PASS IEA/NEA

*NEW* Skills Training Workshops: All Education Support Professional members are encouraged and invited to participate in these monthly one-hour conversations designed to help ESPs develop specific union and/or job-related skills. Here is the monthly schedule of Skills Training Workshops.

The first Skills Training is Feb. 25, 10-11 a.m. “Emotions at the Table – How to Handle the Emotional Aspect of Bargaining.” Register now

ESP Council Virtual Roundtables – Click the links below to register!

• Feb. 25: 10 a.m. – Hope you can join us! Topic: RESPECT Campaign/Sub Certification and the impact on IMRF
• April 3, 6:30 p.m. — New faces welcome! Topic: What are the big takeaways from the IEA RA/RESPECT?
• May 6, 10 a.m. — Cheers to an AMAZING year! Join the ESP council for our final virtual roundtable of the school year. Topic: Year in review and year-end celebration.

Spanish Sessions at the NEA ESP Conference – March 24-26, Seattle: This year, the NEA ESP Conference will host two sessions completely in Spanish. Here are the detailed descriptions. Participants who successfully complete the CPR/AED course will receive a valid two-year Red Cross digital certificate in adult and pediatric CPR, AED, and first aid.

The 2022-2023 school year is about to begin! With that in mind, it is our pleasure to announce the upcoming Back to School Picnic! Open to all Plainfield Support Staff members & family. Join us for food, fun, games & more at Bott Park in Plainfield!

(Saturday, August 20th, 11:00am – 4:00pm @ Bott Park – 24550 W Renwick Rd, Plainfield IL)

Can’t wait to see everyone there!

Hello PASS Members!

As the new Social Media Coordinator for the union, I thought it might be wise to introduce myself!

My name is Nick Block and I started with the district in 2013 at Plainfield High School then transferred to Wesmere Elementary in 2015 to take over the Head Custodian role. Prior to working for the district, I earned my Bachelors degree from the University of St. Francis in Fine Arts with a concentration in Graphic Design, so I am quite familiar with all things media & design.

I am excited to lend my expertise to the union’s web content!

Message from the ESP Council Chair: Welcome back to school You may think I’m a little bit crazy, but by the end of summer I am usually ready to get back into my school building and see the kids. This year is no different. I am a person who needs a schedule and structure, or I can get into a funk. Read more →Join us at an ESP Council meeting or virtual roundtable – all ESPs welcome!Aug. 2110 a.m. – 2 p.m.ESP Council meeting (Naperville office)Sept. 1110 – 11:30 a.m.ESP empowerment roundtable on Member EngagementNov. 1310 a.m. – 2 p.m.ESP Council meeting (Lombard office)Feb. 2610 a.m. – 2 p.m.ESP Council meeting (Naperville office)Apr. 2310 a.m. – 2 p.m.ESP Council meeting (Carterville office)June 1110 a.m. – 2 p.m.ESP Council meeting (Bloomington office)New ESP t-shirt – comes in three colors IEA’s Back-to-School store will be open Aug. 30-Sept. 13! All new apparel designs–short and long sleeve t-shirts, crew necks and more in red, blue and gray! ShopIEA.org →Stay connected with other ESPsIEA ESP Council websiteIEA ESP websiteESP Professional Caucus on FacebookESP Connections on FacebookJoin the ESP Facebook GroupFollow @NEArESPect on TwitterGet involved with the National Council for Education Support Professionals (NCESP)Gov. Pritzker signs Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) HB 12 into law for ESPs IEA President Kathi Griffin and ESP Council Chair Jill Scarcelli joined Governor J.B. Pritzker at the HB 12 signing ceremony.  Watch the press conference →ESP awardsESP STAR Award (online nominations are now being accepted)IEA ESP of the Year (online nomination form will be available in September)RISE Award (new federal program – more information to come)Other news, meetings and conferencesMask mandate: IEA’s official statementIEA Budget Open Hearing datesVirtual IEA One Conference – Oct. 1-2 (registration deadline is Sept. 28) 2022 NEA ESP National Conference – March 25-27NEA Retired ESP Life/Annual Dues – Revised for 2021-22For presidents of ESP locals – President Support Team resources Back-to-school resources To help educators prepare for the new—and very different—post-pandemic school year, NEA’s Teacher Quality department is offering a series of webinarsand social-emotional learning (SEL) blended learning courses (registration closes Sept. 10).Member benefitsIEA Early Career Committee members promote the benefits of membership in a new video. Check out IEA’s Member Center to learn more about all the benefits you are entitled to as an IEA member. If you have questions about your benefits or anything else IEA, contact our IEA Connect call center at 844-IEA-1800, through “Chat With Us!” at ieanea.org or by email at IEAConnect@ieanea.org, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.   We are here for you!

NEWS

District 202 event helps prepare students for school in the “new normal”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                FOR INFORMATION, Call  
August 3, 3021                                 
                                                                Tom Hernandez

                                                                 (815) 577-4008
                                                                 tahernan@psd202.org   

Plainfield – TheDistrict 202 Plainfield Parent Community Network (PPCN) will host a special program to help parents prepare students to go back to school in the “new normal,” from 6:30-8 p.m. August 12, 2021, at Plainfield North High School, 12005 S. 248^th Street, Plainfield. 

This free program will help parents talk to their students about returning to school, address anxieties and fears about Covid, get back to normal school routines and develop stamina needed to attend school all day.

The program will start at 6:30 p.m. Community resources will be available at 6 p.m.

Scheduled presenters include clinical therapists Dorothy Kuklinkski and Tammy Tunac, both from Linden Oaks Behavioral Health.

Registration is not required, and walk-ins are welcome. However, childcare will not be available. Presentations will be available in English and Spanish.

***Masks are required for non-vaccinated people and encouraged if you’re vaccinated and would feel more comfortable wearing a mask in a group setting.

District 202 has long recognized the need to support social-emotional learning to help improve and assure students’ academic success.

In recent years, the district has created and implemented ten new programs, services, resources, and professional development to help students address emotional challenges and succeed in and out of the classroom.

Among other initiatives, District 202 hired 20 new social workers district-wide; created anonymous social-emotional learning hotlines; and hosted community programs about suicide prevention and mental health first aid.

District 202 social workers, special education administrators and counselors formed the PPCN in fall 2016 to support parents with common parenting needs. A committee comprising district administrators, principals, counselors, and community members oversees the PPCN.

Professional development credits (CEUs and CPDUs) will be available for teachers and counselors attending this program. 

Please visit www.plainfieldpcn.org for more information about the PPCN including podcasts of past programs.