IEA Education Support Professional Council
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.
March 5-7, 2020
Hyatt Regency O’Hare
9300 W Bryn Mawr Ave.
Rosemont, IL
The 166th Illinois Education Association Representative Assembly (RA) convenes on March 5, 2020. The debates and decisions made by the assembled delegates set the direction of IEA for the coming year. Your voice is important and needs to be heard. Get involved in your local IEA/NEA organization to help support public education. Well funded public schools will provide the best education, for all students.
School social workers play a critical role in schools and educational settings. Social workers working within school systems provide services to students to enhance their emotional well-being and improve their academic performance.
Thank you for all you do in the lives of our students and communities.
The PGC: What It Is and How To Use It
March 5, 2020 | 7:00pm – 8:00PM EST
Join this webinar to learn what the NEA’s Professional Growth Continuum is and how it can be used to support your members and potential members in their professional growth and development. Participants will come away with a plan for how to use the standards to increase ESPs understanding of their impact on school and student success, and how ESPs can use their knowledge and skill to pursue a credential that validates their expertise and can be used as an organizing tool.
Presenter(s):
Kimberly Bertocci, Senior Program Specialist/Policy Analyst, ESPQ Quality Department
IEA honors Debbie Ciciora
The Illinois Education Association has selected Eisenhower High School staff member Debbie Ciciora as the Education Support Staff of the Year.
The award recognizes one person from eligible paraprofessionals, administrative assistants, custodians, bus drivers, and food service workers in Illinois.
IEA will honor Ciciora on March 5 at its Representative Assembly. She also becomes automatically eligible for the National Education Association ESP of the Year.
Ciciora earned this prestigious honor for her service work both at Eisenhower and in the community. She serves as the manager for The Closet, a project providing free clothing, hygiene products and other necessities for students at Eisenhower.
Last year McCready Law Firm selected The Closet for the award for Best Local Youth Organization for 2019. Ciciora received $500 for the award for The Closet.
Ciciora also volunteers at a local animal shelter and assists with the Bremen High School prom dress sale by helping collecting dresses and volunteering on the day of the event.
This year she also helped at the Blue Island trunk and Treat and Kris Kringle Market.
Primarily, however, the award recognizes her commitment to The Closet.
Now in its fourth year, the project helps students and families in need. Students may discreetly complete an on-line form to request a winter coat, new socks, hygiene products, and other items. The Closet also features a washer and dryer for students to use.
Eisenhower staff members founded The Closet for many reasons. Apart from the kindness of helping students in need, The Closet serves academic purposes.
Staff members would see some students wearing the same clothes day after day. They understood that not having clean shirts or jeans, or a variety of clothing to wear, would stand as an obstacle to student attendance.
Rather than feel embarrassed about wearing the same clothing frequently, because they know classmates would notice, students sometimes would stay home.
The 166th IEA-NEA Representative Assembly begins on March 4 at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Rosemont, IL. If you are attending the IEA RA please don’t forget to visit the ESP Resource room for great information and resources for you and your members. We look forward to seeing you there.
ESPs make a difference in students lives everyday. Thank you Mary Ann Rivera for not letting time and distance stop you from reaching out and helping students, teachers, and communities in Puerto Rico.
ESP are critical members of the education workforce and ensure student success from pre-school through college. They have a wealth of knowledge, experience and passion and play critical roles in the school community.
Education Support Professionals: Meeting the Needs of the Whole Student. Through the eyes of Sofi, a middle school student, see how Education Support Professionals (ESP) make a difference in the lives of their students, both in and out of the classroom.
Do you have federal student loans?
Do have federal Parent PLUS loans?
Do you have family or friends burdened with student loan debt?
If you answered, “Yes!” to any of the above then Degrees Not Debt is for you! The National Education Association recognizes the burden student loans debt is putting on public educators and developed a campaign called “Degrees Not Debt.” This campaign is intended to inform student loan borrowers of their rights and options in the repayment process. Many borrowers are unaware of their eligibility for programs that can make their monthly payment affordable and provide loan forgiveness.
The final Public Service Loan Forgiveness Application for Forgiveness has been released by the Department of Education. Complete this application after your 120 qualifying payments.
Strong unions help provide a strong education to all students and build strong communities. If you need proof, just look at what happened to Wisconsin after it became a right to work state. A strong voice means we can stand up for our students and make sure that all students, regardless of where they live, have access to a high quality, public education. We are stronger united!
IEA Education Support Professional Council 