Week of 9-19-2022

Inside this issue

• Member Benefits spotlight: Boscov’s Travel
• A district-level look at Doug Mastriano’s education funding cuts by the numbers
• Be part of something bigger at the NEA-RA
• Don’t miss out on Public Service Loan Forgiveness opportunity
• Voice preview: Tim Smyth’s comics in the classroom program
• PEARL and Center for Professional Learning

As a PSEA Member Benefits partner, Boscov’s Travel has many perks and benefits just for you when you book your next vacation. The company’s local, knowledgeable advisors are ready to help you plan your dream vacation – whether it's a cruise, an all-inclusive island resort, U.S. or global land tours, or Disney and Orlando amusement destinations.

In business for over 46 years, Boscov’s brings its experience and knowledge to you.

Now more than ever, using a professional travel advisor has never been more valuable. As a PSEA member, you get exclusive discounts that can be bundled with the best national offers. Yet another perk – book your travel with your Boscov’s credit card and enjoy 12 months interest-free financing!

If you want to know how bad Doug Mastriano’s plan would be for public education in Pennsylvania, look no futher than the Rose Tree Media School District. Here, Mastriano’s proposed $12.75 billion cut would lead to $56.1 million loss in funding, 465 education jobs lost and a 313% increase in the student-to-teacher ratio. That’s just in one school district!

Last week, PSEA held a series of press conferences in 12 different school districts throughout the state. Educators in each of those districts joined us to rail against Sen. Mastriano’s irresponsible and deeply damaging attacks on our public education system.

You can read about several of these events at the links below:

• Abington Heights School District
  
  

• Central York School District
  
  

• Erie County
  
  

• North Penn School District
  
  

• Richland School District
  
  

• Seneca Valley School District
  
  

• Trinity Area School District

For more on Doug Mastriano’s plan to gut public education funding, visit www.psea.org/mastrianocuts or click on the link below:

Are you interested in joining your colleagues from across the nation at next year’s NEA Representative Assembly as a delegate? You can declare your candidacy for the 2023 NEA-RA by either filling out the form included in the September issue of Voice and mailing it in or by filling out and submitting the form online at PSEA.org/nomination.

PSEA will be accepting candidates until the Oct. 21, 4:30 p.m. deadline.

If you have questions regarding the voting process, email NEABallot@psea.org or call Kelby Waltman at (800) 944-7732, ext. 7105.

Right now through Oct. 31 public service sector employees can apply for a waiver under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.

So far, more than 7,600 Pennsylvanians have received nearly $500 million in forgiveness. Each educator may be eligible for up to $10,000 in loan forgiveness.

You have two ways to apply:

1. Visit https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/pslf-limited-waiver and follow the steps to see if you qualify, or
2. Text STUDENTDEBT to 48744.

Find out more about the PSLF program at www.nea.org/student-debt-support

Voice preview: Tim Smyth’s comics in the classroom program

In the September issue of Voice, you’ll find a story on Wissahickon School District teacher Tim Smyth and his innovative approach to incorporating comics into his social studies lessons. Smyth’s lesson plans have earned him widespread attention over the years, which he was able to parlay into a global virtual teaching initiative through the U.S. State Department. He also wrote a book that came out in July aimed at teaching other educators how to incorporate comic books in their classrooms. You can read his story here.

Smyth’s story is one of thousands across Pennsylvania that demonstrate ways PSEA members are going above and beyond to innovate and inspire their students and colleagues.

Do you have an extraordinary educator story you’d like to see highlighted in our publications? Email David Constantin at dconstantin@psea.org.

PEARL

Earn Act 48 credits, Chapter 14 verification, or postgraduate credits on PEARL, PSEA’s member exclusive online learning system with more than 95 courses and counting.

Here are just a few of the courses you have access to:

• Building Routines for Student Success in a Virtual Space
• Let's Get Digital: Digital Reading Strategies
• Connect, Collaborate, Create with School-based Occupational Therapy

Webinars

• Danielson Revised: Observation & Practice Under Act 13
  • Sept. 27, 5:30-7 p.m.
• Effective Classroom Management: Current Research & Best Practices for Today’s Teacher
  • Oct. 4, 5:30-7 p.m.
• De-escalation: A Handy Tool When Confronted with Challenging, Anxious, or Hostile Behaviors
  • Oct. 13, 5:30-7 p.m.

Book Discussions

• Gender Queer: A Memoir
  • Oct. 25, 6-7 p.m.
• Improve Every Lesson Plan with SEL
  • Nov. 3, 6-7 p.m.
• Poison for Breakfast
  
  • Nov. 15, 6-7 p.m.

Member Well-being

• Mindful Mondays
  • Oct. 17, 4:45 p.m.
• Mindful Mondays
  • Nov. 14, 4:45 p.m.
• Mindful Mondays
  • Dec. 12, 4.45. p.m.