ESP
Professional Learning

Michigan center offers ESPs training, certification.

For years, a key employment issue for Michigan's education support professionals (ESPs) has been the lack of training and professional development they need to perform their jobs well and advance in their careers. The Michigan Education Association (MEA) has responded by creating the Michigan ESP Center for Professional Learning, a program that required six years of planning and development.

"Time and time again, we hear our support staff members tell us their jobs are vastly different than they were 20 years ago, or even 10 years ago," says David Crim, director of the new center. "Until now, our ESP members have often been overlooked--there's been little professional development to speak of. That's all changing."

The center works with local community colleges and school districts to offer two certificate programs for ESPs. A level one certificate program, now offered by the center, requires ESPs to complete 40 hours of required and elective course work. A level two certificate program, which focuses on advanced education specific to participants' jobs, will be introduced within the next two years. The center offered its first set of classes in the fall.

"This is a very satisfying and exciting moment," says Carol Brannan, a 30-year ESP who works in library monographic services at Central Michigan University. "I've seen the need for ESP professional education since the start of my career. What makes the creation of this center so special is that ESPs have worked gradually to gain respect for years. Now that respect is being formalized. It's a statement that we are professionals and have a right to become even better."

A Welcome Reception
Brannan worked to make the center a reality from the time of its conception. She volunteered to help investigate the need for a center and now serves on the center's board of directors. The program has met with overwhelming acceptance from ESP members, she says.

Acceptance has come from other important quarters as well--notably the Michigan State Board of Education. Tom Watkins, the state superintendent of education, spoke at MEA's ESP Conference last year and called the certificate program "something that's been long overdue" for public school support staff.

The Curriculum
The level one certificate program requires course work in four basic areas:

• Communication--Designed to help participants understand their colleagues and express themselves, the communication curriculum covers work-related writing, team-building, and foreign language instruction.
• Legal/Ethical--This curriculum focuses on the protections, privileges, rights, and responsibilities provided by federal and state law to people in educational institutions.
• Behavior Management-- Course work here involves effective strategies for managing student behavior and covers subjects such as conflict resolution and crisis intervention and response.
• Growth and Development--This curriculum emphasizes an understanding of human growth and development--normal and abnormal--to help school personnel better understand and respond to various situations in the school setting. Topics include age-appropriate behavior, learning styles, and human relations.

In addition, certificate program participants may take up to 20 hours of elective courses in areas such as cultural diversity, technology, special education, and safety. At this point, ESP members must pay for their own classes; but, courses are relatively inexpensive, ranging from $30 to $40 for five to eight credit hours.

A Wisconsin Model
In researching an effective professional education program for ESPs, MEA looked in part to neighboring Wisconsin. There, the Wisconsin Education Association Council created the Professional Development Academy in 1992 and launched an ESP certificate program in the mid-'90s. More than 5,000 ESPs in Wisconsin have completed the program and received certificates. The program is so well respected that some school districts offer pay incentives to ESPs for earning a certificate.

"Wisconsin helped us a great deal in developing a curriculum," says Brannan. "And we're ready to help others. That's the great thing. The more we work for recognition as professionals, the better it is for ESPs throughout the nation."

--Matt Simon

For more: E-mail David Crim at dcrim@mea.org.

Going the Extra Mile

High-Tech Tactics
Two local Associations are using technology to reach out to current and potential members of the Association.

The Nazareth Area Educational Support Personnel Association in Pennsylvania used a $3,500 NEA ESP Technology Grant to purchase a laptop computer, software, and a printer, which it uses to publish a local newsletter.

The newsletter provides members with job information, Association news, and information about members' activities in the community. The newsletter helps increase members' awareness about the benefits of belonging to the Association, says Debra Maher, president of the local. "Better communication leads to a better organization of ESP," she says.

Meanwhile, the Tucson Education Association (TEA) in Arizona used a $3,500 NEA ESP Technology Grant to expand its technology program. Association members Ruth Argraves and Jay Adkins, who applied for the grant, have helped the program grow during the past five years.

TEA used the grant to purchase computers and software to use in Association workshops on leadership, politics, and public education. The local also uses the computers to present PowerPoint? slide shows at its board meetings and in the district's 100 schools where the local wants to recruit new members. The presentations inform members and potential members about the benefits of belonging to TEA.

The local also updated its website to enhance communication among members and inform them about activities and training programs.

For more information on NEA ESP Technology grants, visit www.nea.org/esphome/members/techgrnt.html. Apply by April 15, 2003, for the 2003-04 grants.

New Jersey ESP Elected to State Board
New Jersey custodian Lee Flanagan was elected trustee of the New Jersey Public Employees Retirement System last summer. He started his term in September.

Flanagan is a 24-year employee with the Plainfield Board of Education. For five years, he has served as the head custodian of Plainfield High School.

In addition, he is chairman of the NJEA Educational Support Professionals Committee and a member of the NJEA Delegate Assembly. Flanagan also has served on the Executive Board of the Plainfield Education Association since 1991.

NJEA staff and members vigorously campaigned for Flanagan who received 8,345 votes and triumphed over two other qualified candidates.

The nine-member Board of Trustees oversees the state retirement system, approves retirements, and reviews disability claims.

Profile
Taking Care Of Children

Name:
Darlene Yarnelle

Job Title:
School nurse, Portage Middle School and Price and Nebraska elementary schools, Fort Wayne, Indiana

What I Do in My Job:
I do lots of things, especially because I work in low socioeconomic schools. I take care of children, and I often become their families' medical person. I am responsible for immunizations and medical screenings. I do health presentations, and I also work with staff with medical issues.

The Most Rewarding Part of My Job:
Being with children and helping them every day. I feel that I am a lucky person and that every day is rewarding.

Why I Do What I Do:
I feel it's a calling. I have the opportunity to make a difference in people's lives. I am taught more than I teach.

My Greatest Passion:
It has always been children and understanding people.

My Favorite Pastime:
Working with the enneagram, which is a personality assessment tool. It tells you about people's different personalities and has helped me understand other people and myself. It also has helped me deal with different types of people.

How I've Helped My Association:
I have helped my Association by being a very strong supporter of it. I have a voice in my Association. The nurses in the Association promote health issues. I think that we help children in their school education by taking care of their health.

My Community Involvement Includes:
I am active in my church. I am also involved in committees related to my high school.

A Little Known Fact About Me:
Potato chips are my passion, and it shouldn't be so as a nurse. But, I love them.

Resources

Let's Team Up
The NEA Professional Library has released a new edition of Let's Team Up! A Checklist for Paraeducators, Teachers, and Principals. This unique checklist is written to help paraeducators, teachers, and principals understand their roles and responsibilities as they work together. The book includes practical suggestions for paraeducators on clarifying their jobs and their relationships with students and school staff. You can order a copy for $5.50 by calling 800/229-4200 or visiting http://home.nea.org/books.

ESP Conference
The 2003 NEA Education Support Professionals (ESP) Conference will take place March 14-16, 2003, at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The conference is designed to help NEA ESP members enhance their ability to impact student achievement, build strong internal and external relationships and organizing skills, and provide opportunities for professional development. For more information, call the Education Support Professionals Quality Program at 202/822-7131 or visit www.nea.org/esphome/members/espconf03.html.

Safe Workplace
Looking for information about a safe work environment? Check out the website for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) at www.osha.gov. The site offers information about the federal agency and state programs, including information about which state programs cover public sector employees. You'll also find information on workers' rights, ergonomics, and health and safety statistics.