Week of 5-17-2021

Inside this issue

• The time to return to full in-person instruction has come
• Make sure you have a seat at the table
• How do YOU think PA should spend $5 billion in federal funding for schools?
• PSEA holds virtual House of Delegates
• NEA announces Season of Justice 2021
• PSEA’s Center for Professional Learning NEW summer schedule
• PSEA Member Benefits spotlight: Boscov’s Travel

Since this pandemic began, PSEA has worked tirelessly to ensure our members, your students, and your schools stay safe. With how things stand today, we believe a full, safe return to in-person instruction should be a top priority for the 2021-22 school year.  

Thanks to a statewide effort between our organization, state legislators, and the Joint Vaccine Task Force, we were able to get vaccines into the arms of every educator who wanted one. That’s incredible.

Now, as more students are vaccinated over the summer, we believe that in-person instruction is achievable in a way that keeps everyone safe.

With the substantial funds coming to our state over the next couple of years via the American Rescue Plan, our schools will have the opportunity to make our school buildings safer, bridge learning gaps, and address the mental, social, and emotional needs of students.

We will continue to push strongly for every school district to follow all guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Pennsylvania Department of Health in the new school year.

After a long, extraordinarily difficult road, we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. We know you and your students can’t wait to get back to the classroom. Thankfully, it looks like we can finally do that in a way that keeps everyone healthy and safe.   

The American Rescue plan will provide schools with the resources they need to get students back in school and learning – in-person. Our schools have important decisions to make about how to spend this money, and PSEA members need a seat at the table as they make them. 

We are the experts. So, make sure that you make your voice heard. And don’t take “no” for an answer.

Pennsylvania schools have nearly $5 billion in funding coming from the American Rescue Plan over the next couple of years. How should your school spend its portion of this money to best help students recover from the COVID-19 pandemic? Share your response here. 

Last weekend, PSEA held a virtual House of Delegates, where delegates voted to approve 8 New Business Items and elected candidates to serve as PSEA’s statewide officers and representatives on the NEA Board of Directors for terms commencing September 1, 2021.   Candidates elected include:

• PSEA President (2-year term):                      Richard Askey
• PSEA Vice President (2-year term):              Aaron Chapin
• PSEA Treasurer (2-year term):                      Jeffrey Ney
• PSEA Pension Plan Director (2-year term):  Jeffrey Ney
• NEA State Director (3-year term): 
  • Maria Bennett
  • Dawn Blaus
  • Casey VanWhy
• NEA Alternate State Director (1-year term):
  • William Gerhauser
  • Jodie Abbott 
  • Ronald Hayes
  • Colleen Brodbeck
  • Kerry Bauerle
  • Joanne Ruse

Learn about the business conducted at the House of Delegates at www.psea.org/hod2021.

NEA’s Center for Social Justice has just announced NEA’s Season of Justice 2021!

The Season of Justice is a series of virtual engagements running between June and August designed to deepen knowledge, build connections, and engage the collective in meaningful conversations on racial and social justice.

Registration for the series opens on May 24 and the dynamic lineup kicks off on June 1.  To secure access and for more information, please visit www.neaedjustice.org/seasonofjustice.  

Please direct any questions to NEA’s Human and Civil Rights (HCR) Director, Harry Lawson, at hlawson@nea.org.

PSEA’s Center for Professional Learning NEW summer schedule

PSEA’s Center for Professional Learning just unveiled an all-new summer schedule! Check out all the convenient, fun ways you can earn Act 48 and Chapter 14 credit this summer.

