National Education Association Secretary-Treasurer Princess Moss and Dawn Lewis, president of the Education Association of Alexandria celebrated Education Support Professionals (ESP) Day with festivities at T.C. Williams High School, George Mason Elementary School and Francis C. Hammond Middle School last week.
ESPs are critical members of the education workforce and make up 40 percent of school staff. They are our paraeducators, secretaries, custodians, tradespeople, technical staff, school security officers, bus drivers, food service workers, and those who work in health and student services.
Education support staff are near and dear to my heart because both of my parents were public school bus drivers. I have an appreciation…for ESPs because I know the very important work they do. They are pillars of the community,” said Moss.
ESP Day, which is part of American Education Week, honors the individuals who work behind the scenes to support students and help schools run smoothly with a day of appreciation and celebration.
Our work is not the work of one, but the collective work of many. It takes all of us together every day to help our students grow and go. You are the base of the pyramid—our foundation. You teach us life lessons on how to be better people. I—we—appreciate all you do to be better and stronger as a school division. Thanks for work you do every single day,” said Superintendent Alvin Crawley.
Each school received a $1,000 check from the NEA for programs 
and services that will benefit staff and students during a series of events at each of the three schools.
At T.C., Moss kicked off the celebration with a staff breakfast and a meet and greet with bus drivers, each of whom received a gift card to Target and a local grocery store along with personal thanks from Moss for their commitment to keeping students safe and getting them to school on time and ready to learn.
At George Mason, Moss reconnected with her roots as a music teacher. During a school tour, she joined a band class and played the clarinet with the award-winning George Mason Band.
Moss rounded out the day at Hammond, where ESPs were treated to decorated hallways, lunch, plaques of gratitude and an assembly celebration with performances by the school choir and orchestra. Four hundred 400 seventh graders greeted them with thunderous applause.
Our ESP provide invaluable support and model positive behavior for our students and staff. We thank you for your service,” said Francis C. Hammond Principal Pierrette Hall.
