IEA Education Support Professional Council

This past weekend 19 locals from 9 states attended the ESP: Supporting Our Own Through Peer Mentoring training at NEA headquarters in Washington DC. Three locals from Illinois were among those in attendance, District U-46 DUEA, Park Ridge Teachers Association, and Troy Education Association. The representatives from these associations experienced an intensive two day forum that helped each collaborate, plan, and develop an ESP mentoring framework specific for their members.

These union representatives from around the country were lead by a group of amazing leaders, both ESPs and NEA staff. It was extremely obvious that NEA and IEA know how important education support professionals are to our students, schools and communities. I for one as one of those lucky ones able to attend this awesome experience want to thank them for their support and truly appreciate the confidence they have in every ESP member!!

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Tomorrow a fellow ESP colleague and I, along with our IEA staff uniserv director will travel to Washington DC to represent our Local.

Several months ago NEA sent out a call to ESP locals who were interested in developing a mentoring program. I applied and my local was chosen to have a team travel to Washington DC and work with NEA staff to develop a plan specific for my district. What will this look like? That is yet to be determined, but I am excited to be able to be apart of this.

I truly love working in education and at Troy. You may disagree but I think I have the best students and work with the most dedicated staff around. My goal this weekend is to be fully committed to working with our team and creating a framework on which we can build a program that will benefit not only our amazing ESPs but our whole staff and students.

I know unions make a difference!! I will make a difference. My colleagues deserve it….our students deserve it!!

YOU DESERVE IT TOO!! If you have any questions or concerns regarding your local please contact your IEA ESP Council. We are here to assist area locals throughout ALL of Illinois. We would be happy to assist you. Thank you for what you do everyday!!

ESP of the Year Award Nominations Due Soon!!!In 1995, the lEA Representative Assembly passed a New Business Item establishing the ESP of the Year Award. This award is meant to further emphasize the contributions of Education Support Professionals to their association, their schools, and their communities.To insure the widest possible participation, the nomination procedure for the ESP of the Year Award shall be as follows:

• Each local association affiliate can submit one nominee through their local president.
• Any member of the IEA Board of Directors may also submit one nomination.
• Only one application per individual will be accepted. (If multiple applications for the same individual are received, application eligibility will be determined by the earliest received.)
• Members of the ESP Council and alternates are not eligible for this award.
• Nominations must be submitted by Jan. 16, 2020.

Join Us for Our January Webinar!
Accommodations and Modifications: What Paraeducators Need to Know

January 16, 2020 | 7:00pm – 8:00PM EST

Do you work with students who receive special education services? Do you know what accommodations and modifications they are entitled to in their Individualized Education Program (IEP)? Do you have a clear understanding of your role in providing them? This webinar will provide participants with an understanding of accommodations and modifications, how they differ, and the process through which they are determined for individual students. Examples of a variety of accommodations and modifications that support instruction will be reviewed.

Presenter(s):
Lynn Goss, Special Education Paraeducator, St. Croix Central Middle School, Hammond, WI
Tresina Alvested, Special Education Teacher, McQuerry Elementary, Odessa, MO

Register Now!

The Illinois Education Association announces the availability of grant funds. The purpose of SCORE is to encourage early career members and their local associations to collaborate and create opportunities for community service projects or school projects. Proposals should be substantive and meaningful. They should build visible foundations for deeper relationships with students, families and communities. Additionally, IEA wants to foster the deeper value of the association in the life of our members and identify new leaders to carry forth the mission and goals of IEA.

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Gratitude…something so simple but…so powerful at the same time. I am grateful to be able to have my dream job and have had these past two weeks to rest and spend with family. I understand that many ESPs must work multiple jobs and winter break can be a time of additional stress. Please know that your ESP Council is here to be an added resource for you and your local.

I’m grateful for each and everyone of you! I’m grateful for all you do and realize many of you face unspoken challenges and yet give everything you have for your students.

I pray you enjoy these last few days of winter break. I wish you good health, rest, and an abundance of love today and all through this year. You deserve it.

My local was chosen to participate in the National Education Association ESP mentoring program. Myself, the ESP vice-president of my local and our Uniserve director will be traveling to Washington DC in January. We will be working with a NEA mentoring team that will help us create a framework for an ESP program that will work specifically for our local and school district. This is where I need your help.

Do you have an ESP mentoring program in your district? What works? What doesn’t?

Do you wish you had an ESP mentoring program? What would you like it to look like? What topics would you like to see covered in this program, ie autism education, behavior management?

Please fill out the information below and help me help my team create the best framework for our ESPs.

As 2019 comes to a close, it’s good to take stock of where labor has won and the places we still need to win. Help make a difference in 2020 as educators demand rESPect in your local, in your state, and across the nation.