Category: Uncategorized

IEA-NEA Spring Election Information

The ESP Council currently does not have any nominations for the following positions:

• ESP Ethnic Minority Council Member
• ESP Southern/Central Alternate (2 year term)
• ESP Northern/Central Alternate

Nominations are now open for the NEA RA State, Retired and Student Delegate elections as well as for sectional representative positions on the IEA Board of Directors and the ESP, Higher Ed and Retired Councils.  Hard copy nominations were sent to every member the first week in January and a link to online nominations is on the IEA website.

 Nominations must be received by February 16, 2022.  If you have any questions, contact the Governance Elections/Fair Share Paraprofessional, Kim Trader at kim.trader@ieanea.org.

I admit I’m nervous and change is hard for me…but I am choosing to seek the light. I admit I’m frustrated, about SO many things, but I am choosing to look for grace. I admit I’m sad, that people can be so mean and hurtful, but I’m choosing to show kindness. Today I wll do what I ALWAYS do, I will make the most of my day. I will support my students and staff. Today I will choose love.

SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Education Association (IEA) President Kathi Griffin released the following statement after a ruling by Sangamon County Judge Raylene Grischow on the temporary restraining order (TRO) that would prohibit enforcement of face masks, vaccination, and Covid testing mandates.

Check your emails for this month’s ESP Insider for information on:

• IEA/NEA election information
• January ESP Star Award Recipients
• Member Benefits, Grants, and More
• NEA ESP Conference March 25-27, New Orleans Marriott
• Other News and Important Events (Don’t miss this information!!)

Stay connected with other ESP members!

• IEA ESP Council website
• Join the ESP Facebook Group
• Follow @NEArESPect on Twitter
• Get involved with the National Council for Education Support Professionals (NCESP)

Funding can be requested from your local and regions to offset many of the expenses to attend.

2022 NEA ESP National Conference Education Support Professionals: Uniting for a better future for our students, our educators, and our communities Good news! NEA is now accepting registrations for the 2022 NEA Education Support Professionals (ESPs) National Conference, scheduled for March 25-27, in New Orleans, Louisiana. With 70+ sessions led by ESPs, NEA partners and NEA staff, this conference is a premier opportunity for professional leadership, development, and community. During the conference, we will also honor ESP of the Year nominees from across the country and announce this year’s NEA ESP of the Year awardee.

The ESP Conference is certain to be a special event, albeit with some changes to help mitigate the risk of COVID exposure. To this end, NEA has established health and safety requirements that must be adhered to by all attending the conference. These requirements will be strictly enforced. It is important that all interested attendees read and understand the NEA COVID-19 requirements and waiver before registering.

Complete ESP Conference information – including the agenda, workshops, link to registration, link to reserve a hotel room, COVID-related requirements, and more – can be found at https://www.nea.org/espconference.

IMRF’s Pre-Retirement Workshops are for IMRF members who are within five years of retirement. They will address the steps you must take before and during the IMRF retirement application process. Pre-Retirement Workshop webinar dates: January Saturday, January 29, 9 – 10 AM February Thursday, February 3, noon – 1 PMWednesday, February 16, 5 – 6 PM March Wednesday, March 2, 5 – 6 PMThursday, March 31, noon – 1 PM April Saturday, April 9, 9 – 10 AMTuesday, April 26, noon – 1 PM Register today! For more information, or to register for a Pre-Retirement Workshop webinar, click here.

“Keeping schools open and those inside them – and their families – safe has been our number one priority from the start of the pandemic,” said Kathi Griffin, president of the Illinois Education Association. “We want people to stay home when they’re sick, to be able to care for their children when their children need them the most, and to be paid when the circumstances that close their buildings are completely beyond their control. This bill protects school and university employees and all those they teach, drive to and from school, feed and care for in so many ways. Health care professionals and scientists have given us a path out of this pandemic and we should follow it.”