Yearly Archives: 2019

For ESPs, Being the Best for Students Requires Continuous Learning

It’s common knowledge amongst educators that professional development for education support professionals (ESPs) is largely non-existent or irrelevant, if offered at all. Whether five or 20 years on the job, ESPs receive limited access to career learning opportunities unless they provide it themselves. “Everyone thinks professional development is for teachers only,” says Matthew Powell, custodial supervisor at Central Elementary School in Mayfield, Ky. “But ESPs also need the opportunity to learn and grow in their careers.” After working for 12 years as a special education paraeducator, Powell returned to college to complete a bachelor’s degree in educational studies. To meet […]

Dynamic Duo – Helping Rural NH Meet its Education Needs

Written By: Beth Fornauf | UNH Department of Education | beth.fornauf@unh.edu When Kayla Croteau earned her M.Ed. in secondary education from the University in 2015, she never imagined that she was only three short years away from another teacher education experience – this time as a teaching mentor for the University of New Hampshire’s Teacher Residency for Rural Education (UNH-TRRE) program. UNH-TRRE, a teacher preparation program designed to prepare elementary and secondary math and science teachers to work in rural, high-need New Hampshire schools, is working with its second cohort of future teachers. These UNH students, known as teaching residents, […]

Manchester Education Association Committed to Students and Members

Recent confusion regarding status of negotiations the result of a series of misunderstandings and miscommunication.  CONCORD, NH – April 10, 2019 – The Manchester Education Association remains committed to maintaining a quality public education for every student and believes that the current confusion surrounding the status of our negotiations is the result of a series of misunderstandings and miscommunication between the parties involved. No one from MEA leadership has made a deliberately false statement regarding the negotiations, and if incorrect information was conveyed or expressed it was not intentional. We understand fully that the well-being of our students and members is not […]

Recognition Long Overdue: Congress Approves National Award Program for ESPs

by John Rosales, NEAToday After the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the Recognizing Achievement in Classified School Employees Act (H.R. 276) by a vote of 387-19 in February, the Senate quickly followed suit with its own unanimous approval in March. “This recognition is way overdue,” said Debby Chandler, president of the National Council for Education Support Professionals (NCESP), which works within the National Education Association (NEA) to represent the interests and issues of education support professionals (ESP). It has taken more than a decade of seemingly endless meetings between elected officials in Washington, political appointees from two different presidential […]

House Passes Common Sense School Safety Gun Bill

NEA-NH applauds today’s House vote to move HB564 to the Senate to help make NEW Hampshire schools safer places for our children. “Guns have no place in safe school zones. Period,” said Megan Tuttle, NEA-New Hampshire President. “Safe School Zones are not an option – they are the very least we can do to help assure our student’s safety.” “Our foremost priority as educators is to ensure the safety and well-being of our students. All of us share a responsibility to create and maintain safe schools and communities. House members took a stand today to help make sure every student […]

James Patterson Donates $1.25M to Classroom Libraries

NEW YORK (AP) — James Patterson’s latest gift for literacy is a $1.25 million pledge to classroom libraries. On Tuesday, the best-selling author announced the fifth installment for his Patterson Partnership, formed in coordination with Scholastic Book Club. Patterson is giving $250 each to 4,000 teachers around the country to help purchase books. He is also distributing $500 each to 500 teachers with three years or less experience. Scholastic will match Patterson with gifts of 250 and 500 bonus points for its book club. Teachers can apply for grants through www.scholastic.com/pattersonpartnership . The deadline is July 31. In recent years, […]