Katherine Monteiro, a mentor to Education Support Professionals in leadership development and a member of the Weymouth Educators’ Association, is the 2025 MTA ESP of the Year.
A registered behavioral technician, Monteiro was a key advocate for her union siblings in the most recent contract round, serving as negotiating chair of the ESP unit and encouraging 20 to 25 ESPs to attend each session as silent representatives. She is a mentor in the ESP Leadership Mentoring Program, which provides one-on-one support to emerging union leaders.
Monteiro joined the Weymouth local nine years ago, when she started a position with the elementary schools as an RBT.
One of her colleagues, Lisa Wiklund, said in a nomination letter: "Katie is always speaking out in support of better policies to help our students, including making sure that the educators working with them have the appropriate training to be the best supports they can."
On April 5, the MTA honored Monteiro at the annual ESP Conference, held at the Wellsworth Hotel in Southbridge.
She spoke about her evolution in the union: "When I first started as an ESP in Weymouth, I was very cautious, about what I said, or who I spoke to, or what actions I participated in. I was really concerned ... to stand up and speak up, because at the time I did not have job protection. But along with my brothers and sisters, and my union, they showed me I had nothing to fear, because I had the strength of over 775 members standing behind me. My voice and my courage grew with the solidarity I experienced with the Weymouth Educators' Association."
The MTA Benefits Board of Directors provided her with a $1,000 check. She also will be nominated by the MTA for the 2026 NEA Foundation Awards for Teaching Excellence.
Addressing the audience at the conference, MTA President Max Page noted that Monteiro had led the bargaining for the ESPs in her local. The contract that resulted included a 35.5 percent increase over its three-year span, among the highest gains for ESPs in recent years.
The ESP Award is bestowed by the ESP Committee. Its chair, Joni Cederholm, said Monteiro was a leader among ESPs. "Katie shows the way we all can show strength, inspiration and kindness."
To read more about Monteiro and about previous ESPs of the Year, please visit massteacher.org/esp.
