Have you  been in a merged local Association?  Please share your experiences with us.

'ESP of the Year' Nominations Due December 12 

2008 ESP of the Year Laura Vernon

The NEA Education Support Professional of the Year Award recognizes the contributions of Education Support Professionals to their schools, communities, and their profession. The award is presented to a member of the NEA who demonstrates outstanding accomplishments and reflects the contributions of ESP to public education.

The award is presented jointly by the National Education Association and the Gardner Rich Foundation of Chicago, Illinois. The 2009 award will be presented at the 2009 NEA ESP National Conference in Orlando, FL, on Friday, March 13, 2009.

Each year, one nominee receives the NEA ESP of the Year Award, which includes $10,000 cash and expenses-paid travel to the NEA Education Support Professional National Conference. The Gardner Rich Foundation of Chicago, Illinois presents this monetary award. One-half of the monetary award is to be used for a community project(s) of the recipient’s choice. Nominees must indicate their selection for the community project(s) on the nomination form.

All current Education Support Professional members of an NEA local affiliate or bargaining unit who have been an NEA member for three years as of January 15 of the award year are eligible. Individuals must be nominated by their state association through an ESP award system or by their local association if a state award system does not exist.

Nomination Procedure

State Affiliates: Each state affiliate may submit only one nominee through its state ESP award system. A state ESP award system is defined as one developed by a state association that gathers nominations through local affiliates and selects one statewide award recipient. Criteria for the state award may be designed by the individual state and must not conflict with the national award’s criteria and purpose.

Local Affiliates: If a state affiliate does not have an ESP award system in place, then local affiliates may submit only one nomination directly to NEA. Local affiliates are urged to send a copy of their nominations to the state affiliate.

All nominations must be received by NEA no later than close of business on Friday, December 12, 2008.

For More Information

Here are some documents that will help you prepare a nomination for the Award:

2009 ESP of the Year Award Guidelines 
2009 Data Sheet

For more information, contact your state affiliate or e-mail NEA ESP Quality at esp.program@nea.org.

Oregon Bus Drivers hop-on-pop for Read Across America

Educators across the country — teachers, bus drivers, cafeteria employees, librarians and more — joined with principals, parents, elected officials and students in a special reading celebration to mark Dr. Seuss’s birthday on March 2. The Cat-in-the-Hat, along with other Seuss characters, hopped-on-pop from school to school, as NEA’s Read Across America brought readers of all ages together to enjoy great books.

Oregon Education Association Members, both teachers and ESPs, were enthusiastic participants in the day's events. Bus-driving members of the Lebanon (OR) Association of Classified Employees wore classic cat-in-the-hat stovepipe hats for their morning routes and shared a book with students before delivering them to school. A few pictures of them bringing Dr. Suess to their "offices" appear below.

Janis Eggert	Theresa Gjovik
Brenda Tunnell	Robert Upmeyer

Election 2006 & ESPs: What’s At Stake?

Education support professionals —   from school bus drivers, cafeteria workers, classroom paraeducators and school nurses to office assistants, technicians, custodians and security personnel — take care of students and make sure they have the tools they need to succeed.

We make up more than 40 percent of all public school employees. We speak up for our students, our schools and our profession.  That’s why it’s important we work together — Republicans, Democrats and Independents — to elect candidates who are committed to public schools, colleges and universities. Decisions that affect our jobs, salaries, health care coverage and retirement security are made by candidates we can help elect.

This November 7, we can rally around the issues that unite us:

RETIREMENT SECURITY    Some elected officials want to privatize Social Security and put the funds in the stock market. Support professionals are especially vulnerable. Our pension plans are under attack and our salaries are comparatively low. We should not have to trade guaranteed retirement benefits that we’ve earned for the unpredictability of the stock market.

AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE   Support professionals and other educators see their salary increases eaten up by higher health insurance premiums and deductibles, and for fewer services. Health insurance costs and premiums are expected to rise faster than wages over the next 10 years. The result is cuts in coverage for educators and/or their family members, higher co-pays on drugs and office visits, and a limited choice of health care providers.

PROFESSIONAL PAY   Support professionals keep school buildings and equipment functioning and students safe and healthy. Yet support professionals are woefully underpaid, often barely enough to be able to afford to live in the communities we serve. In many parts of the country, support professionals work two or even three jobs to feed and shelter our families. Many of us earn so little that we qualify for government assistance, or leave public schools altogether. That’s why we support fair living wages.

