IEA Education Support Professional Council

Bringing Education Support Professional Issues to the Table!!

I am preparing to travel to Chicago with about 8,000 of my closest union friends. The experience is indescribable!! We will discuss, debate, and vote on many items that will direct the corse of our union.

One extremely important item on the agenda is new more powerful language that adds the essential work of support staff in public education, prek-12 and higher ed, to the NEA Legislative Platform. Your Education Support Professional Council submitted this language and is excited to lobby for its approval.

What Is rESPect And Why Do We Deserve It?

RESPECT | Raising Education Support Professionals by Elevating Careers Together is a statewide effort by Education Support Professionals, with the support of IEA staff, to improve working conditions by focusing on five areas:

• Wages – A minimum salary, fair substitute teaching compensation and unemployment insurance
• Health insurance – Affordable health insurance for the currently employed and the retired
• Pensions – Making the Tier 2 pension system equitable for all education employees
• Retention and recruitment – Tuition reimbursement, Grow Your Own Teacher from ESP to certified, quality professional development, paid family leave and licensing fees relief
• Job duties – Quality job-related professional development, “hold harmless” language for assigned duties, appropriate access to IEPs and suitable job duties for ESPs

Click to learn more, share your story, and join a movement that will change education as we know it. Why join? Much of what we want to accomplish will be through legislative actions. We need to have a loud unified VOICE behind these bills when a time for action is called. We need your voice!

Support staff are typically the first to arrive at school as they unlock doors and turn on lights. They are some of the first people to greet students when they arrive at school in the morning, who give students the academic support they need to become successful scholars, who carefully assist with their health, safety, and nutritional needs, and are the last people who see students safely home at the end of the day. The value of their work is priceless.

So it’s time we start treating them that way! Join today so we can build our strength and raise our voice from a wisper to a roar.

Funding is available!

You can still requesst funding from your IEA local and/or region chair. If you don’t know who your region chair is please contact a representative from your local and they can assist you. You can also contact your region office. Illinois Education Association regions each have money specifically budgeted for professional development specifially for support staff. Click here to find an Illinois Education Association office near you.

• Find your region office
• Schedule At-A-Glance
• Summer Leadership Housing Options

At a time of profound stress for the teaching profession, educators are finding relief by seeking professional support opportunities in personal self-care practices for themselves and for their students. Learn how to apply healing-centered, personal self-care practices that support you in your work with your students.

This Pride Month, learn from ESP members about the importance of pronouns and how to use them effectively in schools to ensure a supportive environment for everyone in the school community.

Register for our webinar

Time: Thursday, June 23 @ 7-8 EDT

Location: Virtual event Join from anywhere

Can Education Support Professionals Get Unemployment This Summer?

I’ve had a few members contact me to see if education support professionals will be eligible for unemployment insurance this summer. Unfortunately, support staff will not be eligible to collect unemployment benefits this summer. The spring legislative session was extremely abbreviated, though IEA did push and advocate for it to be extended again, it was not picked up for renewal. 

Are you frustrated about this? Then bring your voice and power to the table and join the rESPect Campaign! This is just one of the many issues and benefits the rESPect campaign is fighting for. This campaign is a new initiative lead by educational support professional members with the support of IEA staff to bring RESPECT to ALL of our ESP members. Please go to www.iearespect.org to learn more and join. We are in the organizing and growing stage and encourage you and ALL of your colleagues and neighbors to join the campaign.

We have BIG expectations for change! This will not be easy and most of our goals will take legislative action. That is why we need you, your colleagues, your neighbors, and all public education allies to join our movement! Share this on your social media and sign up to join today!!

Funding is available! Apply today. Register before June 14th to receive the discounted rate.

• Schedule At-A-Glance
• IEA Request for Funding Application for Summer Leadership 2022
• Summer Leadership Housing Options

This has been an exhausting school year!!

