In the early 1970’s the Teaching Assistants of the Enlarged Middletown City School District joined together to form a unified group under the leadership of Jean Dodd. As a result, a bargaining unit was formed and some benefits were attained. Over the years the organization has grown and become a unified group.

The Middletown Teaching Assistants Organization affiliated with the Middletown Teachers Association in April 1987. This affiliation brought together two groups who work closely with each on a daily basis. The teaching assistants group will remain a separate bargaining unit under a separate contract, but it will be entitled to representation by the local teachers union, as well as the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).

Each teaching assistant is welcome to join the union. You may chose to pay your dues either in one lump sum in the beginning of the school year or through payroll deduction. Since we have an agency fee you may choose not to become a member of the union but you are still responsible for paying the agency fees.

Middletown Teaching Assistants Organization
1 Beattie Avenue
Phone: (845) 343-1517
Fax: (845) 343-4867

2007-2008 MTAO Executive Board Officers:
President: Denise Knebel
Vice President: Wendy Bartocci
Secretary/Treasurer: Jan Silvernail

Building Reps
High School: Jackie Dennison
Twin Towers: Cathy Smith
Monhagen:
Chorley: Ro Rodriguez
Maple Hill: Albert Samuels
Mechanicstown: Dawn Kemp
Truman Moon: Peggy Fratto

MTC & MTAO assist TA’s to meet new requirements

The new state requirements are responsible for creating high standards for an important job that we do. NYS and NCLB require certification for anyone providing instructional support, including TAs. Therefore, the following options are given by the NYS Ed. Dept. to comply with the new requirements of both the State Dept. and NCLB: Education (48 Cr.) or Associates Degree or higher, or State Assessment, or tenure.

To assist the TA in achieving certification requirements, the MTAO, in collaboration with the Middletown Teacher Center is offering programs to reach certification requirements. Jan Nappo, Director of the MTC is working with OCCC to offer an 18 credit course program for teaching assistants to meet these qualifications. These courses are offered through the teacher center; please check the teacher center website for pertinent information.

For teaching assistants who choose the option of taking the state assessment exam the Teacher Center also offers a prep-course. Many TA’s recently took advantage of one of the many courses to be offered and found it to be a valuable resource before sitting for the exam.

Resources and information pertaining to these important qualifications may be found online at the following sites:

• Middletown Teacher Center: www.middletowntc.org
• AFT Paraprofessional & School-Related Personnel: www.aft.org/psrp
• NYSUT’s “What You Should Know About Requirements for Paraprofessionals…”: www.nysut.org/srp/parasshouldknow/index.html

©2004. Middletown Teachers Association. All rights reserved.