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Week of 10-14-2024
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Inside this issue
- Jill Biden phone banks with PSEA members
- Are you prepared to vote?
- Voice preview: Book vending machine feeds students’ minds
- PSEA Job Opportunity: Staff Associate vacancy in Mechanicsburg
- Member Benefits spotlight: UBenefit $200 educator grants
- Center for Professional Learning & PEARL
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Jill Biden phone banks with PSEA members
On Oct. 15, lifelong educator and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden visited PSEA’s Southeastern Region to support pro-public education candidates on the ballot and remind us that every vote counts!
She participated in the evening’s phone bank to call PSEA members and encourage them to vote on Election Day. Click the thumbnail below to watch the video.
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Are you prepared to vote?
Tuesday Nov. 5 is General Election Day in Pennsylvania.
Make your voice heard and have a plan to vote in person or to return your ballot by mail.
If you are not yet registered to vote or need to update your voter registration information, you must do so on or by Monday, Oct. 21.
If you plan to vote by absentee or mail-in ballot:
Your completed mail-in ballot APPLICATION must be received (online, or by mail) in your county election office by Oct. 29.
Once you have your mail-in ballot, the ballot must be completed and returned to your county election office by 8 p.m. on Nov. 5. Be sure to read the instructions on your ballot carefully.
On Nov. 5, polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. Find your polling place here.
And if you haven’t yet, find the pro-public education candidates on your ballot at www.schoolhouseballot.com.
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Voice preview: Book vending machine feeds students’ minds
With the help of the Ross Elementary School PTO and local community, Jennifer Ferkel (left) and Amanda Plisko (right) raised money to purchase a book vending machine that houses 300 free books.
Title I reading specialists Jennifer Ferkel and Amanda Plisko are always looking for fun ways to encourage reading among students. That’s why at Ross Elementary School, what is typically filled with snacks, is filled with 300 free books.
“We want to get as many books as possible into the hands of every student,” said Ferkel. “When we were looking for new ideas before last school year, we stumbled across a book vending machine website and shared it with our principal.”
A growing trend in Pennsylvania’s public schools, coin-operated book vending machines are used as a reward incentive for students who demonstrate good behavior.
“All of the Lake-Lehman School District administrators were very supportive of the idea,” said Plisko. “We also got immediate support from our PTO. Our goal was to raise enough money for our vending machine to be installed in time for Read Across America 2024.”
Read the full story in the latest issue of Voice:
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PSEA Job Opportunity: Staff Associate vacancy in Mechanicsburg
PSEA has a vacancy in our Mechanicsburg office for a staff associate. This position will provide administrative support to field staff and help ensure that the operations of the office run efficiently. This position serves as a hub of activity including clerical support, data entry, scheduling, ordering office supplies, paying invoices, and coordinating building maintenance.
This position requires a detail-oriented problem solver who is committed to public education and union values. Candidates must have significant experience working in an office setting in an administrative role as well as experience using Microsoft 365. A successful candidate must also demonstrate effective verbal/written communication, organization, and people skills; and be able to handle multiple projects at one time.
For a complete job description – www.psea.org/jobs
PSEA is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and actively seeks diverse candidates and those with the ability to work on a diverse team with a diverse range of people.
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Member Benefits spotlight: UBenefit $200 educator grants
When Pennsylvania's educators benefit, we all benefit.
The UBenefit Program is giving out grants to thank educators and support professionals for all the important work that you do.
Entries are open now until Nov. 15, so don't wait. Enter today by scanning the QR code in the image below or visit www.UBenefit.org.
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Center for Professional Learning & PEARL
Visit the new, improved PEARL today and choose from more than 95 asynchronous courses available for Act 48 credit and Chapter 14 verification.
You can find multiple courses that interest you in any of these tracks:
- Book Studies
- Educational Equity
- Pedagogy
- Policy
- Pupil Services
- Special Populations
- Technology in Education
- SEL & Wellness
- Academic Acceleration: What Does the Research Say?
- Exploring National Board Certification and Brainstorming the Components— You Can Achieve It!
- Critical Race Theory, Multiculturalism, Culturally Responsive Pedagogy, and Social Justice for Equity in Schools Today
- Every Connection Matters: How to Build, Maintain, and Restore Relationships Inside the Classroom and Out
Earn postgraduate credits from PennWest University for $70 each!
More than 150 postgraduate credits are available across a wide range of teaching and learning topics.
These postgraduate credits (micro-credentials) can count toward the 24 credits required for a Level II certificate and also may count toward salary advancement.*
For support professionals, these courses may meet Chapter 14 requirements.**
*Check your contract to determine if you can apply standalone postgraduate credits for column movement.
**Seek approval from your employer prior to completing hours to apply toward Chapter 14 requirements.
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400 N. 3rd Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101
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This content is intended for PSEA members and their immediate families.
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