IEA Education Support Professional Council

What does RESPECT look like to an education support professional? Over the past almost two years as ESP Council chair I’ve heard from many ESPs from across the state and from what I’ve heard RESPECT means:

• Earning a livable wage where ESPs don’t have to work multiple jobs just to pay their bills
• Having good affordable health insurance
• Having a solid pension for when they retire
• Benefits that retain and recruit employees like quality job related professional development, tuition reimbursement, paid family leave and licensing fees relief
• Job duties that are relevant to their job description, having a voice at every table, and acknowledgement that what you do truly matters!

Get ready! RESPECT is coming!! Be on the lookout for more information coming soon!

Today I got to spend an amazing day with fabulous ESP advocates. The ESP Council met in the Naperville IEA office to continue our work. We are determined to fight for RESPECT!

Who are ESPs?

We are the…

• school bus driver who is the first person to greet students in the morning and delivers them safely to and from school
• cafeteria worker who supports students nutritional needs by providing a warm, healthy meal
• paraeducator who helps students become successful scholars with a little extra support
• school nurse who cares for the health and needs of all students
• office assistant who makes sure records are up to date and the school day runs smoothly
• technician who keeps our computers running and students and teachers connected
• custodian who works to keep the school environment safe and clean
• security professional who help keep students and school employees safe
• and many more essential ESP career families within our school community!

Without ESPs school buildings wouldn’t open, teachers wouldn’t have the resources they need to do the near-impossible jobs they are tasked to do, and students wouldn’t have the support they need to become successful scholars! We are ESP!! We deserve RESPECT !!

Be on the lookout for some very big news coming from the ESP Council and IEA very soon!!

We support not only our students but the education community. Thank you for doing what you do everyday. Without you… learning could not happen!

 ΝΕΑ ESP NATIONAL LEARNING NETWORK WEBINAR: Resilient and Ready: Practicing Resiliency in the Education Community Thursday, February 17,2022 6:00-7:00 PM Central time. Join us for a webinar to learn more about the power of resiliency! Get tips and strategies on resiliency and self-regulation to support you in your role as a mentor and model for students and fellow educators.

Register at https://bit.ly/ESPresiliency

IEA-NEA Spring Election Information

The ESP Council currently does not have any nominations for the following positions:

• ESP Ethnic Minority Council Member
• ESP Southern/Central Alternate (2 year term)
• ESP Northern/Central Alternate

Nominations are now open for the NEA RA State, Retired and Student Delegate elections as well as for sectional representative positions on the IEA Board of Directors and the ESP, Higher Ed and Retired Councils.  Hard copy nominations were sent to every member the first week in January and a link to online nominations is on the IEA website.

 Nominations must be received by February 16, 2022.  If you have any questions, contact the Governance Elections/Fair Share Paraprofessional, Kim Trader at kim.trader@ieanea.org.