Category: Uncategorized

This past Friday evening and Saturday I had the privilege to travel to Springfield, Illinois to attend the October Illinois Education Association Board of Director’s meeting. A lot of great work was done. It’s always important to hear what our members are experiencing around the state and advocate for the support they need. We also had a very special guest stop by.

Don’t forget to vote! November 8th is election day. Make a plan…and plan to vote. Here is a link to IEA’s Voter Guide for pro-public education candidates.

The Illinois Education Association (IEA) and the University of Illinois Springfield invites you 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.

When considering how to improve the climate and culture of a school district, it is important to consider the impact of school climate and culture on educators who work both in and out of the classroom. This includes teachers, education support professionals, and other professional staff such as counselors, psychologists, social workers, and nurses.

IEA will use the results of this survey to support educator’s well-being in the workplace through improved programs and services.

This survey is voluntary and will take approximately ten minutes to complete. Data collected as part of this survey will remain confidential, see the informed consent document for additional information. Please use the below link to access the survey:

Take the Illinois Educator Well-Being Survey

The survey will close on December 1, 2022.

This spooky season, get rid of the biggest scare in your life – student loans! The deadline for public service loan forgiveness is fast approaching, but NEA can help!

Come join us this Tuesday, October 25th at 7:00pm for a virtual discussion on Unemployment Insurance for education support professionals.

Support staff can’t have unemployment, so often times pay is stretched over the summer. We want to change that. Click the link to register to attend this important discussion. https://mobilize.us/s/9Bz3IC/r

Don’t Miss This NEA Virtual Webinar Opportunity

Equitable Discipline and the Role of an ESP 
Thursday, October 20, 2022, 7:00-8:00 p.m. ET (EASTERN)
 
This webinar is rooted in relational equity and culturally responsive social-emotional learning. Join us to learn about the important connection between authentic relationships with students, families, and staff members and their impact on student success, resiliency, and hope. You will also explore how personal bias impacts disciplinary decisions and actions. Register Now 

At tonight’s RESPECT Campaign meeting in between reports of the progress we are making to reach our goals to advocate for members we heard from several amazing education support professionals who shared their story. They told of struggles that are far too common among education support staff. The worry they face every month when they struggle to pay bills and afford food because their paychecks just don’t represent the value they bring to their students, schools, and districts. They spoke of their concerns of high health insurance costs and being effective in their buildings because they are being stretched too thin due to staffing shortages.

It is time for RESPECT! Go to www.iearespect.org and join today! We have got to build this campaign into a movement! We have got to bring the change we need and our members deserve. Invite your colleagues, friends, and neighbors.

The purpose of the NEA ESP National conference 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 multiple interactive workshops to choose from over the course of three days, participants enhance their knowledge and skills to advocate for students and educators, champion racial and social justice, build community relationships, strengthen and grow membership, and sustain stronger local associations, helping members excel in their careers and positively impact student success.  

2023 ESP NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Theme: Joy, Justice, Excellence: The Strength of Educators. The Brilliance of Students. The Power of Community.

March 24-26, 2023
Seattle, WA

Interested in presenting a session at the ESP Conference?
Our call for presenters period is now open! The deadline to submit a session proposal to be considered for the conference is Friday, October 28, 2022. 

ACCESS THE CALL FOR PRESENTERS FORM

Join IEA Government Relations for a monthly training series on how to prepare your local for school board elections in 2023. Click to register for this virtual event.

https://www.mobilize.us/ieanea/event/440798/