Good afternoon, NEA! Thank you, President Pringle, and all of NEA leadership, for inviting me here today.

I can't start without showing some love for my union siblings from the great state of Washington: Pam Johnson, the 2023 ESP of the Year who showed me the way; Larry Delaney, our outgoing WEA President and amazing supporter of ESPs; and Janie White-current WEA Vice President and, just this April-the first education support professional and first Black woman to be elected as WEA President!

Now here's something to be proud of: in addition to Washington, we have 4 other states where ESPs are either currently or soon-to-be leading as presidents. If you're in one of these states, make some noise! We've got Alaska, Delaware, Oregon, and Texas!

Thank you, NEA siblings, for recognizing everyone in our education family and making space for us to thrive. We come from different backgrounds, beliefs, and roles in education, but we all share a common passion for student success and a deep respect for the value of education.

As a campus supervisor at Inglemoor High School in Kenmore, Washington, I've had the chance to connect with-and be inspired by-everyone around me.

School may be out for many of us, but take a moment to picture your typical workday.

Who do you see?

For me, it's the bus drivers who get students to school and home safely. It's the parents who wave hello at pick-up. It's the teachers and counselors who stop by to check on their students, and it's the students themselves who come to me for advice.

What we know is this: creating a safe, welcoming, and inclusive school doesn't happen because of just one person. Every role matters. Every interaction counts. And everyone here plays a critical part.

For us, school safety is more than providing supervision-it's about building strong relationships. Because every educator and every student-no matter what they look like or who they love-deserves to be seen, respected, and supported. So, we show up. We learn our students' names. We work beyond the school day and beyond school walls. We bring missing voices into conversations that matter. And we stay committed to this important work.

My daughter, Veronica, shared this same commitment to everything she was passionate about. Veronica passed away in 2024 after a two-year battle with brain cancer. On June 27th, just a few days ago, she would have turned 21.

V had a bucket list she was determined to finish-it included things like going to Paris, swimming with dolphins, and getting a tattoo. Now, my wife, my sons, and I spend every summer completing another activity she didn't get to do, celebrating not only her life, but our family.

That sense of purpose-of showing up for the people you love, even in the most challenging circumstances-has shaped much of who I am today. In fact, I wouldn't be in education if it weren't for a gentle nudge from my favorite teacher-who also happens to be my wife.

Seventeen years ago, when I was at a crossroads, my wife, Cheryl, encouraged me to be a paraeducator for a student with special needs. It didn't take long for me to realize I had a passion for supporting students, especially those who need the most from us, those who are too often failed by our nation's broken systems.

Sometimes, all it takes is a gentle nudge to unlock someone's potential. Like many of you, I got more involved in the union because someone saw something in me and pushed me to turn my passion into action. I wanted to advance equity and ensure better outcomes for students and educators.

I've seen so many great educators leave the profession just because they couldn't afford to do what they love. When you look at the numbers, it's not surprising. Did you know that nearly 32 percent of full-time K-12 ESPs make less than $25,000 a year? That's not dignity, that's not respect, and it's unsustainable.

For far too long, wealth and power have been concentrated in the hands of a few, while working people like us-the very backbone of our communities-are told to settle for less. Instead of investing in our students and paying educators what we're worth, some politicians would rather give tax breaks to their billionaire buddies.

But there are more of us than there are of them. When we organize-when we harness the collective strength of the largest labor union in the country-we are unstoppable. Together, we can demand better and win better.

We can do this through the ESP Bill of Rights: This movement brings together ESPs, teachers, students, parents, allies, and more to stand up for the dignity, recognition, and respect all education support professionals deserve. We are calling on our elected officials and demanding better. We are organizing and turning solidarity into statewide change. Because no one should have to work several jobs to put food on the table or afford health care. One job should be enough.

To every educator in this room: You are worth way more than $25,000. We don't always give ourselves enough credit for what we do. Self-empowerment helps hardworking people like us reclaim power in a system designed to take it away.

In rough times like these, I often think of my daughter. V always looked forward. She dreamed of becoming a teacher, like her mom.

Near the end, even after she lost her eyesight, she would do something so fascinating-she would still reach for her glasses and put them on, even though she no longer needed them.

When I asked her why, she told me something I'll never forget.

She said, 'I still can't see, but I have hope.'

V reminds me every day that hope matters-even when the path ahead of us feels uncertain.

I know our schools and our union are strong enough topush through the ugliness together.

To demand better and win better, we will continue to step up and bring our colleagues along. We will continue to organize and show up for our students and each other, whether it's on the picket line or at the state house. We will be kind to each other and share that same kindness with ourselves.

And no matter what, we will always bring our glasses and never lose hope.

Thank you.