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.
Amendment 1 Would Constitutionally Protect Our Rights:
“Right to organize and to bargain collectively” *Prohibit any law “that interferes with, negates or diminishes” that right. It would also Prohibit “Right-to-Work” laws in the Private Sector.
Public Sector unions are prohibited from negotiating “Fair Share” by the U.S. Supreme Court (Janus)
Protect our Voice and Our Rights
•The current Educational Labor Relations Act could be repealed or radically changed by a simple majority of the General Assembly.
•IELRA has changed several times since its passage.
•Passage of Workers Rights Amendment on November 8 would require “Supermajorites” of the Legislature and Voters to Repeal our Rights.
Funding options available – Apply for funding using link below. You may also get funding from your local and/or region IEA office.
September 30 – October 1 DoubleTree By Hilton Hotel Chicago-Oak Brook Oak Brook, IL
Please join us for the 2022 One Conference for IEA Education Support Professionals, Higher Education, and IEA Retired members. The two-day event will offer a variety of elective sessions and feature keynote speaker, Mary Kusler, Senior Director, Center for Advocacy – National Education Association.
Registration Fee: $20 per registrant prior to the event; $30 per registrant onsite.
Registration Deadline: Friday, September 26, 2022 at noon
Hotel Reservations Participants needing to reserve a hotel room for the night can do so at One Conference Hotel. Housing closes on September 21, 2022 at noon.
Funding Application IEA request for funding application for the One Conference, due by August 29.
I am extremely honored to be asked to participate in this extremely important discussion with our National Education Association brothers and sisters. ESP voices must be at every table where decisions are being made that affect our students and members.
ESPs truly are the backbone of every school community. They play a critical role in the lives of our students and our schools. They are some of the most valuable people in a building and their value is so often overlooked when districts/universities are looking at their budgets. Join us to learn how you can help build a movement of rESPect. It’s time we start treating them that way!
Join us on the Second Saturday of each month from 10 am-12 pm Mountain Time for exciting topics and presenters! The schedule for the next 12 months will be:
August 13, 2022 – Working Effectively with Students with Challenging and Severe BehaviorsPresenter: Glenn Dyke September 10, 2022 – Teachers and Paraeducators Team Teaching in the Classroom: Enhancing Communication Between Paraeducators and General Education TeachersPresenters: Deb Andrews and Marilyn Likins October 8, 2022 – Autism/Non-Verbal Training/StrategiesPresenter: Katie Harris November 12, 2022 – Paraeducator Roles and Responsibilities: IDEA, IEP’s, and BIP’s! Oh my!Presenter: Christine Manning December 10, 2022 – Dispelling the Myths of Unreachable, Unteachable, and Uncaring StudentsPresenter: Dave Forbush January 14, 2023 – 10 Ways to Help the Non-worker: Jumpstarting Work Completion BehaviorPresenter: Melisa Genaux February 11, 2023 – Best Practices and Tools to Help Students LearnPresenter: Jeri Rigby March 11, 2023 – Strategies for AnxietyPresenter: Alex Langevin April 8, 2023 – Understanding and Supporting Social-Emotional GrowthPresenter: TBA May 13, 2023 – Effective Behavior Management Strategies for the Classroom: Practical MagicPresenter: Melisa Genaux June 10, 2023 – Parents and Students with Disabilities Panel: Stories and Lessons LearnedPresenter: Kimberly Hutter July 8, 2023 – The Necessity for Ongoing Paraeducator Preparation: Before and Throughout EmploymentPresenter: Marilyn Likins
Don’t Miss Out on this amazing opportunity to have one year of professional development at an affordable price of $25 per webinar! Group discounts are available! Register today!
The IEA and the Opportunity Coalition are pleased to announce the Leaders for Just Schools cohort for the 2022-23 school year. The instructors are state and local leaders, award winning educators and experienced community organizers who will help you build momentum for change in your local schools and communities. Cohort members who successfully complete the program will receive a micro credential and will have the opportunity to earn an organizing stipend to continue the work.
Voting for public education means voting for candidates who will support our students, our public schools and our union. Visit IEA Votes for campaign resources, including the school Board Election Toolkit, your Voter Guide, and IPACE recommended candidates.
Yesterday, a fabulous group of IEA members and IEA staff met virtually to discuss, organize, advocate, and grow rESPect for education support professionals throughout Illinois.
Far to many education support professionals barely make minimum wage while they provide some of the most important work in our schools and universities. We are 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 are the last people who see students safely home at the end of the day. The value of our work is priceless.
The Leaders for Just Schools training program brings together IEA members from across the state. You have an opportunity to connect with new people, grow in your profession and make an impact on your schools and communities. Learn more and apply for the 2022-23 Level 1 cohort at ieaopportunitycoalition.org
Congratulations and thank you to our ESP of the Year, Debra Ward-Mitchell, for inspiring us, being a proud union member, and leading the fight for professional respect for all ESPs.
It was an exhausting 4 days…but I’m always amazed of the good work that is accomplished!!
Click the link to looking back on the four days of the 2022 Representative Assembly, where 6,000 educators gathered to shape the future of public education and our union. Check out RA in review: https://bit.ly/3bYbXoH
Just imagine around 6000 people in-person and virtual, debating new business items, legislative amendments, and resolutions submitted by members. It is amazing!!
It’s official, the 101st NEA RA, the nations largest representative assembly has begun in Chicago. It’s time to get busy and do the work of supporting our members by debating and voting on important topics that will determine the direction of our union over the next year.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!!
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.
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!
Jill Scarcelli, Representative Terra Costa Howard, Al Llorens Representative Terra Costa Howard receiving The Friend Of Education AwardSome of the IEA members who came to support Rep. Terra Costa Howard
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.
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
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.
There are an exhaustive list of support staff job titles, please know you are valued and appreciated!!!!
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
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.
Alvin Carter, a school bus driver and custodian in Skokie, Ill., has become a reliable source of joy for the children he drives and his community. Helen Wei
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.
IEA Education Support Professional Council 