Educational Support is a UK charity “dedicated to improving the mental health and wellbeing of teachers, lecturers and other education staff”. It was founded in 1877 as a benevolent fund for teachers, and now also supports those working in further and higher education.
To improve outcomes for students, district leaders should provide clear expectations, processes, and practices for school-based MTSS teams. Read on to learn three ways to do so.
Education Support Professionals
Education support professionals — paraeducators, custodial workers, food service staff, bus drivers and more — are the backbone of America’s schools. They make sure kids arrive safely, keep our buildings clean and healthy, and bandage scraped knees. They answer phones in front offices, provide mental health services to students and teachers and keep our communities connected through technology.
They work in public schools, career and technical centers, intermediate units, colleges, daycares and more. These individuals ensure students are safe, educated and supported, and that quality schools remain vibrant, engaging and accessible.
Education Support is a UK charity “dedicated to improving the mental health and wellbeing of the education workforce.” It began in 1877 as a benevolent fund for teachers, and today supports trainees, serving teachers, heads, lecturers and others in further and higher education. It offers telephone counselling, email advice and face-to-face workshops, as well as online resources. The organization merged with sister charities Recourse and Worklife Support Partnership in 2015. It also offers professional development programmes and training for schools.
Education Support Staff
The education support staff is the backbone of any educational institute. These individuals ensure that students are healthy, safe, engaged and challenged in order to learn. They also take on many administrative tasks, such as creating lesson plans and grading papers.
They may also work directly with students who have behavioral, emotional or medical problems that interfere with their learning. The educational support staff can serve as a sounding board for these students and help them find solutions.
On average, a full-time school support professional earns $32,837 per year. However, salaries vary widely by state. A school cafeteria worker in Delaware earns more than a similar employee in Idaho. In addition to their salary, ESPs receive several weeks of paid holiday and sick time per year. This includes the District-wide winter break and spring break.
Education Support Personnel
Education support professionals keep students healthy, safe, engaged, supported and challenged so they can learn. They are the ones that answer phones in school offices, run the cafeterias, make sure our kids get from point A to point B on time, keep the classrooms clean, and so much more. MSEA works to ensure ESPs have decent wages and respect for the important work they do in our schools and communities.
ESPs work in all types of preK-12 schools, including public, career and technology centers, intermediate units, colleges, and daycares. They provide services to all components of education—Counseling, Psychological and Social Services; Health Services; Physical Environment; and Nutrition, Student Services and Custodial Services. They are represented by nine career families: Clerical Services; Custodial Services; Food Service Services; Student Services and Administration; Paraeducators; Transportation services; and Security Services. The MSEA ESP of the Year Award honors an outstanding ESP member and recognizes the contributions of all MSEA ESP members.
Education Support Specialists
Education support specialists provide ample counsel and advice for students in educational institutions. They help connect students to government educational benefits, and they also report cases of domestic abuse to protect students. They may work for schools or universities and are typically full-time employees who receive several weeks off during school holidays.
ESPs are the backbone of the public education system and need to be included in policies and practices that address whole child issues. They are the only group of school staff that works directly with students throughout their entire lives, and they deserve a strong voice in their communities, schools and professions. The average salary for an education support specialist is $43,449 per year. They can advance their careers to become teachers, librarians or instructional coordinators, depending on their interests and education. They can even become principals and assistant principals, or work in the administration of colleges and universities. These jobs require a bachelor’s degree.