Education Support Staff Association - ESSA

09/22/2026

ESSA absolutely has something to celebrate right now. We reached a tentative agreement that gives our members a meaningful raise and helps make healthcare more affordable. We’ve worked hard for this, our members have waited a long time for it, and we should celebrate it.

But we also don’t get to take our win and go home.

Our FEA siblings are still at the table. They’re still having to fight for a fair contract, and they shouldn’t have to do that without us standing beside them.

ESSA and FEA have spent a lot of time standing together through this round of bargaining. We’ve packed rooms together, fought side by side on healthcare, and shown the District over and over that it takes all of us to make our schools work.

That doesn’t change just because ESSA has a tentative agreement.

FEA is back at the bargaining table September 29th and 30th, and I’m asking our ESSA members to keep showing up. Wear your red. Come sit in the room when you can. Stand with the teachers you work beside every day and make sure they know we’re still here.

We can celebrate what we accomplished for ESSA and still stand shoulder to shoulder with FEA while they fight for what their members deserve.

That’s solidarity.

April Johnson
ESSA President

09/17/2026

Come join us tomorrow for some fun!

08/03/2026

Want a say in who ESSA recommends this election?

Come join us!

Every year, ESSA and FEA members sit down with school board and borough assembly candidates to talk about the issues and make recommendations that go to all of ESSA for the upcoming election.

These folks make the decisions that shape our schools - funding, staffing, programs, services, all of it. So getting involved early, and helping us decide on Public Education Hero’s to recommend to our peeps is super important!

Borough Assembly candidate interviews are Wednesday, August 5th at 4:30 p.m.

School Board candidate interviews are Wednesday, August 6th at 4:30 p.m.

Come to the ESSA office, listen in and ask questions. If you want to participate, just show up a little early, like 4:15. Hope to see you there.

04/20/2026

Initial Proposals have been exchanged.

A few dates for bargaining agreed upon.

First day at the table will be 04/29 from 9-3.

Members should keep an eye out for upcoming town hall dates in their personal emails.

04/20/2026

Are you looking for a job in an awesome office? Our fab Alex has moved to a different position with NEA AK and we are looking for his replacement.

Take a look and see if you’d be a good fit!

NEA-Alaska is hiring in Fairbanks! We’re looking for a friendly, organized Associate Staff teammate to join our crew.

Primary duties would include but not be limited to: greeting in-person visitors, answering calls, satisfying information requests, database management, record keeping, developing and producing materials, supporting field staff, and assisting local leadership.

Interested (or know someone who’d be a great fit)? Learn more and apply ASAP: https://neaalaska.org/open-position-associate-staff-fairbanks-office

(Photo courtesy Quintin Soloviev, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0 license, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=132774830)

03/15/2026

I know this page has been a little quiet lately. ESSA doesn’t currently have a PR/communications person, so updates have been limited. If that’s something you’d be interested in helping with, please reach out, we’d love the help.

As we head into bargaining, I’ll be sharing more here. It’s important that members understand why collective bargaining and standing together matters.

Think about what we have because of our association and our contract:

• Yearly step increases
• Paid winter break
• Annual wage increases - above the step increases that recognize your experience in your field
• The district covering part of our health insurance
• Just cause protections before discipline or termination

None of that happened by accident. Those things exist because workers stood together and fought for them. That’s the history of the labor movement - and it’s the story of ESSA too.

In a couple of weeks, we’ll exchange initial proposals with the district. I’ve been told before that those first proposals show what each side believes the people they represent are worth.

Our proposal will reflect what we’ve heard from members - your priorities and what you believe your work is worth.

The district’s proposal will show what they believe you’re worth to them. Historically, that hasn’t meant a true living wage—or health insurance that doesn’t take a big bite out of our paychecks.

When both proposals are shared, you’ll be able to see clearly who’s fighting for you.

ESSA is strongest when we stand together. Be proud of the work you do and the difference you make every day.

08/18/2025

Y’all ready for students?!

We’re gonna have a great year!

08/02/2025

THEY OVERRODE THE VETO!!

Education funding has been restored!

Please, please, reach out to your reps who to override. Tell them thank you!

08/02/2025

Today special session starts. The legislature has a chance to override the Goveneor’s veto of education funding for the state.

If you have not done so yet, reach out to to your representative and irge them to overturn.

Our students deserve fully funded education.

https://fairbanks.akleg.gov/legislators.php?id=fbx

08/01/2025

Kids not cuts!!

Sign waving in support of our legislators and urging them to override Dunleavy’s education funding veto.

Education cuts never heal!!