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.
Bloomington ESP Representative Assembly
WHEN: Saturday, May 4, 2019 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
WHERE: Bloomington IEA Office 304 S. Eldorado Suite 2 Bloomington, IL 61704
WHAT: Meet the IEA ESP Council. Share what’s happening in your school district and local. Learn what the Council offers and how we can assist your members.
RSVP: No later than May 1 to Arlene Criglar at 847.428.7640 or arlene.criglar@ieanea.org or cathy.wyzykowski@ieanea.org
Greetings, NCUEA Local Presidents! The National Council of Urban Education Associations continues its partnership with NEA’s Center for Organizing (C4O) by providing NCUEA members trainings for new local presidents in the 2018-2019 school year. Moreover, NCUEA members are given preferential registration notice before non-NCUEA members to register for these training opportunities.
TRAININGS FOR NEW LOCAL PRESIDENTS
NCUEA continues to recognize the need to support new local presidents with training sessions aligned with NEA’s Leadership Competencies to provide skills and tools needed to achieve the Association’s 2018-2019 priorities. NCUEA and C4O will offer two additional, new local presidents’ trainings in the 2018-2019 school year. Each session is capped at 15 participants and registration is on a first come, first served basis.
ELIGIBLITY: The New Local Presidents Training will be open to NEW local association presidents, within their first 24 months.
FOCUS: The training focuses on Level 1 of the NEA Leadership Competencies, Foundational.
WHEN & WHERE: The training will start at 9:00 AM on Thursday, May 16, 2019, and conclude at noon on Saturday, May 18, 2019. The training sessions will take place in Las Vegas, NV.
LODGING & MEALS: NEA will cover the cost of the hotel (room and tax) and meals (breakfast and lunch) during the training. All other meals are the responsibility of the individual attendees. Participants will receive the hotel information once registration closes. All guests must submit a credit card upon check-in at the hotel to cover any incidental charges.
LOCAL COMMITTMENT: Each participant is responsible for making their own flight and travel arrangements. NEA is not responsiblefor the cost of airfare, taxi, baggage, or other travel expenses.
REGISTRATION: Click here to register for the May 16—18, 2019 training. After the first 15 registrants, we will begin a waiting list. Please contact Sharon Holbrook, sholbrook@nea.org with any questions.
If you cannot attend this training, our next training will be:
August 8—10, 2019, Washington DC
Registration opens for NCUEA locals: May 27, 2019
Registration extends to all NEA locals: June 3, 2019
Brent McKim
NCUEA
www.nea.org/ncuea
Thanks to the advocacy of NEA’s members and board of directors, the Senate joined the House in voting to create a national award for ESPs. Support was overwhelming in both chambers: the vote was unanimous in the Senate and 387-19in the House. The measure directs the Secretary of Education to establish the Recognizing Inspiring School Employees (RISE) Award Program for ESPs in pre-K-to grade 12: paraeducators, clerical assistants, bus drivers, custodians, food service workers, security professionals, nurses, and more. In the words of NEA President Lily Eskelsen Garcia, “This long overdue bill appropriately respects and rightly acknowledges the hard work, dedication, skills and expertise of our ESPs.” The bill creating the national ESP award now goes to the president to be signed into law.
The Senate version of the Dream and Promise Act (H.R. 6), introduced March 26, consists of two bills. Both provide legal status and a path to citizenship: the Dream Act (S. 874) for people brought to this country as minors and the SECURE Act (S. 879) for people allowed to remain here for humanitarian reasons under the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) programs. The Migration Policy Institute estimates that nearly 40,000 educators could benefit. H.R. 6 has 225 cosponsors, enough to guarantee passage in the House, which is expected sometime after the April recess. Click on the take action button and tell your representatives to support H.R. 6, S. 874, and S. 879.
The bipartisan IDEA Full Funding Act, introduced this week in both the Senate and the House, would fulfill the promise Congress made in 1975 when it passed the Individuals with Disabilites in Education Act: to pay 40% of special education costs. Currently, the federal government pays less than 14% of those costs. The IDEA Full Funding Act would increase the federal contribution over a 10-year period until it reaches the 40% level in 2029. Nearly 7 million students receive special education services-13% of all public school students. Click on the take action button and tell your representatives to support the IDEA Full Funding Act.
232 members of the House, Democrat and Republican, who voted for the Paycheck Fairness Act.
Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) introduced the bipartisan Dream Act (S. 874) to provide legal status and a path to citizenship for people brought to this country as minors who know no other country as home.
Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Ben Cardin (D-MD) introduced the SECURE Act (S. 879) to provide legal status and a path to citizenship for people in the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) programs.
Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS), and Representatives Jared Huffman (D-CA), John Katko (R-NY), David McKinley (R-WV), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Glenn Thompson (R-PA), Joe Neguse (D-CO), Dean Phillips (D-MN), and Kurt Schrader (D-OR) introduced the bipartisan IDEA Full Funding Act.
Representative Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) introduced the Universal Full-Day Kindergarten Act, the first-ever House bill to take steps toward providing universal access to full-day kindergarten.
Labor, HHS, Education Appropriations subcommittee chairwoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), full committee chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-NY), and Representatives Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Katherine Clark (D-MA), Lois Frankel (D-FL), Cheri Bustos (D-IL), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) forcefully challenged Education Secretary Betsy DeVos at a hearing on her budget proposal, that DeLauro called “cruel” and “reckless.”
🎉GREAT NEWS! 🎉
Congress just passed H.R.276, legislation to establish a NATIONAL AWARD honoring education support professionals (ESP) & classified school employees.
ESP meet the needs of students on so many levels. Now they will have the honor + rESPect they deserve!
