Maria Portalatin

In 1967, Maria was one of 100 New York City paraprofessionals citywide chosen to enter a career ladder program with tuition-free college courses. “No sooner were we getting used to the routine of going back to school than we were told funds no longer existed,” recalled Portalatin, who became chapter chairwoman for the UFT’s 20,000 paras and a member of the NYSUT Board and an AFT vice president. A single parent making $1.25 an hour, Portalatin couldn’t afford to pay for college, and her union at the time said there was nothing it could do. Portalatin and other paras started an organizing campaign to join the UFT. In their first UFT contract, paras won significant salary increases and a career ladder program open to every para. “My motto is: Yes, I can. Yes, I will.”