VOUCHERS  Public schools are expected to do more every year with less. Textbooks are outdated. Classrooms are overcrowded. Educators often use their own money to buy basic classroom supplies. And yet, there are candidates for Congress and for governor who want to take taxpayer money away from public schools to pay for private school vouchers.

SCHOOL FUNDING   Some governors are proposing the so-called “65 Percent Solution,” a one-size-fits-all school funding proposal that would require school districts to spend at least 65 percent of their operating budgets on "classroom instruction." What these governors don’t say is that the proposal will force schools to slash spending and outsource essential support jobs, including guidance counselors, librarians, nurses, food service workers and bus drivers. VOTE ON NOVEMBER 7 .

Great Public Schools Are a Basic Right For Every Child

Meet the Man Behind the ESP Poems and Editorials

When not hunting with his homemade 18th century musket, Dave Arnold uses a bow and arrow. He also enjoys fishing from his homemade canoe. The school custodian writes editorials for NEA, publishes poetry, and is a former Illinois Education Association ESP of the Year.

Dave Arnold may be the most famous custodian in the United States who most people have not heard of.

Education Support Professionals (ESP) who know his name, probably don’t know his face. They can quote from one of his poems or editorials, but have no idea that he sports a salt-n-pepper beard, is partial to wearing baseball caps with aviator glasses, and is fit as a fiddle for a man in his 50s. 

“I was sitting in a conference meeting a while back and a guy got up and quoted something I had written in one of my editorials,” said Arnold, who works as head custodian at the elementary school of the Brownstown Community School District in Southern Illinois. “The guy mentioned my name, but didn’t know I was sitting right there. It was pretty funny.”

Man For All Seasons

Arnold is a published poet, accomplished carpenter, outdoorsman, contract negotiator, poster designer, and the 2003 ESP of the Year of the Illinois Education Association (IEA).

He is also an editorial writer for NEA.org. His bi-weekly column, “Dave’s View,” appears on the ESP home page and under "NEA Voices" on the the Members and Educators page of the site.

“It’s been a challenge to come up with an interesting topic every time,” said Arnold, who has published more than 100 editorials for NEA. “If I can stir emotion, ideas and thinking about an issue, then I’ve accomplished something.”

People across the world who may not know Arnold’s writing, may know his face and name. He was featured a few years ago in a photograph picked up by the Associated Press news wire service. The internationally syndicated photo shows Arnold wielding a broom while wearing a Dr. Seuss hat and high-fiving a young student in a school hall.

“That photograph was sent to every newspaper in the country, Canada, and other parts of the world,” said Marcus Albrecht, UniServ Director for IEA, which represents 103,000 teachers and 22,000 ESPs. “The kids love him (Arnold) at school because he reads to them, works on their science projects, and shares his knowledge of different subjects. He’s extremely well-rounded.”

Craftsman

I was having dinner at his house one day, recalls Albrecht, and Dave brought out a Civil War musket he had made by hand from a piece of wood, some pipe, and a trigger mechanism.

“It fires, so I mentioned the rifle to some Civil War enthusiasts,” Albrecht said. “They re-enact battles and wanted to see this handmade musket.”

So, where does Arnold get round, lead balls needed for an 18th century muzzle-loading musket?

“I have bullet molds,” says Arnold, an avid hunter of squirrel, deer, quail and other prey found in nearby woods. “I melt lead from pipes that plumbers throw away and pour it into the mold. Works pretty well.”   

When not hunting with his musket, Arnold uses a bow and arrow, sometimes traveling down a local river in the canoe he assembled from plywood, nails and glue.

“He took my children fishing in that handmade canoe,” said Albrecht. “They loved it.”

Arnold learned about hunting, fishing, carpentry and labor unions from his father, a union carpenter for 45 years.

“My dad use to say that with a union you bargain for what you get, and without one you beg for what you get,” said Arnold, who worked as a carpenter for 11 years after graduating from Okaw Valley Vocational Building and Trades School in 1970. 

Labor Leader

After a short stint as a sales clerk at K-Mart, he started work as a custodian in the summer of 1982. After about eight years, he was promoted to head custodian of the elementary school.

