Pennsylvania State Education Association

Week of 8-19-2024

Inside this issue

• Welcome to the new school year!
• ICYMI in Voice magazine: “Reality Fairs” teach financial responsibility
• “Fundamental Facts” about Pennsylvania’s public schools
• Center for Professional Learning & PEARL
• Member Benefits spotlight: identity theft protection plans

Across Pennsylvania, PSEA members are getting ready to welcome 1.7 million students back to public schools. Every day, educators and support professionals teach, serve, and support our commonwealth’s young people – preparing them for work, higher education, and life.

As you do this important work, know that PSEA will be here to support you.

Have a great school year!

Making smart financial decisions is a struggle that many young people face. That’s why Susquehanna Township High School partners with the Pennsylvania State Employees Credit Union (PSECU) to offer Financial Reality Fairs.

The idea is to put students through a hands-on budgeting simulation to gain knowledge and awareness of financial management based on the careers they choose.

“Too often we send our students into careers and college without the hard data that says, ‘This is what you need to earn in order to live and this is your potential earning for that particular career,’” said business education teacher Elena Charles.

Read all about this great program in the July issue of Voice.

PSEA members understand the power of information because they use facts and figures to teach students every day.

That’s why PSEA has released a comprehensive report highlighting key facts about Pennsylvania’s public schools, staff compensation, school district staffing and funding, and student performance.

We will be updating this information annually so that PSEA members and all Pennsylvanians have access to facts they may not be able to find anywhere else.

Check out the “Fundamental Facts: Pennsylvania Public Education” report at www.psea.org/fundamentalfacts.

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

• Certification, Tenure, Induction, and Act 48
  
  • Sept. 24, 7-8 p.m.
• Effective Instruction: What Does the Research Tell Us Are the Most Effective Instructional Approaches, Strategies, and Techniques?
  
  • Oct. 1, 7-8:30 p.m.
• Your AI Assistant: Using AI in Planning & Preparation
  • Oct. 9, 7-8:30 p.m.

Book Discussions

• Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers Who Helped Win World War II (Young Readers Edition)
  
  • Sept. 25, 7-8 p.m.
• The Classroom Community Collection by Shannon Olsen
  
  • Oct. 17, 7-8 p.m.
• Every Connection Matters: How to Build, Maintain, and Restore Relationships Inside the Classroom and Out
  
  • Nov. 19, 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.

PSEA has partnered with Securus ID Inc. to provide PSEA members and their families access to identity theft plans at a member-only discount of up to 60 percent (not a trial rate). Month-to-month billing, no contract. Enroll and activate in minutes. 

• Securus ID is powered by Experian
• PSEA member savings of up to 60 percent (not a trial rate)
• Three plan designs to meet your needs and budget
• Essential – simple and affordable ($3 individual/$5 family per month)
• Comprehensive – full featured, high value ($6 individual/$12 family per month)
• Elite – advanced protection - ($10 individual/$20 family per month)
• Fully managed recovery included in all plans, 100 percent success rate
• U.S. based service and support

Check out the plans now. It’s not if, but when ... get protected today!