About Us

My name is Tracy Atkin, President of the Granite Education Support Professionals Association (GESPA). GESPA is an important part of education in Granite School District, without our classified employees, schools could not run. The benefits and salary that you have now as you begin or continue your career with Granite School District is due to the hard work of your employee association, the district did not just hand you those benefits, they have been negotiated for more than 30 years on your behalf, our members and fellow employees.

GESPA is our local organization here at Granite School District, we are a part of the Utah School Employees Association (USEA) they are our state affiliate. USEA works tirelessly on our behalf at the state level, lobbying and monitoring bills on Capitol Hill; we are also a part of the National Education Association (NEA), they are our national affiliate and they do the same thing on a national level in Washington DC. We share the same national affiliate as the teachers association and this has proven to be very beneficial as we have worked closely with the teachers association for more than 5 years now. Working with our certified staff association (GEA) has been very advantageous; it has helped during negotiations, insurance committee, issues with supervisors and principals etc.

As a support professional you should be concerned about the many issues facing education, privatization and education cuts in funding, all of these things can affect us here on a local level. Knowing this, you will want to have your voice heard; there is great power in numbers. You will want people at the Granite School District administration office, the Utah State Legislature, and even the United States Congress, to hear your voice; to hear the voice of support professionals, and to hear your concerns. In addition, you will want your individual rights protected and enhanced. Being a member of GESPA is the way in which you can have that impact. As an association member, you have a voice in advocating for the needs in your school, your department, your office and on the job.

 Joining your Professional Association is the right thing to do for many reasons:

 You enjoy the rights and benefits negotiated for you. One of these is the Negotiated Agreement between GESPA and Granite School District that guarantees your working conditions and rights as support professional.

Communication about what is happening in your profession; newsletters from GESPA, USEA and NEA keep you informed of the many issues affecting your jobs. You can communicate with GESPA to answer questions or resolve problems related to your employment.

The Association takes care of many things that individual ESP’s don’t have time to do. Some examples are, handling grievances, lobbying the legislature, addressing issues and concerns with Granite District and representing your interests in the insurance Committee, advisory Committee, and Negotiations.

Start your career off right, do the professional thing and join the Association, GESPA/USEA/NEA, today!

Sincerely,

Tracy Atkin, President

Granite Education Support Professionals Association (GESPA)

tatkin@graniteschools.org

Phone 385-646-4123

Alt. Phone 801-637-4238

Fax 385-646-4124