How to use this toolkit
- This toolkit contains ideas for recognizing and celebrating education support professionals (ESPs).
- In this toolkit, you will find a guide to setting up ESP Day events, along with many other ways to recognize ESPs and honor what they want and deserve—not just on ESP Day, but all year long.
- Use or update sample social media content, email copy, and proclamation text to celebrate the vital school support staff who ensure students are safe, healthy, and ready to learn every day.
What is ESP Day?
What is Education Support Professionals Day?
Students depend on a wide range of professionals to have a great day at school and have the opportunities to reach their full potential. Some staff they see every day, while others work behind the scenes. But every education support professional (ESP) is essential to fostering student success and creating great public schools.
On the third day of American Education Week, November 18, 2026, we celebrate the excellence of the ESPs who make student success possible. Whether you are a teacher, a student, a parent, an elected leader, or an ally, join us in celebrating ESP Day in your communities! A powerful way to show your appreciation is by hosting an “ESP for a Day” event, where you can shadow an ESP and see firsthand the hard work and dedication that goes into educating, nurturing, and protecting students.
How We're Celebrating
Celebrate ESP Day by Taking Action
Ask a Leader to Make an ESP Day Proclamation
A proclamation is a way to declare an official public announcement. Elected officials make proclamations to commend people or announce upcoming special events. Decide on which of your elected officials you would like to ask to sponsor a proclamation for ESP Day.
They can be any of the following:
- Federal or state representative
- Federal or state senator
- Governor
- Mayor
- City Council member
- School Board member
Send your elected officials a letter requesting a proclamation for National ESP Day, informing them what ESPs do for public education and the children of your community, and stating what you would like the proclamation to say.
Host an ESP Day Event
To mark this year's ESP Day, NEA is encouraging communities across the country to organize and participate in “Education Support Professionals for a Day” events at local public schools. The ESP for a Day program provides a one-of-a-kind, behind the scenes look at the dedication, complexity, and passion that goes into ensuring our students succeed in school, and in life. The program invites community members to perform duties such as assisting bus drivers on bus routes, performing lunch and corridor duty, supervising recess, serving meals, and helping office staff with administrative tasks.
Use this online toolkit to host an unforgettable ESP for a Day event in your school or district. It has everything you need to plan, promote, and launch the program successfully!
Share on Social
Spread the Word on Social Media
Use your social media channels to celebrate ESP Day by sharing stories and advocating for ESPs. Here are some sample posts for your channels. Remember to use #WeLoveOurESPs and #AEWeek.
- Happy ESP Day! Today we celebrate the vital work of school support staff. Show your gratitude by signing our ESP Bill of Rights pledge: [Insert Pledge] #WeLoveOurESPs #AEWeek
- On ESP Day, and every day, we feel grateful to education support professionals and all they do to make our schools work and our students thrive. #WeLoveOurESPs #AEWeek
- Today is ESP Day! Is there a school support professional who inspires you? Give them a shout out when you sign our ESP Bill of Rights pledge: [Insert Pledge] #WeLoveOurESPs #AEWeek
- This ESP Day, I join @NEAToday in calling for the respect and rights every education professional deserves. Add your name to the ESP Bill of Rights pledge: [Insert Pledge] #WeLoveOurESPs #AEWeek
- This American Education Week we are celebrating the vital work of school support staff. Pledge to take action in honor of an education support professional that inspires you: [Insert Pledge] #WeLoveOurESPs #AEWeek
Sharable Graphics
More Ways to Celebrate
More Ways to Recognize and Celebrate ESPs
We surveyed ESP members and asked them what would make them feel appreciated on ESP Day. Below is a list of ideas based on these responses and their five love languages.
🗣️ 1. Words of Affirmation
- Encourage teachers, students, school leaders, and parents to share personalized messages or thank you cards to ESPs in their schools and across their district
- Thank the ESPs in your schools through a video, during morning announcements, or at pep rallies
- Give public recognition through announcements or signage
- Acknowledge specific contributions and years of service
- Host celebration events:
- Educators for a day: shadow an ESP for a day and share your experience on social media
- Dance parties, team outings, and gala events
- Set up group activities that build camaraderie among ESPs, teachers, parents, and/or community members
- Host a special recognition luncheon, breakfast, dinner, etc.
🎁 2. Gifts
- Send gift cards (especially for restaurants or coffee)
- Give personalized items like mugs, bags, lanyards, or t-shirts
- Give certificates or awards
- Lay out coffee, donuts, snack trays, etc. in the break room
- Provide food trucks or catered meals
💵 3. Financial Compensation
- Advocate for raises, bonuses, stipends, and a living wage for all ESPs
- Learn the state of ESP pay and read NEA’s ESP Earnings Report to get a breakdown of ESP earnings for K-12 and higher education
- Pledge your support for the NEA ESP Bill of Rights at www.nea.org/espbillofrights to advocate for better pay, benefits, and working conditions, and share this action with others
🧘 4. Wellness Time
- Advocate for paid time off or discretionary hours for ESPs on ESP Day
- Provide wellness opportunities, like massages or meditation classes
- Gather feedback from ESPs to understand workload challenges and work collaboratively on providing workload-balancing strategies and professional development on social-emotional skills
- Encourage and provide mindfulness breaks during the workday
📣 5. Acts of Advocacy
- Join the NEA ESP Bill of Rights movement
- Pledge your support for the NEA ESP Bill of Rights and dedicate your pledge to an ESP who inspires you!
- Organize statewide initiatives to educate the public about ESP roles and contributions, and advocate for fair pay, good benefits, better working conditions, and more for all ESPs.
- Include and invest in ESPs
- Ensure ESPs are represented in all decision-making, especially union and district-level discussions (“a seat at the table”)
- Invest in meaningful professional development opportunities, and share available opportunities with ESPs
- Engage elected leaders:
- Ask members of Congress to cosponsor five bills that would lead to higher pay, improved access to medical leave, and better working conditions for Education Support Professionals.
- Attend school board meetings and other community events to advocate for ESPs
- Ask an elected official to make an official proclamation.
- Ask local leaders to shadow an ESP for a day and invite the media to follow along
- Write an Op-ed or Letter to the Editor to lift the stories of ESPs. Topic ideas:
- How ESPs impact our school communities
- What challenges ESPs are facing
- Why ESPs deserve better pay, benefits, training, and other necessary supports to ensure safe and healthy working conditions
Join Our Movement
