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IEA Stand Strong Even though you might feel alone, we are all standing together. Watch our new video! IEA 4@4IEA President Kathi Griffin and IEA Executive Director Audrey Soglin answer your questions. Tune in for the 4@4 every Tuesday and Thursday at 4 p.m. (There will not be a 4@4 on Thurs., April 30 due to the IEA Tele Town Hall at 4 p.m. The next 4@4 will be Tues., May 5.)

Don’t miss these upcoming events for ESPs!

Thurs., April 30, 4 p.m. IEA Tele Town Hall: Join IEA President Kathi Griffin and special guest, State School Superintendent Carmen Ayala, Ph.D. You should receive a call to join, or go to ieanea.org/live at 4 p.m. Thurs., April 30, 6 p.m. NEA Webinar: COVID-19 sick leave, family leave and unemployment benefits Thurs., May 7, 6 p.m. NEA Webinar: School meal policy in the COVID-19 era

Two quick surveys Your input is important to us! Please take a few minutes and respond to both surveys:Interest Survey: Please complete this three-question survey. Your local wants to know your interests to ensure you receive the resources, supports and communications that most interest you. Thanks for participating! Do you know an unsung ESP he/shero? Tell us about that person!

Ohio paraprofessional named ESP of the Year

Congratulations Andrea Beeman, 2020 NEA Education Support Professional of the Year! NEA Today: ESP of the Year offers guidance, advocacy during crisis

ESP STAR Award

Nominate an ESP member today! Use the online nomination form to nominate a special ESP member. A video can be included along with the reasons why the local association president or member of the IEA Board of Directors has nominated the member for an ESP STAR award. Nominees must be a current ESP member of IEA.

ESP reporter form

We are working to recognize ESP contributions and actions through the ESP Insider. When you participate in an event involving ESPs or hear of such an event, please complete the ESP Insider Reporter form.

ESP Council news SAVE THE DATE! The council is planning to host a virtual ESP Assembly/Council meeting on Sat., June 13, 10 a.m. to noon. More information will be forth coming on how to join using your computer or phone. All ESP members are welcome to participate.

Stay connected with other ESPs:IEA ESP Council websiteIEA ESP websiteESP Professional Caucus on FacebookESP Connections on Facebook

Letter to ESPs from Jill Scarcelli, IEA ESP Council secretary From my heart to yours…

ESPs support students during the COVID-19 crisis

ESP members from Troy School District 30c volunteered to help distribute Chrome Books to families for their children to use during remote learning.

More on COVID-19 from NEANEA Today: School nurses join fight against Coronavirus NEA Education Policy: Coronavirus and schools NEA to Congress: Put people first to alleviate suffering caused by COVID-19 NEA RA: NEA to host 2020 Representative Assembly virtually due to COVID-19 pandemic

Stay at home shopping essentials Check out the member guide with offers and links from Access (an IEA Partner).

All in Illinois Go to allinillinois.org to hear heartfelt messages and watch short video clips from your favorite Illinoisans. Join IEA and take the pledge to being All In!

Other news IEA Connect is here to help! Contact IEA Connect by phone at 1-844-432-1800, live chat or email, Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The 2020 U.S. Census is happening NOW! The Census is safe, important and necessary. The Census questionnaire can be completed online, by phone or by email. SCORE Grants Information and online application link. Deadline to apply is July 15. Summer Leadership Academy (SLA) This year’s SLA, July 20-22, will be a virtual, on-line event. Watch for further details. Save the date! IEA One Conference, Oct. 2-3, Oak Brook

The webinar takes place tomorrow, 4/30 at 7 pm EDT. 

Join NEA’s Office of General Counsel for an informative webinar about your rights to new paid sick and family leave benefits under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.

We’ll also discuss expanded benefits under unemployment insurance programs for workers who have had their hours reduced or have lost employment due to the pandemic. 

