Education Support Professionals (ESP)

Paraeducator and union president Jessica Davenport and son Xavier, 13, moved into a Habitat home in Kalkaska over the holidays. (Photo courtesy of Habitat for Humanity, Grand Traverse Region) In just over three years since she became co-president of her local support staff union in Kalkaska, Jessica Davenport has worked hard to rebuild membership numbers that had dropped low enough…

A few years ago MEA member Sarah Garrett set her hopes on nominating longtime Battle Creek Public Schools secretary Bernadette Gordier for an NEA award — believing her friend deserved national recognition for tremendous service to the school district and community. Sarah Garrett (above), a Battle Creek administrative assistant and union leader, is in the running for NEA’s ESP of…

By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor As a sign language interpreter, MEA member Heather Dew was taught to think of herself as the unseen part of a communication triangle: A speaks to B and B speaks to A, while she serves as “the invisible C” facilitating the exchange. Heather Dew and MEA President Paula Herbart after last week’s surprise ceremony.…

EAST LANSING – On Jan. 4, 2004, lifelong school bus driver Bob Hanchek made a stop on his afternoon route along U.S. 41 in the North Central Area Schools district in Michigan’s western Upper Peninsula. With red lights flashing and two of his 15 riders coming up the aisle to exit, Hanchek recognized a big and fast moving railroad repair…

Over his 50 years of driving a school bus in North Central Area Schools in the western Upper Peninsula, MEA member Bob Hanchek says one day clearly stands out from all the rest. Bob Hanchek On Jan. 4, 2004, Hanchek made a stop on his afternoon route along U.S. 41. With red lights flashing and two of his 15 young…

In February, MEA released a statewide survey of nearly 2,600 educators, with the vast majority of those surveyed saying the state’s acute educator shortage and its impact on students is the most pressing issue facing Michigan schools. Ninety-one percent of respondents said they were extremely or very concerned about the educator shortage, followed by concerns about student behavior and mental…

Morale among educators in South Redford is the worst Bill Dyer has seen in 28 years as a math teacher in the district, the local union president said. He also has never before seen 10 teaching positions open mid-year—which was the number unfilled last month. Bill Dyer “It’s been an uphill battle for us to attract new teachers, so we’re hoping…

Education support professionals in Lapeer held an informational picket along Main Street last week to call attention to the fact they are working under an expired contract despite negotiating on a new agreement since last January. The 125 members of Lapeer Education Support Personnel believe their previous sacrifices during challenging financial times for the district should be recognized and compensated now…

Much of the tireless work that goes into educating our public school students happens behind the scenes. Michigan’s support staff professionals are the heartbeat that keeps our public schools running. Far too often, they go without thanks or recognition, yet our schools could not operate without them — and this year in particular they’re working extra hard. They make sure…

By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor Mariah Gaither MEA member Mariah Gaither had a challenging entry into her teaching career in 2020, having to adapt her secondary science curriculum for remote learners through the full school year in Lansing. Now Gaither is working in-person and getting an eye-opening lesson of her own: she’s discovering how much educators spend out-of-pocket to…