I hope you find time to rest and recharge this summer. How many days do you have until the end of your school year? How many of you will be working another job this summer? Please comment below.

~Volunteers for the NEA RA~ 

Registration and Information Booth (Afternoon of July 1 until the completion of the RA on July 6) Information booth volunteers will operate the information booth and distribute materials. A knowledge of Chicago would be a great asset! Registration volunteers will assist delegates through the registration process. Volunteers in these two areas usually work full days.

Ushers and Special Event Support (Afternoon of July 1 until the completion of the RA on July 6) Ushers assist in patrolling the floor checking name badges and assist in managing traffic flow. Ushers are usually on their feet for a lot of the day and are typically scheduled in two different shifts.

Physically Challenged Support Team (8am July 2 until the completion of the RA on July 6) Volunteers for the physically challenged area are usually 15-18 year old students who assist delegates by pushing wheelchairs to different areas of the RA. These positions work no more than 6 hours a day and are a great opportunity for students needing service hours!

Microphone Monitors (Noon on July 2 until the completion of the RA on July 6) The microphone network volunteers serve as communication personnel on the floor of the RA and will need to commit to working the entire event. These volunteers will work full day shifts.

Treasurer Team (Noon on July 1 until the completion of the RA on July 6) Volunteers for the treasurer team assist in the processing of vouchers and other financial paperwork for the RA. These volunteers typically work full days.

NEA Fund for Children and Public Information (PAC) Team (Afternoon of July 1 until completion of the RA- July 6) Volunteers for the PAC team will staff the political action booth at the convention center. These volunteers typically work full days.

COVERED EXPENSES

Transportation: – NEA will not cover transportation costs (Amtrak, Plane, mileage, etc.) for volunteers to travel into town. This applies to volunteers from the Chicago suburbs, Illinois and out of state. – NEA will cover parking (either through validation or volunteer provides receipt for reimbursement), or public transportation costs (Bus, L train) with receipt.

Meals: – All volunteers will be eligible for provided meals.

Stipend: – All volunteers that work a minimum 6 hour shift will be eligible for the $40/day stipend.

I was extremely proud to attend the End of School Year Celebration with State Rep Terra Costa Howard where she received The Friend of Education award. The ESP Council was proud to nominate her as her voice/leadership helped to win the long fought fight for lowering the hours to 1000 to qualify for FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act) for education support professionals. Thank you again for all you do for public education!

  

RESPECT | Raising Education Support Professionals by Elevating Careers Together is a statewide effort by ESPs, with the support of IEA staff, to improve working conditions by focusing on five areas: Wages, Health Insurance, Pensions, Retention and Recruitment, and Job Duties.

Please Join Us to Educate, Organize, and Take Action!!

There are no words for the sadness in our hearts as we learn about yesterday’s tragedy in Uvalde, Texas. Saying prayers for children, families and education community.

We still need several volunteers for the 2022 NEA RA in Chicago. We have several positions open for members (or family of members) who might be interested in volunteering. Below you will find the opportunities and the covered expenses. If you know of high school students in the area who might need service hours, this is an excellent opportunity for them.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES 
Registration and Information Booth (Afternoon of July 1 until the completion of the RA on July 6) 
Information booth volunteers will operate the information booth and distribute materials. A knowledge of Chicago would be a great asset! Registration volunteers will assist delegates through the registration process. Volunteers in these two areas usually work full days. 
 
Ushers and Special Event Support (Afternoon of July 1 until the completion of the RA on July 6) 
Ushers assist in patrolling the floor checking name badges and assist in managing traffic flow. Ushers are usually on their feet for a lot of the day and are typically scheduled in two different shifts. 
 
Physically Challenged Support Team (8am July 2 until the completion of the RA on July 6) 
Volunteers for the physically challenged area are usually 15-18 year old students who assist delegates by pushing wheelchairs to different areas of the RA. These positions work no more than 6 hours a day and are a great opportunity for students needing service hours! 
 
