cough drops, vitamin C drops, hand sanitizer, tissues and other health cures – all designed to give them an immunity boost. 

Staff all wore the 'Proud To Be A School-Related Professional' and 'Proud to Support the School-Related Professionals' stickers that were provided to locals by NYSUT. Cambridge SRPs were thrilled with the recognition and appreciated the time and effort the teachers put in to making the day so special.

The second prize winners, the Olean ESPA, won a large basket of Fair Trade goodies to share at their next union meeting. Diane Moses, president of the Olean ESPA, reports that the union purchased shirts with their OESPA logo for members to wear on recognition day to show their unity. One of the local members baked and decorated cookies and packaged them with a Happy SRP Day sticker thanking them for their role in supporting education. The Olean Times Herald printed a letter submitted by the OESPA officers regarding SRP Day and letting the community know just who the support staff members are in the school and what their roles are in helping students. Kudos to carrying solidarity one step further by showing the community that SRPs always give back by wearing their OESPA shirts while helping serve the community-wide Thanksgiving Dinner at the Olean High School. 

Third prize, won by the Middletown TA, was a NYSUT SRP pen for each SRP member of the local. Wendy Bartocci, president of the Middletown Teaching Assistants Organization started a tradition several years ago of baking home-made apple bread for each member. Cathy Smith, a building rep, joined her in the endeavor. Ingredients for the over 100 loaves were purchased at local stores supporting their local economy (no big-box stores for them) and baked with loving care. They were packaged on a ceramic tile which doubled as a cutting board and wrapped in red cellophane and tied with a pencil and a raffia bow. Apple tags were printed thanking the Middletown teaching assistants and nurses for their hard work and dedication from the Middletown Teachers Association. 

Other submissions shared news about breakfasts, luncheons, and even a dinner where the teachers cooked and served the SRPs a delicious meal. There were goodie bags, proclamations of appreciation, candy, thank you notes, lottery tickets, flowers, morning P.A. announcements of appreciation, posters, donuts, coffee cakes, letters, sheet cakes, snow/ice scrapers and other gifts – all honoring the people who do the work to keep the schools open and running smoothly, transporting, feeding, educating and taking great care of the children in our schools. Thank you SRPs for all you do. You are all worth a million! 

View the SRP Recognition Day contest 2011 slide show