By James Frazier
An indispensable part of every student’s educational success comes from the work of the unsung heroes of our school communities. These are our education support professionals, known to us as ESPs.
ESPs are the individuals who ensure the entire school system works effectively and runs smoothly throughout the school year. They are the backbone—or better yet—the foundation of our school communities. Without a strong foundation, a building will crumble. These inspiring individuals include our custodians and maintenance staff, secretaries and clerical staff, food service workers, paraprofessionals, security staff, and IT department professionals, to name a few.
Who can imagine, for example, a school building without our secretarial/clerical/administrative assistant office staff? When you need to deliver something important to your child, it’s the main office staff that comes to the rescue. They are essential to the everyday workings of any school building.
ESPs make a difference for children
I’m sure everyone has stories about the impact a favorite ESP has made in their lives. Mine was a custodial-maintenance person who worked at my elementary school.
Being a person of color and growing up in the 80’s, there weren’t many individuals in my school community who looked like me or my classmates. I remember how this individual would spend time with us, bringing sporting equipment out for us during recess. As growing children who seemed to have bottomless stomachs, he would give us extra milk or treats. I am certain others in my school were positively influenced by having him in our lives. Many may have seen him as a father figure.
His small gestures of kindness and his compassion for our well-being have remained with me to this very day. In fact, it has shaped my 26-year career as a school security officer and how I interact with my students. That my students always feel heard and are able to relax and learn in a safe environment is my priority. The key for me is to build trust.
ESPs benefit the whole community
Many ESPs live in the communities where they work. They are taxpayers whose own children attend the schools in the discrict. In addition, many ESPs volunteer in their communities as coaches, scout troop leaders, elected officials, and as PTA/PTO members and leaders. They are members of community social clubs and religious institutions. They truly are an integral part of the community.
Despite this, ESPs often hold two or three jobs just to make ends meet for themselves and their families, because ESP salaries alone cannot sustain them. It is time to pay our ESPs a living wage.
Tragically, many school boards balance their budgets on the backs of these unsung heroes. Many ESPs are denied full-time hours, which usually means they’re not provided health insurance. If health insurance is provided, sometimes it only covers the individual and not the entire family. This affects not only ESPs’ families, but whole communities because earnings that could be spent to support local businesses are used instead to cover family health care costs.
Furthermore, many school districts have turned to privatization of ESP work. Doing this has had a serious impact on the quality of education our students receive and has contributed to diminishing our school infrastructure. School districts need improvements, not cuts.
Think about those fond memories and stories of your youth. Think about the impact individual ESPs have made in your life. Then, demand that your local school district leaders compensate these unsung heroes fairly and equitably.
A living wage and RESPECT are essential for all ESPs.
James Frazier is a school security officer in Union Township Public Schools and the president of the Union County Education Association.