Have you thanked the ESPs in your school today?

Today,

on Education Support Professional (ESP)

Day, we recognize and honor the over 2.8 million K-12 and higher education ESPs

nationwide

… who work tirelessly everyday to keep

schools, colleges, and universities operating from morning to night.

… who work passionately to take care of our

nation’s students.

… who ensure a healthy and safe school

environment for fellow staff and students.  

ESPs

are vital members of the school community making up 40% of all school staff

nationwide. Today’s national day of recognition focuses on the importance of

these school employees and the role they play in academic achievement and

school success.

Many ESP jobs

have a direct impact on health and safety:

• Health and student services staff such

  as school nurses and health aides perform medical procedures, dispense

  medications, help students manage chronic diseases such as asthma,

  and work with families to encourage student immunization.

• Custodial

  and Maintenance Staff are the guardians of the indoor environment.  They

  ensure that schools are properly cleaned,

  sanitized, and disinfected to prevent the spread of infectious disease.

  They also work to ensure that schools have good

  indoor air quality and are free of biological and chemical pollutants such as

  mold and asbestos.

• Food

  service workers serve safe

  and nutritious food to students and staff while taking special precautions

  for students with dietary needs or food allergies.

• Clerical staff

  such as school secretaries often dispense

  medications to students when a school nurse or health care aide is not

  available.

• Security Officers

  ensure the safety and security of students, staff, and school property, and

  are prepared to handle incidences of violence,

  bullying, and school

  crises such as natural disasters.

• Paraeducators

  often work with medically fragile students, dispensing medications and

  performing sensitive medical

  procedures.

• Transportation

  staff such as school bus drivers ensure that students are transported to

  and from school, field trips, and sporting events safely. They are often

  responsible for handling situations involving violence

  and bullying.

• Skilled trades

  workers such as heating,

  ventilation, and air-conditioning mechanics ensure that schools have adequate ventilation

  and comfortable temperature and humidity levels.

• Technical

  services personnel such as computer support techs and programmers ensure that computer

  labs are set up safely to prevent slips, trips and

  falls and fire hazards. They also check to make sure computers are set up

  correctly to prevent ergonomic

  injuries.

We

know that the school environment impacts student and staff morale and performance,

so join us in recognizing ESPs for the many hats they wear and their many

contributions to health and safety! For more information about ESPs, visit NEA’s ESP Quality website.