EdNews SAMSUNG STEM CONTEST OFFERS PRIZES FOR INNOVATIVE STUDENT IDEAS » Classrooms might look a lot different this year, but good ideas can come from anywhere! The Samsung “Solve for Tomorrow” contest asks students to come up with creative solutions for issues or problems in their local communities. The winner of First Place will receive $100,000 in classroom tech and supplies for their school! You don’t have to be a STEM teacher to apply for your students, but the project does need to have a STEM focus and must have a clearly defined impact on the community. The deadline to submit applications is December 13, 2020. Visit https://www.samsung.com/us/solvefortomorrow/ for more details and to apply.
NEA provides resilience seminar for ESPs
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OREGON LAUNCHES EDUCATION SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR AWARD
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he Oregon Teacher of the Year program has been recognizing the achievements and contributions of our state’s greatest teachers for 75 years. With the passing of House Bill 2964 in May 2019, Oregon Education Support Professionals (ESPs) are finally receiving some well-deserved recognition of their own. Our schools would not function without the support of our instructional assistants, food service workers, transportation providers, clerical and custodial staff. The success of our students depends on their hard work and dedication to public education. At the 2017 OEA Representative Assembly, our members voted in favor of New Business Item 16, which asked that OEA research the necessary steps to create a statewide ESP award, akin to the Teacher of the Year Award. Our Government Relations team spent two
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TODAY’S OEA | FALL/WINTER 2020
years coordinating with state lawmakers to help craft a bill to accomplish this goal, which was passed unanimously by The Oregon House of Representatives last year. The winner of the award will receive a $5,000 prize, along with opportunities for speaking engagements at statewide events. On the official nominations launch day, ODE Director Colt Gill expressed a great appreciation for Oregon’s ESPs: “Day in and day out, online or in-person, Oregon students benefit enormously from the support and commitment of Education Support Professionals. From direct support for students to helping teachers prepare materials for lessons, ESP’s fill countless, critical roles that ensure our education systems reach every student.” Nominations are open until January 3, 2021. To submit a nomination, visit www. oregonteacheroftheyear.org/nominate-esp/.
he COVID-19 pandemic has caused a massive shift in the duties and expectations of ESPs, exacerbating feelings of underappreciation that many ESPs already feel within their working environments. Many are experiencing anxiety, fear, and frustration with the lack of communication they receive from their district leadership. In September, NEA partnered with Yale University’s Center for Emotional Intelligence to host a webinar to provide social and emotional learning (SEL) techniques exclusively for Education Support Professionals. Tools and tips, such as developing self-awareness in order to recognize emotions, and nurturing a growth mindset were facilitated by Chris Cipriano, the Director of Yale’s CEI. Over 1,500 ESPs attended the live webinar, but NEA has made it available as a recorded session. Visit www.nea. org/resource-library/esp-webinarrecordings to access this and other great ESP resources!
