Pennsylvania State Education Association

Week of 3-24-2025

Inside this issue

• ESPs rally for living wage at ESP Lobby Day
• PSEA member spotlight: Kevin Scott
• ICYMI: Gov. Shapiro’s education budget proposal continues historic investments
• Member Benefits spotlight: AmeriServ mortgage and home equity loans
• PEARL & Center for Professional Learning

Click on thumbnail above to view video

More than 100 school support professionals rallied at the Pennsylvania Capitol on March 25, calling on lawmakers to pass House Bill 777, which would guarantee a living wage of at least $20 per hour for our bus drivers, custodians and maintenance staff, secretaries, IT professionals, cafeteria workers, personal care aides, and paraprofessionals.

The bill would provide raises for nearly 41,500 support staff, averaging an increase of $2.90 per hour.

Lawmakers, including Reps. Dan Miller and Jim Prokopiak, HB 777’s prime co-sponsors, as well as Sen. Vincent Hughes, voiced their support from the lectern.

Other speakers included PSEA President Aaron Chapin, ESP President Rudy Burruss, Pennsbury ESPA paraprofessional Katie Long, and PSEA’s 2024-25 Dolores McCracken Education Support Professional of the Year, Becky Marszalek.

PSEA President Aaron Chapin called support staff “the unsung heroes of our public schools” and emphasized the broad public backing for a living wage.

 “It will make a world of difference for many of these folks here today, and many, many others hard at work right now in our public schools,” Chapin said. “Let’s get this done.”

If your travels took you through the Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) last year, you may have seen the Youth Art Gallery, a display of 40 black-and-white portraits of notable Philadelphians like actor Will Smith and Phillies’ first baseman Bryce Harper.

The 5-by-7-foot grid portraits were part of a collection made by sixth grade students at Ridley Middle School, which were created under the direction of art teacher Kevin Scott.

“I wanted to find a way for the world to see what my students were making,” Scott said. “I drive past the airport every day on my way to work and I thought to myself, ‘I would love to display my students’ artwork there.’”

Click the thumbnail above to watch the video of Kevin discussing the project.

Click here to read Kevin’s story in the May 2024 issue of Voice Magazine.

On Feb. 4, Gov. Josh Shapiro unveiled his proposed state budget for FY 2025-26, including significant funding increases for public schools which represent another major step toward fully and fairly funding public education and addressing the educator shortage – particularly school funding adequacy and tax equity as dictated by the historic Commonwealth Court ruling.

Click the link below to read our breakdown of the budget and its highlights in the March 2025 issue of Voice.

Looking to buy a house?

Interest rates have been dropping. Now is a great time to start looking for the home of your dreams, whether it be a starter, vacation, or your next home. Enjoy these PSEA exclusive mortgage benefits with our preferred partner, AmeriServ:

• Market leading rates
• No origination fee (savings of $695)
• One FREE rate re-lock opportunity ($400 value)
• $250 credit on interest rate buy-down options

Already own a home? Take advantage of your home’s equity.

AmeriServ offers a home equity product we call Loan in a Line. Use it as a home equity credit line while also having the capability to take out fixed-rate term loans at the same time. Enjoy the flexibility this product offers for home improvements, debt consolidation, tuition, vacations, or simply to have the peace of mind to know it’s there when you need it. Your benefits include market leading rates, along with waiving annual and other fees. 

Many members took advantage of historic low mortgage interest rates in the past couple of years. Now is a great time to establish a home equity loan and obtain low fixed-rate options. These products and benefits are available to PSEA members and their families (parents, children, and siblings). 

To learn more and to view current rates visit us at www.ameriserv.com/psea

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

Webinars

• Text-Centered Socratic Seminar
  • April 8, 7-8:30 p.m.

Book Discussions

• The Mindful Teacher’s Toolkit
  • April 2, 7-8 p.m.

Postgraduate Credits

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.