Microphone Monitors (Noon on July 2 until the completion of the RA on July 6) 
The microphone network volunteers serve as communication personnel on the floor of the RA and will need to commit to working the entire event. These volunteers will work full day shifts. 
 
Treasurer Team (Noon on July 1 until the completion of the RA on July 6) 
Volunteers for the treasurer team assist in the processing of vouchers and other financial paperwork for the RA. These volunteers typically work full days. 
 
NEA Fund for Children and Public Information (PAC) Team (Afternoon of July 1 until completion of the RA on July 6) 
Volunteers for the PAC team will staff the political action booth at the convention center. These volunteers typically work full days. 

COVERED EXPENSES 

Transportation: 
– NEA will not cover transportation costs (Amtrak, Plane, mileage, etc.) for volunteers to travel into town. This applies to volunteers from the Chicago suburbs, Illinois and out of state. 
– NEA will cover parking (either through validation or volunteer provides receipt for reimbursement), or public transportation costs (Bus, L train) with receipt. 
– IEA will cover transportation costs (Amtrak, Plane, mileage, etc.) up to $400 for volunteers who commit to working a minimum 6-hour shift, every day for the entire 5 or 6 days of the RA. This funding is intended to pay for travel costs for volunteers to get to Chicago. The volunteers must submit receipts for any train or plane reimbursement. More details will be coming.

Meals: 
– All volunteers will be eligible for provided meals. 
 
Stipend: 
– All volunteers that work a minimum 6-hour shift will be eligible for the $40/day stipend. 
 
Housing: (DOES NOT APPLY TO STUDENTS 15-18 YEARS OLD) 
- Volunteers that commit to work a minimum 6-hour shift, every day for the entire 5 or 6 days of the RA will be provided housing if needed. Note that some positions will require 5 days and others 6 days to obtain housing. 
– Volunteers will also receive parking (or a reimbursement of reasonable daily parking fees) OR reimbursement of one round trip fare on public transportation. 
– In the instance that the provided housing is not within walking distance of the convention center, we will either provide busing to and from, OR reimburse reasonable expenses (taxi, uber with receipt) to get to and from the convention center. 

If you know of members or others who are interested in volunteering for the RA, they can register using this link.

Join us Thursday, May 26, from 6-7:30 CT, for a webinar that will empower you with the tools to build effective teams with your colleagues!

Register today

Addressing the mental health of students requires the attention of the entire school community.

Key Take aways

• ESPs help educate the whole child and also have insights into student wellbeing that must be considered.
• Addressing the mental health of students requires the attention of the entire school community.
• With training, ESPs can offer social and emotional support on the bus, in the cafeteria, or in the hallway.

So ready for summer! How many days do you have left of school before summer vacation?

Today was World ESP Day. Today was a celebration of the important work that education support professionals do each day for our schools and students. We asked support professionals what being an ESP and respect means to them. #IEArESPect

Learn more about the IEA rESPect campaign: iearespect.org

Monday, May 16 is World ESP Day!

Join Education International and ESPs across the globe this Monday at 8:00 am ET for an online event, “Decent Work for ESPs Now,” featuring 2022 NEA ESP of the Year, Debra Mitchell! Debra Ward-Mitchell is one of our very own fabulous education support professionals from Illinois.

I am checking to see if this will be recorded as most education support professionals will be doing what they do best, supporting our students, schools, and universities, at the time of this event.

For decades education support professionals have been essential in providing a high quality public education to our students. Over this same time, our jobs duties, expectations, and qualification have increased significantly while our wages have not. When you account for inflation, we are making less today than we did 10 or 20 years ago.

The Britannica Dictionary difines respect as:

1: a feeling of admiring someone or something that is good, valuable, important, etc.

