Category: Uncategorized

Educational Support Professionals: Understanding and Supporting Students on the Autism Spectrum

Thursday, October 24, 2019

7:00 PM – 8:00 PM EST

Register at http://neaorg.adobeconnect.com/e0ohc3w9ycnf/event/event_info.html

Autism is easily among the most misunderstood of all human conditions which poses daily challenges for educators and students alike. Have you ever asked, “Why do kids with autism do that?” The simple truth is students with Autism have several different behaviors that we, as educators, find difficult to understand because we cannot fully comprehend what it’s like in the mind and body of someone on the spectrum. This highly informative webinar will focus on identifying the traits and characteristics of autism, development and implementation of proactive strategies to help manage sensory processing issues and meltdowns and the similarities and differences between same aged males and females with ASD.

Presenter(s):
Donna Nielsen, graduate of NEA ESP Leaders for Tomorrow, NEA ESP Conference Presenter, Training graduate of Hands In Autism (an affiliate of Indiana University and Riley’s Children’s Hospital), Certified School Bus Driver Trainer, Certified Grief Support Group Facilitator, Grandmother of an Autistic Grandson, Retired NEA and ISTA Board of Director and a Retired 30 year Professional School Bus Driver.

·         Mickey Brady, graduate of NEA ESP Leaders for Tomorrow, NEA ESP Conference presenter, 28 year Professional Bus Driver and Certified School Bus Driver Trainer, Training graduate of Hands in Autism (an affiliate of Indiana University and Riley’s Children’s Hospital), Crisis Prevention Institute certified trainer in non-violent crisis intervention, certified True Colors trainer.

INTENDED AUDIENCE:

NEA affiliate leaders, staff, members and partners. All interested parties are welcome. You are encouraged to forward this invite to your partners, leaders and other team members.

FACILITATOR(S):

Lisa Connor, NEA Sr. Program/Policy Analyst
Jessica Brinkley, NEA Sr. Program/Policy Analyst

Questions? Contact Jessica Brinkley at jdbrinkley@nea.org.

For more ESP professional development opportunities visit www.nea.org/esppd.

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If you are interested in attending a future conference through IEA or NEA I highly encourage you to take the opportunity. Funds are usually available for ESPs to attend. Please check with your local president or contact your local region office. If you have any questions please submit your questions through the Contact Your ESP Council on this site. We would be happy to assist you in any way we can.

There were so many amazing sessions such as Teacher/Para Teams, CPR/AED Heartsaver Adult/Child/Infant, Time to Bargain: Is Your Team Ready?, Stress Management and Mindfulness, and so many more. Beyond the sessions, I love the opportunity to meet and collaborate with ESP members from across Illinois, and oh, my… the food!! So much great food!

#rESPect #StrongerUnited

Save the date for the next NEA #Education Support Professionals Conference, March 20-22, 2020 in New Orleans! You don’t want to miss this conference!!

National Education Association Education Support Professionals Quality (ESPQ) Department Center for Great Public Schools Webinar

Educational Support Professionals: My School, My Voice

Thursday, September 19, 2019 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM EST Register at http://neaorg.adobeconnect.com/eyblsvhupxng/event/event_info.html

Do students and ESPs at your school have everything they need to succeed? As educators, we have the opportunity to speak up and help ensure safe, healthy and supportive school environments for all students and staff. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) allows educators, parents, and students to set more meaningful indicators of success for their school. By sharing your voice and setting specific performance criteria for your school, you can let lawmakers know what kind of help your school needs to reach its full potential. In this webinar, participants will have the opportunity to see what educator voice looks like in schools across the country and discuss barriers to raising our voices as well as opportunities to amplify our voices.

Presenter(s): Bianca Singh, Sr. Policy/Program Specialist, NEA Education Policy and Practice Department

INTENDED AUDIENCE: NEA affiliate leaders, staff, members and partners. All interested parties are welcome. You are encouraged to forward this invite to your partners, leaders and other team members.

FACILITATOR(S): Dorothy Vu, NEA Sr. Communication Specialist Jessica Brinkley, NEA Sr. Program/Policy Analyst Questions? Contact Jessica Brinkley at jdbrinkley@nea.org.

For more ESP professional development opportunities visit http://www.nea.org/esppd.

🚨STATEWIDE #RedForEd ACTION 🚨Many Educators across Illinois are supporting Rockford High School and showing the dissatisfaction we have with Betsy Devos and her horrific education policies. Let’s remind her that Illinois is a state full of strong public school educators! ✊ ✏️ ✊ #IEAStronger

 The Chicago Ridge Educational Support Staff (CRESS) (Region 56)  IEA is pleased to announce the growth of a local! After a card campaign starting last April, 12 ESPs, including food service workers, aides and secretaries, joined their ESP local after all of them signed cards. Congratulations, CRESS!

You can do this!! I believe in you!!!

Have you ever wished there was a conference with ESPs in mind? If so you don’t want to miss the One Conference. Many ESP sessions are planned by ESPs for ESPs. Please join us for the 2019 One Conference for IEA Education Support Professionals (ESP), Higher Education, and IEA Retired members. The two-day event will offer a variety of elective sessions and feature keynote speaker,  Gordon Lafer, professor at the University of Oregon’s Labor Education and Research Center and author of The One Percent Solution: How Corporations Are Remaking America, One State at a Time.

Registration is open for the IEA One Conference! Join your fellow ESPs in Oak Brook, Oct. 4–5 DoubleTree by Hilton, 1909 Spring Rd., Oak Brook  Registration fee: $20 per registrant, prior to the event; $30 onsite. The deadline to register is Friday, Sept. 20.

Visit the IEA website for the agenda, session descriptions, session grid and conference brochure. IEA funding available! Scholarship applications are due by Sept. 6.

Conference Registration Room Reservation

All ESPs are welcome to an IEA office near you!

Save these dates and plan to attend an ESP meeting and assembly at an IEA office near you. You are cordially invited to come and attend a meeting, meet with members, ask questions, and gather support for your union organization. Below are a list of meeting dates and locations. If you are unable to attend, please contact us directly using the Contact the ESP Council page on the IEA ESP Council Website. We are always #StrongerUnited and every ESP deserves #rESPect.

Nov. 9 – Champagne; Address: 2110 Clearlake Blvd # 103, Champaign, IL 61822
Feb. 8 – Matteson; Address: 4747 Lincoln Mall Dr # 501, Matteson, IL 60443
April 18 – Sterling; Address: 3307 E Lincolnway #3, Sterling, IL 61081
June 13 – Edwardsville; Address: 1012 Plummer Dr #400, Edwardsville, IL 62025