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Oregon Council for Education Support Professionals (OCESP)

The Oregon Council for Education Support Professionals is a lobbying organization formed to ensure that the voices of Educational Support Professionals (ESP), or classified employees, within the Oregon Education Association (OEA) are heard.
OCESP group photo

History

In the early days of the OEA, classified employees belonged to a separate organization called the Oregon Association of Classified Employees (OACE). This organization was a sister to the OEA. Although classified members attended many OEA trainings, OACE and OEA were separate organizations. Through much thought, discussion, and work of the leaders of both organizations, a merger was proposed and accepted. When this merger occurred the ESP members were guaranteed a united voice along with at-large directors on the OEA Board of Directors and the OEA PAC Board. We then changed to a Council and officially became the Oregon Council of Education Support Professionals (OCESP). We also have the distinction of being one of the first in the National Education Association (NEA) to refer to ourselves as professionals, reflecting the dedication we bring to our various jobs.

Upcoming Events

If you have never attended an OCESP Board meeting, please consider doing so! It is a great chance to network with other local leaders and share concerns, so together we can address them within the OEA structure. Contact OCESP Chair Heather Wisener for upcoming opportunities.

Meeting Dates

Please have your president or their designee attend the OCESP meetings. We need a strong ESP voice heard across our state! For more information on OCESP or any questions, please contact a member of OCESP Executive Board below.

Oregon Council of Education Support Professionals Executive Board:

Council Chair: 
Heather Wisener
541-892-4375
Email Heather

Council Vice Chair: 
Laura Warren
541-619-3848
Email Laura

Council Secretary: 
Danielle Maire
541-409-6200
Email Danielle

Council Treasurer: 
Matthew Reed
503-428-0156
Email Matthew

Metro Regional Director: 
Becky Torres
Email Becky

Eastern Regional Director: 
Vacant

Border/Southern Regional Director: 
Vacant

Mid-State Regional Director: 
Vacant

North Valley Regional Director: 
​​​​​​​Vacant

Nicki Belnap

Meet Nicki Belnap, OCESP member

Through Nicki's involvement in her public school union, she saw how  ESP’s  could have a voice, and worked to make sure they were represented – serving in leadership  positions  in her local and then as a regional director with the Oregon Council of Education Support Professionals (OCESP) and later as its vice present. "I learned very early how important ESPs were to schools and education," Nicki says.
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Keeping the Promise of Quality Public Education

The Oregon Education Association (OEA) is a union committed to the cause of providing the basic right of great public education to every student. OEA represents about 41,000 educators working in pre-kindergarten through grade 12 public schools and community colleges. OEA’s membership includes licensed teachers and specialists, classified/education support professionals (ESPs), community college faculty, retired educators, and student members. OEA members also belong to the 3.2 million members of the National Education Association (NEA).
About us
Join OEA

The Oregon Education Association is a state affiliate of the National Education Association (NEA), the nation's largest professional employee organization. NEA has affiliate organizations in every state and in more than 14,000 communities across the United States.

Learn more at NEA.org