Education Support Professionals Day
Nov. 18, 2026
Wednesday of American Education Week
In 1987, the NEA Representative Assembly called for the creation of a special way to honor the contributions of school support staff. National Education Support Professional Day was first celebrated that year. Each year since then, ESP Day has been observed on the Wednesday of each American Education Week.
As the Rev. Jesse Jackson has said, "Children need all school workers. A person is not 'just' a janitor, not 'just' a custodian. Janitors can see children when [teachers] don't see them, and bus drivers recognize the children who are disruptive on the bus are likely to be disorderly in the classroom. They're partners in education. We need each other to make this work."
Honor education support professionals on National ESP Day. To help celebrate, MNEA offers a variety of lapel pins for sale in the image item store. “Thank you” notes are also a great way to show you appreciate all ESPs do to help public schools run smoothly.
One Job Should Be Enough
No school can run on teachers alone. It takes bus drivers, custodians, paraprofessionals, food service workers, secretaries, nurses, maintenance staff, and so many more.
Every job matters. Every ESP matters. And every ESP deserves a paycheck that makes one job enough.
That's why unions matter! ❤️ #WeLOVEourESPs #OneJobShouldBeEnough
Help us Celebrate
To help us celebrate American Education Week, share the images below on your social media. Accompany the image with a special message about why you think public education is important to all Americans or use one of the blurbs below.
At-mention @MissouriNEA to tell us how your school celebrated American Education Week, using the hashtags #AEW2026, #AEWeek, or #WeLoveOurESPs. Share why you believe public education in America matters, and why ESP are an important part of making schools great.
To download the images below, right-click on the image below and choose "Save image as..." or "Download Image." Then, you can use the image to create a social post of your own.
Public schools are powered by people who show up for students every single day! ❤️ From the classroom to the cafeteria, the school bus to the front office, ESPs make a difference.
If you're #PublicSchoolProud, let us know in the comments! Help us celebrate the people who make our schools work. #AEW26
I'm a proud American educator! 👏 Whether I work in the classroom, cafeteria, office, school bus, library, or maintenance department, I know my work matters.
I support Missouri public schools, and I'm proud to be part of the team that helps students succeed. Help celebrate ALL public school employees! ❤️ #AEW26
Are you a product of public schools? So am I! ❤️ This American Education Week, let's celebrate the people who make public education possible.
I'm a proud public school __________ (paraprofessional, school bus driver, custodian, secretary, cafeteria worker, nurse, or educator)!
Fill in the blank and share your public school pride! #AEW26
Happy Education Support Professionals Day! ❤️ Schools don't run without you!
From keeping buildings clean and safe to preparing meals, transporting students, supporting learning, caring for student health, and keeping school offices running, ESPs make public education possible.
You deserve appreciation, respect, fair pay, and benefits that recognize the value of your work. And one job should be enough!
Today and every day, we celebrate YOU! 👏 #AEW26 #WeLOVEourESPs
The people who care for our students deserve to be cared for, too. ❤️
ESPs help keep schools clean, safe, healthy, welcoming, and running smoothly. They deserve fair wages, affordable benefits, and working conditions that allow them to make a living with ONE JOB.
Strong schools start with supporting the people who make them work. Together, we are the Missouri NEA! #AEW26 #OneJobShouldBeEnough
Together, we make schools safe places to learn, work, and grow. Every student and every school employee deserves to feel safe, respected, and supported. ESPs are essential to creating school communities where everyone can thrive. Together, we are the Missouri NEA! ❤️ #AEW26
Student success takes a team! From teachers and paraprofessionals to bus drivers, custodians, cafeteria workers, and office professionals, every school employee plays an important role in helping students succeed.
When we work together with families and communities, students win. Together, we are the Missouri NEA! #AEW26
You can't put a price on the difference ESPs make in students' lives. But you CAN put a fair value on their work!
Respect the work. Pay the people. Provide affordable benefits. One job is enough.
ESPs deserve more than a thank-you. They deserve a strong voice and a union that fights for them! ✊ #OneJobShouldBeEnough
Living Wage Calculator
Economic Policy Institute's Living Wage Calculator measures the income a family needs in order to attain a modest yet adequate standard of living.
With this easy-to-use and easy-to-understand calculator, just choose your county and the number of people in your household to understand the living wage for your family. The tool uses data to estimate community-specific costs for 10 family types (one or two adults with zero to four children) in all counties and metro areas in the United States. Compared with the federal poverty line and the Supplemental Poverty Measure, EPI's family budgets provide a more accurate and complete measure of economic security in America.