The NEA Education Support Professional (ESP) of the Year Award, presented by NEA and NEA Member Benefits, honors a member who demonstrates outstanding accomplishments and whose achievements reflect the vital role ESPs play in public education.
The NEA ESP of the Year serves as an ambassador for ESPs across the country, promoting the value of ESP members at local, state, and national events. While the award showcases one outstanding ESP each year, it also recognizes and honors the contributions that all ESPs make towards ensuring great public schools for every student.
2025 NEA ESP of the Year Award
The nomination period for the 2025 ESP of the Year Award is now open!
Meet the 2024 NEA ESP of the Year
Jen Bramson is an early childhood paraeducator in Park City, UT, and a fierce leader at the Utah School Employees Association. She is dedicated to fighting inequities for her students and improving the lives of ESPs everywhere. In this role, she will serve as an ambassador for ESPs across the country, speaking about the work and importance of ESPs at local, state, and national events.
![Photo of Jen Bramson, a woman with silver hair and a teal dress smiling and standing at a podium](https://www.nea.org/sites/default/files/styles/1500wide/public/2024-03/espoy-3-2.jpg?itok=tw9YFZJk)
Meet the 2024 NEA ESP of the Year Finalists!
![Esp of the year finalists](https://www.nea.org/sites/default/files/styles/1500wide/public/2024-02/job_31206_2024espoty_smgraphics_fb_v3.jpg?itok=taorDxyY)
- Carmel Quinn
Paraeducator, Vermont - Carol Peek
Campus Supervisor, California - Erica Nungaray
Registrar, Nevada - Jen Bramson
Lead Preschool Teacher, Utah - Nashasta Craig-Pollard
Payroll Clerk and Bus Driver, Alabama
2024 NEA ESP of the Year Nominees
![Mandy Swarthout](https://www.nea.org/sites/default/files/styles/640wide/public/2023-11/ak_amanda-swarthout-ak-headshot.jpeg?itok=gDV5nTuw)
Alaska
![Nashasta Craig Pollard](https://www.nea.org/sites/default/files/styles/640wide/public/2023-11/al_nashasta-craig-pollard.jpg?itok=M4Z5Yumn)
Alabama
![Satarria Williams](https://www.nea.org/sites/default/files/styles/640wide/public/2023-11/ar_satarria-williams-pic-2_use.jpeg?itok=12BkTuwT)
Arkansas
![Steve Schaeffer](https://www.nea.org/sites/default/files/styles/640wide/public/2023-11/az_steve-schaeffer-photo-higher-res.jpg?itok=rGLWcoHB)
Arizona
![Carol Peek](https://www.nea.org/sites/default/files/styles/640wide/public/2023-11/ca_carol-peek-head-shot-2023.jpg?itok=c3KqHjOv)
California
![Andrea Cisneros](https://www.nea.org/sites/default/files/styles/640wide/public/2023-11/co_andrea-cisneros-west-woods-es.jpg?itok=-jSU2gN3)
Colorado
![Heather Hitchens](https://www.nea.org/sites/default/files/styles/640wide/public/2023-11/de_heather-hitchens.jpg?itok=l-ZpiEeU)
Delaware
![Lakisha Ayers-White](https://www.nea.org/sites/default/files/styles/640wide/public/2023-11/fl_lakisha-ayers-white_headshot.jpeg?itok=WEqguUO2)
Florida
![Renita K. Bolton](https://www.nea.org/sites/default/files/styles/640wide/public/2023-11/ga_renita-bolton_headshot.jpeg?itok=JeQFf6W0)
Georgia
![Luann Bjork](https://www.nea.org/sites/default/files/styles/640wide/public/2023-11/ia_luann-bjork.jpeg?itok=A3Kn1W88)
Iowa
![Joan E. Ames](https://www.nea.org/sites/default/files/styles/640wide/public/2023-11/in_joni-ames_picbus_1.jpeg?itok=yxmTpQwG)
Indiana
![Lorisa Harder](https://www.nea.org/sites/default/files/styles/640wide/public/2023-11/ks_lorisa-harder.jpg?itok=fYxtXUYk)
Kansas
![Mioeka Morse](https://www.nea.org/sites/default/files/styles/640wide/public/2023-11/ky_mioeka-morse_red.jpg?itok=0oeLI_90)
