By Brenda Ortega
MEA Voice Editor

Over a 45-year career as a paraeducator in Ann Arbor Public Schools and a union leader in Michigan, MEA member Percy Brown has traveled the country teaching others in his role how to build strength and respect for school support staff and the important work they do.

An early advocate of union mentoring and professional development targeting the specific needs of paraeducators and other non-certificated school employees, Brown has charted a forward course for Education Support Professionals (ESP) since 1981.

He recommends a three-pronged approach to improving wages and working conditions for members: making job descriptions accurately reflect action-oriented roles, tying targeted training to tasks in job descriptions, and ensuring evaluations allow for demonstration of results and advancement.

“Those parts connect together in a triangle, and by focusing on all three it allows for ESPs to show the value of what they do in the schools and for students,” said Brown, who works as a community liaison/assistant at Ann Arbor’s Pioneer High School.

This spring Brown won the Leon A. Brunner Award for his lengthy service to fellow ESP members in numerous elected and appointed union leadership positions — currently as senior member of the MEA Board of Directors and president and chief negotiator of the Ann Arbor Paraeducators unit (AAEA-P).

Beyond formal titles, Brown is a walking history book of MEA, said AAEA-P Vice President Crystal Kinard in a letter of support for Brown’s nomination for the statewide award.

“When in doubt, everyone looks to Percy for the answers,” Kinard wrote. “He is very low-key but will speak up when needed. Percy is very active and respected on the local, state and national level and very deserving of this award.”

Brown practices what he preaches in contract bargaining, said Wendy Blackman, a preschool paraeducator and union building rep, who wrote a letter of support for his nomination.

“Under Percy Brown’s leadership, the AAEA-P has a contract… which honors longevity with annual stipends and increased payout of unused sick time; rewards higher education with degree stipends; supports paraeducators and their families with access to healthcare and paid sick days for self or close family members; encourages professional growth by advocating for paid student teaching opportunities for AAEA-P members.”

In addition, Blackman wrote, “Brown oversees our Paraeducator Common Sick Bank which provides access to additional time off for paraeducators facing difficult personal or medical situations for themselves or family members, which allows staff to maintain benefits during unpaid FMLA time.”

At this summer’s MEA ESP Conference, where the Brunner Award was announced, a hush fell over the crowded room as Brown delivered a characteristically soft-spoken acceptance speech, giving credit to MEA staff and ESP colleagues who work with him to bargain local contracts.

“I like to give credit where credit is due because no one can do it all,” Brown said. “I’ve always been one that believed in inviting everyone to the table, and I’m always willing to help. That’s what I do; I came from that kind of environment. My main motto is each one reach one teach one.”

Noncy Fields, a teacher and member of the Ann Arbor Education Association (AAEA) who nominated him for the award, gave examples of how Brown’s mentorship helped her develop as an AAEA delegate to the MEA Representative Assembly.

When she was a beginner, Brown showed her the ropes and stood back to cheer on her contributions, Fields said. Years later, when she stood at the RA microphone trying to urge changes to problematic language in a resolution, Fields lost her way mid-point — and Brown immediately stepped in to help.

“Percy Brown is like your big brother that always has your back,” Fields said, calling the recognition “overdue” for his long history of contributions to the Ann Arbor and Michigan ESP communities.

Of his reputation for generously giving of his time and good advice, Brown said, “It’s like in football. We are one unit, one chain. When one chain breaks, we all fall.”