Public Education Matters

Various student voices 0:08
Public education matters. Public education matters. Public education matters.

Scott DiMauro 0:15
This is Public Education Matters, brought to you by the Ohio Education Association.

Katie Olmsted 0:26
Welcome back to Public Education Matters. I'm Katie Olmsted and I'm part of the communications team for the Ohio Education Association and its nearly 120,000 members around the state, including many, many education support professionals or ESPs, as they're known. These are the bus drivers, school secretaries, food service workers, IT professionals, maintenance and custodial crews, paraprofessionals and aides, and so many others that give their all every single day to make sure every student has their individual needs met so they can learn, grow and thrive. These ESPs have the power to shape students lives, and they have the power to shape their communities and their own working conditions because of the power of their ESP local associations. But ESP locals also face some unique challenges, as do their local leaders. That's what we heard when we sat down with one ESP leader in early December on the heels of a new event for her local to help their community. It's one of many ideas she's bringing to the table as a relatively new local president. Let's take a listen.

April Troup 1:46
I'm April Troup, and I'm a bus driver at Norwayne local schools, and I am President of Norwayne Educational Support Professionals.

Katie Olmsted 1:55
And you've been president - this is your second year now, is that right?

April Troup 2:00
Yes, that is correct.

Katie Olmsted 2:02
How has it been going?

April Troup 2:04
Going pretty well. We live in a very rural community, and we have about 50 members, give or take, and we have pretty much 95 to 97% of our members is is total unions of which is awesome. It's, it's a lot of involvement, per se, meaning signing up. But getting involvement of doing activities and being present is a little more difficult, I would say.

Katie Olmsted 2:37
Yeah, so that brings up the question, what are some of the challenges when it comes to leading ESP locals?

April Troup 2:44
I would say just trying to, I mean, even though you're getting the word out and you're trying to get them pumped up and excited, because I'm a very positive and I have a lot of motivation, and I have a lot of energy, and sometimes, even with having all of that, and I Have a lot of ideas - still, that is a very hard getting people to want to be on board and getting out there. Because we just had a hog raffle, which it was wonderful, and we and we ended up raising over $2,000 which was great for our first time ever. But just really trying to get people to do something new, and get out there and get involved with us and, well, what is this? And why are we doing this? Because everybody's just used to, like the same old, same old, was really quite challenging. So just like, Come on, guys, let's try something new. Let's do this. But you know, it's a work in progress, which, you know, I'm willing to take the challenge, I guess.

Katie Olmsted 3:44
So, what, you know, what? What is a hog raffle? And why do something new with that? What was that for?

April Troup 3:51
We wanted to help support our people in need in Wayne County, and we have some of our members that own a farm, and they were willing to donate a pig. And so we decided, well, let's maybe try to do something with that. And so we took two halves. So basically, you know, half and a half, and we would do, like, a 50/50, so, you know, we, I can't remember how much it was, I think it was $10 a ticket. And then they, whoever the winner was, got to get half of a pig, and so, and it's like, over $400 worth of meat, you know, that they could have so, which was pretty awesome. And then we took, we're taking the money, we're splitting it within several families, and we're getting ready to deliver, and they don't know, you know that they're getting it, and we're getting ready to deliver that here within the next week or so, along with other like gifts to go with it. So I'm really excited about it. It's, it's going to be a really beautiful thing. I think they're going to be blessed, and I hopefully we can continue that in the future and make it bigger because it was something new and exciting for our ESPs and make us be kind of known in the community, you know as well.

Katie Olmsted 5:09
And that has to be one of the big things that is always sort of in the back of your mind as an ESP leader, is, is helping people understand just how important ESPs are in our community. Right. Can you help the general listener understand a little bit more about that?

April Troup 5:29
Sure, I think a lot of people, from what I've heard that you know, especially maybe with teachers, not everywhere, but some teachers don't live within the community. I know a lot, mostly all of our ESPs live and work in the community. You know, they don't travel outside of our community. And so just knowing that we care and we we work here, and we live here, and we want to make a difference, not only you know in our kids lives, but, you know, in the community's lives as well, and it's a very important and we just want to make that known, that we're not we're not leaving, we're here, and we we love our community and our children and, and the people around us, and we want to make a difference in, in a small way as much as we can.

Katie Olmsted 6:19
Not just making a difference in the community, but obviously making a huge difference in students' lives. Our schools do not run without ESPs. You're the first educators they see in the morning. You specifically, April, as a bus driver.

