NEA Today: Archived ESP Stories

May 2008

• Cooking up a Campaign. Inspired by their peers, Washington ESPs fight for living wages

April 2008

• Driving Forces. Creating stronger school bus security policies and practices in New Jersey.

March 2008

• Security Upgrade. What was once left to teachers and aides who had "free time" to police hallways is now often the work of highly trained ESP's.

February 2008

• Rising Stars. A new NEA program nurtures the next generation of leaders.

January 2008

• Partners in Education . For ESP's in merged locals, identity and unity are key.

November 2007

• A Magnificent Comeback. How one Arkansas local fought injustice, lost its bargaining power, then won it back.

October 2007

• Time Out . Louisana ESPs challenge a new timekeeping system, raising questions about religious beliefs and privacy.

September 2007

• Getting Personal. Through face-to-face contact with legislators, Illinois ESPs helped pass a state law that limits outsourcing.
• Meet ESP of the Year Veronica Henderson.

May 2007

• Under the Lights, ESPs Shine. A local TV program showcases the hard work of support professionals.
• New Jersey ESP membership reaches 50,000!
• No more "leftovers" for Wisconsin ESPs
• An ESP's take on the future of tech in schools

April 2007

• Get It In Writing . New Jersey ESPs work for Results-Oriented Job Descriptions.
• Moving to green cleaning in schools
• Fighting for a living wage in Virginia
• Joining forces for higher pay in North Carolina

March 2007

• Parents Take the Wheel. School districts are alleviating bus driver shortages by allowing parents to bring their children on board.
• Oregon bus drivers join in Read Across America
• Memphis local wins state’s first ESP contract

February 2007

• The Road to Recovery. Being familiar with injury prevention techniques, liability laws, and insurance coverage is as important as knowing how to do your job.
• Ad-filled radio on school buses cases static
• ESP Career Academy launches in New Jersey, 13 lucky paras win a better contract in Vermont

January 2007

• Driving a Hard Bargain. More and more school districts are finding the problems of privatizing busing outweigh the supposed cost savings.
• An Entrepreneurial Spirit and 3,000 Wedding Dresses
• West Virginia Salary Campaign Underway

November 2006

• Closing the Pension Gap. ESPs fight for equity in their pension plans.
• Putting the squeeze on Idaho custodians
• New contract brings more money for Texas ESPs
• Salary Stories: Why ESPs need a living wage

October 2006

• All in the Family. Robyn Driscoll has both politics and public service in her blood.
• ESPs on the Road: Roadeo
• A Band of Oregon ESPs Fiddle Around

September 2006

• Vocations, not Vacations. More than half of all ESPs worked during the summer months.
• Solidarity brings better wages in Illinois
• Kentucky ESPs win salary increase
• Meet ESP of the Year Nancy Toombs

May 2006

• Hit the Road, Hit the Books. Wisconsin support professionals go the extra mile to gain certification.
• Bus drivers enlisted for homeland security
• ESP local fights privatization in Michigan
• What's hot in ESP jobs? School translators

April 2006

• Heat, Bugs, and Bullets. The challenges facing ESPs who serve in Iraq.
• Virginia ESPs launch living wage campaign
• Arizona bargaining team wins gains for ESPs
• Food service professionals embrace new technology

March 2006

• The Quiet Leader. Dave Arnold, NEA's ESP "Poet Laureate," does it all.
• Bus drivers get a helping hand from colleague
• Nebraska ESPs win bargaining rights

February 2006

• Making a Good Impression. Nebraska ESP communtiy public relations work helps produce bargaining recognition.
• A head custodian promotes reading in schools
• A 'by-the-book' campaign wins gains for Alabama ESPs

January 2006

• Reaching for a Living Wage. NEA rallies for educators forced to choose between heat and groceries.
• Can you see me now? GPS technology gives bus drivers (and their bosses) an extra set of eyes.

November 2005

• Call this ESP 'Mr. VP'. Idaho custodian and 2003 ESP of the Year Marty Meyer is now Vice President of the Idaho Education Association.
• Busting Up Privatization
• Delaware ESPs gain binding arbitration

October 2005

• 'Paging the School Nurse'. School nurses in St. Louis, Missouri, juggle some very complex duties. Finally, their work is being recognized -- in the form of better pay.

September 2005

• 'Highly Qualified' Victory: Title I paraprofessionals’ deadline is pushed back to the end of the school year.  Paraprofessionals in Title I schools will have several extra months to meet the “highly qualified” rules of the so-called No Child Left Behind  law (NCLB).

May 2005 

• We Want Some Kind of Say. Arizona support professionals create a local from scratch. Their formula: numbers, leadership, and vision.
• NEA members mourn death of Tennessee ESP
• New Mexico ESPs testify for a living wage
• ESPs share success stories from the school year
  • So Good, So Good You See
  • Chessmate!
  • You're Invited To...

April 2005

• 'S' is for Stuff They Know. As school bus drivers gear up to earn a new credential for their jobs, NEA steps forward with a new video and training package to help them prepare.
• Vermont ESPs bargain a whopping raise
• Retired Delaware nurse wins lifetime disability
• Fighting for education employee retirement benefits

March 2005

• Sign 'Em Up! In Arkansas, a gutsy custodian tells what it takes to bargain a solid agreement for support professionals—against the odds.
• Montana affiliate has course to 'qualify' paras for law
• ESPs share advice on tackling tasks at home
• Writing better job descriptions for paras

February 2005

• 'We're Worth It!' Living wage crusader Debbie Minnick tells fellow education support professionals how to organize for a decent raise.
• Michigan ESPs, teachers working without contracts
• Drivers share tips on managing student behavior
• A glimpse into a typical day for a powerhouse para

January 2005

• Working in Pain: It Just Doesn't Pay. A new NEA handbook helps education support professionals avoid repetitive stress injuries and make on-the-job health and safety concerns a priority in their districts.
• Wisconsin paras shun written tests and still get 'qualified'
• NEA offers grants to help ESPs use technology