ESPs

English Learner Educational Support Professional (ESP)

What is the role of the EL ESP at my school? Who is responsible for that person's daily work?

Each school's EL department has a number of EL ESPs based on the number of EL students in their school. Full time ESPs work a 6 hour day, and part time ESPs work a 3 hour day. ESPs work directly with EL teachers, but they are evaluated by the school principal or other school administrator.

ESPs provide a wide range of supports for EL students. They are key in building relationships, learning the strengths and needs of EL students, and advocating for EL students. New content is always taught by the licensed teachers, but ESPs are on hand to help reinforce that content under the direction of the EL or classroom teacher. ESPs assist the EL teacher during ELD time with small groups or with individuals. They also provide support to ELs in their general education classes either through push-in or pull-out. Through direct instructional support for EL students, ESPs might preview, review, or provide scaffolding so that English Learners can meet the daily objectives and work on content-area standards at their grade level. In instances where there is a concern about a student ESPs may provide insights or observational information to the licensed teachers.

The list is long, but these are a few of the many other tasks ESPs do to support students and staff:

  • Provide school orientation to new-to-country students

  • Assist with iPads, Chromebooks, or computers

  • Serve as a liaison between content/classroom teachers and EL teachers

  • Share EL strategies with other ESPs or classroom teachers

  • Prepare materials and assisting with paperwork tasks

  • Support EL Study Halls and after-school tutoring programs

In order to coordinate with ESPs who are invaluable resources to our EL teachers and students, most EL teams regularly meet with the EL ESPs to provide direction, review lesson plans and language objectives, share information about the standards being addressed, and discuss/share feedback about individual students or groups. ESPs are regarded as a key part of the team serving our EL students!