In 1993, Arnold organized the Brownstown Education Support Professional Association. After recruiting members for the Association, he served as president and head negotiator for almost six years.

“Two board members on the school’s negotiation team are my neighbors,” Arnold said. “We don’t see eye-to-eye on everything, but we have to get along since we live close to one another.”

Another board member grew up 10 miles from Brownstown in St. Elmo with Arnold’s wife, Nancy.

“Nancy use to baby sit for him,” said Arnold, who has been married for 30 years. “He’s about 20 years younger than us.”

It is not unusual for close and historical ties to exist between Brownstown families, friends and neighbors. The town’s population is only 860, of which 500 are still in school.

Family Man

Arnold works at the same elementary school that he attended as a boy, located just two blocks from his current residence. Mrs. Arnold is a cook, and an alum of St. Elmo High School. The couple’s two daughters attended Brownstown schools.

The oldest, Tina, now works as a bookkeeper for Lake Land Community College in Brownstown, and Cindy is a pre-school teacher.

The close-knit nature of life in Brownstown prompted Arnold and other ESP to establish an annual scholarship fund for students. Arnold also promotes Teacher Appreciation Day and Secretaries Day by handing out gifts to school staff and students.

“We (ESP) have a good working relationship with our teachers,” he said. “When teachers need something extra, we’ll help them out as much as we can.”

Arnold says there is a good reason for the healthy teacher-ESP relations that exist in Brownstown and other school districts.

“Where there’s an Association of teachers and of ESP, there’s usually a good working relationship too,” said Arnold, who has served on numerous Region 5 and IEA state committees. “At our school, we’re pretty close.” 

Poet at Large

When the spirit moves him, Arnold commemorates the work performed by ESP with poems that praise their work, as well as that exhibit his humor and insight.

For example, in “Dr. Cool,” he writes about school nurses:

             If you think their job would be nice
             And all they do is apply some ice
             Then I will warn you to think twice
             As for there is the matter of Head Lice

In "Angels With an Apron," he writes:

             Now if you think you have troubles consider this
             A school’s kitchen isn’t an area of wondrous bliss
             The food the state sends the school somewhat lacks in appeal
             But out of this the cook creates a masterpiece, called a meal

In the highly personal “Just a Janitor,” Arnold states:

             I play just a small part in this education plan
             When trying to help a child become a successful woman or man
             I hope I might live to see the day
             That a doctor, lawyer, or business person will say
             "Thank you for helping me down life’s road way back when.”

The poem about janitors, published in 1997, placed fifth in a poetry contest sponsored by Sparrowgrass. It was published in their book of contest winners.

Arnold has published a booklet of 24 poems, along with numerous newspaper articles and editorials about education and community issues. He appears on radio and television talk shows, speaks to civic groups on ESP issues, and teaches Sunday school.

Design Artist

Every year, Arnold designs a poster for the IEA to commemorate American Education Week. His 1996 poster featured a black-and-white photograph of a man sitting alone in a jail cell. Through prison bars we see him staring at the floor with a look of disbelief. The caption reads: “Some Places Don’t Require a Good Education.”

The poster was distributed statewide and featured in “NEA Today,” the national magazine of the NEA.

“Every year it’s a different poster,” said Albrecht, who has known Arnold for 10 years. “No one asks him to do it, he just puts something together for us.”

In 2001, Arnold was named NEA ESP Poet Laureate. His poems and his poster designs have appeared in NEA Today.

“I never dreamed that those poems would get published,” said Arnold, who is known for his humility and quiet leadership. “Now I know that anything is possible.”

Nominations Open for 2006 ESP of the Year

2005 ESP of the Year Kathleen Lange

The NEA Education Support Professional of the Year Award recognizes the contributions of Education Support Professionals to their schools, communities, and their profession. The award is presented to a member of the NEA who demonstrates outstanding accomplishments and reflects the contributions of ESP to public education.

The award is presented jointly by the National Education Association and the Gardner Rich Foundation of Chicago, Illinois. This year's award will be presented at the 2006 NEA ESP National Conference in Philadelphia, PA, on Friday, March 10.

