IEA Education Support Professional Council

Congratulations to our 2024 IEA ESP of the Year and nominees!

Wow! The Education Support Professional Council received 5 unbelievable nominees this year and were extremely impressed with each of the applications. This award is meant to further emphasize the contributions of Education Support Professionals to their association, their schools, and their communities and these nominees did not disappoint and did just that!

Congratulations to:

• Winner: Amy Evans – Region 13
• Teresa Borass – Region 17
• Yvonne Glodz – Region 59
• Eboni Rucker – Region 27
• Kathy Zoppa – Region 53

The 2024 Education Support Professional of the Year is……

Amy Evans!

Amy is a Reading Aide. She Introduced “Know Me Know My Name” to her building. A program to help identify and make contact with students who are in danger of falling through the cracks. That program is now part of the school improvement plan. She has received several grants. They are, IEA SCORE Grant for a snack cabinet, multicultural\SEL library, and district mini grants. One of the grants was a community service project for the crisis center and another for materials to provide enrichment services to her students. She is a 2023 ISBE Those Who Excel Award Recipient. Amy integrates culturally responsive teaching into all her learning spaces. She values the assets that each of her students brings into the learning space. As a member of the SEL and PBIS committee, she understands the importance of building strong and positive relationships with students, families and other stakeholders of the school community. She works toward removing social economic barriers, especially of education. This is just a glimpse into the amazing accomplishments that Amy does for her students, colleagues, and community.

A response from Amy:

I am beyond grateful! Thank you to the Education Support Professionals Council of the Illinois Education Association for honoring me as the 2024 Illinois Education Support Professional of the Year today. It is my pleasure to advocate for our students and members of our local, state, and national union. I look forward to representing the Illinois Education Association in Louisville, KY, March 2025 as a nominee for National Education Association- Education Support Professional of the Year.

Education, Democracy, Freedom: Our Right. Our Responsibility.

NEA is now accepting registrations for the 2024 NEA Education Support Professionals (ESPs) National Conference, scheduled for March 22-24 in Las Vegas, NV. The ESP Conference is certain to be a special event. With 65+ 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.

As we continue moving forward with NEA’s commitment to be inclusive of all members, we are proud to announce that registration for the ESP Conference is now available in Spanish. Members can switch to Spanish by navigating to the upper right corner of the conference registration page and selecting Español in the drop-down language section.

Funding to attend: Check with your IEA Region office (regions should have funds for ESPs to attend conferences) and your local union.

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Education Policy For ESPs

Join Dr. Diana Zaleski, IEA’s Education Policy and Agency Relations Director, in
a discussion about the association’s education policy work. Learn about her role, the role of association members in education policy, and the education policy resources available to members including upcoming trainings, book clubs, and guidance documents on pressing issues such as student discipline and workplace violence.

Facilitator: Dr. Diana Zaleski, IEA Education Policy and Agency Relations
Director
Location:  Webinar
Date:  Feb. 21, 6 – 6:30 p.m.
Register Here

Four Keys to Building Strong ESP Locals

Are you a local leader, building representative, committee chair or member looking for ways to build membership and increase local engagement? This four- part webinar course will provide you with the tools necessary to build local capacity. Topics covered include the role leadership style and local structure plays when developing strong locals, how to increase membership growth, engagement, development, recruitment, and retention, and how to create value for your members. All participants will develop a year-round organizing plan designed to fit your local, building or committee needs. We will also look at creative strategies for increasing membership participation. The sessions will be held on the fourth Thursday of each month from 6:00 PM- 7:30 PM.  The session dates are February 29, March 28, April 25, and May 30. Once you register for the first session, you will automatically be registered for the entire course.  If you have any questions, please reach out to unioned@ieanea.org

Facilitator: Crystal Bush, Uniserv Director – Coordinator of Support & Services
for ESPs
Location:  Webinar

Date:  Monthly on Thursdays – Feb. 29, March 28, April 25, and May 30 from 6 –
8 p.m.
Register Here

ESP rESPect CampaignRESPECT | Raising Education Support Professionals by Elevating Careers

JOIN TODAY

Happy New Year from your ESP Council Join us for an ESP Council Meet & Greet Saturday | Feb. 24 | 9-10 a.m. LOCATION/TIME CHANGE 1555 Bond St # 121, Naperville, IL 60563 The Council meeting will follow from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. All Education Support Professionals are welcome! RSVP to Arlene Criglar.

As we head back into our schools and universities, please remember some of our students missed us more than you realize as home can be difficult. Never forget what you do matters to so many!