Education Support Professional Council consists of thirteen (13) members all of whom are ESP school employees and members of the Illinois Education Association. The ESP council's goal is to represent and support ESP's throughout Illinois.
Early bird registration for the 2024 Summer Leadership Academy is $45 and open. On Wednesday, May 1, registration will go up to $90.00 per registrant.
To guarantee your early bird pricing, please register with the – SLA Early Bird Registration link. Once the schedule is complete, you will receive an email to select sessions and submit your payment.
The Recognizing Inspirational School Employees (RISE) Award is to recognize and promote the commitment and excellence exhibited by classified school employees who provide exemplary service to students in pre-kindergarten through high school and to inspire innovation and excellence among all classified school employees.
Head Custodian
Lincoln Elementary School, Palatine, Illinois
Governor J.B. Pritzker
RESPECT is a coordinated campaign lead by education support professionals, assisted by IEA staff and supported by ESP allies.
When: The Second Thursday of each month
What to expect: Attendees collaborate in breakout rooms where all voices are essential and valued as we work to achieve the goals of RESPECT.
When: The Second Thursday of each month
What to expect: Attendees collaborate in breakout rooms where all voices are essential and valued as we work to achieve the goals of RESPECT.
Thursday, April 25
6 – 7pm CDT
Communication skills are often the foundation for implementing student behavior supports. How educators communicate with students during times of crisis or challenging behaviors can impact students’ level of de-escalation. This webinar will provide foundational information on verbal intervention, phases of de-escalation, and positive communication skills. The presenter will share effective verbal de-escalation strategies that ESPs can use to help support students across school environments. Participants will also learn how verbal intervention strategies aid in creating a positive school culture that promotes student safety and inclusivity.
Presenter: Mr. Jason Fletcher
The 2024 IEA One Conference will be held on October 18 & 19 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Chicago-Oakbrook. We are seeking proposals for presentations for the conference. The One Conference is an opportunity for IEA Education Support Professionals, Higher Education, and IEA Retired Members to develop professional skills, earn professional development credit, and network with colleagues from around the state. The deadline for RFPS is May 10, 2024 so please submit session proposals as soon as possible.
| I received this in my email and wanted to share it with you. Hello IEA Member! The Illinois Education Association has received a generous grant from the NEA to start IEA Educator Voice Academies across the state. The goal of the EVAs is to identify, elevate and implement effective educational policies that can positively impact our students, our schools and our profession. The statewide EVA steering committee will be selecting and supporting Educator Voice Fellows in every IEA office across the state. Every EVA Fellow will receive an organizing stipend and a micro-credential that could qualify them for local salary advancement based on their local collective bargaining agreement. We are excited to announce that we are accepting applications for Educator Voice Academy Fellows for the 2024-25 school year. Applications will be accepted through May 31, but take a moment to apply now, as we will be starting to reach out to applicants about next steps. Thanks for all you do! |
| In 2010, the Illinois General Assembly hastily created a “Tier 2” of separate, lower pension benefits for public school and public university employees hired after 2011. We are asking our members to take action now to change this. Since then, the drastically reduced benefits for “Tier 2” workers are further diminished due to inflation, meaning they can’t keep up with rising costs like grocery and drug price increases. Many education employees cannot collect Social Security, and these pension benefits are their sole source of retirement security. You can see the negative effects of Tier 2 reflected in the shortages of both educators and Education Support Professionals (ESPs) in schools and universities across the state. The shortages mean an increased workload and sometimes overwhelming working conditions for everyone working in our schools and at our colleges and universities. |
| This problem was created by politicians failing to pay into the retirement system, and it’s them we should be holding accountable, rather than punishing educators. |
| From April 15-18, please join Illinois public employee unions in a week of action. Contact your lawmakers and tell them they must take action to fix Tier 2 pensions. You can write your lawmaker here. Or, you can dial 507-497-1665 to be connected to your legislators by phone. |