Each year, one nominee receives the NEA ESP of the Year Award, which includes $10,000 cash and expenses-paid travel to the NEA Education Support Professional National Conference. The Gardner Rich Foundation of Chicago, Illinois presents this monetary award. One-half of the monetary award is to be used for a community project(s) of the recipient’s choice. Nominees must indicate their selection for the community project(s) on the nomination form.

All current Education Support Professional members of an NEA local affiliate or bargaining unit who have been an NEA member for three years as of January 15 of the award year are eligible. Individuals must be nominated by their state association through an ESP award system or by their local association if a state award system does not exist (see nomination procedure).

Nomination Procedure

State Affiliates: Each state affiliate may submit only one nominee through its state ESP award system. A state ESP award system is defined as one developed by a state association that gathers nominations through local affiliates and selects one statewide award recipient. Criteria for the state award may be designed by the individual state and must not conflict with the national award’s criteria and purpose.

Local Affiliates: If a state affiliate does not have an ESP award system in place, then local affiliates may submit only one nomination directly to NEA. Local affiliates are urged to send a copy of their nominations to the state affiliate.

All nominations must be received by NEA no later than close of business on Friday, December 9, 2005.

For More Information

For more information, or to obtain copies of the nomination form, contact your state affiliate or e-mail NEA ESP Quality at esp.program@nea.org.

 Victory: Paraprofessional Deadline Is Extended

Thanks to NEA's lobbying efforts, the deadline for Title I paraprofessionals to meet the "highly qualified" requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act has been extended from January 8, 2006, to the end of the 2005-2006 school year.

Below is the text of the letter to Congressman Mike Simpson (R-ID) from Deputy Secretary of Education Raymond Simon on this change.

June 15, 2005

Honorable Mike Simpson
House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Congressman Simpson:

Thank you for your recent questions about the time frame within which all paraprofessionals working in Title I-funded programs must meet certain qualifications.

The relevant qualifications and time frame for paraprofessionals are detailed in section 1119(d) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB). In general, this section states that all Title I paraprofessionals hired before enactment of NCLB must demonstrate competency by no later than four years after the law's enactment, i.e. January 8, 2006.

As you may know, the ESEA permits all veteran teachers of core academic subjects to have until the end of the 2005-2006 school year to demonstrate that they meet the requirements of NCLB; yet, as mentioned above, Title I paraprofessionals have only until January 8, 2006-the middle of the school year. We agree that it is unusual to have a deadline in the middle of the school year, and believe that the paraprofessional and highly qualified teacher provisions should be consistent. The Department will continue to be supportive of States, school districts and schools, in implementing these particular requirements.

You have suggested that the timeline for Title I paraprofessionals be consistent with the timeline for teachers. Your suggestion is reasonable and practical. Therefore, to enable the Department to enforce these two requirements in an efficient, effective and coordinated manner, the Department will align the paraprofessional time line with the teacher time line.

Thank you for contacting me.

Sincerely,
Raymond Simon

Cc: Chairman John Boehmer

NEA Today: Archived ESP Stories

November 2008

• Where Have All the Nurses Gone? Lack of health care professionals in schools affects students', teachers' performance.

October 2008

• Cleaning Schools for Health, Not for Appearance . Custodians learn to adapt in a world of budget cuts, green cleaning, and those ubiquitous germs.

September 2008

• Proud To Be on The Women's Team. Empowered female ESPs share 'Big Girl Minutes' and learn to advocate.

May 2008

• Cooking up a Campaign. Inspired by their peers, Washington ESPs fight for living wages

April 2008

• Driving Forces. Creating stronger school bus security policies and practices in New Jersey.

March 2008

• Security Upgrade. What was once left to teachers and aides who had "free time" to police hallways is now often the work of highly trained ESP's.

February 2008

• Rising Stars. A new NEA program nurtures the next generation of leaders.

January 2008

• Partners in Education . For ESP's in merged locals, identity and unity are key.

November 2007

• A Magnificent Comeback. How one Arkansas local fought injustice, lost its bargaining power, then won it back.

October 2007

• Time Out . Louisana ESPs challenge a new timekeeping system, raising questions about religious beliefs and privacy.

September 2007

• Getting Personal. Through face-to-face contact with legislators, Illinois ESPs helped pass a state law that limits outsourcing.
• Meet ESP of the Year Veronica Henderson.

