ESP Award

The Education Support Professional of the Year Award will be presented annually to a WEA member whose activities reflect the contributions of education support professionals to public education.

The purpose of the award is to recognize an ESP member who demonstrates outstanding accomplishments in one or more of the following areas:

• A. Worksite responsibilities and personal achievement in their classification.
• B. Involvement in the community.
• C. Involvement in the Association.
• D. Enhancement of Education Support Professionals’ image in the Association, worksite, and community.

Award

Each year, one nominee will receive the WEA ESP of the Year Award. The award winner will serve as an ambassador for ESP members throughout the state, attending local, state and national meetings as requested and able.

Eligibility

• A. Any current Education Support Professional member who has been a WEA member for three years or more as of January 15 of the award year is eligible.
• B. Individual must be nominated by the local Association (see nomination procedure below).
• C. The ESP At-Large Representative to the WEA Board is ineligible for nomination while serving on the Board.

Criteria and Selection Process

Nominations will be judged according to the five criteria listed below. Selection is made by the Wyoming Education Association Board of Directors.

• A. Professional Practice: The nominee has demonstrated leadership, creativity, and innovation at the worksite. The nominee’s professional growth has made a difference for the school, the students, and the community.
• B. Advocacy and Association Involvement: The nominee has served as an advocate in the day-to-day educational process, for members, for the profession, and for public education. The nominee’s involvement in the Wyoming Education Association and/or the local affiliate has contributed to his/her success as a professional.
• C. Community Engagement: The nominee has been involved in promoting public education in the community. The nominee has been involved in community activities/projects.
• D. Personal Achievement: Involvement in Association and community activities has enabled the nominee to meet his/her own personal goals.
• E. Enhancement of ESP Image: The nominee’s activities have enhanced the image of Education Support Professionals at the worksite, in the Association, and in the community.

Nomination Procedures

• A. Each local affiliate can submit one nominee through its ESP award system. A local award system is one developed by a local Association that gathers information through local members and selects one local award recipient. Criteria for the local award will be determined by the individual local and should not conflict with the state or national award criteria and purpose.
• B. If a local affiliate does not have an ESP award system in place, a member can submit one nominee directly to WEA with the endorsement of the nominee’s local president, or, in the case of nomination of the local president, by the local vice-president.
• C. All nominations must be received in the Cheyenne WEA office no later than one (1) week prior to the January WEA Board meeting for consideration for that year’s award.

Nominations Received by WEA

1. will be checked to ensure that the nominee meets eligibility requirements;
2. must be submitted on the official nomination form; and
3. must include supporting materials as described in the application.

Nominee for NEA’s ESP of the Year Award

The recipient of this award will be the following year’s nominee from WEA for the NEA ESP of the Year Award.