Pennsylvania State Education Association

Week of 2-23-2026

Inside this issue

• Project 2025 is an anti-public education blueprint
• Innovative theater and drama program spotlights the arts
• Alvernia University hosts magical Night to Shine event
• The keystone moment – Becky Pringle on the power of PSEA members right now
• Member Benefits spotlight: identity theft protection plans
• PEARL & Center for Professional Learning

In July 2025, Congress narrowly passed the federal budget reconciliation act, otherwise known as the One Big Beautiful Bill, which will make our lives as educators more difficult in the years to come. The legislation will remove billions of dollars flowing to our commonwealth for some of our citizens’ most basic needs, including access to health care and nutrition.

Many of the policies in this law were derived from Project 2025, a 920-page policy agenda written by people from a think tank, without input from educators and support professionals who know what works and what doesn’t in our public schools and communities.

PSEA members believe resources and funding should not be obstacles for our students to reach their full potential. Yet laws are being enacted that mean more children will come to school hungry and without proper medical care. This means more children will come to school not ready to learn.

PSEA’s Education Defender program is one easy way every PSEA member can get more information about Project 2025 and learn how to stand up for public schools.

“Education Defenders are at the vanguard of this movement,” Chapin said. “There is nothing more powerful than information. And that’s what the Education Defender program is all about — providing members with the facts they need to make informed choices and making sure they know how dangerous Project 2025 and its agenda are for public education.”

At Harry S. Truman High School, theater educator and director Tracey Gatte is doing more than putting on shows. She’s helping students build confidence, communication skills, and real-world experience they can carry far beyond the stage. Through classroom instruction and the Truman Drama program, students learn everything from memorization and public speaking to lighting, sound, set construction, and stage management.

“I want to integrate life lessons into theater, so they understand the many career and life opportunities that exist beyond being on stage,” Gatte said.

This winter, the school was selected as one of four in the country to pilot a high school adaptation of “Beetlejuice,” giving students a rare behind-the-scenes look at how Broadway shows are reimagined for younger performers.

Gatte also takes students to New York City to see professional productions, meet creative teams, and even learn how to navigate train stations and subways. The impact of the program is so great, former student Michael Sokolove even wrote a book about it, titled “Drama High: The Incredible True Story of a Brilliant Teacher, a Struggling Town, and the Magic of Theater.”

You can read the full story of this incredible program in the upcoming March edition of Voice magazine.

On Feb. 12, Alvernia University held its annual Night to Shine event, part of the Tim Tebow Foundation’s worldwide prom night celebration for people with special needs. The event saw 325 registered guests gather for an unforgettable evening of dancing and togetherness.

“It is my favorite night of the year. The honored guests are all treated as kings and queens,” said faculty advisor Andrea Swift, who oversees this and other events the university puts on for people with special needs.

Another such event is Carnival for All, the first of which was held this fall, and which is led almost entirely by Student PSEA members in collaboration with campus clubs and local organizations.

“I’m just so proud of our students,” Swift said. “They’re doing really great work with collaboration, and I think they’re going to be amazing educators.”

NEA President Becky Pringle returns to "Duty Free Lunch" for a powerful and personal conversation about attacks on educators, the future of public education, and Pennsylvania’s outsized role in protecting democracy. From union advocacy and cellphone policy to joy, resilience, and a surprise reunion with a former student, this episode blends heart, humor, and urgency at a pivotal moment for schools and educators nationwide.

Listen to this episode

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!

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

• Creating Legally Sound and Student-Centered IEPs
  • March 11, 7-8:30 p.m.
• Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) in the Classroom Today: What Is It and What Does It Look Like?
  • March 19, 7-8:30 p.m.
• Authentic Resources in the World Language Classroom
  • March 24, 7-8 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.