May 2007

• Under the Lights, ESPs Shine. A local TV program showcases the hard work of support professionals.
• New Jersey ESP membership reaches 50,000!
• No more "leftovers" for Wisconsin ESPs
• An ESP's take on the future of tech in schools

April 2007

• Get It In Writing . New Jersey ESPs work for Results-Oriented Job Descriptions.
• Moving to green cleaning in schools
• Fighting for a living wage in Virginia
• Joining forces for higher pay in North Carolina

March 2007

• Parents Take the Wheel. School districts are alleviating bus driver shortages by allowing parents to bring their children on board.
• Oregon bus drivers join in Read Across America
• Memphis local wins state’s first ESP contract

February 2007

• The Road to Recovery. Being familiar with injury prevention techniques, liability laws, and insurance coverage is as important as knowing how to do your job.
• Ad-filled radio on school buses cases static
• ESP Career Academy launches in New Jersey, 13 lucky paras win a better contract in Vermont

January 2007

• Driving a Hard Bargain. More and more school districts are finding the problems of privatizing busing outweigh the supposed cost savings.
• An Entrepreneurial Spirit and 3,000 Wedding Dresses
• West Virginia Salary Campaign Underway

November 2006

• Closing the Pension Gap. ESPs fight for equity in their pension plans.
• Putting the squeeze on Idaho custodians
• New contract brings more money for Texas ESPs
• Salary Stories: Why ESPs need a living wage

October 2006

• All in the Family. Robyn Driscoll has both politics and public service in her blood.
• ESPs on the Road: Roadeo
• A Band of Oregon ESPs Fiddle Around

September 2006

• Vocations, not Vacations. More than half of all ESPs worked during the summer months.
• Solidarity brings better wages in Illinois
• Kentucky ESPs win salary increase
• Meet ESP of the Year Nancy Toombs

May 2006

• Hit the Road, Hit the Books. Wisconsin support professionals go the extra mile to gain certification.
• Bus drivers enlisted for homeland security
• ESP local fights privatization in Michigan
• What's hot in ESP jobs? School translators

April 2006

• Heat, Bugs, and Bullets. The challenges facing ESPs who serve in Iraq.
• Virginia ESPs launch living wage campaign
• Arizona bargaining team wins gains for ESPs
• Food service professionals embrace new technology

March 2006

• The Quiet Leader. Dave Arnold, NEA's ESP "Poet Laureate," does it all.
• Bus drivers get a helping hand from colleague
• Nebraska ESPs win bargaining rights

February 2006

• Making a Good Impression. Nebraska ESP communtiy public relations work helps produce bargaining recognition.
• A head custodian promotes reading in schools
• A 'by-the-book' campaign wins gains for Alabama ESPs

January 2006

• Reaching for a Living Wage. NEA rallies for educators forced to choose between heat and groceries.
• Can you see me now? GPS technology gives bus drivers (and their bosses) an extra set of eyes.

November 2005

• Call this ESP 'Mr. VP'. Idaho custodian and 2003 ESP of the Year Marty Meyer is now Vice President of the Idaho Education Association.
• Busting Up Privatization
• Delaware ESPs gain binding arbitration

October 2005

• 'Paging the School Nurse'. School nurses in St. Louis, Missouri, juggle some very complex duties. Finally, their work is being recognized -- in the form of better pay.

September 2005

• 'Highly Qualified' Victory: Title I paraprofessionals’ deadline is pushed back to the end of the school year.  Paraprofessionals in Title I schools will have several extra months to meet the “highly qualified” rules of the so-called No Child Left Behind  law (NCLB).

May 2005 

• We Want Some Kind of Say. Arizona support professionals create a local from scratch. Their formula: numbers, leadership, and vision.
• NEA members mourn death of Tennessee ESP
• New Mexico ESPs testify for a living wage
• ESPs share success stories from the school year
  • So Good, So Good You See
  • Chessmate!
  • You're Invited To...