| This action is the first step to push legislators in Springfield to ensure that all school employees have a fair, secure retirement and we can retain essential teachers, adjuncts and higher ed staff, Education Support Professionals (ESPs) and all public school and university employees. All educators deserve an equitable retirement. Stand up for your colleagues. Help us Undo Tier 2. Remember, we are stronger united! And together we are IEA! |
| Organizing Basics Saturdays | April 20 and May 4 | 10 a.m. – 12 noon Are you new to the concept of organizing? Want to learn how to develop the organizing skills necessary to build a strong local or motivate members to act around a specific issue? In this two-part course, we will start by learning the basic terminology of organizing, how to create an organizing statement and develop a strategy utilizing tactics that focus on a specific leadership challenge. You will also learn the leadership skills necessary to lead a successful organizing campaign. We will briefly discuss the role power and resources play when embarking on an organizing campaign. In the second session, we will work as a team, creating an organizing plan that can be implemented at the state, local or even national level. Facilitators: Crystal Bush, UniServ Director and Lakilia Bedeau, Organizer |
| Arbitration Basics Saturday | April 27 | 10 a.m. – noon In this course you will learn the basics of arbitration – the final step in the grievance process. We will briefly touch on the grievance process, and then walk through the various steps of arbitration including the possible reasons against arbitrating a grievance. You will learn best practices for developing the case for hearing, selecting and preparing witnesses, communicating with your district’s representative and writing opening statements. We will conclude with a discussion about whether to rest your case with a closing argument or a post-hearing brief and some tips for writing each. Facilitator: Bonnie Booth, UniServ Director – Naperville Office |
As we approach licensure renewal season starting April 1st, please remind your Professional Educators, ELS-CTE, Substitutes, and Paraprofessionals to check their license expiration date.
Renewal season begins April 1, 2024, for those with an expiration date of 6/30/2024.
For Professional Educator License (PEL) holders, ensure:
Thank you!
Register: APRIL https://www.mobilize.us/ieanea/event/592189
Location: Zoom – Date: April 11th, 2024 – Time: 5:30-7:00
IEA is part of the We Are One Illinois coalition of public sector labor unions. The coalition is planning a week of action April 15-18, asking members to tell state lawmakers they must fix Tier Two pensions and ensure public employees can pay their bills when they retire. This is the first in a series of actions that will ramp up over time with a goal of passing legislation to fix Tier Two. The coalition has developed several resources including a fact sheet, a tool members can use to email their legislators and a click-to-call phone number (507-497-1665).
As you likely know, IEA has started its own member campaign around this called Undo Tier Two. IEA resources are on that page, as well as links to the coalition’s legislative contact tools. Please note, attached are shareable social media graphics for anyone to use to draw attention to the campaign. We are doing social media posts around this and an ad on social to run through week of action. We are also sending emails on Monday to members in both the Tier One and Tier Two, asking them to take action. In addition, the week of action is being promoted through President Al Llorens’s president to presidents newsletter.
You should have received the below envelope during the last week of March/first of April containing online election information to vote for your IEA ESP Council members, NEA RA state delegates and other IEA statewide positions. If you did not receive your online voting information or have any questions, please contact IEA Governance Elections Paraprofessional Kim Trader @ kim.trader@ieanea.org or 217-321-2250. The election closes at 4 p.m. on April 24. Please vote! Your vote is important!
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!
The 2024 IEA One Conference will be held on October 18 & 19 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Chicago-Oakbrook. We are seeking proposals for presentations for the conference. The One Conference is an opportunity for IEA Education Support Professionals, Higher Education, and IEA Retired Members to develop professional skills, earn professional development credit, and network with colleagues from around the state. The deadline for RFPS is May 10, 2024 so please submit session proposals as soon as possible.
Whether your spring break is just beginning or coming to an end, take time to enjoy.
Education Support Professionals we need your voice to join an IEA governance committee and/or Board subcommittee. It is important that we have more of an ESP presence and voice at every table where decisions are being made. Interested education support professionals please apply today using the link below. DEADLINE: April 1
Opportunities to serve – IEA is seeking interested members for Committee and board subcommittee appointment procedures. Electronic applications are available on the IEA website until April 1.
