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Wow, watch till the end…my eyes are leaking.

Thank you Dr. King for showing us what it means to honorably stand up for what is right. Today on Martin Luther King Jr Day we celebrate and give honor to this amazing man.

“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.”

ieaespcouncil.com

Elevating ESPs

ESP survey question

ESP Insider reporter form

We are working to recognize ESP contributions and action through the ESP Insider. When you participate in an event involving ESPs or hear of such an event, please complete the ESP Insider Reporter form available on the ESP webpage.

ESP awards and grants

Wed., Jan. 15 is the application deadline for SCORE grants! $50,000 in grant money available!Open to ESPs in the first 10 years of their careers Grants up to $1,000 are available.For ideas, take a look at previously funded projects.

Thurs., Jan. 16 is the nomination deadline for IEA’s ESP of the Year award! For details and the nomination form, go to the ESP page on the IEA website.

Fri., Jan. 31 is the application deadline for the $2,500 Burroughs Education Scholarship!Applicants must be graduating seniors heading to college.Applicants must have at least one parent or legal guardian who is a school employee.Scholarship is awarded based on academic achievement, career goals and character. Information/application.

Applications for the ESP STAR award accepted monthly! Use the online nomination form to nominate a special ESP member. A video can be included along with the reasons why the local association president or member of the IEA Board of Directors has nominated the member for an ESP STAR award. Nominees must be a current ESP member of IEA.

Paraeducators, join us for our January NEA webinar!

Jan. 16, 6-7 p.m. (CST): Accommodations and Modifications: What paraeducators need to knowDo you work with students who receive special education services? Do you know what accommodations and modifications they are entitled to in their Individualized Education Program (IEP)? Do you have a clear understanding of your role in providing them? This webinar will provide participants with an understanding of accommodations and modifications, how they differ, and the process through which they are determined for individual students. Examples of a variety of accommodations and modifications that support instruction will be reviewed. Information/registration.

Next ESP Assembly and Council meeting – Feb. 8

Let your voice be heard. All ESPs are welcome! The next ESP assembly will be held on Sat., Feb. 8 at 10 a.m. in the Matteson IEA office. Please join us and share the flier! Mark your calendar with these future dates: Sat., April 18, 10 a.m. – Sterling IEA office Sat., June 13, 10 a.m. – Edwardsville IEA office Stay connected with other ESPs:► IEA ESP Council website ► IEA ESP website ► ESP Professional Caucus on Facebook ► ESP Connections on Facebook

ESP Emerging Leaders

Application period extended to Feb. 14! A couple spots are still open for the 2020 cohort of the IEA-NEA ESP Emerging Leaders Academy. The application period has been extended until Feb.14 or until the spots are filled (whichever occurs first). Information/registration

IEA and NEA conferences

Mar. 5-7: IEA Representative Assembly, Hyatt Regency O’Hare (Rosemont) Information/registration Mar. 12-13: NEA Higher Education Conference (Orlando) Information/registration Mar. 13-15: NEA National Leadership Summit (Orlando) Information/registration Mar. 20-22: NEA ESP National Conference (New Orleans) Information/registration​​​​​​​

IEA-NEA elections

There were no additional declarations of candidacy submitted for the IEA officer or NEA Director positions. Therefore, an election will not be necessary and the following candidates will be declared elected at the 2020 IEA RA:  President: Kathi Griffin Vice President: Al Llorens Secretary-Treasurer: Tom Tully NEA Directors: Amy Biancheri, Karl Goeke, Gladys Marquez

IEA-NEA spring elections Nominations are open for the NEA RA State, Retired and Student Delegate elections as well as for sectional representative positions on the IEA Board of Directors and the ESP, Higher Ed and Retired Councils. Hard copy nominations were sent to every member the first week in January. Here is a link to the online nomination form, which is posted on the IEA website at the top of the home page.. Nominations must be received by Feb. 19. If you have any questions, contact the IEA Governance Elections/Fair Share Paraprofessional Kim Trader.

Member benefits

As an IEA member, there are special benefits available to you! Log in to Members Only and access your discounts and deals today!

This past weekend 19 locals from 9 states attended the ESP: Supporting Our Own Through Peer Mentoring training at NEA headquarters in Washington DC. Three locals from Illinois were among those in attendance, District U-46 DUEA, Park Ridge Teachers Association, and Troy Education Association. The representatives from these associations experienced an intensive two day forum that helped each collaborate, plan, and develop an ESP mentoring framework specific for their members.

These union representatives from around the country were lead by a group of amazing leaders, both ESPs and NEA staff. It was extremely obvious that NEA and IEA know how important education support professionals are to our students, schools and communities. I for one as one of those lucky ones able to attend this awesome experience want to thank them for their support and truly appreciate the confidence they have in every ESP member!!

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Tomorrow a fellow ESP colleague and I, along with our IEA staff uniserv director will travel to Washington DC to represent our Local.

Several months ago NEA sent out a call to ESP locals who were interested in developing a mentoring program. I applied and my local was chosen to have a team travel to Washington DC and work with NEA staff to develop a plan specific for my district. What will this look like? That is yet to be determined, but I am excited to be able to be apart of this.

I truly love working in education and at Troy. You may disagree but I think I have the best students and work with the most dedicated staff around. My goal this weekend is to be fully committed to working with our team and creating a framework on which we can build a program that will benefit not only our amazing ESPs but our whole staff and students.

I know unions make a difference!! I will make a difference. My colleagues deserve it….our students deserve it!!

YOU DESERVE IT TOO!! If you have any questions or concerns regarding your local please contact your IEA ESP Council. We are here to assist area locals throughout ALL of Illinois. We would be happy to assist you. Thank you for what you do everyday!!

ESP of the Year Award Nominations Due Soon!!!In 1995, the lEA Representative Assembly passed a New Business Item establishing the ESP of the Year Award. This award is meant to further emphasize the contributions of Education Support Professionals to their association, their schools, and their communities.To insure the widest possible participation, the nomination procedure for the ESP of the Year Award shall be as follows:

• Each local association affiliate can submit one nominee through their local president.
• Any member of the IEA Board of Directors may also submit one nomination.
• Only one application per individual will be accepted. (If multiple applications for the same individual are received, application eligibility will be determined by the earliest received.)
• Members of the ESP Council and alternates are not eligible for this award.
• Nominations must be submitted by Jan. 16, 2020.