2 : a feeling or understanding that someone or something is important, serious, etc., and should be treated in an appropriate way

We are good, valuable, and important and we deserve to be treated as such! It is time that districts and communities see the valuable contributions we provide for the success of our students, districts, and communities. We deserve to earn a livible wage.

Ready to start day two! What an awesome group of union advocates. I am always in awe of the heart, and passion these people have for our members and our work! #rESPect

NEA RA Volunteers:

We are ready to begin signing up volunteers to assist with the 2022 NEA RA in Chicago. We have several positions open for members (or family of members) who might be interested in volunteering. Below you will find the opportunities and the expenses NEA will cover. 

If you know of members or others who are interested in volunteering for the RA, they can register using this link.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES 
Registration and Information Booth (Afternoon of July 1 until the completion of the RA on July 6) Information booth volunteers will operate the information booth and distribute materials. A knowledge of Chicago would be a great asset! Registration volunteers will assist delegates through the registration process. Volunteers in these two areas usually work full days. 
 
Ushers and Special Event Support (Afternoon of July 1 until the completion of the RA on July 6) Ushers assist in patrolling the floor checking name badges and assist in managing traffic flow. Ushers are usually on their feet for a lot of the day and are typically scheduled in two different shifts. 
 
Physically Challenged Support Team (8am July 2 until the completion of the RA on July 6) Volunteers for the physically challenged area are usually 15-18 year old students who assist delegates by pushing wheelchairs to different areas of the RA. These positions work no more than 6 hours a day and are a great opportunity for students needing service hours! 
 
Microphone Monitors (Noon on July 2 until the completion of the RA on July 6) The microphone network volunteers serve as communication personnel on the floor of the RA and will need to commit to working the entire event. These volunteers will work full day shifts. 
 
Treasurer Team (Noon on July 1 until the completion of the RA on July 6) Volunteers for the treasurer team assist in the processing of vouchers and other financial paperwork for the RA. These volunteers typically work full days. 
 
NEA Fund for Children and Public Information (PAC) Team (Afternoon of July 1 until completion of the RA- July 6) Volunteers for the PAC team will staff the political action booth at the convention center. These volunteers typically work full days. 

COVERED EXPENSES 

Transportation: 
– NEA will not cover transportation costs (Amtrak, Plane, mileage, etc.) for volunteers to travel into town. This applies to volunteers from the Chicago suburbs, Illinois and out of state. 
– NEA will cover parking (either through validation or volunteer provides receipt for reimbursement), or public transportation costs (Bus, L train) with receipt. 
 
Meals: 
– All volunteers will be eligible for provided meals. 
 
Stipend: 
– All volunteers that work a minimum 6-hour shift will be eligible for the $40/day stipend. 
 
Housing: (DOES NOT APPLY TO STUDENTS 15-18 YEARS OLD) 
- Volunteers that commit to work a minimum 6-hour shift, every day for the entire 5 or 6 days of the RA will be provided housing if needed. Note that some positions will require 5 days and others 6 days to obtain housing. 
– Volunteers will also receive parking (or a reimbursement of reasonable daily parking fees) OR reimbursement of one round trip fare on public transportation. 
– In the instance that the provided housing is not within walking distance of the convention center, we will either provide busing to and from, OR reimburse reasonable expenses (taxi, uber with receipt) to get to and from the convention center. 

If you know of members or others who are interested in volunteering for the RA, they can register using this link.

Thank you for being you! Thank you for stepping up and filling in the ever widening gaps we are seeing in public education. And, thank you for making a difference for our students and school communities. It’s time education support professionals get the RESPECT they deserve. Go to www.iearespect.org to join the movement to bring RESPECT to all education support professionals in Illinois.

Thank you to all of the fabulous educators who inspire hope, ignite the imagination, and instill a love of learning.

