Education Support Professionals, Illinois Education Association

Call to Action – Undo Tier 2

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In 2010, the Illinois General Assembly hastily created a “Tier 2” of separate, lower pension benefits for public school and public university employees hired after 2011. We are asking our members to take action now to change this.

Since then, the drastically reduced benefits for “Tier 2” workers are further diminished due to inflation, meaning they can’t keep up with rising costs like grocery and drug price increases. Many education employees cannot collect Social Security, and these pension benefits are their sole source of retirement security. You can see the negative effects of Tier 2 reflected in the shortages of both educators and Education Support Professionals (ESPs) in schools and universities across the state. The shortages mean an increased workload and sometimes overwhelming working conditions for everyone working in our schools and at our colleges and universities.
This problem was created by politicians failing to pay into the retirement system, and it’s them we should be holding accountable, rather than punishing educators.  
From April 15-18, please join Illinois public employee unions in a week of action. Contact your lawmakers and tell them they must take action to fix Tier 2 pensions. You can write your lawmaker here. Or, you can dial 507-497-1665 to be connected to your legislators by phone.
ACT NOW!
This action is the first step to push legislators in Springfield to ensure that all school employees have a fair, secure retirement and we can retain essential teachers, adjuncts and higher ed staff, Education Support Professionals (ESPs) and all public school and university employees.  All educators deserve an equitable retirement. 

Stand up for your colleagues. Help us Undo Tier 2. 

Remember, we are stronger united! And together we are IEA! 
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Check Out These Opportunities

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Organizing Basics
Saturdays  |  April 20 and May 4  |  10 a.m. – 12 noon

Are you new to the concept of organizing? Want to learn how to develop the organizing skills necessary to build a strong local or motivate members to act around a specific issue? In this two-part course, we will start by learning the basic terminology of organizing, how to create an organizing statement and develop a strategy utilizing tactics that focus on a specific leadership challenge. You will also learn the leadership skills necessary to lead a successful organizing campaign. We will briefly discuss the role power and resources play when embarking on an organizing campaign. In the second session, we will work as a team, creating an organizing plan that can be implemented at the state, local or even national level.

Facilitators: Crystal Bush, UniServ Director and Lakilia Bedeau, Organizer
REGISTER NOW 
Arbitration Basics
Saturday  |  April 27  |  10 a.m. – noon

In this course you will learn the basics of arbitration – the final step in the grievance process. We will briefly touch on the grievance process, and then walk through the various steps of arbitration including the possible reasons against arbitrating a grievance. You will learn best practices for developing the case for hearing, selecting and preparing witnesses, communicating with your district’s representative and writing opening statements. We will conclude with a discussion about whether to rest your case with a closing argument or a post-hearing brief and some tips for writing each.

Facilitator: Bonnie Booth, UniServ Director – Naperville Office
REGISTER NOW
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Licensure Renewal Season

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A note from the Regional Office of Education!

As we approach licensure renewal season starting April 1st, please remind your Professional Educators, ELS-CTE, Substitutes, and Paraprofessionals to check their license expiration date. 

Renewal season begins April 1, 2024, for those with an expiration date of 6/30/2024.

Professional Educator License

ELS-CTE

SUB License

PARA License

For Professional Educator License (PEL) holders, ensure:

Thank you!

Education Support Professionals

IEA Spring Elections: Don’t forget to vote

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Elections for ESP Council and other statewide positions

You should have received the below envelope during the last week of March/first of April containing online election information to vote for your IEA ESP Council members, NEA RA state delegates and other IEA statewide positions. If you did not receive your online voting information or have any questions, please contact IEA Governance Elections Paraprofessional Kim Trader @ kim.trader@ieanea.org or 217-321-2250. The election closes at 4 p.m. on April 24. Please vote! Your vote is important!

Education Support Professionals, Illinois Education Association

What does RESPECT look like?

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You’re invited to attend our next RESPECT virtual meeting

register: April virtual meeting

Support staff are typically the first to arrive at school as they unlock doors and turn on lights. They are some of the first people to greet students when they arrive at school in the morning, who give students the academic support they need to become successful scholars, who carefully assist with their health, safety, and nutritional needs, and are the last people who see students safely home at the end of the day. The value of their work is priceless.

So it’s time we start treating them that way!

Join the respect campaign
resolution of support
More resources
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ONE Conference – Presenter proposals are now being accepted

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ONE Conference- Request for Proposals Now Open!

The 2024 IEA One Conference will be held on October 18 & 19 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Chicago-Oakbrook.  We are seeking proposals for presentations for the conference.  The One Conference is an opportunity for IEA Education Support Professionals, Higher Education, and IEA Retired Members to develop professional skills, earn professional development credit, and network with colleagues from around the state.  The deadline for RFPS is May 10, 2024 so please submit session proposals as soon as possible.

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Spring Break To Do List

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Whether your spring break is just beginning or coming to an end, take time to enjoy.

Enjoy Your Spring Break

  • Smile because the world is better because you are in it!
  • Play a game with friends. Playdates aren’t just for kids.
  • Rest, you deserve it!
  • Ignore your emails….Ignite a new passion
  • Notice the beauty of nature. Go for a walk; look and listen for the beauty of spring.
  • Give yourself grace to not be perfect. No one is and who wants that pressure!
  • Breathe in your blessings. They are all around us!
  • Recharge your mind, soul, and body.
  • Erase your worries. Prepared how you can, do what you can, then let go and let God.
  • Accentuate the positives. Bad things will happen…it’s inevitable, look for the helpers.
  • Keep heart and know that you are essential in the lives of those around you!
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Members bring your voice to the table and join an IEA Committee or Board Subcommittee

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Education Support Professionals we need your voice to join an IEA governance committee and/or Board subcommittee. It is important that we have more of an ESP presence and voice at every table where decisions are being made. Interested education support professionals please apply today using the link below.  DEADLINE:  April 1

Opportunities to serve – IEA is seeking interested members for Committee and board subcommittee appointment procedures.  Electronic applications are available on the IEA website until April 1.

All applicants are required to enter their Members Only login information. Any questions, please direct them to Courtney Gillespie