Category: Uncategorized

Did you know…

YOU are the union! As soon as you (members) realize this and organize to activiate power into action we will be UNSTOPABLE!

Need funding to attend? Apply today for an IEA scholarship. Other funding opportunities could include your local and/or IEA Region Office.

2025 IEA One Conference
Date:  October 17-18, 2025
Location:  DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Chicago, Oak Brook, IL
Application Deadline:  September 3 (by end of day)
Scholarship Amount = $200.00 

About this event – September 11, 5:30-7:00pm

Come join us to learn organizing strategies and how to activate your power. Together we will bring improved wages, benefits and working conditions for education support professionals (ESPs) throughout Illinois.

We need YOUR voice at the table! Please RSVP to receive the Zoom link and automatic reminders for our RESPECT meetings.

*The RESPECT campaign is led by education support professionals (bus drivers, library associates, paraprofessionals, secretaries, security, nurses, cafeteria workers and other school and campus support staff) and supported by IEA staff.

Public edcuation is under attack…find a rally near you to advocate for our students and educators.

When: 5:30-7pm, 2nd Thursday of each month

We have restructured our monthly virtual rESPect meetings to better equip and “empower ESPs to know their strength and use it”. All education support professional allies are welcome. Attendees must register as this is a new link to join. Together we can bring the changes we need and transform this meeting in to a movement!

Come for learning, leave with so much more!!

The ONE Conference offers great professional development, amazing net working, good food, lots of prizes…and we can’t forget dancing.

This Conference is planned by members for members in collaboration with IEA staff. Planned specifically for IEA Education Support Professional members, IEA Higher Education members, and IEA Retired members to develop professional skills, earn professional development credit and network with colleagues around the state.

During this past summer rESPect Campaign leaders met to and discussed how the campaign can better Organize And Empower ESPs To Know Their Power And Use It. You won’t want to miss these virtual organizing opportunities!!

We will NOT be meeting in August but will resume September 11th from 5:30-7pm.

It’s time for education support professionals to be seen as the essential educators they are! The summertime classroom shuffle, repair, and cleaning is done and new routines and relationships are beginning to grow. Students are being transported to schools… or our college learners are walking across campus’. Teachers/prof have long been planning and differentiating instruction in preparation for their arrivial…but don’t forget learning couldn’t happen without education support professionals!

Thank you to the West Aurora Paraprofessional Association (WAPA) for inviting me to come speak at your beginning of the year institute about how essential you are to our students and to our union. We all deserve rESPect! The stonger our power, the louder our voice!