Lifelong Pennsylvanian Becky Pringle’s career reflects a deep commitment to public education in the commonwealth and across the United States.

A product of Pennsylvania’s public schools, Becky spent nearly 30 years as a middle school science teacher in the Susquehanna Township School District in PSEA’s Southern Region. Her union leadership journey began as president of her local association where she developed a strong foundation in advocacy and member leadership. She went on to serve as Southern Region’s chair of the Leadership Development Committee.

Becky established herself as a respected voice within PSEA. Her career in public education helped to support the daily realities of all classroom educators and support professionals. She then was elected to represent Pennsylvania as an NEA director and went on to serve two terms on the NEA Executive Committee.

Throughout her career, Becky has elevated the voices of educators across the nation and highlighted the critical work they do every day. Her leadership helped make a significant and measurable impact in Pennsylvania, shaping statewide advocacy on school funding, educator recruitment and retention, and safe, well-resourced learning environments.

Becky’s union leadership eventually took her to the national stage, where she served as NEA secretary-treasurer, NEA vice president, and now as NEA president. She has led NEA through some of the most challenging periods in public education history. Her presidency has focused on defending educators’ rights, advancing equitable school funding, reducing overtesting, promoting the ethical use of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), and confronting systemic inequities that hinder student success.

Kind Koala is a student-founded, youth-led global nonprofit at Central Bucks West High School in the Central Bucks School District. Led by students Daniel Said, Priyansh Patel, Adam Kadan, and Aadi Anantuni, the organization started in 2023 after they noticed a friend being bullied. Now, they’re dedicated to spreading kindness through meaningful action.

Built on the belief that small efforts can drive larger change, Kind Koala’s mission focuses on accessibility, compassion, and youth-centered solutions, and empowers young people to take the lead in addressing real-world challenges within their communities.

Through Kind Koala events, members unite the community, raise funds, and support their mission through fun and engaging experiences. This supports Kind Koala’s efforts to create and distribute resources that go directly toward providing essential products and care for those in need. Kind Koala events include workshops, hygiene product fundraisers, clothing and essentials drives, and much more.

Kind Koala’s Healthcare Access Initiative connects families with free or low-cost medical care, helping to remove barriers to essential health services. To date, Kind Koala has donated more than $30,000 in health care support and distributed over 91,000 essential resources.

The Koala Chapter Global Network has established 52 chapters, helping to reach more communities in need of health care access and resources, demonstrating Kind Koala’s commitment to creating meaningful, measurable impact in the Central Bucks community and around the world.

Learn more about Kind Koala at www.kindkoala.org

For more than four decades working in the Cornell School District in Allegheny County, and an additional 12 years of volunteerism following her retirement, Donna Belas exemplifies the true spirit of a community leader and student advocate.

Donna served in the classroom as a special education teacher and English teacher and worked in the administration as the Director of Special Education, high school principal, and superintendent. No matter what position she held, Donna consistently placed the needs of children and families at the center of her work. As a volunteer, Donna uses her leadership and advocacy experience to create a lasting and measurable impact on students, fellow educators, and communities.

Donna’s continued commitment serves as a powerful model of how sustained engagement, both during and after a public education career, can strengthen schools, build leadership capacity, and enrich communities for generations to come.

Chartiers Valley Education Support Professionals (CVESP) represents approximately 100 education support professionals serving students in the Chartiers Valley School District in Allegheny County.

Since July 1, 2024, CVESP members have been working without a contract and are now facing serious subcontracting threats that would replace in-house transportation and maintenance services with for-profit, out-of-state companies. During this time, CVESP members have demonstrated how to stand united to protect their jobs, pensions, and the quality of transportation and maintenance services they provide to students.

Amid these challenges, CVESP has strengthened member engagement, built solidarity, and developed their local leadership. Members have organized sustained advocacy efforts that include school board outreach, rallies, community engagement, direct communication with families, social media, and the formation of an organizing committee. Member participation has also grown at the local, regional, and state levels, reinforcing that PSEA’s strength is in its numbers.

Throughout this time, CVESP members continue to keep schools safe, clean, and operational, while providing reliable student transportation and serving students and families with dignity and respect.

Todd Mealy, Ph.D., is a social studies teacher at J.P. McCaskey High School in the School District of Lancaster. Throughout his 26 years as an educator, Todd has embodied what it takes to be an extraordinary leader for students.

Dr. Mealy does not just teach civil rights in his classroom. He fosters a learning environment that prepares students for college, supports early career building, and helps them become engaged and informed citizens.

His pedagogical practice and commitment to the students in Lancaster City have expanded educational opportunities for students of color at J.P. McCaskey High School. His work as a historian focuses on the antislavery and civil rights movements, while his extracurricular initiatives feature programming that sustains community-based public history and builds long-term civic leadership pathways for marginalized students.

Through his teaching and leadership, Dr. Mealy has transformed the classroom into a space where civil rights are not just studied but lived.

Club Hope is more than just a club. It is a support system for the mental and emotional well-being of students and their families in the Moon Area School District. What began with just six middle school students searching for ways to navigate their grief has grown into a compassionate network serving and supporting both middle and high school students.

Sponsored by Moon Area educators Lisa Tolliver-Lehman and Jennifer Mattucci, Club Hope meets biweekly to provide a safe and supportive space for students. Meetings include check-ins, sharing memories, creative activities, and opportunities for community service.

Many students who find support in Club Hope during middle school continue their involvement in high school, helping to raise awareness and extend that same care to others.
Club Hope is making a meaningful impact on Moon Area students by fostering kindness, compassion, and stronger connections across the district. Its commitment to service, advocacy, and uplifting others reflects the very best of what school communities can offer.

Through Club Hope, students are provided with a dedicated space to find strength in connection, feel acknowledged in their grief, and honor the lives of their loved ones. It stands as a powerful example of the lasting and meaningful contributions educators and students make each day.