April Troup 6:33
Oh yes.

Katie Olmsted 6:36
That actually has to probably make it a challenge too for you as a leader, because there are so many different jobs that ESPs do and so many different shifts that they work.

April Troup 6:46
Correct. Yeah. I mean, I don't see a lot of our other ESPs because unless I make a point to stop, you know, and we're actually having a Christmas party next week, that's another thing that we're working on, because it's a nice time to get together with our other ESPs. Just to say, "Hey, how you doing?" I mean, I see him in, you know, I, I email him, I text him, I try to stop in every now and again. But, you know, we all have lives. We all have children. We all are doing different things outside of work as well. But it's nice to just kind of get together, have conversations, just kind of catch up on what's going on in, you know, the other buildings, because a lot of times, you know, we don't see them every day, like some of the other staff does.

Katie Olmsted 7:34
Having a 95, 97% membership rate is, I mean, that blows my mind. And I do know that it can be challenging to convince potential members to join an ESP local because, you know, ESP wages are not, you know, they're certainly not as high as they should be. Let's start there. That's the baseline. But when you're asking someone to pay some dues on top of already having not the highest wages. How do you make that pitch to them about how that ESP local makes a difference in their lives?

April Troup 8:06
A lot of times, when we get together, we do in the beginning of the year, and we just express to them, you know, basically all the benefits that that the union has to offer. And, you know, tell them about the experiences, whether good experience, experiences you know that maybe a member has had in the past that might not have been so good, that's happened, that the union has had to step in, things that have happened, that has benefited them and, and then hopefully you know that it catches their eye, or catches their spirit where they want to be like, oh yeah, because a lot of people will just sign up because they've heard, oh, the union does great things, sign me up, but I really want them to know there's just more. There's more to it. Before you sign that paper, we want you to know why you're signing that paper and give them the reasons why. And that's pretty much why I think people do sign up. At least, that's how I've experienced it in our local and we are small, but I mean, there's reasons why people do sign up, and I think it's because of what we tell them and the experiences we've had in the past. I mean, we have a lot of things that have happened, and we all work together to make it better. And I think that's why think people join.

Katie Olmsted 9:25
Why did you join the union?

April Troup 9:29
I joined because - I did originally - because my girlfriend said, oh, this is great. But I I mean, and that's to be honest, it was like, okay, yeah, sign sign me up. But then I didn't really know much about it. I know I have said this in the past. My mom had been a union member for First Energy for years, and it was kind of funny, because I'd always go to her picnics every year, but I didn't really know much about it, and I was just having some questions when I was - because I was hired in originally as a van driver. This was years ago, seven years. And I was like, I think I'm next in line, you know, to be a bus driver, but I wasn't really sure. And then couple people were like, you need to check with your union on that. And I'm like, Okay. And so after conversations and things were happening in in a couple different meetings, I realized that some unfair things were happening, and but then I ended up, you know, long story short, getting what I had thought, what I was deserved so and that was with the help of the union and so therefore, all the things that I had thought that my girlfriend had told me was true. So I mean, they're there for, for benefits and lot of discounts and this and that, but they're also there to fight for you, if, if you need it. And, and I in that case, in my case, I I did need it at that time.

Katie Olmsted 11:01
Did that spur you to become more involved in your union at that point, sort of become part of the union a little bit more?

April Troup 11:09
Yeah, definitely. I think it was one of the reasons. And there was always, everybody likes to complain, but nobody likes to do anything about it, you know. I mean, is that how it always goes? And I was like, you know, I can sit here and complain, but I also want to do something about it, and I like to help people. So I thought maybe this was a an opportunity for me, especially after my experience that I went through, to maybe this was a way for me to get involved help people and hear their complaints and try to, you know, do something about it. So that's kind of where that led me. And of course, the door was wide open. I mean, nobody wants to really take on the responsibility. So here I am.

Katie Olmsted 11:50
So, I was going to ask you, what made you want to be the the local president, but I think that might have been my answer.

April Troup 11:57
Yeah. I always say, oh, it was by default. But, you know, I mean, a lot of the leaders that were there had done it for a long time, and they did a really good job. And, you know, they were, they were kind of getting tired, you know, as and, and they deserved a break, and, and we needed some younger people coming in. I mean, not that I'm super young or anything, but they did. They needed some, you know, younger people coming in and new fresh experiences. You know younger leaders to come in, fresh coming into the job, and new ideas that so I think that's what's kind of led me to where I am today.

