ESP of the Year Award

The NEA Education Support Professional (ESP) of the Year Award, presented by NEA and NEA Member Benefits, honors a member who demonstrates outstanding accomplishments and whose achievements reflect the vital role ESPs play in public education.

The NEA ESP of the Year serves as an ambassador for ESPs across the country, promoting the value of ESP members at local, state, and national events. While the award showcases one outstanding ESP each year, it also recognizes and honors the contributions that all ESPs make towards ensuring great public schools for every student.

2026 NEA ESP of the Year Award
The nomination window for the 2026 NEA ESP of the Year Award is now open! Visit our webpage to access the 2026 NEA ESP of the Year Award nomination materials and get started on the process. The deadline to submit a nomination is September 23, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET. 

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2025 NEA ESP of the Year

Andy Markus, Assistant Facilities Manager (head custodian) at Draper Park Middle School, in Draper, Utah, is the 2025 NEA Education Support Professional of the Year! He knows that the pride and care we put into our school environments reflects in the success of our students, and his work goes beyond maintaining a building—he’s fostering a community where students and staff feel proud to be. Part of creating that environment includes getting to know the students, whether that’s in the hallways between classes, or at the afterschool mentoring program he launched.

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Meet the Top 5 Finalists 

Congratulations to the top 5 finalists for 2025 NEA ESP of the Year: Amy Evans (IL), Beryl Torrence (NC), Becky Marszalek (PA), Andy Markus (UT), and Alyce Holmes Pope (VA)!

Learn more about the finalists here

NEA ESP of the Year Speaker Request Form

The NEA ESP of the Year welcomes invitations to speak at in-person and virtual state and local events. To request the ESP of the Year (ESPOTY) to participate in an event, please:

• Complete the form below, and
• Ask the State Affiliate President to submit a formal request to the NEA President by email. Once approved by the NEA President, staff will work with the NEA ESPOTY to determine availability.

Speaker Request Form