Pennsylvania State Education Association

The bad news: Attacks on our pensions and our union continue. Please remain vigilant and respond to any calls to action that we receive from our PSEA leadership. Have you met with your legislators or given them a call or sent them an email yet? Remember: They represent you in Harrisburg.

The good news: This school year is coming to a close, and summer will soon be here. Please take some time to rejuvenate yourself in some small or not-so-small way. I believe this quote says it best:

"Sometimes it's important to work for that pot of gold. But other times it's essential to take time off and to make sure that your most important decision in the day simply consists of choosing which color to slide down the rainbow."    ? Douglas Pagels

On a final note, I hope you can join us at PSEA's DPS Conference Aug. 2-3, 2017, at the Ramada Inn and Conference Center in State College. It is an excellent and affordable conference, offering Act 48 credits and current topics pertinent to educational specialists. Please plan to attend and bring a friend.

Wishing each of you the very best.

? Judy Morgitan, DPS president, certified school nurse in Perkiomen Valley School District

A perennial challenge for educational specialists is how to balance the demands of a job in public education with your personal life.

There are a variety of resources that can help you strike the right work-life balance. Here are a few of our favorites:

We Are Teachers has work-life balance resources to help you get through a tough day and still have a life after the bell rings. Get tips to surviving the afternoon slump, strategies for coping with depression and anxiety, information on meal delivery services, advice for the dog owner who puts in long hours at school, and a lot more.

For a look at how teachers do it across the pond, the UK-based Guardian has 10 tips for teachers to strike a good work-life balance. Tips include don't take your work home with you, make time to socialize, support others and be supported, and think about when you work best.

Finally, Fast Company offers work-life balance tips for people working even in the most demanding jobs. Tips include managing the expectations of others, finding ways to make work fun, and protecting your non-negotiables.

As technology rapidly advances, your use of technology at work and at home can have a significant effect on your profession. Blogging and social media ? whether you are doing it inside or outside the school building ? can affect you and your job.

So THINK before you post, as the graphic above suggests. Ask yourself: Is it true? Is it helpful? Is it inspiring? Is it necessary? Is it kind?

For more tips to help you stay safe on social media, read PSEA's advisory on social media use.

As you approach retirement, it is important for you to make good informed decisions.

1) Go to PSERS' Foundations for Your Future meetings for five years before you plan on retiring. Find a schedule of meetings at PSERS' website.

2) When you enroll in Medicare, you will need a supplemental insurance plan. PSERS offers a supplemental plan called the Health Options Program (HOP). Learn more about it by calling 1-800-PSERS25 or going to www.HOPbenefits.com.

Did you know that PSEA members can use the PSEA Discount Prescription Card to save up to 75 percent on prescription medications? And here's the best part: The prescription card is available at no cost to you as a PSEA member.

The discount card is accepted at more than 50,000 pharmacies across the U.S. It cannot be used along with an insurance-provided prescription card, but if your insurance prescription copay is high, you can present both cards to your pharmacist and choose to use the card that provides the best price. Your PSEA Discount Prescription Card comes in handy with high-deductible health plans or in situations where prescriptions are not covered by your insurance.

Cards can be printed from the program's website or virtual cards can be uploaded directly to your phone via a text. Go to the program website and select "Create your FREE virtual card now."

Join us at PSEA's DPS Conference Aug. 2-3, 2017, at the Ramada Conference Center in State College. This year's theme will focus on "The Intersection of Learning and Success." Education consultant and motivational speaker Thom Stecher will deliver the keynote.

Come for the informative sessions, and stay for the opportunity to network with other educational specialists from across the state.

Check out our conference flier for more details. We hope to see you in State College on Aug. 2 and 3.

When you come to the DPS Conference in August, please bring children's books with you to donate to the DPS Book Drive. The DPS Section is working with the Pennsylvania Head Start Association in State College to get books in the hands of children from low-income families. Books should be for children ranging in age from birth to 5 years.

While you're at the conference, make some time Wednesday night to socialize with your colleagues and help us add stickers and bookmarks to our donated books.

And don't forget, Partners for Public Education has a variety of book recommendations and reading resources online at www.partnersforpubliced.org/Reading.