Category: Uncategorized

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

Hi IEA friends! We will be voting on this in about a week. What are your thoughts?

On April 19th, a committee of the whole that includes state affiliates, observers, and the NEA Board of Directors will be discussing a yet to be distributed motion to postpone or cancel NEA RA scheduled to be held in Atlanta GA.

The NEA Constitution “authorizes the Board, in cases of national emergency, to postpone or cancel the RA and it will take a 2/3 vote in favor to do this.”

The NEA board will be voting on the proposal April 20th, after the committee of the whole discussion.

As your NEA Directors, We would like your thoughts, comments, or questions about this proposal so that we can bring them to the discussion. Thanks in advance! Feel free to post them here or contact one of us.

I am not impressed with how this article is written…we as ESP seem to be second class citizens, but I think it is extremely important to show support for our ESP sisters and brothers in New York and across the nation. Thank you to everyone who is still supporting students, families and communities. As I say all the time, what you do matters. Now more than ever, your familiar face over Zoom, support given to teachers, meals made, handed out, and delivered, buildings cleaned and sanitized, and so much more. Continue to read article.

As of April 10, 2020, the 50 employees who have passed as reported by their family members and loved ones:

“This is painful news for too many of our communities-each number represents a life, a member of one of our schools or offices, and the pain their loved ones are experiencing is unimaginable. We will be there to support our students and staff in any way they need, including remote crisis and grief counseling each day. We mourn these losses and will not forget the impact each person had on our DOE family,” Chancellor Richard A. Carranza said.