According to a 2021 National Education Association survey of its members, education support professionals (ESPs):

That’s why we launched the IEA rESPect campaign. Go to iearespect.org to join and to help bring rESPEct to education support professionals.

https://www.nea.org/…/new-from-nea/struggle-living-wage…

How a school bus driver in Skokie has brought joy to his community for decades

When 5-year-old twins Fionnuala and Ceilidh Climer get on the bus to school each day, they are greeted by a familiar voice.

“Hello number one princess, hello number two princess!” driver Alvin Carter calls out.

Carter, referred to fondly as Mr. Alvin by the twins, is a driver and custodian at the girls’ school in Skokie, Ill. Other times he greets them with, “Good morning, sunshine!” or a joke.

Thank you Carterville area members and IEA Office for hosting our IEA Education Support Professional Council meeting this past Saturday. We truly enjoyed traveling and spending time in your area. Thank you to the guests who joined our meeting both in person and virtually. We are honored to represent ALL education support professionals from all across Illinois.

As the 2022 NEA RA gets underway, Illinois will be assisting with providing volunteers to support the event. Volunteers for the event cannot be delegates to the NEA RA. NEA will be providing reimbursement for specific positions.

We will be seeking volunteers for the following areas: Registration and Information Booth, Ushers and Special Event Support, Physically Challenged Support Team, Microphone Monitors, Treasurer Team, NEA Fund for Children and Public Information (PAC) Team.

Please consider volunteering your time to help make this a successful event for NEA, IEA, and all of our members. Some of these positions do not require you to commit to every day.

Support staff are typically the first to arrive at school as they unlock doors and turn on lights. They are some of the first people to greet students when they arrive at school in the morning, who give students the academic support they need to become successful scholars, who carefully assist with their health, safety and nutritional needs, and are the last people who see students safely home at the end of the day. The value of their work is priceless.
So it’s time we start treating them that way!

Join us for our April ESP Learning Network webinar!

Introduction to Grievance Processing
Thursday, April 28, 2022
7:00-8:30 p.m. ET. 6:00-7:30 p.m. CT

This webinar is designed to help stewards, grievance committee members, and leaders understand how the grievance process works and how to make it more effective. We will discuss how to investigate potential grievances, how to work with members and management in meetings, how to write grievances, how to present a case, and how to advance the grievance through your contractual process, all with an emphasis on protecting the rights of your members. We will also provide information on ensuring the union has met its duty of fair representation and review Weingarten Rights and the role of union advocates in potential disciplinary meetings. This session was offered at the 2022 ESP National Conference.

To fully participate in this session, we strongly recommend that you have a copy of your union contract on hand.

Register today

Jennie Young

Don’t miss this great opportunity!

The National Education Association recognizes the vital role Education Support Professionals (ESPs) play in ensuring a great public school for every student. That’s why, through this blended learning course, we’re working with members and affiliates to build and support ESP peer mentoring programs. Through peer mentoring, ESPs can receive the specialized, targeted workplace preparation and support that empower ESPs in the workplace, advance their professional excellence, and build the education systems that all our students and members deserve.

To date, NEA has worked with nearly 50 teams to develop ESP peer mentoring programs, many of whom have gone on to build their unique programs. While each program’s design, scale, and scope varies by local context, they all have become powerful catalysts for creating opportunities that have been transformative for both ESPs and the Association. Through these programs, deeper, less transactional relationships have been developed with ESP members and more collaborative and connective partnerships have been built with school districts and universities.

Learn more about the mentoring journey of two of our previous mentoring course participants:

• Livingston Education Association (NJ)
• Lebanon Education Support Professional Association (OR)

2022 ESPs: Supporting Our Own Through Peer Mentoring Blended Learning Course

• The course begins June 16 and ends August 11, 2022.
• The course is facilitated by ESP leaders who have developed and coordinated ESP mentoring programs.
• The course can be taken as an individual or a team (organized around a local or state association). 

