As signs of spring slowly emerged around the state this month, a diverse group of NYSUT members gathered in Ossining for the Health & Educational Professionals Conference.
Bringing together professionals from disciplines including nursing, counseling, psychology, social work, special education, speech language pathology, physical and occupational therapy, and others, the conference was designed to celebrate and strengthen the voices of the dedicated professionals who provide care to students, schools and communities.
For the first time, the conference featured a Friday afternoon start, with an opening general session and a legislative update that set the stage for focused sessions on Saturday and gave attendees more time to learn about each other's professions and their shared goals.
Anne Goldman, United Federation of Teachers vice president for the private sector and non-DOE members, encouraged attendees to view the weekend as a starting point for further engagement and collective action.
“Let us start the journey of elevating our issues,” said Goldman.
Conference attendance was high, with close to 100 members on site to learn more about topics including diabetes care in schools; the potential value and risks of AI in school-based healthcare; the structure and requirements of Individualized Education Programs, or IEPs; using data to improve staffing and delivery of care; professional standards as a starting point for building collective power; school suicide prevention; and more.
This year’s strong attendance reflects a clear appetite and need for resource-sharing among health and educational professionals, many of whom work as a “team of one” within their school or district and have infrequent opportunities for face-to-face collaboration with peers.
Ron Gross, NYSUT’s second vice president, stressed the importance of learning about the realities and daily experience of the skilled professionals who work under the health and educational professional umbrella in the school setting and as bedside or visiting nurses.
“We can’t walk in your shoes, but we can learn from you and tell others about the essential work you do,” said Gross. “That’s what makes this conference so vital. It allows the people who do the work to teach and learn from each other, and to share strategies that make school, work, and home healthier for everyone.”
Many of the conference sessions featured case studies, which allowed members to learn about specific approaches being used in other schools or care settings, and consider how to adopt and adapt those strategies for their own local.
Attendees were grateful to be able to connect directly with peers who have similar concerns, like workplace safety, adequate staffing and manageable workloads, and ensuring delivery of quality care to students and patients. Health and educational professionals, with a diverse array of complementary skills and expertise, play a key role in helping bridge gaps within the system.
The days are hectic, but working with their shared purpose in mind gives NYSUT’s health and educational professionals the energy to keep going, share stories and find new ways to work together.
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