Note: Although we cannot give you legal advice on your specific situation, we will answer questions about the new benefits and educator rights under these federal laws. To cover the most relevant information possible, please submit a question when you register so our team can tailor the presentation. Any questions submitted during the webinar will be recorded with the intent to answer in future webinars or NEA online resources.

Link to Register: https://www.mobilize.us/nea/event/269730/?utm_source=EdAction0428&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=covid19

4@4: Tuesday, April 28, 2020

Illinois Education Association  · On today’s IEA 4@4 we answer your questions about the school year ending early, clock hours, the Illinois Department of Aging and about meetings in school buildings.

NOTE: There will not be a posting of IEA 4@4 this Thursday because of the tele-town hall with special guest State Superintendent Dr. Carmen Ayala, which will be at 4 p.m. on Thursday.

The IEA 4@4 will resume again on Tuesday, May 5. Please leave any questions you have for the 4@4 in the comments below.

During these recent months both NEA an IEA have been working tirelessly to provide members with the information necessary to successfully go through this time of virtual learning and uncertainty due to Covid-19. NEA and IEA have been rallying for our rights! They have been a strong voice at tables, bringing our concerns and advocating for our members, helping to make decisions on behalf of ALL of our members. Check back often as webinars, and tele-town halls are being organized often and many happen quickly.

National Education Association

Education Support Professionals Quality (ESPQ) Department

Center for Great Public Schools Webinar

School Meal Policy in the COVID-19 Era

Thursday, May 7, 2020

7:00 PM – 8:00 PM EST

Register at

http://neaorg.adobeconnect.com/eivdud78dqn9/event/event_info.html

This webinar will explore the policy and practice of feeding hungry children in the midst of an epidemic. What intelligent and pressing advocacy has the NEA Government Relations engaged in? How have food service workers met the challenges in spite of obstacles and risks? NEA lobbyist, Christin Driscoll, NEA New Mexico Director of Instruction and Professional Learning, Ignacio Sanchez, and Angelica Castañon, Senior Policy Analyst with NEA’s Education Policy and Practice, will lead this timely and lively discussion.

PRESENTER(S):
Christin Driscoll, NEA Lobbyist
Angelica Castañon, Senior Policy Analyst, NEA’s Education Policy and Practice
Ignacio Sanchez, NEA New Mexico Director of Instruction and Professional Learning

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):

Tim Barchak, 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

Also-Join Kathi Griffin this Thursday for a Tele-Town Hall

Please join State School Superintendent Carmen Ayala, Ph.D., and me for a tele town hall on Thurs., April 30, from 4 to 5 p.m. You will have the opportunity to ask questions about remote learning, certification, evaluations and anything else involving PreK-12 education in Illinois.
 
IEA members should receive a call on Wednesday around 4 p.m. as a reminder of the tele town hall. The caller ID should show IL Education from 217-203-0491. For the actual event, members should receive another call beginning before 4 p.m. on Thursday. Simply answer the call and you will be connected. If for any reason a call does not come through, members can still join the tele town hall at 4 p.m. Thursday by going to ieanea.org/live.
 
Thank you and we look forward to having you join us for the tele town hall on Thursday.

Be well,

Kathi Griffin
IEA President

 JOIN US
NEA Education Support Professional Quality & NEA Center for Organizing

ESPs and the COVID Crisis: The Next Response

Monday, 4/27

7:00–8:15 pm Eastern Standard Time

As states decide to keep school campuses closed and the federal government proposes a plan for reopening the country, there is much uncertainty about the next school year. And while we grapple with the current crisis, we need to think about what’s next. What will the school year look like this Fall? What can we do now to prepare as the crisis continues? Join us as we share strategies through legislative action, member advocacy, organizing, and professional development so we can ensure ESPs are there next year to help build back students’ lives.