Webinars

• CPL Webinar: Summer 2021 Calendar Launch
• June 22, 5-6 p.m.
• Educator Evaluation in 2021 and Beyond
• June 24, 10-11:30 a.m.
• Supporting English Learners in the Classroom
• June 29, 5-6:30 p.m.
• Culturally Responsive Literature
• July 13, 5-6:30 p.m.
• Fostering a "Growth Mindset" in the Classroom Today
• July 15, 5-6:30 p.m.
• Curriculum Inclusivity in Action
• July 20, 5-6:30 p.m.
• Creating Classroom Equity Plans
• July 22, 6-7:30 p.m.
• Rethinking Grading
• July 27, 5-6:30 p.m.
• Educator Evaluation in 2021 and Beyond
• July 29, 2021, 10-11 a.m.
• Building and Maintaining a Humanized Classroom
• Aug. 3, 6-7:30 p.m.
• Creating a Virtual Classroom (App) with Google Slides
• Aug. 10, 5-6:30 p.m.
• Taking care of the teacher self to prepare mentally for the gaps in student ability/learning next year
• Aug. 17, 5-6:30 p.m.
• Educator Evaluation in 2021 and Beyond
• Aug. 19, 2021, 5-6:30 p.m.

Book Discussions

• Celebrating Identities: Immigration Collection
  • June 23 3:30-5p.m.
• El Deafo
  • June 30, 4-5 p.m.
• Pedagogy Book Study: Implicit Bias in Schools
  • July 13, 11-12 p.m.
• Celebrating Identities: Differently Abled
  • July 21, 3:30-5 p.m.
• Pedagogy Book Study: SEL and the Brain
  • July 22, 10-11 a.m.
• Pedagogy Book Study: Implicit Bias in Schools
  • July 27, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
• Picture Book Exploration – Elementary
  • July 28, 4-5 p.m.
• Celebrating Identities: "Chutz Pow!" Vol I-III
  • Aug. 4, 3:30-5 p.m.
• Pedagogy Book Discussion: Everyday Anti-Racism Part II
  • Aug. 5, 10-11 a.m.
• Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You - Dr. Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds
  • Aug. 11, 4-5 p.m.
• Pedagogy Book Study: SEL and the Brain
  • Aug. 12, 10-11 a.m.
• Pedagogy Book Study: Implicit Bias in Schools
  • Aug. 17, 11-12 p.m.
• Author Study: Blue Balliett
  • Aug. 18, 4-5 p.m.
• Pedagogy Book Study: Everyday Anti-Racism Part III
  • Aug. 19, 10-11 a.m.

Wellness Sessions

• Mindfulness for Members 2021-X – This session includes mindful practices for developing awareness.
• May 24, 5-6 p.m.
• Mindfulness for Members 2021-XI – This session includes mindful practices for experiencing calm, joy, gratitude, self-compassion, and resilience.
• June 7, 5-6 p.m.
• Wellness Wednesday – How to keep our body clocks functioning for healthy sleep – Dr. David Dinges
• June 16, 6-7 p.m.
• Wellness Event: Mindful Monday
• June 21, 8-8:45 a.m.
• Wellness Wednesday – The Art and Science of Slowing Down for Educator Longevity – Maria Tan
• June 23, 9-10 a.m.
• Wellness Wednesday – Exercise and stretches for educators – Jose A. Dominguez
• June 30, 9-10 a.m.
• Wellness Event: Mindful Monday
• July 12, 8-8:45 a.m.
• Wellness Wednesday – Focus Time for Brain Health – Dr. Carla Claycomb
• July 14, 9-10 a.m.
• Wellness Wednesday – Speak Unarguably – Jillia Wharton
• July 21, 6-7 p.m.
• Wellness Event: Mindful Monday
• July 26, 8-8:45 a.m.
• Wellness Wednesday – Make Time to Play – Dr. Angel Acosta
• July 28, 9-10 a.m.
• Wellness Wednesday – Common Ground is not Compromise: How to disagree and still live, work, and thrive together – Shamil Idriss
• Aug. 4, 9-10 a.m.
• Wellness Event: Mindful Monday
• Aug. 9, 8-8:45 a.m.
• Wellness Wednesday – Caring Capacity for Equity – Gina Gullo
• Aug. 11, 9-10 a.m.

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