Katie Olmsted 12:38
Is there a learning curve, though? I mean, if, if someone's been doing the job for years and years and years and you come in, was that daunting for you?

April Troup 12:48
Yes, because, I mean, there's, you know, a lot of the people that are new, they have their things that they want to do, and then you have people that have been there for a long time, and they're set in their ways. So definitely a learning curve. And you just have to, you have to balance that. You know, you, you, you want, you know, you know, there's always going to be change. I mean, that's inevitable, but you still want to respect, you know, other people's wishes as well. So trying to balance it all out to make everybody happy, you're not always going to make everybody happy. But, I mean, there is a balance there. And you just try to, you try to make it work the best you can. Try to get everybody's opinions. And then, you know, not everybody's going to be happy, but you do the best in the moment. I guess. You know.

Katie Olmsted 13:38
That's leadership for anybody, not just for a local, not just for an ESP local, that's anybody who's in a leadership position knows that, right?

April Troup 13:46
Yeah, I think so, I think. And, you know, team, teamwork makes the dream work. That's usually my motto. And just trying to keep a positive outlook on everything. I mean, I mean, that's all you can do, right?

Katie Olmsted 14:00
So let's, let's look at the outlook. Fast forward a couple years down the line. You said you have new ideas. You have ways you want to do things bigger and better. What do you have as your wish list?

April Troup 14:13
Oh, let me think about that. I mean, I definitely would like to get new employees to come in, and I want them to be excited to be a part of the union along with us. I did get a couple new, I got a new Secretary this year, a new Treasurer, and I hope that they're enjoying themselves and just trying to understand everything. Because I'm fairly new too, and we do have our the leaders that have stepped down, they are very helpful. And so I want to try to keep that going and keep bringing in the new, new, more new people. And that's kind of mygoal the next couple years and really try to step that more participation up. I mean, that's kind of what I am hope. I'm hopeful, and maybe keep the hog raffle going, you know, and that's where I'm at right now. I mean, I feel like we're, we're moving in a positive direction. I kept saying, I want to get the teachers more involved too, and and because they're on on in a separate, you know, entity than we are, we have a communications but we don't really like we're not together, together, so it'd be nice to work with them on a couple things, but everything in good time.

Katie Olmsted 15:40
You think that's a common not, not even a stress point, but a challenge for ESP locals across the state is the teachers not being in that local maybe don't understand particularly your issues.

April Troup 15:54
Yeah, I think I try to communicate with like the president of the teachers union, so they know, but I know they have a lot of their own stuff going on, and I try to keep up to date with what's going on on their end. But it's hard, you know, it really is, and I would like to be able to meet with them, you know, on a regular basis, and say, Hey, this is what's going on with us and what's going on with you, and try to collaborate. That would be something to do in the future as well. But, you know, it's just, you know, a time thing. Everybody's, you know, so busy. And it's just like, I wish we could just do this, maybe bring it together sometime. I mean, we got together in the beginning of the year, which was great, but then that was it, you know, and we send emails back and forth. But yeah, I would definitely like to see more involvement with that eventually. That would be a big that's a big goal of mine, really.

Katie Olmsted 16:52
Because we are all stronger when we're together. It might not be, I might not be a member of your local or vice versa, but when all of the locals can stand together that is powerful.

April Troup 17:03
Right, yes, I know I talk to a lot of locals in my area, you know, with going to the leadership council meetings once a month, and I get their, you know, input, I would love to get more presidents, as it seems like a lot of the Presidents around here, or just more of the teachers side. I love to see more ESPs getting more involved in the area. So I have a lot of ideas. It's just putting them into action is the hard part, you know.

Katie Olmsted 17:33
Right. Well, how do you eat half a hog in your freezer? One bite at a time? So one bite. Oh, I like thank you so much for taking the time to share your perspective with us.

April Troup 17:46
Yes, thank you for having me. This has been really nice. Katie.

Katie Olmsted 17:55
We are hearing from other local presidents who have recently stepped into these roles as season five of this podcast continues next week, we're hearing from local leaders about some of the supports they've received to help them get up to speed in their new roles, and what they'd say to other OEA members considering taking a step into leadership in their own locals. New episodes of the podcast drop every Thursday this season as these conversations continue, because in Ohio, public education matters.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai