ESP Conference Was Virtual Success

Education support professionals came together online for mental-health themed sessions

By Kelly Hagen, NDU Communications

North Dakota United is the state’s predominant professional association for public educators and employees, including Education Support Professionals (ESPs). Since the merger that formed ND United in 2013, and for years previous to that within our two precursor organizations, our ESP members have worked together to raise up the profile and recognition for ESPs.

Our ESPs are the hard-working professionals on staff at all of our North Dakota public schools and universities. They are the glue that holds all of our schools together, and the heart that keeps students on every level of education feel safe, healthy and ready to learn.

“ESP’s are extremely important during this time,” said Connie Deutsch, the Instructional Materials, Textbooks and Online Manager for Fargo Public Schools and a 20+ year member of NDU and the Fargo Education Association. “I have seen for myself the extra mile that all are going to accommodate and assist in the multitude of settings we are teaching our students in right now. They are in the classroom, on the Zoom

classes, using Zoom to work one-onone with students. Other ESPs in the offices, libraries, lunchrooms, on the playgrounds and so many others are doing things to help that they have never done before. All are being inventive, ambitious, sensitive to all the student needs and to more than they are required to and without being asked.”

Part of our association’s efforts to celebrate the important contributions our ESP members make every day on the job is to host the ND United ESP Conference. It’s an important opportunity for ESPs from across the state to gather together, network and learn from and with each other about the important work they do.

This year’s conference was forced online like so many other conferences and social gatherings in our state, due to the threat of COVID-19. Held virtually in short sessions across four nights, November 18-21, on Zoom, the focus of the conference was mental health and self-care.

NDU President Nick Archuleta opened the conference with a welcome message, and Brenda Seehafer, NEA Director, also wished the group of participants a happy ESP Day and thanked everyone for taking part. Our first session was dedicated to yoga and meditation techniques. Candace Brennan, an English instructor at Mandan High School, taught the group some breathing techniques and led a yoga practice for one hour.

Audrey Haskell, an NDU Professional Development trainer, hosted a session on “Difficult Conversations + How to Approach Them.” She focused on techniques for initiating, participating in and reflecting on difficult conversations. NDU attorney Michael Geiermann then led a Q&A session for inquiries about rights and responsibilities during this year’s pandemic.

Deutsch was one of the participants in this year’s conference. She gave the virtual sessions high marks, saying, “I thought all of the information was relevant and helpful. I really enjoyed the yoga, and all of the other sessions had great info useful personally and professionally.”