IEA Education Support Professional Council

Undo Tier 2 Week of Action

I hope this finds you well on this beautiful sunny day!!

Important Call To Action!! Please register for the upcoming Undo Tier 2 Week of Action. There is a We Are One Legislative Update webinar tomorrow, Monday at 6pm. – Here is the link to register –
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_wwjkvgHGRSOkcEYl1uDfoQ?link_id=0&can_id=8d5cdedaa04d37e9a64c9d1c57a193e0#/registration

This is very important to bring a push to Undo Tier 2!! Time is of the essence for this legislative session to push this over the finish line.

What is Undo Tier 2 and why is it important we fight to undo the inequitable retirement requirements? Click to learn more – https://ieanea.org/undo-tier-two/

Tonight 33 amazing education support professional leaders, certified allies, and IEA staff collaborated on ways to improve how we advocate and support ESPs around the state. It is important to review our progress regularly so effective adjustments can be made and targets can be hit.

Topics discussed:

• Legislation goals and successes
• Suggestions for improving ESP presence and voice at the Illinois Representative Assembly
• Suggestions for improvement at the ONE Conference
• Challenges ESP are facing in locals to review how we can support

Please join us at our next rESPect Steering meeting on May 8th from 5:30-7:00.

We could see a vote from state senators this week on SB1799. Take action for ESPs TODAY! Write your state senators and ask them to VOTE YES on SB 1799 to protect Education Support Professionals from third-party contracting. Senate Bill 1799 will Increase the accountability of third-party contractors, Reduce wasteful spending, and Ensure school districts are hiring district employees for long-term services.

Click HERE to take action!

1100 Delegates from across the state came together to discuss, debate, and direct the next year of our Illinois Education Association. We had several guest speakers who attended. One of the extremely important goals of our union is to ensure that every student has a high quality public education and as you can imagine that was an important topic of discussion.

Bring your voice to the table

NEA will be hosting a series of virtual town hall meetings for food service members across the country, starting on Thursday, March 6, 2025., at 5:30pm EDT, 4:30pm CST, 3:30 MST, and 2:30pm PST. We invite all members and staff who care about our students to join in this important conversation! Please view this flyer for more information, including how to register for the town hall.

If not…you are missing out on important information on a wide variety of member benefits including grants, professional development, leadership and so many other opportunities!

Contact IEA Connect to update your email. IEA Connect can help with a WIDE variety of questions and issues you may have.

Click here for past ESP Insider Newsletters (member login is required)

It is always a productive and heart filling time to spend it with my union brothers and sisters! This is definitely an interesting time…we have to organize to protect our students, families, and public education as a whole!!

IEA ESP Council members bringing their advocacy and voice to IEA.

Stop waiting, check out how these amazing ESP advocates are growing rESPect!

This past Thursday, February 13th, an amazing group of ESPs and ESP allies came together to collaborate on ESP issues and planned for growing rESPect at the upcoming Illinois Education Association Representative Assembly, where elected member delegates will come together from all across the state to advocate and drive the goals of IEA.

Thank you to everyone who came and shared their time, ideas, and talents to grow this campaign. We couldn’t do it without you!

Reminder, NO steering meeting in March due to the IEA RA. Next meeting is April 10th 5:30-7:00pm.