Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1472975
Every year, as the school year comes to a close, I am filled with mixed emotions. I'm happy for the time to spend with my family, grateful for the time in my garden, but also sad to see some of my beloved colleagues leave. I have really felt that sadness this year. When I read that 65% of teachers in Wyoming would leave their profession if they could, I knew that a part of the story was missing: the number of ESPs leaving education. I don't remember another year when ESPs have left in such large numbers. There are many factors in the decisions that lead people to leave education. Some ESPs were ready to retire. Others wanted to try a different career path, and many were affected by covid and the emotional and physical stress that it brought. There is a la rge group of ESPs who are leaving education because they are not paid a wage that they can afford to live on. The work done by ESPs is invaluable. They transport, feed, and help educate children. They keep offices running, and help nurses with sick and injured students. Everything they do provides important and necessary support, but when they leave the school building or the bus for the day, many go to a nother job because of the low wages that school districts pay. This is unacceptable and needs to change. If it doesn't, we will continue to lose our needed ESPs. I am urging ESPs to work to change this. Summer is a great time to visit with people in your locals and develop a plan for the fall. If you are a member of a wall-to-wall association (meaning both certified and classified staff belong to your loc al), make sure that ESPs are represented. Whether you are a member of a wall-to-wall or a stand-alone association, learn who your leaders are and ask what you can do to help to improve ESPs' wages. If there are open positions in your local, please think about running to fill them. It can feel difficult to step into leadership roles, but it is important to get involved. Visit with your regional UniServ Di rector (UD). They are very knowledgeable and have great resources to share. Ask teachers to stand up with you. Teachers know the value of ESPs and understand that their classrooms run better because of ESPs' help. Be willing to speak to superintendents and school boards and to speak to and write letters to legislators. This can be intimidating, but keep in mind that you have all ESPs standing behind you. Your voice may shake the first couple of times, but it will become stronger, and so will you. Be respectful with your words and message, but be firm. Many school districts are using federal covid relief money to give staff members stipends and bonuses. That is wonderful and appreciated, but it is not a wage increase. The federal covid money will run out in the year 2024, and those stipends and bonuses will also end. When that happens, ESPs will be in the same or possibly worse financial situations than we are currently. Lasting and meaningful changes are needed. Our voices are powerful when we join them together. Take some time this summer to think about ways you can help to make changes for ESPs in your district. Congratulations to the following ESPs on completing the NEA Micro-Credential for Cultural Competence: Sabrina Schaneman, Tracey Sea, and Michelle Black. The work that they put into the program is to be commended! This is a program that helps ESPs learn and grow in their professions and is not an easy program. Brandi McCoid and Shasta Rosales have also completed the micro-credential and have become leaders of the program. They each facilitated professional learning communities for Wyoming ESPs to complete the micro-credential in Cultural Competence earlier this year. Shasta is currently working with NEA to develop comprehensive, easily accessible professional development for ESPs. It is awesome that we have these two amazing leaders in our state! We look forward to learning more from Brandi and Shasta about the micro-credential program. Thank you for your work and the difference you make in students' lives. Go out and share what you do with pride! Happy Summer to you! Your influence on students is invaluable! jcatfitz@msn.com (307) 286-4503 Christine Fitzgerald ESP Representative to the WEA Board of Directors 23