Thanks for the Memories, ESPs!

When I think about New Orleans, I think about Mardi Gras, Bourbon Street, jazz music and Bananas Foster (mmmmmmm!). After this past weekend at the 2015 NEA Education Support Professionals (ESP) Conference, I now think about passionate and engaged professionals, hands-on learning, lots of great conversations, laughter and smiles. (Um, and Bananas Foster.)

It was my very first ESP conferenece, and I have to say, I absolutely loved it! From the awards dinner, to the sessions, to the rousing speeches — it was an inspiring, energetic and educational experience, which is what every conference hopes to be. Connecting with ESP members and getting to hear all the stories, issues, challenges and ideas was so illuminating for our team and will certainly help inform our work in the months and years to come.

NEA HIN offered four well-received sessions on a variety of topics, including Addressing Challenging Behaviors, Common Core and Whole Child Education, Student Health and Academic Achievement and Stress Management. I taught the Stress Management session with ESP Karen Blackwood, and we had a total blast — 50 ESPs joined us at 8:30 on a Sunday morning to talk, move and learn. It was so rewarding to see people so engaged with the topic, the instructors, but more importantly, each other!

So thanks for the memories, ESPs and New Orleans! Check out a few highlights from our conference experience.