All applicants are required to enter their Members Only login information. Any questions, please direct them to Courtney Gillespie
If you are an education employee hired after Jan. 1, 2011, you are enrolled in Tier Two of either the Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS), the State Universities Retirement System (SURS) or the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF). Tier two pensions are unfair and inequitable. That is why our union is fighting to Undo Tier 2, and we have filed legislation (Senate Bill 2024) to do so. Graphics and fact sheets available at UndoTier2.org
What a fantastic time at the National Education Association’s Education Support Professional Conference in Las Vegas! So much learning, growing, and opportunities to make new friends and reconnect with old union family! Okay, how many of you like public speaking? Um, my fabulous friend Debra Ward-Mitchell and myself are definitely not fans, but we had several amazing opportunities to present and help facilitate multiple sessions. It was phenomenal!!
I want to encourage each of you to take a step out of your comfort zone. We truly can’t grow if we don’t push ourselves to get a little uncomfortable. You all have a power in side of you that is just waiting for you to release. Join us at our next rESPect meeting in April
https://www.mobilize.us/ieanea/event/592189/ The RESPECT Teams need you and your leadership to help us make the changes we need and deserve.
Amazing work is being accomplished at this year’s Representative Assembly. Many items are being brought to the floor…debated…and completed. It is important to have a voice in the direction our union will take over this next year. I encourage everyone to take an active role in your union because WE are IEA.
The IEA-NEA LOVEWORKS — Joy and Justice: Abolitionist Teaching in the Classroom has incorporated the goals of Read Across America and wants to provide funds to purchase diverse books for your classroom/school!
Monthly on Thursdays | 6 – 8 p.m.
Feb. 29 | March 28 | April 25 | May 30
Are you a local leader, building representative, committee chair or member looking for ways to build membership and increase local engagement? This four-part course will provide you with the tools necessary to build local capacity. Topics covered include the role leadership style and local structure plays when developing strong locals, how to increase membership growth, engagement, development, recruitment and retention, and how to create value for your members. All participants will develop a year-round organizing plan designed to fit your local, building or committee needs. We will also look at creative strategies for increasing membership participation. The sessions will be held the fourth Thursday of each month from 6 to 8 p.m. Once you register for the first session, you will automatically be registered for the entire course. If you have any questions, please reach out to unioned@ieanea.org.
Facilitator: Crystal Bush, IEA UniServ Director – Elgin Office and Coordinator of Support & Services for ESPs
Your Education Support Professional Council and IEA staff have been working overtime planning and preparing for the representative assembly! The representative assembly is where elected IEA members come together to submit New Business Items, Resolutions, and Legislative Platform amendments that will set the direction of our union for the upcoming year.
I am so excited to share all of the RESPECT updates. If you are an ESP delegate don’t miss the ESP Open Hearing Thursday morning at 10:00am, on March 14th.
All delegates are invited to stop by the ESP Council and RESPECT tables for important information. We will have tons of resources, opportunities to take action to help move RESPECT, and yes…tons of prizes.
Education Support Professionals are essential to a high quality public education. ESPs are often the first to arrive and last to leave while supporting students health, safety, and academic success.
Learn how NEA members, staff, and leaders have partnered to build a strategic campaign to increase ESP visibility, rights, and respect.
Hear from three state affiliates—Massachusetts, Maryland, and Illinois—on how they built their campaign from the ground up, what successes and challenges they faced, and what resources and strategies they have for affiliates seeking to engage in their own campaign.
Thank you to everyone who joined us tonight for the February rESPect steering meeting. This meetings focus was to finalize our plan on organizing around rESPect at the Illinois Education Association Representative Assembly in March. It is our goal to grow this campaign into a powerful force to achieve our goals.
To learn more about rESPEct and to join go to: https://ieanea.org/members/esp/respect/
We still have not received nominations for the following ESP Council positions for this springs election.
Nomination window closes on February 14th at 4:00pm
Make today a day to remember!
