Week of 1-23-2023

Inside this issue

• PSEA looks forward to working with our new governor to strengthen public education in PA
• Palmerton students get hands-on broadcast journalism experience
• Upcoming Center for Professional Learning events and PEARL
• Member Benefits spotlight: identity theft protection plans

Gov. Josh Shapiro and Lt. Gov. Austin Davis take office as strong proponents of public education, Pennsylvania students, and the hardworking educators and support professionals in our schools. We look forward to working with both of them and the Legislature to ensure our students continue to have the tools they need to succeed.

Gov. Shapiro has demonstrated his strong commitment to education by nominating Dr. Khalid Mumin to be Pennsylvania’s secretary of education. Dr. Mumin, who has been superintendent at Reading and Lower Merion school districts, is an extraordinary leader and a committed educator, and we have every confidence that he will hit the ground running, working to ensure that every student in every one of Pennsylvania’s public schools gets the best possible education.

Throughout the gubernatorial campaign, Gov. Shapiro remained focused on ideas that work in public education. He has promised to reduce the time students spend on standardized tests, keep our schools safe, and expand access to vocational, technical, and computer training.

Gov. Shapiro also recognizes that too many students are struggling with mental and emotional health issues. He will take steps to ensure that every school building in Pennsylvania has at least one mental health professional so that kids can access help when they need it.

I want to congratulate Josh Shapiro and Austin Davis and pledge to work with them to make Pennsylvania’s public schools the very best that they can be.

Students at Palmerton Area High School are learning how to produce professional newscasts thanks to a new Digital Media Productions class.

The class produces news stories for the high school’s morning announcements using a studio equipped with a television camera, green screen, and production room. Students learn every aspect of the studio by serving as media producers, media directors, news anchors, script editors, and video editors.

Video footage and media interviews are collected at after-school events by members of the high school’s Video Club who provide digital media students with newsworthy topics.

“The students rise to the occasion and take every assignment in stride,” said Brandyn Miller, business and computer science teacher. “They take on the entirety of every newscast and work very well together. Watching them put stories together from start to finish is amazing.”

PEARL

Looking for an easy way to earn Act 48 credits, Chapter 14 verification, or postgraduate credits? As a PSEA member, you have exclusive access to over 95 courses through PEARL.

Here are just three courses you have access to:

• Building Routines for Student Success in a Virtual Space
• Let's Get Digital: Digital Reading Strategies
• Connect, Collaborate, Create with School-based Occupational Therapy

Book Discussions

• They Called Us Enemy
  
  • Feb. 21, 6-7 p.m.
• Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus
  • March 9, 6-7 p.m.
• Lawn Boy
  
  • April 13, 6-7 p.m.

Member Well-being

• Mindful Mondays
  • Jan. 23, 4:45 p.m.
• Mindful Mondays
  • Feb. 13, 4:45 p.m.
• Mindful Mondays
  • March 13, 4:45 p.m.

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!