IEA Education Support Professional Council

In case you missed it: US Department of Labor inducted ESPs as essential employees of the pandemic into the Labor Hall of honor!

2020 NEA ESP of the Year, Andrea Beeman spoke at the induction ceremony. Learn more and watch the speech

In recognition of their sacrifices and efforts to protect the health of all Americans during the coronavirus pandemic, the Department of Labor (DOL) inducted Essential Workers of the Pandemic into the U.S. Labor Hall of Honor today. Those inducted include educators like Andrea Beeman, a special education paraeducator from Maple Heights, Ohio.

The U.S. DOL Hall of Honor recognizes the life-changing contributions that a unique group of people have made on the American way of work over the nation’s history, including the workers of 9/11, farm workers, Chinese rail workers, and sanitation workers.

As the new school year begins it is important to make sure you know your rights as a union member. If you feel you could be disciplined for any reason, please respectfully request union representation. It is your right to have a union representative with you. You can NOT be denied. 

I hope you are able to take some time to relax and enjoy your long weekend!

One Conference: 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.

Where: The DoubleTree by Hilton, 1909 Spring Rd., Oak Brook, IL 60523

Registration Fee: $20 per registrant prior to the event; $30 per registrant onsite

Housing: $119 per night + tax.  Housing closes on Sept. 21 at noon. (Funding is available through IEA region offices)

Registration Deadline: Sept. 26 at noon

ESP – Southern/Central Section Alternate (Regions 1-14, 45, 47, 48 and 62) – as interim until election is held next spring for remainder of term to 2024. ESP – Northern/Central Section Alternate (Regions 15-25, 37, 38, 40, 44, 49, 51, 53, 54, 60, 61, 63, 65 and 66) – as interim until election is held next spring for remainder of term to 2025.

If you are a member who works in one of the above listed regions please consider running to fill this important open position.

Active IEA members wishing to be nominated must provide a written statement of interest by Tuesday, September 13, 2022. Please email statements to Denise Ward or mail to IEA President’s Office, 100 E. Edwards St., Springfield, IL  62704.

These positions are to be filled in accordance with applicable existing procedures for filling a vacancy.  IEA-NEA Bylaws state:

• “A vacancy in the office of Alternate Sectional Representative shall be filled within sixty (60) days by a majority vote of the Chairpersons of the affected Regions and serve until the next regular spring election is conducted to fill the unexpired term.” – Article XII, Section 3 (C)

• “Persons temporarily filling a vacancy until an election is held at the time and in the manner of the original election are ex-officio delegates to the R.A. and may not vote for officers, budget or dues.” – Article VII, Section 1 (B)

…And New Year! I wish you a blessed week. New routines and new relationships are forming as we start a new school year. Thank you for all you do for students, staff, and schools!

Click to watch President Kathi Griffin https://www.facebook.com/ieanea/videos/1066909954023784

With the teacher & education employee shortage getting worse, we must do everything we can to make education an attractive profession. That means:

 Competitive wages

 Restoring and Protecting our pensions

 Respecting the work ALL teachers and education employees do

#IEAstronger #IEArESPect #StrongerUnited

The IEA ESP Council supports the Workers’ Rights Amendment!

Learn more about the WRA: www.ieawra.org

#IEAstronger #IEArESPect #IEAESPCOUNCIL