Wow! The Education Support Professional Council received 5 unbelievable nominees this year and were extremely impressed with each of the applications. This award is meant to further emphasize the contributions of Education Support Professionals to their association, their schools, and their communities and these nominees did not disappoint and did just that!
Amy is a Reading Aide. She Introduced “Know Me Know My Name” to her building. A program to help identify and make contact with students who are in danger of falling through the cracks. That program is now part of the school improvement plan. She has received several grants. They are, IEA SCORE Grant for a snack cabinet, multicultural\SEL library, and district mini grants. One of the grants was a community service project for the crisis center and another for materials to provide enrichment services to her students. She is a 2023 ISBE Those Who Excel Award Recipient. Amy integrates culturally responsive teaching into all her learning spaces. She values the assets that each of her students brings into the learning space. As a member of the SEL and PBIS committee, she understands the importance of building strong and positive relationships with students, families and other stakeholders of the school community. She works toward removing social economic barriers, especially of education. This is just a glimpse into the amazing accomplishments that Amy does for her students, colleagues, and community.
A response from Amy:
I am beyond grateful! Thank you to the Education Support Professionals Council of the Illinois Education Association for honoring me as the 2024 Illinois Education Support Professional of the Year today. It is my pleasure to advocate for our students and members of our local, state, and national union. I look forward to representing the Illinois Education Association in Louisville, KY, March 2025 as a nominee for National Education Association- Education Support Professional of the Year.
NEA is now accepting registrations for the 2024 NEA Education Support Professionals (ESPs) National Conference, scheduled for March 22-24 in Las Vegas, NV. The ESP Conference is certain to be a special event. With 65+ sessions led by ESPs, NEA partners and NEA staff, this conference is a premier opportunity for professional leadership, development, and community. During the conference, we will also honor ESP of the Year nominees from across the country and announce this year’s NEA ESP of the Year awardee.
As we continue moving forward with NEA’s commitment to be inclusive of all members, we are proud to announce that registration for the ESP Conference is now available in Spanish. Members can switch to Spanish by navigating to the upper right corner of the conference registration page and selecting Español in the drop-down language section.
Funding to attend: Check with your IEA Region office (regions should have funds for ESPs to attend conferences) and your local union.
Hotel
March 22-24, 2024
Las Vegas, NV
Caesars Palace
3570 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109
(866) 227-5938
Join Dr. Diana Zaleski, IEA’s Education Policy and Agency Relations Director, in
a discussion about the association’s education policy work. Learn about her role, the role of association members in education policy, and the education policy resources available to members including upcoming trainings, book clubs, and guidance documents on pressing issues such as student discipline and workplace violence.
Facilitator: Dr. Diana Zaleski, IEA Education Policy and Agency Relations
Director
Location: Webinar
Date: Feb. 21, 6 – 6:30 p.m.
Register Here
Are you a local leader, building representative, committee chair or member looking for ways to build membership and increase local engagement? This four- part webinar course will provide you with the tools necessary to build local capacity. Topics covered include the role leadership style and local structure plays when developing strong locals, how to increase membership growth, engagement, development, recruitment, and retention, and how to create value for your members. All participants will develop a year-round organizing plan designed to fit your local, building or committee needs. We will also look at creative strategies for increasing membership participation. The sessions will be held on the fourth Thursday of each month from 6:00 PM- 7:30 PM. The session dates are February 29, March 28, April 25, and May 30. Once you register for the first session, you will automatically be registered for the entire course. If you have any questions, please reach out to unioned@ieanea.org
Facilitator: Crystal Bush, Uniserv Director – Coordinator of Support & Services
for ESPs
Location: Webinar
Date: Monthly on Thursdays – Feb. 29, March 28, April 25, and May 30 from 6 –
8 p.m.
