Nominate a deserving colleague for the ESP of Year award
Nominations are open until Sept. 23 for the 2023-24 Education Minnesota Education Support Professional of the Year award.
The program honors exemplary professional and union work by an Education Minnesota member in any ESP job category, including paraprofessional/education assistant, secretarial/clerical, custodial, food service, maintenance and trades, transportation, groundskeeping, security, technology services, health services and others.
All Education Minnesota ESP members who have been members for at least three years as of Aug. 31, 2023, are eligible. Individuals can be nominated by anyone who knows their work and would like to see them honored.
The ESP of the Year represents their peers throughout the profession and connects to communities as an ambassador.
The ESP of the Year receives a $1,200 honorarium, their choice of an iPad, Chromebook or tablet, plus an all expense-paid trip to the NEA’s Education Support Professional National Conference.
Following the receipt of ESP of the Year nomination forms, Education Minnesota reviews all nominated individuals to ensure that eligibility requirements are met. Eligible nominees will be notified and asked if they wish to continue the process as a candidate for Minnesota’s Education Support Professional of the Year.
If needed, a two-step selection procedure will determine the ESP of the Year. The initial phase will narrow the pool of candidates to five finalists based on five criteria and judged by a cadre of ESP members from around the state.
Finalists will be notified of their status and will be scheduled for an interview with the Selection Committee.
Candidates are judged according to the five criteria listed below. They will be rated on a scale of 1 to 5, in which 1 represents minimal evidence of the criterion and 5 represents very strong evidence of the criterion.
Professional practice
Describe the worksite responsibilities and personal achievements the nominee has made in their classification or field. How has the nominee demonstrated leadership, creativity and innovation at the worksite? How has the nominee’s professional growth made a difference for the school, students and community?
Advocacy and association
In what ways does the nominee serve as an advocate in the day-to-day educational process, for members, the profession and public education? How has the nominee’s involvement in Education Minnesota contributed to their success as a professional? How would the nominee persuade a new colleague to join or become more active in the union?
Community engagement
Specify in detail how the nominee has been involved in promoting public education in the community. In what other ways is the nominee involved in community activities/projects
Personal achievement
How has involvement in Education Minnesota and community activities enabled the nominee to meet their own personal goals? What advice would the nominee give to someone entering the profession?
Enhancement of ESP image
Describe in detail how the nominee’s activities have enhanced the image of educational support professionals at the worksite, in the union and in the community.
To learn more about the program and nominate a candidate for 2023-24 Education Minnesota ESP of the Year, go to www.educationminnesota.org/news/awards-and-honors/esp-of-the-year.
