Angie Rivera, Rochester Association of Paraprofessionals
For the past 10 years, Angie Rivera has led more than 850 members in the Rochester Association of Paraprofessionals as their president and fierce advocate for fair pay, professional training and respect on the job.
“We are in the lives of the students all day long,” Rivera said. “But we really, really feel that we are not valued the way that we should be. We are a very important piece in the education of students.”
In 1991 as a single mother of two daughters, Rivera moved her family from Puerto Rico to Rochester. In 1998, she began working in the city school district as a pre-K paraprofessional. Right away she joined her local union and has held many roles since then, from chair of the grievance committee to chair of the public relations committee. In 2003, she was elected to the union’s executive board. She quickly rose through the union leadership ranks and 10 years later, in 2013, Rivera was elected first vice president. Just two years later she was elected president, a position she still holds. Rivera also currently serves on the NYSUT Board of Directors as SRP At-Large Director.
The self-described proud, Puerto Rican unionist has spent her decades-long career in education not only advocating for her students, but for her colleagues. From fighting for a living wage to fighting back against staffing cuts, Rivera has devoted her time and energy for 27 years to improving the lives of her members and SRPs across the state.