Honoring Education Support Professionals

Karen Torres
2024 MTA ESP of the Year Karen Torres is a 17-year Instructional Assistant who works at the Bancroft Elementary School in Andover. She is an active and involved unionist and leader with the Andover Education Association.

Education Support Professionals have a variety of roles in our schools, colleges and universities. ESPs are maintenance, transportation and food service workers. They are custodians, paraprofessionals, classroom aides, secretaries, clerks and assistants. They are trades and craftspeople, technical and health services staff. They keep our students healthy, safe, engaged, supported and challenged so that they will be ready to learn.

Each year, the MTA ESP Committee honors an exceptional MTA member with the ESP of the Year. Nominators are asked to address the nominee's qualifications in the following areas:

MTA ESPs of the Year

Year ESP Local Association
2024 Karen Torres Andover Education Association
2023 Paula Higgins Malden Education Association
2022 Naomi Akan Canton Teachers Association
2021 Susan Soares Arlington Education Association
2020 Sonia Fortin Sudbury Education Association
2019 Joan Cederholm
 Weymouth Educators' Association
2018 Kathleen Meltsakos
 Andover Education Association
2017 Nancy Burke Haverhill Education Association
2016 Saul Ramos Educational Association of Worcester
2015 Michelle Elwell Rockport Educational Support Staff Association
2014 Lois Powers Classified Staff Union, UMass Boston
2013 Diane Barnum Framingham Teachers Association
2012 Lorraine Niccoli Brockton Paraprofessionals Association
2011 Jean Fay Amherst-Pelham Education Association
2010 Anita Thompson Classified Staff Union, UMass Boston
2009 Cindy Eldredge Nauset Education Association
2008 Cheryl Harper Gateway Teachers Association
2007 Regina Wong Weston Aides and Paraprofessional Association
2006 Diane Keating Northampton Association of School Employees
2005 Janet Andrews Winchester Education Association
2004 Eileen Norton Malden Education Association
2003 Theresa Monahan Franklin Education Association