This year marks a special milestone. It was 25 years ago that ESP members merged with PSEA, creating a united front in the fight for a stronger public education system.
“Whether it’s through better collective bargaining power, legislative initiatives, or organizing events, the ESP-PSEA alliance has been critical to our members’ success,” said ESP President Dawn Bandle. “As we all know, we’re stronger together. Teachers and ESPs work together every day to make Pennsylvania’s public schools great.”
For the last quarter-century, we’ve worked side-by-side to increase salaries and benefits, improve working conditions, and raise public awareness about the unique and critical role our cafeteria workers, bus drivers, maintenance workers, paraprofessionals, and other support staff play in our public schools.
“Our ESPs are some of the most selfless, hardest working, dedicated professionals I’ve encountered in my 32 years of teaching,” said PSEA President Rich Askey. “Their deep commitment to our students and our schools inspires me daily. I’m honored to stand alongside them under the PSEA banner.”
Throughout the year, we’ll be using this milestone as an opportunity to promote all the positive things ESPs contribute to our public schools. And we encourage all of you to share stories of ESPs making a difference in your school as well. Send us yours in a Facebook message @PennsylvaniaEA, and we’ll help amplify it.
