Technical Services

We're NEA ESPs and Proud of It!

About Us and Our Work

• 69% of us work at school buildings, and 10% work at central offices or administrative centers.
• 39% of us work with special education students.
• 61% have job responsibilities that involve promoting school safety.
• 93% work full time.
• 77% of us are female.
• 83% are married.
• Our average age is 47.
• 80% have attended at least some college, 22% have an associate's degree, and 21% have a bachelor's or advanced degree.

We are committed: On average, we have been working in the ESP field for 10.8 years. 79% of us plan to stay in the ESP field, and 56% plan to stay in our current jobs until retirement.

We are specialists: Over 42,000 technical services ESPs work in the nation's K-12 public schools, making up 2% of the U.S. K-12 ESP work force.

Our Workplace Conditions and Issues

We need job descriptions that reflect both current technology and our responsibility to keep up with it. 15% of us do not have a job description. Among those who have a job description, 44% believe that it does not accurately describe the amount of work we do, and 19% think it does not accurately describe what we do. 50% of us have no input into updating or changing our job descriptions. 62% are often or sometimes asked to perform duties outside of our job descriptions.

We are worried about privatization: 18% of us report that technical services are being contracted out in our school districts.

We often perform support services for many different individuals and departments. We need clear lines of supervision to deal with conflicts that arise over scheduling, priorities, and the use of overtime.

To keep our skills up-to-date, we need ongoing access to training and professional development.

We appreciate our job benefits, but we'd like better wages. We enjoy the freedom we have to decide how to do our jobs and the personal fulfillment we get from our work. We'd like better opportunities for professional development and in-service training.

How Can We Help Restore Public Confidence in Public Education? Technical Services Members Speak Out:

"Change the public's perception of who support professionals are and what we do for their children's education."

"Promote ESPs, in a positive light, as an integral part of the education team, using TV spots and other media for each work group."

"Get the community involved in their schools so they will know all the good things that are going on, all the kinds of work involved in a providing public education, and how qualified we all are."

Technical Services: Who We Are

• Computer Operators and Programmers
• Systems Analysts and Data Processing Specialists
• Media and Public Relations Specialists, Writers, and Editors
• Designers, Photographers, and Graphic Artists
• Audiovisual, Language, Science, Mechanical, and Electrical Technicians
• Nonmanagerial Supervisors