News Release

Education Support Professional of the Year Addresses NEA Convention

Iowa Teacher's Aide Wins $10,000 Award

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  Allyson "Sunny" Story, who has spent 25 years helping classroom teachers in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, told more than 9,000 educators that "there are a great many who either do not understand or who want to destroy public education; and that a coalition of educators working together for the common good is more powerful than individual educators."  

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, named the NEA’s 2004 Education Support Professional of the Year this spring, addressed the organization’s Representative Assembly at its annual meeting here today.

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. NEA’s Representative Assembly closes tomorrow.  

July 6, 2004

For more information:
NEA Public Relations, 202 822-7200

###

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.