Category: Uncategorized

Today and everyday I am thankful for the many ESPs who make a difference in the lives of our students. This year more than ever ESPs have proven they are essential to the success of our students, schools, and communities. Though this year may have been one of our toughest, with many ESPs feeling insignificant and forgotten, I assure you, you are not! It does not matter what career family you belong to, you are an educator, you are a professional, you are effecting the lives of our students.

Thank you!! I am truly thankful for you!!

SCHOOL ME The ESP Who’s Training Thousands on Implicit Bias The latest School Me podcast features Aneeka Ferrell, a Substitute Coordinator in Washington, who has seen a passion of hers take off in a big way in 2020: educators are clamoring for her implicit bias trainings. On this episode, we discuss the importance of recognizing and challenging your biases—which we all have—for the sake of your students. Listen in ›

MICRO-CREDENTIALSMicro-credentials for Distance Learning As the pandemic ebbs and flows, so do the needs of our students and the status of school buildings. We’ve curated a collection of helpful micro-credentials—for teachers and ESPs alike—to help you build your skills in a virtual learning space and beyond. These micro-credentials are included with your NEA membership. Learn more and apply ›

EDUCATION SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS Webinar: Institutional Racism and Policing: Impact on ESPs Join us on December 10th at 07:00 PM ET for a webinar that will highlight how institutional racism is embedded in policing, how it impacts the experiences of education support professionals—especially those of color—as they work to create safer learning environments for all students, and possible solutions. Register here ›

RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES Reading Tips We have partnered with PBS affiliate WETA to create resources that the parents and families of young children can use to stay on track on their early literacy journey, even while learning from home. Please pass along this round up of resources to your students’ families to help ensure learning doesn’t stop—even when school isn’t in session. Reading SOS ›

You helped get them on the ballot, now it’s time to cast your vote! The IEA is supporting our own Hugh Cunningham, the co-president of the Triad Custodial and Maintenance Association along with Tracie Mitchell of AFSCME Local 268 in the upcoming Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) Trustee election. A ballot and postage-paid return envelope were mailed at the end of October to all active ESPs. Ballots must be returned by Dec. 4. Please spread the word with your ESP colleagues and place this poster in your breakrooms on the association boards.

Did you know that your Member Access profile page (My IMRF) gives you an overview of your IMRF account information? You can view your contact information, your beneficiaries, your current and future IMRF benefits, your wages and contributions, and more.

Need to sign up for a Member Access account: https://www.imrf.org/memberacc…/registrationLandingPage.do

#theimrf#memberaccess#retirement#retirementplanning

Thank you to Jill Lee, Cathy Wyzykowski, Dave Jelliff, and all of the amazing ESP advocates who attended tonight’s ESP Roundtable. Tons if great information was shared. This session will be uploaded to IEA Member’s Only website soon.

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Topic: ESPs: Bargaining in the New Normal

Join the ESP Council on Thurs., Nov. 19, 6:30 – 8 p.m. for a training and discussion on ESP bargaining during this pandemic time. ALL ESP members are invited to attend! Download the flier with information and the link to join. 

Nov. 19: ESPs: Bargaining in the new normal
Join the ESP Council on Thurs., Nov. 19, 6:30 – 8 p.m. for a training and discussion on ESP bargaining during this pandemic time. ALL ESP members are invited to attend! Download the flier with information and the link to join. 

The Illinois Education Association (IEA) and the University of Illinois Springfield invites ESPs to participate in the Illinois Educator Well-Being Survey. The purpose of this survey is to examine how the climate and culture of your workplace impacts the quality of your life.

Take the survey now.