If you get the chance…You have to attend an ESP Conference. Sometimes as ESPs we forget we are professionals, we are important, and we are NECESSARY for the success for EVERY students. When you come together with other ESPs you are reminded that what you do every day matters. You matter!!
If you think you are “just” a para professional, bus driver, lunch lady, or any of the many other essential ESP job categories. Let me remind you, You Matter!! You are a professional!!! It’s right in your job title, Education Support Professional!! You deserve respect for what you do everyday. Everyday you have the opportunity to be a light, make a difference, and change the world one students at a time. WE ARE ESP!!
Thank you!!
March 22-24, 2019
The NEA ESP conference is the premier professional development opportunity for Education Support Professionals across the nation. The goal of the conference is to grow and strengthen the professional excellence of ESP members working in Pre-K to Higher-Ed through Association-convened, educator-led, and student-centered learning experiences. With more than 60 interactive workshops to choose from over the course of four days, participants will enhance their knowledge and skills to build community relationships, organize members, advocate for educators, and sustain stronger local associations, helping members excel in their careers and positively impact student success.
| Seeking members to serve on IEA committeesProposed bylaw amendments to be considered at the IEA RAUpdate on the 3 percent repeal effort |
| Seeking members to serve on IEA committees |
| It’s that time again to begin the process of appointing committee and task force members for the next year (2019-20). Recommendations are due no later than May 15. If you are interested in serving on a committee or task force, please review the procedures which will be followed in recommending committee appointments. |
| Proposed bylaw amendments |
| Three bylaw amendments have been proposed for consideration at the 2019 IEA Representative Assembly at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare, Rosemont on April 11-13, 2019. These proposals have been timely submitted and have been presented to the IEA Executive Committee pursuant to the IEA Bylaws amendment deadlines. All proposed amendments must be posted on the Association website for at least thirty (30) consecutive days in advance of the RA. In addition, these proposals are emailed to each member who has an email address on record and a notice issued through association social media sites no later than thirty (30) days prior to the RA. These proposals will need approval by a two-thirds vote of RA delegates to be adopted. Additional amendments may be made at the RA at least one business meeting prior to the meeting at which the final vote is taken; however, proposals made in this fashion must be approved by at least three-fourths of the RA delegates in order to be adopted.2018-19 Proposed Bylaw Amendment 12018-19 Proposed Bylaw Amendment 22018-19 Proposed Bylaw Amendment 3The current bylaw language is printed in the left-hand column. The proposed amendments are printed in underlined type in the right-hand column. |
| Repeal the 3 percent update |
| More than 40,000 IEA members have signed the petition to repeal the 3 percent TRS/SURS salary limitation! If you haven’t already, sign the petition! Also, we are asking you to send an email to your lawmakers. All you have to do is follow this link, and the tool will walk you through the process. Click the Take Action button and enter your mailing address and your lawmakers’ names will pop up, along with a pre-written email that outlines the issue and why IEA members across the state are finding problems with the 3 percent law.Watch the videoView the toolkit |
Each year, one Education Support Professional receives the NEA ESP of the Year Award in recognition of their outstanding contribution to their schools, communities, and profession.
The ESP of the Year serves as an ambassador for Education Support Professionals around the country, promoting the value of ESP members at national and state conferences.
While it showcases one outstanding support professional each year, the Award recognizes and honors the contributions to great public schools all Education Support Professionals make year-round.
Tina Pizzitola is our 2019 Illinois ESP representative. ESPs throughout Illinois are very lucky to have you representing us. You represent the very best of our profession.
NEA will present its 28th annual NEA ESP of the Year Award at the 2019 NEA ESP National Conference on Saturday, March 23rd. Good luck Tina Pizzitola and thank you for all you do for your students and for the betterment of all ESPs.
Paraprofessional, Instructional Assistant, Teacher’s Aide, Educational Assistant… these wonderful people go by many names. When we read these titles, however, we may not really understand what their jobs entail. After almost 10 years in education, though, I think I can sum up a parapro’s job description in one word: superhero.
Welcome Carbondale Educational Support Professionals Association (Region 2)
| Pictured left to right: Secretary Amy Weber, President Tricia Lueker, Vice President Leatreasa Lilly-Madison (all three are building secretaries), Treasurer Donovan Burk and Regional Council Rep Phillip Wallen(both special education aides). Not pictured is instructional aide Joan Rogers, elected RCR alternate. |
| The Carbondale Educational Support Professionals Association-IEA/NEA (CESPA) has its first set of local officers! At their maiden general membership meeting Nov.1, members ratified local bylaws and then elected CESPA’s Executive Committee. CESPA is the newest affiliate of Region 2, served out of the IEA Carterville Office. They will partner with the longstanding Carbondale Education Association which represents teachers and other certified employees of Carbondale Elementary District #95. The ESP local representing nearly 100 aides, paraprofessionals, secretaries, cooks and maintenance staff organized last spring with overwheling support.Submitted by IEA Organizer Dave Vitoff Edwardsville |
| Welcome Johnsburg Support Staff Organization (Region 23) |
| Members of JSSO met at Ringwood Elementary School in Ringwood on Dec. 11 to vote in their very first election. After a whirlwind three-month campaign, 48 paraprofessionals and teachers’ aides formed a new ESP local and they are already preparing to enter bargaining. Congratulations, JSSO! |
| (Pictured L to R): Jennifer Schmitt, association representative;Kathleen Zakrocky, regional council representative; Julie Young, treasurer; Laurie Stade, president;Dawn Becker, association representative; Kelly Berwick, vice president; Mary Kay Martino, secretary; and Suzy Martin, association representative. |
IEA Education Support Professional Council 