While we allow individual participation, we still highly encourage learners to participate in teams. Small teams of 3-4 learners will maximize the course experience. Teams offer the unique knowledge, skills, experiences, and resources needed for building an ESP mentoring program that individuals on their own often cannot.  We also highly encourage the inclusion of state staff and employer representatives in your teams.

• The course will be offered through NEA’s learning management system (NEAe3) and is organized around four learning modules in these formats:

• Self-study: Individual work completed by each learner at their own pace. 
• Webinars: Large group learning with all participants in the course.

Please share this new learning opportunity with local leaders and staff interested in advancing ESP professional excellence through peer mentoring!

Applications are now being accepted. All applications must be submitted by May 11, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time.

cc:

Highlights from the Illinois Edcuation Representative Assembly:

It was so nice seeing people together again sharing their voice and representing their members. I’m always amazed at how efficient and smoothly the democratic process works within the Illinois Education Association.

I had the honor to speak to the entire IEA delegation and introduce the rESPect campaign to delegates from all across the state. Visit rESPect website to join, then share the information with your members, neighbors, and community!

Sean Denney gave a legislative update of several bill wins. Several IEA bylaw amendments, a resolution, and new business item were voted on.

I also had the privilege to introduce the 2021 and 2022 IEA ESPs of The Year at the Honoree Reseption on Friday night. See phot gallery for pictures.

I would encourage any member to run to be a delegate and attend the RA. This summer the National Education Association will be hosted in Chicago. As the host state, we will need hundreds of volunteers to help this run smoothly. Elections have passed for NEA delegates, but please consider volunteering. More information to come.

What is rESPect?

RESPECT | Raising Education Support Professionals by Elevating Careers Together is a statewide effort by ESPs, with the support of IEA staff, to improve working conditions by focusing on five areas:

• Wages – A minimum salary, fair substitute teaching compensation and unemployment insurance
• Health insurance – Affordable health insurance for the currently employed and the retired
• Pensions – Making the Tier 2 pension system equitable for all education employees
• Retention and recruitment – Tuition reimbursement, Grow Your Own Teacher from ESP to certified, quality professional development, paid family leave and licensing fees relief
• Job duties – Quality job-related professional development, “hold harmless” language for assigned
  duties, appropriate access to IEPs and suitable job duties for ESPs

Thank you for all the time and energy all of the member delegates who are attending the RA will be putting in these next few days and for bring their voice to represent their members. The days are long but the work is extremely rewarding!

I am so excited to introduce to you… RESPECT!

Support staff are typically the first to arrive at schools and universities as they unlock doors and turn on lights. They are also some of the first people to greet students when they arrive, who give students the academic support they need to become successful scholars, who carefully assist with their health, safety, and nutritional needs, and the last one who sees them home safely at the end of the day, and so much more. The value of their work is priceless. So it’s time we start treating them that way!

For the past 6 months, your IEA ESP Council has worked with education support professionals from around the state, licensed member allies, and IEA staff to organize and breathe life into this campaign. Now it’s your turn, we need you to join this campaign and share this information widely. You are an intigral part as we rally friends, neighbors, and colleagues to grow this campaign, and create a movement to bring RESPECT to every education support professional!!

Do you have student loans for yourself or your children? Join to see if you qualify for this amazing opportunity!

In October 2021, the Biden Administration issued a “Limited Waiver” of some of the strict requirements of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). Prior to the waiver, only 16,000 borrowers had ever received forgiveness through PSLF. Between October 2021 and January 2022, 70,000 borrowers received forgiveness under the Limited Waiver. Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Education announced that it has identified an additional 30,000 borrowers now eligible, bringing to $6.2 billion the amount of student debt forgiven under the temporary waiver. In addition, the Department estimates that hundreds of thousands more borrowers will be on average 2 years closer to loan forgiveness because of the waiver’s provisions.

Regardless of whether a borrower is eligible for immediate forgiveness or is working towards eligibility, it is critical for educators and other public service workers to submit a PSLF application before October 31, 2022, to receive the benefits of the Limited Waiver.

