Education Support Professionals

The 510,000 Educational Support Professional members of the National Education Association and the 29,500 ESP members of the Illinois Education Association take care of our children every day and make sure they have the tools they need to succeed in our schools and classrooms. We are truly the unsung heroes of public education.

The ESP nominees for this award must currently be an IEA-ESP member, must maintain membership during the process including if selected and have been an lEA-ESP member for three (3) years as of November 1.; ESPs must be nominated by his/her Local Association President, Leadership within the nominee’s local IEA office or by a member of the IEA Board of Directors. Printable form available here.

Presidents and members of the IEA Board of Directors can now nominate ESPs for STARS in recognition of outstanding service.

We are working to recognize ESP contributions and action through the ESP Insider. When you participate in an event involving ESPs or hear of such an event please send a completed Insider Report Form.

Events, connecting with other ESPs, professional development and action opportunities, ESP council committees, resources, and your statewide elected representatives. (Spanish version also available.)

This award is meant to emphasize the contributions of education support professionals to their association, their schools and their communities.

A wide variety professional development webinar series designed to support the professional growth of Education Support Professionals.

Did you miss one of the live webinar sessions?  View the past webinars here! A wide variety professional development webinar series designed to support the professional growth of Education Support Professionals.

The Education Support Professional Council consists of thirteen (13) people all of whom are ESP school employees and members of the Illinois Education Association.

NEA’s 510,000 Education Support Professional (ESP) members take care of our children every day and make sure they have the tools they need to succeed in our schools and classrooms.

The NEA ESPQ Department offers a variety of publications designed to support and elevate the careers of Education Support Professionals in all career categories.

Ultimately we seek to build power to make change. In this toolkit, we will cover the critical elements of organizing.

Learn the difference between Peer Mentoring and Peer Review and is your Local Association ready for this concept.

In 2007, the Illinois Education Association achieved a major victory in providing job protection for all ESP employees. Read the exact text of Public Act 095-0241 introduced as House Bill 1347.