MEA’s ESP Task Force Honored

Posted on 06. May, 2010 by in ESP, Featured, News

The Meridian Education Association’s ESP (Education Support Professionals) Task Force was recently honored at the 2010 Idaho Education Association’s Delegate Assembly Awards Banquet.  The MEA ESP Task Force members in attendance were presented with the Edythe Crowe award.  The Edythe Crowe award honors an ESP person or persons who have made a special and unique contribution to the cause of education and ESP rights over an extended period of time and particularly in the last year.  The MEA ESP Task Force members honored were:  Shirley Hook, David Swingle, Bob Learsch, Mary Frances Booth, Tawni Berryman-Hull, Lynda Learsch, Jeanne Taylor, Diane Griffitts, Cyndee Trombley, Cindy Hally, and Deedra Pedersen.

“IEA recognizing the MEA Task Force was a wonderful opportunity to share the message of what the Meridian Education Association is trying to accomplish.  The work started in 2007 is just beginning.  We continue to grow and evolve.  We continue to take on the issues that affect Educational Support Professionals every day.  We cannot wait to see what the future holds for the task force and ESP’s, not only in Meridian but all over Idaho.” – Mary Frances Booth, MEA-ESP Task Force, Computer Lab Technician, Ponderosa Elementary

“I felt we (the group attending DA) were just “the tip of the iceberg”. There were so many indispensable members of the Task Force that weren’t able to attend. We were proud to stand up there and receive the award, but were representing the entire team.   I wished they had all been there.  We’d need a ‘bigger bus’ to get us all there!” – David Swingle, MEA-ESP Task Force, Head Custodian, Lewis and Clark Middle School

“We have spent the last year working on a Living Wage Campaign and trying to connect teachers and ESPs together.  It is a compliment to our efforts that we were awarded the Edythe Crowe award.” – Jeanne Taylor, MEA Vice President of ESP, MEA-ESP Task Force, Resource Room Assistant, Peregrine Elementary

“I feel like we’ve made great gains this year in managing to successfully merge the monthly B-team meetings and local ESP meetings into one.   It was so wonderful to be rewarded with this honor of the Edythe Crowe Award. “ – Tawni Berryman-Hull, MEA Vice President of ESP, MEA-ESP Task Force, Resource Room Assistant, Peregrine Elementary

Edythe Crowe was a food program manager at Orchards Elementary School in Lewiston for over 25 years. Edythe was involved in the beginning of the membership movement of the ESP (Educational Support Professional) bargaining rights.

Edythe was actively involved in committee work of the IEA and she marched from Julia Davis Park to the Capitol with the teachers and staff from many school districts in support of funding and bargaining rights for ESP. The Edythe Crowe Award was started to honor Edythe for her involvement in encouraging classified staff to become members of our local, state and national associations and her involvement in the struggle for bargaining rights for Educational Support Professionals.

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