Osyio! (That's Cherokee for hello!)
As an Education Support Professional, I mainly deal with students who are no longer enrolled. I work to verify whether students have graduated or withdrawn, issue official transcripts and official duplicate diplomas, and handle archived records for what is reputed to be the 25th largest school system in the country.
I joined my union because I am a firm believer that I needed to be a member of whichever group was representing me. It was never a second thought. I’ve fought and continue to fight to promote ESPs. I have lobbied for ESP’s at the local, state, and national levels.
It is important to me that people know the value ESPs bring to a school setting. Every opportunity I get, I elevate the role of ESPs, whether we are talking about a classroom person, clerical, nursing assistant, custodian, bus driver, all of us.
We are ALL a part of the cogs that make up that big wheel called public education.
The better an advocate you are for your association and your profession, the better you are to assist children in your capacity as a professional—and these trainings our association has provided have allowed me to bring more people along and fight for what's best for our students, our colleagues, and our profession.
ESPs are important to students, classrooms, and schools everywhere. Our jobs matter now more than ever! Our voices matter. Our efforts and advocacy matter. When other educators and ESPs work together, I have seen stronger partnerships in the classrooms and other school settings that benefit our students.
You have a team and a support system that strengthens everyone’s position.
My message to all ESPs is: Go – Fight – Win!