Kentucky
![M. Paula Higgins](https://www.nea.org/sites/default/files/styles/640wide/public/2023-11/ma_paula-higgins.jpg?itok=Za0v9CpZ)
Massachusetts
![Ivory P. Smith, Sr.](https://www.nea.org/sites/default/files/styles/640wide/public/2023-11/md_ivory-smithmd.jpeg?itok=V1qUGt3l)
Maryland
![Nikki Clear](https://www.nea.org/sites/default/files/styles/640wide/public/2023-11/mi_nikki-clear-headshot.jpeg?itok=2G93NYlK)
Michigan
![Darci Brown](https://www.nea.org/sites/default/files/styles/640wide/public/2023-11/mn_darci-brown.jpg?itok=59e5l8i-)
Minnesota
![Lori Harmon](https://www.nea.org/sites/default/files/styles/640wide/public/2023-11/mo_lori-harmon-mo.jpeg?itok=8GRhUeVD)
Missouri
![Janell Thomas](https://www.nea.org/sites/default/files/styles/640wide/public/2023-11/ms_janellthomasphoto.jpeg?itok=zn2T2vi4)
Mississippi
![Elizabeth Verlanic](https://www.nea.org/sites/default/files/styles/640wide/public/2023-11/mt_verlanic_elizabeth_01.jpg?itok=9QPJ0LSS)
Montana
![Lori Anderson](https://www.nea.org/sites/default/files/styles/640wide/public/2023-11/ne_lori-anderson_photo.jpeg?itok=Cn4wp5aP)
Nebraska
![Maureen Kelly](https://www.nea.org/sites/default/files/styles/640wide/public/2023-11/nj_maureen-kelly-headshot.jpg?itok=BYYOYI1H)
New Jersey
![Abril Perea](https://www.nea.org/sites/default/files/styles/640wide/public/2023-11/nm_abril-perea.jpg?itok=wJ2iz7pv)
New Mexico
![Erica Nungaray](https://www.nea.org/sites/default/files/styles/640wide/public/2023-11/nv_erica-nungaray_use.jpg?itok=TF3Zl5x4)
Nevada
![Renee Freeman](https://www.nea.org/sites/default/files/styles/640wide/public/2023-11/ny_renee-freeman.jpg?itok=IZWyRBA1)
New York
![Matthew Reed](https://www.nea.org/sites/default/files/styles/640wide/public/2023-11/or_matthew-reed.jpeg?itok=qXOfH1DM)
Oregon
![Denise Kueny](https://www.nea.org/sites/default/files/styles/640wide/public/2023-11/pa_denise-kueny-ii.jpeg?itok=rM41Z7V7)
Pennsylvania
![Keila Carvalho](https://www.nea.org/sites/default/files/styles/640wide/public/2023-11/ri_keila-carvalho.jpeg?itok=ZXV8Pwlf)
Rhode Island
![Sharon Hedrington](https://www.nea.org/sites/default/files/styles/640wide/public/2023-11/sc_sharon-hedrington.jpeg?itok=sVUzP4O_)
South Carolina
![Jerome Oldham](https://www.nea.org/sites/default/files/styles/640wide/public/2023-11/tn_jerome_oldham.jpeg?itok=1Mds_ynb)
Tennessee
![Raul Hernandez](https://www.nea.org/sites/default/files/styles/640wide/public/2023-11/tx_raul-hernandez.jpeg?itok=IpGWqOpB)
Texas
![Jen Bramson](https://www.nea.org/sites/default/files/styles/640wide/public/2023-11/ut_jen-bramson.jpeg?itok=fpzOdPv_)
Utah
![Carmel Quinn](https://www.nea.org/sites/default/files/styles/640wide/public/2023-11/vt_carmel-quinn.jpg?itok=loxWl8Fr)
Vermont
![Aneeka Ferrell](https://www.nea.org/sites/default/files/styles/640wide/public/2023-11/wa_aneeka-ferrell-2024.jpeg?itok=wiCEhGv1)
Washington
![Kristy Adams](https://www.nea.org/sites/default/files/styles/640wide/public/2023-11/wi_kristy_adams.jpeg?itok=LWLLNP9s)
Wisconsin
![Shasta Rosales](https://www.nea.org/sites/default/files/styles/640wide/public/2023-11/wy_shasta-rosales_headshot.jpg?itok=97rNYgHB)
Wyoming
Suggested Further Reading
-
Utah Paraeducator Named 2024 ESP of the Year
NEA Today
-
Utah’s Jennifer Bramson recognized as 2024 NEA ESP of the Year
NEA Media Center
-
Park City educator receives national recognition for work helping education support professionals
KPCW - NPR
-
Park City paraeducator recognized nationally with 2024 NEA ESP Award
Townlift - Park City News
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