Thank you, ESPs: education support professionals, you give your hearts to our public schools and students, and your struggle for better pay, health care, and professional development is our struggle. (President's Viewpoint).

I want to let you in on a little secret of mine. Whenever I go to a school for the first time, I try to get there early so that I can visit with our ESPs.

There is a reason why I do this.

I want to find out whether the ESPs are comfortable, confident, and secure in knowing that they are important members of the school team, because that tells me a lot about the school.

For me, there is no such thing as "just a" cafeteria worker or "just a" custodian or "just a" bus driver--no way! Every single person who works in a school or a school district office makes a contribution to the students' education. And every education support professional that I know …