Presenting

• Rae Nwosu, President, National Council of Education Support Professionals (NCESP), TX
• Brent McKim, President, National Council of Urban Education Associations (NCUEA), KY
• Andrea Beeman, 2020 NEA ESP of the Year, OH
• Arizona Education Association
• Association of Salem Keizer Education Support Professionals, Oregon Education Association
•  Northshore Education Association, Washington Education Association
• NEA Government Relations
• NEA Center for Bargaining and Member Advocacy

Please click the link below to join the webinar on 4/27 at 7:00 pm EST:

https://zoom.us/j/99137314466?pwd=cHNobDZLeEo2THJDT0Q3cjJrem9DQT09

Password: 145713

Or iPhone one-tap :

    US: +13126266799,,99137314466#,,#,145713#  or +16465588656,,99137314466#,,#,145713#

Or Telephone:

    Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):

    US: +1 312 626 6799  or +1 646 558 8656  or +1 346 248 7799  or +1 669 900 9128  or +1 253 215 8782  or +1 301 715 8592

    Webinar ID: 991 3731 4466

    Password: 145713

    International numbers available: https://zoom.us/u/am4kud6yQ

This important virtual town hall is hosted by the NAACP and BET and is part of a series of discussions that explore how the coronavirus pandemic is impacting the Black community.  I invite you to join in. The conversation will be focusing on how educators, parents, and students can safeguard education.  

You won’t want to miss this conversation on the pandemic and education featuring Marc Lamont Hill, Senator Elizabeth Warren, and Congresswoman Maxine Waters. RSVP here to tune in: https://bit.ly/34RrYVE 

The NEA Board of Directors in an effort to protect our members health and safety, voted to hold a virtual Representative Assembly this year.
More details to come.

#rESPect
#stayinghomesavinglives
#NEARA2020Virtual
#historyinthemaking
#NEA

Even though you might feel alone, we are all standing together. We know solidarity is our greatest strength. We know we are better together. We know we are stronger united. #rESPect #IEAStronger #BetterTogether #IEANEA

Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced that all public and private schools across Illinois will remain closed for in-person instruction for the remainder of the academic year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

We knew the announcement was coming, but the anxiety and sadness still hits hard. Each day of e-learning I miss and worry a little more!! We will continue to support our students, teachers, and communities the best we know how. We are ESP!!

How are you? No, really?! I don’t want the I’m fine answer that we give everyone or the funny meme on Facebook! How are YOU really?!

I’m going to admit something..and this is going to be hard for me. So forgive me if it doesn’t come out right….Over these last couple of weeks I’ve mentally shut down in part. I had to. I’ve watched mindless TV. Worked hours upon hours in my Google Classroom. I haven’t been able to listen to news updates. I haven’t been able to listen to the mayors, governors, or presidential updates. The numbers of victims from this virus…the pain and heartache that each family is feeling has really gutted me. The frustration I feel!! Thankfully Easter came…For me Easter has been a time of healing and has reminded me that it is always darkest before the dawn.

This morning as I watch the sun rise on this new day, I have never been more proud to be an ESP. ESP along with grocery clerks, truck drivers and restaurant workers, gas station attendants and so many more “ESSENTIAL” positions are holding this country together. This horrific virus has shined a 1000 watt spotlight on what and who makes this country great. It’s YOU! It’s all the people who are giving, helping, supporting, and working to make sure product gets to where it’s going, our shelves are restocked, and students are learning. It’s not only the doctors and nurses (heroes for sure), but the orderlies, custodians, the receptionists in healthcare…, It’s the educators who aren’t just thinking outside of the box to support and educate their students…they have to recreate the whole damn box. It’s you! You are ESP, you are doing your best to support students, districts, and communities during this dare I say, unprecedented time.

We can’t let this time be for nothing. We can’t let the lessons we are being taught now be forgotten in a few months. Now is the time that our voices matter most. Those positions who were not worth more than or barely above minimum wage 6 months ago are keeping our country going. Remember in November! Your voice, your vote matters!!

Jill Scarcelli, IEA ESP Council Secretary