IEA Education Support Professional Council

We are asking Illinois education employees to come together in support of one another and TAKE ACTION for our students and schools. We’re calling on Illinois lawmakers to pass measures that do five things on behalf of Illinois educators and students:Establish clear metrics, so districts know when to switch to remote learning to keep students and staff safe.Enforce guidance and requirements put forth by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), and heed the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).Provide rapid COVID-19 testing in schools so infected students and staff can be identified before they spread the virus.Urge the prioritization of education workers in the vaccine schedule.If the Federal CARES Act isn’t renewed, the state needs to step in, so education workers are not forced to work while ill.

Email your lawmakers NOW!

Doing these things will allow schools to stay open. It will help Illinois’ economy recover. The IEA has taken step after step to get enforcement of state safety standards. We’ve worked with state agencies. We’ve talked to the governor’s office. We’ve even assembled a panel of pediatricians to review district reopening plans to ensure they were safe. Now, we need your help to get Illinois lawmakers to do their job. If you work someplace where you feel safe, can you send an email to your lawmakers on behalf of fellow educators who work in situations where they don’t? If you work someplace where you don’t feel safe, please share this link with coworkers and with community members you think would be helpful to the cause. It’s been nearly nine months since Illinois started responding to the pandemic. Legislators have been in session for three of those days. It’s time for them to step up and help us. TAKE ACTION. And, ask your friends, families and neighbors to do the same.

NEA is still fighting on the Hill to extend the FFCRA as well as obtain further COVID relief. There is a small bipartisan group of Senators meeting as we speak to try to get to a bill that can pass the Senate before they recess. If you can help us make one last push right NOW by sending notes to your Senators, we would really really appreciate it! https://educationvotes.nea.org/issue/covid-19/?kiosk=true#actions

Author Jarrett J. Krosoczka tells of his inspiration of his beloved childrens graphic novel series, Lunch Ladies. I hope ALL ESPs realize what you do every day makes a huge difference in the lives or our students. Never underestimate yourself and what you do!

WE ARE ESP!! We Are Education Support Professional!!

A former Utah educator — who proudly tells her story of rising from lunch lady to leading the nation’s largest teachers union — is now on the short list for education secretary under President-elect Joe Biden.

Shared from Facebook (Saul Ramos NEA ESP at Large Director)

We, the ESP, deserve a living wage!! It is a shame how many of us qualify for government assistance and have to maintain 2nd & 3rd jobs to make ends meet. As educators, we should NOT be figuring out how to survive paycheck to paycheck. #Enough#OneJob#rESPect#LivingWage#PayUsOurWorth#ESP#Educators

To me…ESPs are the epitome of helpers Mister Rogers was talking about. ESPs help and support students, buildings, districts, and communities!! Thank you for all you do every day! Be safe! Big hugs!!

Today and everyday I am thankful for the many ESPs who make a difference in the lives of our students. This year more than ever ESPs have proven they are essential to the success of our students, schools, and communities. Though this year may have been one of our toughest, with many ESPs feeling insignificant and forgotten, I assure you, you are not! It does not matter what career family you belong to, you are an educator, you are a professional, you are effecting the lives of our students.

Thank you!! I am truly thankful for you!!

SCHOOL ME The ESP Who’s Training Thousands on Implicit Bias The latest School Me podcast features Aneeka Ferrell, a Substitute Coordinator in Washington, who has seen a passion of hers take off in a big way in 2020: educators are clamoring for her implicit bias trainings. On this episode, we discuss the importance of recognizing and challenging your biases—which we all have—for the sake of your students. Listen in ›

MICRO-CREDENTIALSMicro-credentials for Distance Learning As the pandemic ebbs and flows, so do the needs of our students and the status of school buildings. We’ve curated a collection of helpful micro-credentials—for teachers and ESPs alike—to help you build your skills in a virtual learning space and beyond. These micro-credentials are included with your NEA membership. Learn more and apply ›

EDUCATION SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS Webinar: Institutional Racism and Policing: Impact on ESPs Join us on December 10th at 07:00 PM ET for a webinar that will highlight how institutional racism is embedded in policing, how it impacts the experiences of education support professionals—especially those of color—as they work to create safer learning environments for all students, and possible solutions. Register here ›

RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES Reading Tips We have partnered with PBS affiliate WETA to create resources that the parents and families of young children can use to stay on track on their early literacy journey, even while learning from home. Please pass along this round up of resources to your students’ families to help ensure learning doesn’t stop—even when school isn’t in session. Reading SOS ›

You helped get them on the ballot, now it’s time to cast your vote! The IEA is supporting our own Hugh Cunningham, the co-president of the Triad Custodial and Maintenance Association along with Tracie Mitchell of AFSCME Local 268 in the upcoming Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) Trustee election. A ballot and postage-paid return envelope were mailed at the end of October to all active ESPs. Ballots must be returned by Dec. 4. Please spread the word with your ESP colleagues and place this poster in your breakrooms on the association boards.

Did you know that your Member Access profile page (My IMRF) gives you an overview of your IMRF account information? You can view your contact information, your beneficiaries, your current and future IMRF benefits, your wages and contributions, and more.

Need to sign up for a Member Access account: https://www.imrf.org/memberacc…/registrationLandingPage.do

#theimrf#memberaccess#retirement#retirementplanning