Education Support Professionals (ESPs) from the Denver Metro area gathered in Edgewater on January 29 for the first ESP Town Hall organized by the ESP Council. The event included not only ESPs but also community members and parents, focusing on the specific challenges faced by ESPs in their roles, as well as strategies for organizing and collective bargaining.
During the meeting, participants discussed the need to raise awareness about the contributions of ESPs in schools. One host stated, “if you ask the average person, ‘who educates your kid?’ They’ll most likely say, ‘a teacher.’ And they won’t think of the bus driver who gets them to school, the nutrition worker who feeds them, or the para in their classroom.” The town hall aimed to highlight these often overlooked roles by bringing together ESPs from different locals along with community members.
The conversation at the town hall shifted toward taking action. The ESP Council announced its support for a campaign advocating for an ESP Bill of Rights in Colorado. This initiative seeks to protect and improve working conditions for ESPs throughout Colorado’s public education system. It will remain a primary focus of future council activities and upcoming town halls.
Those interested in learning more about the campaign or joining the council were encouraged to contact New Growth Organizer Matthew Holloway at mholloway@coloradoea.org.
