IEA Education Support Professional Council

Highlights from the Illinois Edcuation Representative Assembly:

It was so nice seeing people together again sharing their voice and representing their members. I’m always amazed at how efficient and smoothly the democratic process works within the Illinois Education Association.

I had the honor to speak to the entire IEA delegation and introduce the rESPect campaign to delegates from all across the state. Visit rESPect website to join, then share the information with your members, neighbors, and community!

Sean Denney gave a legislative update of several bill wins. Several IEA bylaw amendments, a resolution, and new business item were voted on.

I also had the privilege to introduce the 2021 and 2022 IEA ESPs of The Year at the Honoree Reseption on Friday night. See phot gallery for pictures.

I would encourage any member to run to be a delegate and attend the RA. This summer the National Education Association will be hosted in Chicago. As the host state, we will need hundreds of volunteers to help this run smoothly. Elections have passed for NEA delegates, but please consider volunteering. More information to come.

What is rESPect?

RESPECT | Raising Education Support Professionals by Elevating Careers Together is a statewide effort by ESPs, with the support of IEA staff, to improve working conditions by focusing on five areas:

• Wages – A minimum salary, fair substitute teaching compensation and unemployment insurance
• Health insurance – Affordable health insurance for the currently employed and the retired
• Pensions – Making the Tier 2 pension system equitable for all education employees
• Retention and recruitment – Tuition reimbursement, Grow Your Own Teacher from ESP to certified, quality professional development, paid family leave and licensing fees relief
• Job duties – Quality job-related professional development, “hold harmless” language for assigned
  duties, appropriate access to IEPs and suitable job duties for ESPs

Thank you for all the time and energy all of the member delegates who are attending the RA will be putting in these next few days and for bring their voice to represent their members. The days are long but the work is extremely rewarding!

I am so excited to introduce to you… RESPECT!

Support staff are typically the first to arrive at schools and universities as they unlock doors and turn on lights. They are also some of the first people to greet students when they arrive, who give students the academic support they need to become successful scholars, who carefully assist with their health, safety, and nutritional needs, and the last one who sees them home safely at the end of the day, and so much more. The value of their work is priceless. So it’s time we start treating them that way!

For the past 6 months, your IEA ESP Council has worked with education support professionals from around the state, licensed member allies, and IEA staff to organize and breathe life into this campaign. Now it’s your turn, we need you to join this campaign and share this information widely. You are an intigral part as we rally friends, neighbors, and colleagues to grow this campaign, and create a movement to bring RESPECT to every education support professional!!

Do you have student loans for yourself or your children? Join to see if you qualify for this amazing opportunity!

In October 2021, the Biden Administration issued a “Limited Waiver” of some of the strict requirements of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). Prior to the waiver, only 16,000 borrowers had ever received forgiveness through PSLF. Between October 2021 and January 2022, 70,000 borrowers received forgiveness under the Limited Waiver. Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Education announced that it has identified an additional 30,000 borrowers now eligible, bringing to $6.2 billion the amount of student debt forgiven under the temporary waiver. In addition, the Department estimates that hundreds of thousands more borrowers will be on average 2 years closer to loan forgiveness because of the waiver’s provisions.

Regardless of whether a borrower is eligible for immediate forgiveness or is working towards eligibility, it is critical for educators and other public service workers to submit a PSLF application before October 31, 2022, to receive the benefits of the Limited Waiver.

And it is imperative that NEA and our affiliates ensure our members understand the importance of meeting this deadline and provide accurate guidance in navigating the PSLF process. To that end, NEA has created guidance and other resources for members as well as affiliates seeking to assist those members in obtaining the promise of PSLF.
Please join us for a webinar on Tuesday, April 5, 2022, from 12:00-1:00 p.m. (CST) to discuss the nuts and bolts of the PSLF program and the NEA resources that are available to our members. Feel free to extend this invitation to all staff members interested in learning more.
Please register for the webinar using the following link:
​ https://nea-org.zoom.us/…/reg…/WN_0eAmXWekRX6viSFlzXWEaw

Raising Education Support Professionals by Elevating Careers Together is a statewide effort by ESPs, with the support of IEA staff, to improve working conditions. Visit the webpage. Stay connected with other ESPs! For updates and much more, follow us at ieaespcouncil.comIEA ESP webpage Join the ESP Facebook groupFollow @NEArESPect on TwitterGet involved with the National Council for Education Support Professionals (NCESP)

Our very own Debra Ward Mitchell is NEA’s ESP of the Year

Congratulations, Debra, for being named NEA’s 2022 Education Support Professional of the Year! Your IEA family is so proud of you! Debra is pictured with her sons at the NEA ESP Conference in New Orleans.

Present at the One Conference
We are seeking proposals to present at the 2022 One Conference. The focus of the Conference will be on Advocacy, Leadership and Professional Development. Only fully completed RFPs will be accepted. The deadline for RFPs is April 25, 2022, and no RFPs will be accepted after this date. Trainers for the sessions selected will be notified by e-mail.

Do you have a talent or passion you’d like to share with other members? I encourage you to complete an application to share your leadership and talent at this years One Conference.

Debra Ward-Mitchell!! I am so proud of you! You are the epitome of ESP! Thank you for representing us so well!

We are proud to announce that Debra Ward-Mitchell is our 2022 NEA Education Support Professional of the Year! Debra is a paraeducator and assistant director at an infant care center in Illinois, and we can’t wait to share more about her inspiring work!

We are the…

• school bus driver who transports students to and from school safely and are the first person to greet them in the morning and last to say goodbye as they return home. In addition to driving, often in bad weather or heavy traffic, they are responsible for first aid and emergency evacuation procedures, student conduct and discipline, and the safe transportation of students with special needs.
• cafeteria worker who ensures that students have access to safe and nutritious meals and ensure that school districts are complying with the federal free and reduced meal guidelines.
• paraeducator who performs professional responsibilities that contribute directly to student achievement by providing direct services to students and their families including academic, social emotional, behavioral, medical and life skills supports for general education, English Language Learners, and students with special needs to ensure all students receive fair and equitable educational opportunities.
• school nurse who performs a wide variety of health assistance that improves and protects student health and welfare. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to traditional tasks of providing first aid, monitoring immunizations, conducting health screenings, and assisting sick and injured children.
• office assistant who interact daily with students, parents and staff. Responsibilities include but are not limited to, processing and maintaining vital, confidential data and student records.
• technician who leads the effort to maintain high standards of technology and communication in our schools. They install, repair, and upgrade computers and networks that enable the timely communication of essential information between parents, school district employees, and students.
• security professional who has a clear understanding of not only security techniques, but also the unique nature of the school population they work with.
• plus many other job categories that are essential for the support of our students, families, and communities.

We are essential for the success of our students, families, and communities.