Week of 2-21-2022

Inside this issue

• Celebrating notable Black Pennsylvanians during Black History Month
• PSEA supports Hawk Faculty United’s push for unionization
• Former PA Teacher of the Year Joe Welch named finalist for National Teacher of the Year
• Center for Professional Learning and PEARL
• PSEA Member Benefits spotlight: Identity theft protection plans

Did you know that Pennsylvania native Robert N.C. Nix Jr. served on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and became the first Black Chief Justice in 1984? Learn more about the remarkable Black Pennsylvanians who shaped our state and our nation at the link below.

I was honored to attend a rally on the Capitol steps on Feb. 19 in support of Hawk Faculty United in their efforts to form a union.

Hawk Faculty United represents full-time and adjunct faculty members from Harrisburg, Lancaster, Lebanon, Gettysburg, York, and Virtual campuses of Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC), the largest community college in Pennsylvania and the only one without union representation.

It was inspiring to see such a great turnout at the rally, which included Lt. Gov. John Fetterman and his wife, Gisele, alongside passionate HACC faculty and PSEA staff, all there to push for a “yes” vote that has been two years in the making and will finally give these educators a voice in decisions that affect their pay, benefits, and working conditions.

The Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board is scheduled to count ballots on April 8. Faculty will need 50 percent of votes cast, plus one, to win.

PSEA is proud to support HACC’s push to organize as we believe that stronger local bargaining units are key to educators getting the salaries, benefits, working conditions, and respect they deserve so that they can focus on their students.

Congratulations to North Hills School District social studies teacher Joe Welch for being named one of four finalists for National Teacher of the Year! Welch was named PA Teacher of the Year in 2020 and held that title through 2021. If he wins, he would be the first National Teacher of the Year from Pennsylvania.

We’re rooting for you, Joe!

PEARL

Do you need help earning Act 48 credits, Chapter 14 verification, or postgraduate credits? As a PSEA member, you have exclusive access to over 80 easy-to-follow courses and progressions through PEARL.

Don’t miss out! Here are just a few courses you can have access to through our new online learning system:

• Social and Emotional Learning is for Us, Too!
• Using HyperDocs for Learning
• Building and Maintaining a Humanized Classroom

Webinars

• SLOs 2.0: Student Performance Measure Templates
  • March 2, 6-7:30 p.m.
• PearDeck for Deeper Student Engagement
  • March 9, 5-6:30 p.m.
• Navigating IEPs for General & Special Education Teachers
  • March 16, 6-7:30 p.m.

Book Discussions

• The Food Group Series
  
  • March 8, 5-6 p.m.
• Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning
  • March 15, 5-6 p.m.
• Guyku: A Year of Haiku for Boys
  
  • April 4, 5-6 p.m.

Member Well-being

• Mindful Mondays
  • Feb. 28, 5-5:45 p.m.
• Mindful Mondays
  • March 28, 5-5:45 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!