And it is imperative that NEA and our affiliates ensure our members understand the importance of meeting this deadline and provide accurate guidance in navigating the PSLF process. To that end, NEA has created guidance and other resources for members as well as affiliates seeking to assist those members in obtaining the promise of PSLF.
Please join us for a webinar on Tuesday, April 5, 2022, from 12:00-1:00 p.m. (CST) to discuss the nuts and bolts of the PSLF program and the NEA resources that are available to our members. Feel free to extend this invitation to all staff members interested in learning more.
Please register for the webinar using the following link:
​ https://nea-org.zoom.us/…/reg…/WN_0eAmXWekRX6viSFlzXWEaw

Raising Education Support Professionals by Elevating Careers Together is a statewide effort by ESPs, with the support of IEA staff, to improve working conditions. Visit the webpage. Stay connected with other ESPs! For updates and much more, follow us at ieaespcouncil.comIEA ESP webpage Join the ESP Facebook groupFollow @NEArESPect on TwitterGet involved with the National Council for Education Support Professionals (NCESP)

Our very own Debra Ward Mitchell is NEA’s ESP of the Year

Congratulations, Debra, for being named NEA’s 2022 Education Support Professional of the Year! Your IEA family is so proud of you! Debra is pictured with her sons at the NEA ESP Conference in New Orleans.

Present at the One Conference
We are seeking proposals to present at the 2022 One Conference. The focus of the Conference will be on Advocacy, Leadership and Professional Development. Only fully completed RFPs will be accepted. The deadline for RFPs is April 25, 2022, and no RFPs will be accepted after this date. Trainers for the sessions selected will be notified by e-mail.

Do you have a talent or passion you’d like to share with other members? I encourage you to complete an application to share your leadership and talent at this years One Conference.

Debra Ward-Mitchell!! I am so proud of you! You are the epitome of ESP! Thank you for representing us so well!

We are proud to announce that Debra Ward-Mitchell is our 2022 NEA Education Support Professional of the Year! Debra is a paraeducator and assistant director at an infant care center in Illinois, and we can’t wait to share more about her inspiring work!

We are the…

• school bus driver who transports students to and from school safely and are the first person to greet them in the morning and last to say goodbye as they return home. In addition to driving, often in bad weather or heavy traffic, they are responsible for first aid and emergency evacuation procedures, student conduct and discipline, and the safe transportation of students with special needs.
• cafeteria worker who ensures that students have access to safe and nutritious meals and ensure that school districts are complying with the federal free and reduced meal guidelines.
• paraeducator who performs professional responsibilities that contribute directly to student achievement by providing direct services to students and their families including academic, social emotional, behavioral, medical and life skills supports for general education, English Language Learners, and students with special needs to ensure all students receive fair and equitable educational opportunities.
• school nurse who performs a wide variety of health assistance that improves and protects student health and welfare. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to traditional tasks of providing first aid, monitoring immunizations, conducting health screenings, and assisting sick and injured children.
• office assistant who interact daily with students, parents and staff. Responsibilities include but are not limited to, processing and maintaining vital, confidential data and student records.
• technician who leads the effort to maintain high standards of technology and communication in our schools. They install, repair, and upgrade computers and networks that enable the timely communication of essential information between parents, school district employees, and students.
• security professional who has a clear understanding of not only security techniques, but also the unique nature of the school population they work with.
• plus many other job categories that are essential for the support of our students, families, and communities.

We are essential for the success of our students, families, and communities.

Today I get to travel to New Orleans in preparations of attending the NEA ESP Conference. I am SO SO excited. Did you know that every IEA ESP member is eligable to attend both IEA and NEA conferences? Did you know that each local should and region does have funds in their budget to help cover costs of attending these amazing conferences specifically for ESPs? I am registered for some amazing learning opportunities. It was really tough to choose which ones to go to!!

Start planning now to attend.