IEA Education Support Professional Council

At tonight’s RESPECT Campaign meeting in between reports of the progress we are making to reach our goals to advocate for members we heard from several amazing education support professionals who shared their story. They told of struggles that are far too common among education support staff. The worry they face every month when they struggle to pay bills and afford food because their paychecks just don’t represent the value they bring to their students, schools, and districts. They spoke of their concerns of high health insurance costs and being effective in their buildings because they are being stretched too thin due to staffing shortages.

It is time for RESPECT! Go to www.iearespect.org and join today! We have got to build this campaign into a movement! We have got to bring the change we need and our members deserve. Invite your colleagues, friends, and neighbors.

The purpose of the NEA ESP National conference to grow and strengthen the professional excellence of ESP members working in Pre-K to Higher-Ed through Association-convened, educator-led, and student-centered learning experiences. With multiple interactive workshops to choose from over the course of three days, participants enhance their knowledge and skills to advocate for students and educators, champion racial and social justice, build community relationships, strengthen and grow membership, and sustain stronger local associations, helping members excel in their careers and positively impact student success.  

2023 ESP NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Theme: Joy, Justice, Excellence: The Strength of Educators. The Brilliance of Students. The Power of Community.

March 24-26, 2023
Seattle, WA

Interested in presenting a session at the ESP Conference?
Our call for presenters period is now open! The deadline to submit a session proposal to be considered for the conference is Friday, October 28, 2022. 

ACCESS THE CALL FOR PRESENTERS FORM

Join IEA Government Relations for a monthly training series on how to prepare your local for school board elections in 2023. Click to register for this virtual event.

https://www.mobilize.us/ieanea/event/440798/

EMELT – Nov. 4-6, 2022

Reach out to your local and IEA Region office for funding to attend. Each region has funding for members to attend IEA Conferences.

Crowne Plaza Springfield – Springfield, IL

Registration for the IEA Ethnic Minority Emerging Leadership Training is now open! This series of workshops is geared to helping ethnic minority and emerging leaders in our state understand IEA structure, the resources at your disposal, the skills you need to increase association involvement, and assist you in developing a personal plan of action for long-term development and participation in the association. You will also refine your organizational skills, develop your problem-solving abilities, broaden your knowledge of education issues, and develop strategies that benefit your local organizations, schools, and communities. For more information regarding the conference, visit the website – EMELT Conference. 

Registration ends October 28, 2022 at 5:00 pm!   Housing block closes on October 18. IEA EMELT HOTEL RESERVATIONS

Register today – EMELT Registration! 

Even while the conference was happening we’ve been thinking on ways to improve it for next time. Looking forward to reviewing the conference surveys to get participants suggestions!

September 30 – October 1
DoubleTree By Hilton Hotel Chicago-Oak Brook
Oak Brook, IL

Please join us for the 2022 One Conference for IEA Education Support Professionals, Higher Education, and IEA Retired members. The two-day event will offer a variety of elective sessions and feature keynote speaker, Mary Kusler, Senior Director, Center for Advocacy – National Education Association.

REGISTRATION

Hotel | Session Times | Session Descriptions | Agenda

Access to COVID admin days remains so long as the Gubernational Disaster Proclamation remains in place. Each proclamation lasts 30 days and must be renewed to remain in effect. The proclamation was most recently renewed on September 16, 2022.

The ability to access admin days retroactively was limited to the 2021-22 school year.

Raising Educational Support Processionals by Elevating Careers Together

It is our mission to bring change to members by focusing on three goals this year: 

• Passing legislation for increased wages (Time for $20/hr)
• Developing model bargaining language and create a library to support members during  bargaining
• Organizing (grow a powerful campaign)

Click the link to learn more about how we are also advocating for affordable health insurance, equitable pensions, and more! Join us, we have BIG plans to bring you RESPECT and we need you to make it happen!

This month, the NEA ESP Learning network is excited to offer learning webinars for education support professionals, including a webinar on Thursday, September 15, that will be presented in Spanish.

ESPacios de Libertad (Freedom Spaces): Live Spanish Webinar Experience

Thursday, September 15, 2022, 7:00-8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time

En conmemoración del Mes Nacional de la Herencia Hispana, reunimos a un grupo diverso de educadores para discutir las formas en que sus valores y normas han promovido la equidad, la justicia y la alegría en sus escuelas y universidades. No te lo pierdas. Pa’lante.

English Translation: In commemoration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, we bring together a diverse group of educational support professionals to discuss the ways their values and norms have advanced equity, justice, and joy in their schools and colleges. Don’t miss it. Pa’lante.

Register at: https://www.mobilize.us/nea_espq/event/497776/