Brenda Williams is on the move, shoving her blue metal chair from desk to desk.

Each brief session with a sixth-grader fretting over improper fractions and mixed numbers ends with Williams' praise: "You got it."

Getting it was important to this seventh-period math class at Kennedy Middle School.

The students complained they "didn't learn anything" from the substitute who covered the topic the previous day.

Williams, an educational assistant, and teacher Nancy Lacy, promised to teach the lesson again, so not to worry.

Lacy treats Williams as an equal and expects the students to do the same.

"I stress that big time," Lacy said. "I was an EA myself for 12 years. Brenda deserves the same respect."

In Albuquerque Public Schools, there are 1,914 educational assistants who help teachers. Often they do the teaching, too.

Teachers and principals say the school system could not run without these classroom helpers, but their value isn't reflected in their wages, educators agree.

More than half the APS educational assistants are paid less than $11 per hour. The average annual paycheck is $13,000.

Low pay is the major roadblock to recruiting and keeping assistants. Albuquerque Public Schools officials confirmed 44 vacancies existed this month at the end of the first nine-week term.

While recruiting continues, the Albuquerque Educational Assistants Association is also continuing its push for pay raises from the Legislature.

The union invited legislators to a forum in Albuquerque last week to make their case for a pay system that will lift many of their members out of poverty.

"Pay has always been the No. 1 problem," said Kathy Chavez, union president. "It's not good; it's not fair for what they are expected to do. I wanted my members to show the legislators their paychecks and tell them what they do in the classroom."

The forum was meant to be "Education 101 for the legislators who don't get it," Chavez said. "They are still in the old school and think we're glorified baby-sitters."

Williams and Lacy are a team in their math inclusion class, which mixes special education students and regular students.

"Brenda is so special," Lacy said. "She has wonderful rapport with the kids. She's a familiar face they know they can go to. I wish I had her all day" in the classroom.

"Everyone wants Brenda. Surprise, surprise," said Kennedy Principal Ruby Ethridge. "She's an amazing woman."

Lacy would not have Williams' help if the class did not include special education students. During the school day, Williams helps several teachers whose classes qualify for a helper. But when a teacher is absent and no substitute teachers are available, Williams is often reassigned to take over the class.

For her school hours, Williams is paid $10.77 per hour. After school, she's paid $20 per hour for supervising the program of activities offered in the city's middle school initiative.

Twice a week, she also tutors students. Her three jobs yield about $14,750 annually, just enough to get by, she said.

"I give up vacations and all kinds of things," said the single mom whose daughters are grown. "I've been trying to make this work. I don't know how other people can do it: pay rent, pay insurance. I'm lucky enough to have my house paid for."

Having a job she loves helps. "This is very rewarding if you are not hurting for money," Williams said. "I live in the neighborhood. I want what's good for my kids."