News Release

Iowa Teacher's Aide Named
Top Support Professional of Year

Allyson "Sunny" Story:
'Looking forward to building bridges'

Washington, D.C. - Allyson "Sunny" Story, who has spent 25 years helping classroom teachers in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is the 2004 Education Support Professional of the Year. The award, which carries a $10,000 prize, is the National Education Association's (NEA) highest honor for professionals in the field of educational support.

Story provides one-on-one tutoring and other assistance to special-needs students at Grant Elementary School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She is especially known for the creative ways she engages children in learning, such as a game of alphabet tag at recess to reinforce the morning lesson.

Story will be an ambassador for the 350,000 education support professionals among the 2.7 million members of NEA. Throughout 2004, she will travel to education conferences, as well as speak to thousands of fellow educators this July at NEA's Representative Assembly in Washington.

"I'm looking forward to building bridges that will form positive relationships between parents, educators, support professionals, and legislators," said Story, president of the local Cedar Rapids Organization of Teacher Associates. The award was presented March 12 at the NEA ESP conference in Charlotte, N.C.

NEA's ESP of the Year receives a $10,000 award, half of which is presented to the charity of his or her choice. Story's contribution will go to the Kirkwood Foundation to help fund adult literacy programs and training for education support professionals.

Gardner Rich and Co., Inc., a Chicago brokerage firm that supports recognition programs for outstanding teaching, contributes to the award each year.

March 22, 2004

Contact:
Anjetta McQueen, NEA Public Relations, 202-822-7251, amcqueen@nea.org
Beth Holt, Cedar Rapids Education Association, 319-360-4634, bholt@objectfusion.com

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The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing 2.7 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators and students preparing to become teachers.