Who We Are
Education Support Professionals
From instructional assistants to cafeteria workers to custodians, bus drivers, secretaries, and more, MSEA has a proven track record of helping you win decent wages, better working conditions, and more respect for the important role you play every day at your school or worksite.
Education support professionals (ESP) are the backbone of every public school in the state. Their dedication to the total student learning experience is seen every day in noisy buses, bright hallways, busy classrooms, welcoming school offices, and bustling cafeterias.
Our education support members include paraeducators, administrative assistants, custodians, bus drivers, security and technology staff, food service workers, and other school employees vital to student and school success.
Nationally, support professionals make up more than 40 percent of the total K-12 education workforce and more than 80 percent live in the same school districts where they work. In Maryland and across the nation, ESPs are a critically important part of the school community.
Education support professionals take care of our children every day and make sure they have the tools they need to succeed in our schools and classrooms.
Fighting for the ESP Bill of Rights
With continuing staff shortages, escalating student behavioral challenges, increasing responsibilities, a continuing lack of respect, and the rising costs of healthcare benefits, ESPs are being asked to do more—too often without the resources they need and the compensation they deserve. These are workload, morale, and stress issues that cause burnout and resignations.
Some school board members and community and state officials have refused time and again to recognize support staff and their contributions or to provide adequate, living wages. While the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future provides funding to add staff in some ESP positions, there is more to do. With recruitment and retention so difficult, the welfare and safety of students and fellow staff is at risk.
Following information and listening sessions across the state, ESP member-organizers have developed an ESP Bill of Rights. Click here to learn more about the Bill of Rights and get involved.
ESP of the Year Award
The MSEA Education Support Professional (ESP) of the Year Award recognizes the contributions of Education Support Professionals (ESPs) to their schools, communities, and their profession. The award is presented to a member of MSEA who demonstrates outstanding accomplishments and reflects the contributions of ESPs to public education.
Nominations may be submitted by any student, parent, teacher, administrator, citizen, or school organization or by a fellow education support professional. The nominator must describe the nature of the achievement of the nominee citing the stated criteria. All nomination forms must be signed by the local president.