Pennsylvania State Education Association

Week of 1-5-2026

Inside this issue

• Celebrating more than 170 years of PSEA unity
• Manheim Central language teacher wins national award
• PSEA president speaks with Lt. Gov. Austin Davis on “PA Newsmakers”
• Member Benefits spotlight: $200 gift card giveaway
• PEARL & Center for Professional Learning

Fun fact: The United States of America is only 76 years older than PSEA!

That’s right, as we kick off the 250^th anniversary of our country’s founding, we’re also celebrating 174 years as a union. For all that time, PSEA members have stood together as a powerful voice for educators, education support professionals, and students across the commonwealth.

From our founding to today, our union has fought for strong public schools, fair pay, safe working conditions, and respect for our professions. We honor the generations of members who built this legacy and proudly carry that torch into the future.

Thank you for everything you do as a PSEA member and for joining your colleagues to be the voice of education in Pennsylvania.

Nathan Campbell, an AP Spanish teacher at Manheim Central High School, has been named the 2026 National Language Teacher of the Year by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). The announcement was made during the opening session of the 2025 ACTFL Convention in New Orleans in November.

“When we listen, celebrate differences, and respect diverse experiences, we strengthen our communities,” Campbell said during his acceptance speech. “As language educators, our role is not just to facilitate language acquisition, but to amplify the voices of those most affected by global challenges, inspiring our students to become compassionate and innovative problem solvers."

Campbell previously earned NECTFL Teacher of the Year honors and was named the 2024 Pennsylvania State Modern Languages Association Teacher of the Year. At Manheim Central, he also leads the world languages department, advises student organizations, and organizes World Cultures Day. 

“It’s always exciting to see a PSEA member recognized on the national stage,” said PSEA President Aaron Chapin. “Nathan Campbell’s achievement reflects the kind of dedication to excellence we see every day in classrooms across our commonwealth from countless PSEA members just like him. We’re so proud to see his work recognized on the national stage.”

PSEA President Aaron Chapin hosted the final “Pennsylvania Newsmakers” show of 2025, where he spoke with Lt. Gov. Austin Davis about his personal journey into public service. Davis discussed increasing education funding, stopping gun violence, and expanding SNAP and Medicaid funding.

Click the thumbnail above to hear Lt. Gov. Davis talk about the Shapiro administration’s commitment to public education funding.

Entering to Win is Easy! Just visit the Access discount program website before Jan. 21 and make sure you are signed in.

The more days you visit, the more entries you earn.

That’s it! You’re automatically entered to win every time you visit.

Visit https://psea.accessdevelopment.com/ to enter to win. If you have not previously registered for the Access Website, click the “sign up” button at the top right corner of the page and provide your email address and name to enter.

TERMS & CONDITIONS:

To be eligible to win, you must be signed up for the Access discount program. Enter to win by visiting your discount program website Jan. 7-21, 2026 (starts and ends at midnight MST) and simply sign in. Maximum of one entry per day. The more days you visit, the more chances you have to win. Winner will be notified via email and phone by Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. The winner must respond back to claim their winnings no later than Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. If there is no response, an alternate winner will be chosen. Once the winner has claimed/accepted, a $200 Spa & Wellness eGift Card will be emailed to them digitally. Giveaway is fulfilled and sponsored by Access V.G. LLC. Giveaway eligibility includes all participating Access V.G. LLC client/discount programs. No purchase necessary to win. Void where prohibited. By participating in this giveaway, participants agree to release, indemnify, and hold harmless Access V.G. LLC and its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, and agents from any and all liability, claims, or actions of any kind arising out of or related to their participation in the giveaway or the receipt, use, or misuse of any prize awarded.

PEARL

Visit 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

• Elementary Behavior Reboot: From Chaos to Calm
  • Jan. 28, 7-8:30 p.m.
• Understanding and Implementing Behavior Support Plans
  
  • Feb. 3, 7-8:30 p.m.
• Tools, Strategies, and Resources to Help New and Early Career Educators
  
  • Feb. 11, 7-8:30 p.m.

Book discussions

• Learning by Mistake: 12 Strategies to Turn Student Errors into Opportunities
  
  • March 3, 7-8 p.m.
• Americanized: Rebel Without a Green Card
  
  • April 14, 7-8 p.m.
• See Me After Class: Advice for Teachers by Teachers (2024 edition)
  
  • April 22, 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.