“R-E-S-P-E-C-T” was the musical refrain that punctuated this year’s Paraprofessionals Awards Luncheon on March 22 as a record number of paraprofessionals — nearly 1,100 — poured into the New York Hilton Midtown for their chapter’s annual flagship event.

Both the turnout and the energy were heightened during a school year in which paraprofessionals are fighting to gain “RESPECT checks.” Proposed City Council legislation backed by the UFT would provide paraprofessionals with annual checks of $10,000 or more to address a critical shortage in their ranks.

The enthusiasm came to a head during the luncheon in the hotel ballroom, where paraprofessionals gathered to hear speakers and celebrate their colleagues’ outstanding contributions to public schools — and to special education in particular.

“We don’t have a special education program if we don’t have paraprofessionals,” UFT President Michael Mulgrew said. “You can’t fight for children with special needs if you don’t fight for paraprofessionals, who are the backbone of the entire system for those children.”

City Council Education Committee Chair Rita Joseph, a key supporter of the proposed “RESPECT check” legislation, delivered the keynote address.

Sixteen paraprofessionals were honored that day: two from each borough, two from high schools, two from District 75, and Humanitarian Award winners Stephen F. Bradshaw and Marsha Malone-Culcleasure.

Elizabeth Barrera, a District 75 honoree from P811 in Queens, celebrated with her two grandchildren, who are also paraprofessionals. “It was my special day,” said Barrera. “I wanted to make it special for myself by inviting my grandchildren and focusing on the future — our gains and our fights.”

As her school’s paraprofessional representative, Barrera said she guides younger paraprofessionals in planning for the future, informing them about benefits like their pensions and career advancement programs.

Paraprofessionals like Barrera stepping into leadership roles was a key theme of Paraprofessional Chapter Chairperson Priscilla Castro’s remarks at the luncheon. She shared the story of how her principal at first didn’t take her seriously when she became the first paraprofessional elected chapter leader at her District 75 school.

Castro said she gained traction only after she brought members from other titles in her school to join her in meetings. “I could no longer be disrespected in my role,” said Castro. “Solidarity builds strength, and when we stand together, we rise together!”

Paraprofessionals who struggle with dismissive treatment like the kind Castro described enjoyed the opposite reception from their union at the luncheon.

“I realized how badly I needed to hear and see people like us be appreciated,” said Robert Wright, a one-on-one paraprofessional at PS 219 in Brooklyn who was attending the luncheon for the first time. “The way the tables were set so nicely, the festival, the ambiance — it says, ‘You’re important. We believe in you, we respect you and you matter.’”

In the morning, paraprofessionals had the opportunity to attend their choice of six 75-minute workshops on topics including injury prevention and workers’ compensation, the science of reading and how to use visual aids with multilingual learners.

Wright said he gleaned helpful strategies to better understand and advance his student’s behavior intervention plan at the workshop about behavior management. “My biggest takeaway was to have something organized and on paper,” he said. “If I can show my student something structured and give him the idea of the behavior I want him to exhibit, I’m hoping that will help him.”

Between workshops, paraprofessionals were treated to a carnival that featured music, cotton candy, games, a resource fair and cosmetology services from career and technical education students.

Alica Ross, the paraprofessional representative at P369, a District 75 school in Brooklyn, said her favorite moment of the day occurred when the nearly 1,100 attendees rose to their feet at the luncheon and spun their napkins above their heads to a cheer of “Para strong, all day long!”

“At that moment, we were all one,” she said. “It’s really motivating, like the battery was put back in my backpack and I can go back to my life recharged.”