Education Support Professionals Blog

• Help build support for ESP of the Year Award bill

  6/6/2011 9:02:23 PM

  Two members of Congress – Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Representative Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) – have introduced the National Classified School Employee of the Year Award Act (S. 547/H.R. 1704). This important legislation would provide long overdue recognition for education support professionals – including paraeducators, clerical assistants, school bus drivers, custodians, food service workers, technicians, custodians, school nurses, and security professionals — for their outstanding contributions to our nation’s schools and the students they serve. As an integral part of the public education system, classified school employees promote student achievement, ensure student safety, and contribute to the establishment and promotion of a positive instructional environment.

  Thanks to your efforts, the House bill now has ten sponsors and the Senate bill has nine. But, we still need your help to build more support for this important legislation.

  Take Action Today: Tell your Senators and Representative to cosponsor and support the ...

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• Good eats: House passes child nutrition bill

  12/2/2010 5:20:14 PM

  Here’s some good news for school lunch programs: On Thursday (December 2), the House of Representatives approved the “Healthy, Hunger-free Kids Act” in a 264-157 vote. The bill, which the Senate unanimously passed in August, expands eligibility for lunch programs and sets nutrition standards for school meals. It is the first increase in school lunch funding since 1973.

   

  “[This] offers a real chance to improve nutrition for all children,” said Kim Anderson, the NEA’s Director of Government Relations told the neatoday.org website. “By improving opportunities for healthy meals in and out of school, the bill would take an important step forward in addressing both child hunger and obesity.”

   

  The bill is now on its way to the White House for President Obama’s signature.

   

  According to the NEA, once signed into law, the act will allocate an additional $4.5 billion over 10 years to school meal programs, boosting ...

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• How did your school or community celebrate ESP Day this year?

  11/22/2010 5:13:06 PM

  National Education Support Professionals Day was November 17, a day set aside during American Education Week to pay tribute to the dedication and hard work of ESP throughout the country. We know that many schools and communities took the time to recognize and honor their ESP on this special day. Did your school do something special for ESP Day this year? Please take a moment to share by commenting on this blog.
  

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• What are YOU doing to celebrate ESP Day?

  11/4/2010 3:44:50 PM

  From the WEAC Education Support Professional (ESP) Committee:

  A part of American Education Week, ESP Day is Wednesday, November 17, 2010. Celebrating ESP Day is an important way to gain the recognition and acknowledgement for our contribution we need to be the best employees we can be for the students as well as survive in the world of education reform and reduced spending.

   

  Who are ESP (Education Support Professionals)?

  We play a critical role in the school and in the students’ lives. “We are behind the scenes, keeping everything running…” Shirl Anne Ingram, Arizona Education Association. We are what you might refer to as “support staff.” We are:

  • Clerical services
  • Custodial and maintenance services
  • Food services
  • Health and students services
  • Para-educators
  • Security services
  • Skilled trades
  • Technical services
  • Transportation services

  Check out who we are and use as an educational tool with this flier.

  Why do we celebrate ESP ...

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• WEAC Convention: it’s not just for teachers!

  10/22/2010 2:12:10 PM

  From the WEAC Education Support Professional (ESP) Committee

  Halloween is just around the bend, and that means it is time for the WEAC Convention, October 28-29, at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison. The days of old, are past, and it is not a “Teachers’ Convention” anymore. Education Support Professionals (ESP) are all welcome and encouraged to attend. And there is a little bit of everything for everyone! 

  Here what we have in store for you, Mr./Ms. Paraprofessional, Secretary, Custodian, Bus driver, Cook, etc.:

  ·         Professional & Personal Development Sessions. 

  ♦   Are you looking for more training and education in understanding how to work with your students’ health needs – and your own?  We have got the session for you. With more and more students needing medical attention at school, regulations have soared and you need of additional training and education on how you can best serve the students you ...

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• Why are ESPs critical in “Moving Wisconsin Forward”?

  10/11/2010 5:07:41 PM

  By Kim Wiemer Noyce

  Have you heard about the Moving Wisconsin Forward Rally, this Saturday, October 16, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.? WEAC is co-sponsoring the rally to demonstrate our support for a better future in Wisconsin. We want to move forward from joblessness and families struggling for health care. Instead we want to tell our incoming legislators, no matter who gets elected, that we want job creation, health care for everyone (particularly families and children) and a quality public education system – of which ESP members are critical. We all live here, and if we don’t invest in Wisconsin and protect our future, our neighborhoods may become a less safe and enjoyable place to live.

  Education is our future! And everyone knows how much layoffs and cuts affect the students. They impact the way everyone else does their job, and how much time they get to interact ...

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• Nominate yourself or a colleague for the NEA C.L.E.A.N. Awards

  10/5/2010 2:48:22 PM

  Do you know of a custodial colleague who has gone above and beyond for their profession? Have you taken the lead in maintenance efforts in your school? Nominate someone or yourself for the NEA’s C.L.E.A.N. Awards program to recognize the contributions that custodians make to public health in their schools, communities, and their profession.

   

  The awards are presented to school custodians who demonstrate outstanding leadership in the field of school cleanliness and who reflect the contributions that ESP make to public health.

   

  The deadline for nominations is December 1. Five winners will get an all-expenses paid trip to the NEA National ESP Conference in Washington, D.C., from March 11-13 and a cash award.

   

  For nominating information, click here.

   

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• What's happening in your area?

  9/28/2010 8:40:01 PM

  WEAC's ESP Blog is an area where you can share information about ESP activities in your area, and learn about what your colleagues are doing throughout the state. Do you have an activity to promote, or a story you would like to have told? Tell us about it right now!
  

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• Child Nutrition Bill working its way through Congress

  7/8/2010 2:37:52 PM

  Our friends at the NEA have shared a wealth of information about the Child Nutrition Bill that is working its way through Congress. This is a good time to contact your congressional representatives to advocate for the bill. Following is the latest (July 8) from the NEA:

  The Child Nutrition bill is  legislation directly affecting millions of students and thousands of food service workers in the public schools. These are the folks providing healthy meals to students so they can focus and learn better in the classroom. Our support for a good bill that continues to provide resources workers need to do their job is critical to students achieving in their lessons successfully.

  The story to date: The Senate passed its version of this bill out of the Agriculture Committee in March. Our letter on the Senate bill can be found here…  http://www.nea.org/home/38662.htm . The NEA fact sheet is here...

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• How do ESP members ‘Move Education Forward’?

  3/24/2010 3:48:29 PM

  One of WEAC’s priorities is school funding reform. This spring (Yep, it is spring) locals are engaging their communities and legislators to educate them on the need for school funding reform. We want to “Move Education Forward” by reforming the school funding system. And while I know that ESP members across the state believe in this concept, I’ve heard from some of you that you don’t know if or where you belong in this campaign.

   

  If you haven’t heard it before, you are hearing it now, YOUR involvement is critical to the success of school funding reform.

   

  Why does school funding reform matter to ESP?

   

  Well, I ask you this question, “What happens if you don’t get involved?” I hear all too often that ESP members are the first to get cut when layoffs arrive. This instills some fear in all of us, I know. But if ...

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Uniting educators. Moving education forward.