Today is Education Support Professionals Day, a day to recognize the many people who help educate our kids and support our school districts. These are the people that get your kids off to school safely, who manage all the paperwork at the front desk, who make sure they’re eating a good lunch, and who keep the lights on.
The National Educational Association’s Representative Assembly made this a national day to salute the school’s support employees in 1987. In 2016, a number of schools and organizations are celebrating these individuals who do a sometimes thankless job.
This “support staff” includes:
- Bus drivers (370,000)
- Secretarial staff (81,000)
- Janitors (323,000)
- School nurses (70,000)
- Librarians (21,000)
- Teachers aides (996,000)
- Cafeteria workers (127,000)
- Coaches (59,000)
- IT support (56,000)
- …and more in grades K – 12 alone!
To put that into perspective, there are only about 3.1 million teachers in K-12… and there are over 2 million education support professionals!
Keep in mind that:
- 75% of ESPs also live in the communities they work in – you know these people!
- These people keep kids safe, support their education, and help them grow.
Thank an ESP on Nov. 16
If you want to say “Thanks” to your own ESPs, why not take a minute to just tell them that you appreciate them? Other ways to say thanks include:
- Donuts – who doesn’t love donuts?
- Movie or event tickets
- Gift certificates for coffee, shopping, etc.
- A pay raise – who doesn’t love a good pay raise?
Keep in mind that this day is part of a bigger American Education Week. Take a minute to appreciate all that our schools and educators do, especially the ones who are making a difference in your life or your children’s lives.
To see the full infographic, visit Easel.ly.