Register Here
| ESP rESPect CampaignRESPECT | Raising Education Support Professionals by Elevating Careers |
| Happy New Year from your ESP Council Join us for an ESP Council Meet & Greet Saturday | Feb. 24 | 9-10 a.m. LOCATION/TIME CHANGE 1555 Bond St # 121, Naperville, IL 60563 The Council meeting will follow from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. All Education Support Professionals are welcome! RSVP to Arlene Criglar. |
We started with a few hiccups with technology, but ended with a great meeting full of collaboration and awesome ideas shared by many! Each rESPect team (Legislative, Model Contract Language, Communications, and Organizing and Leadership Development), worked in breakout rooms to accomplish the goals of their team. It is the members and IEA staff that come together and share their voice and talents that will build this into the powerful campaign needed to bring the changes that will benefit the lives of education support professionals in Illinois.
#IEArESPect #IEAESP #rESPect #NEAESP
(You will receive the Zoom link by email)
| 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 four areas: wages, health insurance, pensions, and retaining, recruiting, and job duties. |
Scholarship opportunity for high school seniors with a parent/legal guardian who works in education!
The Burroughs Education Scholarship will offer $2,500 to a graduating senior with strong academic achievement, career goals and character. Application deadline is Jan. 31.
2024 NEA ESP Conference, March 22-24 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas!
IEA-NEA spring elections
As we head back into our schools and universities, please remember some of our students missed us more than you realize as home can be difficult. Never forget what you do matters to so many!
The 2024 spring elections for NEA RA state, ESP, and aspiring educator delegates, and other state level positions opened today at 8 a.m. Nominations close at 4 p.m. on February 14th. The link to the online nomination form is on the elections page of the website. This information is also located on the home page as well. Also included with the online nomination form information is a link to the spring all-member governance mailer that includes the same nomination forms found online as well as the election notice for the region NEA RA delegate elections. Also included here is a link to the eligibility information for the retired, ESP, higher education and ethnic minority state level positions to be elected this spring.
Join Us Jan. 11
5:30 – 7 p.m.
rESPect Virtual Meeting
All ESPs Welcome!
(You will receive the Zoom link by email)
| 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 four areas: wages, health insurance, pensions, and retaining, recruiting, and job duties. |
Be safe if you plan to travel on this New Year’s Eve! I will be counting my blessings this New Year’s as I think of my family (both by blood and union siblings) and friends. So many great things are happening to support the goals of the rESPect Campaign; so much more work is left to do! I hope you will join us at our next IEA rESPect virtual meeting on Thursday, January 11th. Click for more information and to register for the upcoming rESPect meeting. Click link to register: https://www.mobilize.us/ieanea/event/592186/
What activity are looking forward to most to recharge during this holiday break?
Please take the time to rest and recharge! Education support professionals are so important in the education of our students and operation of our schools and universities. Self care is extremely for everyone to be at their best.
On Monday, Gina Lozano, chair of the rESPect Legislative Team, myself, Jill Scarcelli, chair of the rESPect Campaign, along with Derek Stevens, IEA Government Relations met with Illinois Senator Robert Peters, chair of the Labor Committee to advocate for our members and rESPect. Gina and myself spoke to educate and inform of who education support professionals (ESPs) are, what we do, and how we are essential for student success. We spoke specifically about UI: Unemployment Insurance and raising the minimum wage for education support professionals.
Senator Robert Peters was very receptive and spoke of his own personal story of being in special education as a young child and how education support professionals supported his education. He spoke honestly and said UI will be a huge challenge. There are several public labor committee hurdles that must be overcome before a vote could be taken. We knew this would be a marathon and not a sprint and we are committed to achieving this goal. Senator Peters also spoke regarding raising the minimum wage and gave us suggestions on how to better move this bill forward.
We truly appreciate Senator Robert Peters for taking the time to meet with us and give guidance as we advocate to support ALL of our members.
rESPect Steering meeting registration link
DECEMBER
https://www.mobilize.us/ieanea/event/592185/
FYI from: National Education Association-ESPQ
As we head into the holiday season and closer to a new year, we want to share several upcoming opportunities that will support ESPs in their personal and professional growth. Please add these events to your calendars and share them with your members and colleagues!
See all upcoming webinars for ESPs at www.nea.org/esppdwebinars.
IEA Education Support Professional Council 