Carrie was able to prove that the work she was doing as a secretary warranted an increase in classification within our local. When she was able to show her work was high-quality and required advanced critical thinking skills, our district agreed to move everyone with the same title up a level, ultimately benefiting dozens of members and countless students and staff.

Also, Carrie finds time to be a speech coach and take her students to state competitions! Without her coaching, the school would not have been able to field a speech team.

Carrie is active in her local and serves as a building representative. She is a member of the events committee, mentoring committee, PD committee, negotiations committee and is a region representative.

As a leader for the events committee, Carrie has recruited members to events and meetings that have not had a lot of active participation in years. Her ability to reach so many people has helped us grow stronger! Congratulations, Carrie, and thank you for all you do!

Debbie has been involved as a union representative for 17 years and a region representative for four years. She takes advantage of opportunities and attends conferences, conventions and trainings such as the IEA Representative Assembly, the NEA Representative Assembly and the National Education Support Personnel Conference. She consistently takes on extra responsibilities to make our local association even better! She serves on the local 218 executive board, is a part of the negotiating team and a member of the scholarship committee.

Debbie takes an active role in the classroom every day. She works closely with a literacy teacher to provide small group reading instruction to students. She works three periods a day in a self-contained biology classroom where she initiates tasks to help the classroom run smoothly. She enthusiastically learns new technology and constantly offers suggestions about how to improve classroom management and academic success for students. Debbie has really helped struggling students to succeed on assessments by reviewing with students and rephrasing questions to help clarify the meaning to help students make connections between class experiences and the formal assessments.

Debbie helped start up and run “The Closet,” an amazing program at Eisenhower High School. The program allows students access to hygiene products, school supplies, clothing, coats and other winter weather gear. Every week, she spends time organizing items, processing donations and responding to student requests for items. Her care for these students and her willingness to make a difference by meeting their basic needs is admirable. Debbie’s drive to increase the success of the program is evident. She is having conversations with colleagues and school administrators in order to extend the program’s offerings by adding an additional donation and distribution system she hopes to call “The Pantry.” This would allow students and staff to donate non-perishable food items that could be accessed by students who need additional groceries for their homes. She is truly an example of what an ESP should aspire to be. Congratulations, Debbie!

A livestream event is planned before the council meeting from 10 a.m. to noon. ESPs from across the state will gather at the IEA offices in Palatine, Matteson, Carterville and Lombard to participate in a statewide digital lock box challenge hosted by the IEA ESP Leadership Academy. All ESP members are invited to attend and participate. Download a flier for more information and the registration link or simply register here.

Interested in hosting an ESP assembly? Contact Alex Wallace for details.

Stay connected with other ESPs:

• IEA ESP Council website
• IEA ESP website
• ESP Professional Caucus on Facebook
• ESP Connections on Facebook
• NEA ESP Caucus website
• NEA ESP Caucus mobile website

Historic SIUE IEA local celebrates 30-year anniversary

SIUE PSA President Kimberly McClellan (front row, second from right) spearheaded and emceed the event. Kimberly is a member of the IEA ESP Council and serves as ethnic minority representative.

You can view photos, artifacts and read a detailed history of this pioneer IEA local in a 12-page booklet compiled by IEA Organizer David Vitoff.

Mary Ann Rivera will be making a second trip to Puerto Rico to deliver school supplies to children who were greatly impacted by Hurricane Maria last year. She is currently collecting school supplies and monetary donations for shipping the boxes of supplies. If you are interested and would like to donate, please email Mary Ann.

Mary Ann is a paraeducator at Lyons Township High School – District 204 in Region 59.

Seeking interested members for 2019-20 IEA Committees

• Electronic applications are available on the IEA website until May 15.
• All applicants will be required to enter their Members Only login information.
• Please direct questions to Courtney Gillespie.

Big victory!! Congress votes unanimously to create national ESP award