April 2005

• 'S' is for Stuff They Know. As school bus drivers gear up to earn a new credential for their jobs, NEA steps forward with a new video and training package to help them prepare.
• Vermont ESPs bargain a whopping raise
• Retired Delaware nurse wins lifetime disability
• Fighting for education employee retirement benefits

March 2005

• Sign 'Em Up! In Arkansas, a gutsy custodian tells what it takes to bargain a solid agreement for support professionals—against the odds.
• Montana affiliate has course to 'qualify' paras for law
• ESPs share advice on tackling tasks at home
• Writing better job descriptions for paras

February 2005

• 'We're Worth It!' Living wage crusader Debbie Minnick tells fellow education support professionals how to organize for a decent raise.
• Michigan ESPs, teachers working without contracts
• Drivers share tips on managing student behavior
• A glimpse into a typical day for a powerhouse para

January 2005

• Working in Pain: It Just Doesn't Pay. A new NEA handbook helps education support professionals avoid repetitive stress injuries and make on-the-job health and safety concerns a priority in their districts.
• Wisconsin paras shun written tests and still get 'qualified'
• NEA offers grants to help ESPs use technology

About Education Support Professionals

NEA's 478,000 Education Support Professional (ESP) members take care of our children every day and make sure they have the tools they need to succeed in our schools and classrooms. We are the...

• school bus driver who greets your child with a warm "hello" and delivers him safely to school
• cafeteria worker who gives your daughter a warm, healthy meal
• paraeducator who provides your child with a little extra help in the classroom
• school nurse who comforts your sick child
• office assistant who makes sure your son's records are up to date
• technician who wires the classroom computers
• custodian who works to keep schools clean
• security professional who helps keep students safe.

We make up more than 40 percent of the total K-12 education workforce. We are a critically important part of the school community. Learn more about what we do in ESP Jobs.

We directly affect student learning.

• In Bucks County, Pennsylvania, the bus drivers in the Pennsbury School District link bus safety activities with the language arts and social studies curriculum for kindergartners.
• In Broward County, Florida, paraprofessionals supervise and train students to run a peace center where they learn peer mediation.
• Reeths-Puffer, Michigan, food-service staff teach nutrition to student and parent groups and provide tasty, economical catering for staff parties.
• A custodian in Topsham, Maine, counsels elementary school teachers on selecting safe classroom materials.

We bring years of experience to our jobs.

• On average, K-12 ESP members have nearly 11 years of experience in education support work.

We are dedicated to students and schools.

• Nearly 95 percent of K-12  ESPs surveyed in 1997 said they planned to stay in education.

We have strong ties to the community. Nearly 80 percent of us...

• volunteer time to community organizations or activities
• live in the school districts where we work

We've put together this ESP section of the National Education Association's Web site to help parents, community members, and other educators gain a better understanding of Education Support Professionals, and to provide resources that will help ESP's meet today's challenges and do our jobs better. If you have questions, comments, or suggestions, please send us an e-mail.

NEA National Council for Education Support Professionals

This information has been moved to a new location.

Frequently asked questions
about ESEA 2001, Title I,
and paraprofessionals

This information has been moved to a new location.

Utah School Employees Association votes to affiliate with National Education Association

On May 1, 2004, the Utah School Employees Association voted to affiliate with the National Education Association. Here is NEA President Reg Weaver's welcome to them.

Statement of NEA President Reg Weaver On the Affiliation of the Utah School Employees Association

"The National Education Association (NEA) is pleased to welcome the Utah School Employees Association (USEA) as a member of the NEA family.  Delegates to the USEA convention voted overwhelmingly in favor of strengthening their ties with the largest education employee organization in the nation.

We are confident that together we can make things better for children, education employees, and public schools in Utah and around the nation.  With the issues facing education employees today - especially in the wake of the unfunded mandates of the so-called No Child Left Behind Act - there is so much we can accomplish by working together."

NOTE:  USEA represents more than 6,000 education support professionals in Utah.  NEA represents more than 350,000 education support professionals nationwide, more than any other organization.  The USEA local leaders voted in support of affiliation by 101 to 3 on Saturday, May 1.

NEA Resources

This information has been moved to a new location.

ESP Jobs

This information has been moved to a new location.

ESEA 2002
For Teachers - Understanding
How ESEA Affects Paraprofessionals

This information has been moved to a new location.

ESEA 2002
For ESPs – Paraprofessionals and ESEA

This information has been moved to a new location.

ESEA 2002
For Local Leaders - Understanding How ESEA Affects Paraprofessionals

This information has been moved to a new location.

ESEA and paraprofessionals

This information has been moved to a new location.