Supporting Our Own Through Peer Mentoring
NEA recognizes the vital role ESPs play in ensuring a great public school for every student. That’s why we work with affiliates to provide enhanced professional support through peer mentoring for ESPs at all stages of their career.
ESPs make up more than one third of today’s public education workforce, but often have inadequate professional development, workplace preparation, and support. Formal programs where ESPs mentor ESPs can provide the high-quality, targeted, and specialized support that is vital for professional and student success.
Peer mentoring for ESPs, like the long-established mentoring relationships between new and experienced teachers, can help ESPs successfully navigate the growing complexity and increasing demands of education.
Peer mentoring is essential to:
- Recruit and retain high-quality support professionals in the education workforce.
- Support the development of personal and professional skills and knowledge.
- Ensure the ESP community has a greater voice in the workplace and more opportunities to build their own professional pathways.
- Contribute to the overall mission of student success.
Interested in building a peer mentoring program for ESPs? Here are some ways to get started:
Apply for the 2026 NEA Peer Mentoring for ESPs Blended Learning Cohort
Applications for affiliates open March 24 and close May 12, for the next cycle of the NEA Peer Mentoring Blended Learning Cohort. Check back here in March for more information about this program, which includes four online courses, four live webinars, and an in-person working meeting in Washington, DC, October 24-25, 2026.
Request State Affiliate Leadership
NEA provides assistance to state affiliates interested in supporting the development of local peer mentoring programs. Contact [email protected] to learn more or get started.
Take Online Learning Path Courses
ESPs: Supporting Our Own through Peer Mentoring is an online opportunity that guides affiliates and members through building a strong mentoring program for ESPs. This free learning path comprises four online courses that participants may take individually or in teams through NEA’s Professional Excellence Portal.
For additional information, please contact [email protected]
Suggested Further Reading
