Educational Support Professionals

Members honored with top ESP awards

Attendees at the 2013 MEA ESP Statewide Conference honored three of their own for contributions to the cause of ESP members in Michigan.

Connie Boylan, a 23-year veteran library media paraprofessional and current president of the MEA ESP Caucus, was honored with the 2013 Leon Brunner Award. Given in honor of a late, longtime ESP activist from the Upper Peninsula, Boylan's colleagues bestowed this award in recognition of her commitment to ESP involvement and advocacy, as well as her tireless work for public education.

"From the local level to the MEA and NEA Board of Directors, I'm proud to advocate for ESP, especially in fighting back the threat of privatization on our members," Boylan said. "We're stronger together in fighting back against outsourcing, standing up for school funding, or being successful as a union, even in spite of anti-union efforts like the so-called 'right-to-work.' I've believed that my whole career, and I'm not done advocating for what we believe in."

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Action alert: Airport and Walled Lake districts threatening privatization of transportation employees

Two Southeast Michigan school boards will meet next week to consider privatizing or punishing education support professionals who work in transportation services, and MEA members are urged to attend the meetings in support of their colleagues.

Airport Community Schools in Monroe County is about toissue a request for proposals to sell off its fleet of school busses and fully outsource its transportation services to a company that would put profits before service.

The Airport School Board will meet Monday, April 29 at 7 p.m. at Wagar Middle School Media Center, 11200 Grafton Road in Carleton. 

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National ESP of the Year inspires conference attendees

Working in a rural Colorado school district for 22 years, Judy Near was constantly frustrated by her non-union work environment. Employee concerns weren't addressed. Near's colleagues felt voiceless.

ESP Caucus Board 

Leon A. Brunner Award

How to become a “Qualified” Paraprofessional under ESEA