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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 5, 2002

News Release

Colorado's JoAnn Falk Honored As Top Education Support Professional of the Year

Birmingham, Ala. - The National Education Association (NEA), the nation's largest professional employee organization, today bestowed its Education Support Professional (ESP) of the Year Award to JoAnn Falk of Pueblo, Colo. The ESP of the Year Award is the NEA's highest honor for professionals in the field of educational support. Jo Ann Falk, central office secretary for Pueblo District 70, is the eleventh recipient of the award. Ms. Falk's work for public education, her leadership among ESP staff, and her dedication to students earned her this honor.

"It's fitting that this award to JoAnn Falk is being presented in Birmingham, a major battleground in the struggle for civil rights," said Colorado Education Association President Ron Brady. "JoAnn has dedicated her life to fighting for rights and respect for her fellow education support professionals. Like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., JoAnn has never allowed the word 'no' to stop her from working for what she knows in her heart is right. JoAnn Falk will stick with something until she succeeds - despite the odds and obstacles. She is truly an inspiration."

NEA President Bob Chase also had words of praise for the award winner. "JoAnn is a tribute to the hardworking education support professionals across the country," he said, recalling how she fought for bargaining rights for her fellow ESPs. "From convincing colleagues to join the Colorado Education Association, to recruiting school board candidates sympathetic to the needs of classified employees, to standing up to the administration, JoAnn has put her fellow support professionals and the students they serve first. It takes leaders like JoAnn to make a difference in education, and that is why it gives me great pleasure to see JoAnn receive NEA's ESP of the Year Award."

Over her many years of work in Pueblo District 70, JoAnn has demonstrated a strong commitment to the development of school programs and the role of ESP employees. While working as a media technician at South Mesa Elementary School, JoAnn created the first Elementary School Media Center in Pueblo District 70. When she began working in the district central office in 1999, JoAnn helped design a successful new substitute teacher program.

Serving as president of the Association of Classified Employees/CEA/NEA since 1994, JoAnn won bargaining rights for ESP workers and organized grassroots campaigns for board member elections. She has served on the media curriculum writing team for state standards, as well as on the District Curriculum Team. JoAnn also participated in former Vice President Gore's GLOBE program for new international environmental science education, and helped develop a beautification project involving all 15 schools in her district. In 1999, she was the recipient of the Colorado Education Association's ESP Award, in recognition of her contributions of behalf of public education.

JoAnn currently works as the central office secretary for Pueblo District 70, and is active in her church council. She also serves on the advisory board of ACOVA (A Community Organization for Victims Assistance), under the direction of the county sheriff and police department. JoAnn lives in Pueblo with her husband and two children.

NEA's ESP of the Year receives a $10,000 award, half of which is presented to the charity of his or her choice. The funds are contributed annually by Gardner Rich and Co., Inc., a Chicago brokerage firm that also supports recognition programs for outstanding teaching. JoAnn Falk's contribution will help support the Pueblo District 70 Educational Foundation, which provides funding for special reading, math and science programs outside the classroom.

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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.