Education Support Professionals Honored at Ceremonies Across the State

Laurie Mahrer, a speech language pathology assistant at Custer Elementary School in Mandan, has been named as the 2024-25 Education Support Professional of the Year by North Dakota United this year at our Delegate Assembly on April 20, 2024.  

“Thank you,” she said upon receiving the award from ND United President Nick Archuleta. “As speech language pathology assistants, we’re the wanderers. I have worked with more than ten speech language pathologists over the last 26 years, and I appreciate all of them. They have allowed me to grow. And even though I don’t know where I’m going to be year after year, the kids are all the same. They want us to see them and hear them and to be there for them.”

This year’s contest for ESP of the Year was a special one, as a record number of nominations were received. For the first time, three finalists for this year’s award were named ahead of time. Those finalists included Mahrer; Julie Eiler, the lead paraeducator at Fargo North High School; and Dustin Brunner, a paraprofessional at Central Middle School in Devils Lake.

Each of our three finalists received a special recognition ceremony at their schools, where President Archuleta, administrators and colleagues spoke in glowing terms of the consistently amazing work that they all do in their important roles.

“Laurie consistently goes above and beyond to support the students she works with. She has such a kind and gentle soul, and students and staff are drawn to her. She is nothing short of amazing. The education system needs more educators like Laurie,” President Archuleta said during Mahrer’s ceremony at Custer on Feb. 5, reading the words of one of her nominating colleagues.

“She’s well-known for her hard work, kindness, creativity, dependability, caring nature, enthusiasm, generosity, and so much more,” said Mercedes Jaskowiak, a speech language pathologist at Custer Elementary.

During both of her acceptance speeches, first as a finalist at Custer, and as this year’s ESP of the Year recipient during NDU’s Delegate Assembly, Mahrer made extra effort to lift up the work of her colleagues: ESPs from around the school, including fellow SLPAs, custodial staff, and nutrition staff, among others.

“[Growing up], we worked together as a family. And I consider you my family here. And coming from a big family, we had to share everything: our Christmas presents, our clothes, our food, three in a bed. I’m used to sharing, so, will you share this nomination with me?” Mah.

In her nomination for the award, one of Mahrer’s colleagues said this of her: “Laurie consistently goes above and beyond to support the students she works with. She has such a kind and gentle soul, and students and staff are drawn to her. She is nothing short of amazing. The education system needs more educators like Laurie."

Near the end of her rousing speech at DA, she compared students to lumps of clay on a potter’s wheel, who educators and ESPs work together to help mold: “We are taking care of the most precious natural resources this state has to offer. It’s our children. What legacy will we leave them? Who do you want behind that potter’s wheel?”

Each year, the NDU ESP of the Year Award recognizes an outstanding ESP member of our state association. ESP job categories include: paraprofessional, education assistants, secretarial or clerical, custodial, food services, maintenance and trades, transportation, grounds-keeping, security, technology services, health services and more.