Learn more about Jozette Hartsfield, president of the Colonial Paraprofessionals Association and DSEA Executive Board. Hartsfield has worked in education for 31 years, spending the last 19 years as a paraeducator in the Colonial School District.
... on why she chose a career in public education
"I’m not sure if I chose it, but I believe education chose me. My uncle was a Special Ed teacher in North Carolina, and I loved to hear his stories about his students and how they changed his life not how he changed theirs. Also, my best friend is a Special Ed teacher in Philadelphia, and when I got into the school system special ed is where I knew I needed to be."
... on how she first got involved with her union
"My co-workers... They would talk to me about becoming more involved and the questions I had for them and the interest I showed made them before me, so that this is where I needed to be. When our now Vice-President Tameka Mays became our local union President, I knew this is where I needed to be. To be honest, she looked like me and I felt if an African American woman became our local President, I wanted to be a part of that history. And that is when the union bug began."
... on what public education needs to fix going forward
"Over the course of my career, I have noticed that more educators look like me. The one thing I believe that needs to be fixed is that there are still not enough educators who like me."
... on the local association and/or personal accomplishments she is most proud of
"For my local association, our former President is now our state Vice President. A few Paraeducators (ESP) have risen to the top and we (Paraeducators) are being noticed. As a Paraeducator, I now sit on the DSEA Executive Board. This is an honor and a privilege that everyone does not get the opportunity to have."
... on what she wants potential members to know
"What are you waiting for? The Union has everything you need. It enables you to negotiate for higher wages, benefits and to improve working conditions at the workplace. The union fought for you to have all the benefits you have, job security and retirement security."
... on what she wants current members to know
"You are doing a fantastic job. Keep doing what you are doing for your local. My one question is, 'Why aren’t you more involved with your local union?', because we need you as much as you need us."
Member Spotlight: Jozette Hartsfield
Learn more about Jozette Hartsfield, president of the Colonial Paraprofessionals Association and DSEA Executive Board. Hartsfield has worked in education for 31 years, spending the last 19 years as a paraeducator in the Colonial School District.
... on why she chose a career in public education
"I’m not sure if I chose it, but I believe education chose me. My uncle was a Special Ed teacher in North Carolina, and I loved to hear his stories about his students and how they changed his life not how he changed theirs. Also, my best friend is a Special Ed teacher in Philadelphia, and when I got into the school system special ed is where I knew I needed to be."
... on how she first got involved with her union
"My co-workers... They would talk to me about becoming more involved and the questions I had for them and the interest I showed made them before me, so that this is where I needed to be. When our now Vice-President Tameka Mays became our local union President, I knew this is where I needed to be. To be honest, she looked like me and I felt if an African American woman became our local President, I wanted to be a part of that history. And that is when the union bug began."
... on what public education needs to fix going forward
"Over the course of my career, I have noticed that more educators look like me. The one thing I believe that needs to be fixed is that there are still not enough educators who like me."
... on the local association and/or personal accomplishments she is most proud of
"For my local association, our former President is now our state Vice President. A few Paraeducators (ESP) have risen to the top and we (Paraeducators) are being noticed. As a Paraeducator, I now sit on the DSEA Executive Board. This is an honor and a privilege that everyone does not get the opportunity to have."
... on what she wants potential members to know
"What are you waiting for? The Union has everything you need. It enables you to negotiate for higher wages, benefits and to improve working conditions at the workplace. The union fought for you to have all the benefits you have, job security and retirement security."
... on what she wants current members to know
"You are doing a fantastic job. Keep doing what you are doing for your local. My one question is, 'Why aren’t you more involved with your local union?', because we need you as much as you need us."