November 2, 2009

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan listens to North Kingstown ESP issues

First visit nationwide with school support staff

Approximately 70 school and public officials gathered Monday morning (November 2) at North Kingstown’s Hamilton Elementary School for an audience with U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan. But he wasn’t there to visit with administrators, school committee members, mayors, politicians, or even union leaders. Duncan was in town to listen to the concerns of 17 North Kingstown Education Support Professional (NK ESP) members representing paraeducators, clerks, custodians, maintenance, food service, technology, and transportation.

Duncan has been conducting a Listening and Learning tour with teachers around the country, but it was his first audience with school support staff. His goal – general information about the ESP role in schools and specifics about the impact No Child Left Behind has had on school employees.

NK ESP President Sandie Blankenship put Secretary Duncan on notice with her opening remarks. “Thank you for including education support professionals as stakeholders in your listening tour. We’re glad you’re here to listen because we’re here to talk!”

Calling ESPs the “mortar between the bricks” that holds schools together, Blankenship quoted the high levels of experience, education, and training among her 200-plus members. “School support professionals are highly skilled and trained employees,” she said. “We believe in the mission of public education and are here to work together to advance public education in America.”

Duncan listened keenly to remarks made by different NK ESP members in various job categories, particularly when they commented on their connections with individual students.

“The importance of your personal relationships with kids cannot be emphasized enough. Children are desperately looking for more adults in their lives who can serve as role models. Where there is such as adult – great things can happen,” he said.
Duncan also came away from the discussion enlightened about the skills and training needed for ESP work, the challenges placed on ESP by state and federal mandates that come without a funding source, and the impact felt on the school lunch program by cutbacks in food assistance.

Also in attendance and paying close attention were Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, and Congressman Jim Langevin.

The hour-long event was followed by a light lunch reception, prepared by NK ESP members in food service and featuring specialties of both Rhode Island and Chicago, which Secretary Duncan calls home.

Watch the video!