Pennsylvania State Education Association

Week of 6-9-2025

Inside this issue

• The significance of Juneteenth
• PSEA-recommended school board candidates crushed it in the Municipal Primary Election!
• PSEA celebrates Pride Month
• PSEA job opportunities: Administrative Assistant and Staff Associate
• Join us at the 2025 DPS Conference!
• Member Benefits spotlight: Tele-therapy
• PEARL & Center for Professional Learning – summer series

Juneteenth celebrates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the U.S. On June 19, 1865, General Gordon Granger emancipated slaves in Texas, the last holdout Confederate state where slavery remained legal.

Though we celebrate this momentous occasion every June 19, the fight for equity and inclusion for all people is an ongoing effort that PSEA takes seriously, especially while those qualities are under unprecedented assault.

“As the largest public-sector union and leader in shaping policy in the commonwealth, PSEA has a responsibility to use our collective power for advancing educational justice for all students in Pennsylvania,” said PSEA Vice President Jeff Ney at our May House of Delegates in Pittsburgh. “We support policies that advance equitable treatment and protect the mental health and wellness of our diverse student population. And we speak up against policies that harm the most vulnerable in our schools and communities.

“We call on elected officials to stand up against policies that threaten creative and critical thinking. Executive Orders, threats, and punitive actions have had a chilling effect on speech, policies, and curriculum in our schools and universities.

“Please be assured: PSEA will protect our members and oppose efforts to prevent you from using your expertise to teach students the skills they need to think for themselves. Anything that gets in the way of this is censorship, and we will not stand by while teachers are censored.”

Educators have a crucial role in sharing this history with students any time of the year to promote empathy and equality. Let's pass on the knowledge of Juneteenth so we may honor the past and inspire a more just future.

Click below for a list of NEA resources on this topic.

A whopping 94 percent of PSEA-PACE-recommended school board candidates won their races in the May 20 Municipal Primary Election.

And that's not all. Here are the other wins we put on the board:

Superior Court: 100 percent
Commonwealth Court: 100 percent
County Commissioner/Exec 67 percent
Court of Common Pleas: 79 percent

That's a lot of champions for public education our schools and students will have fighting in their corner.

Get ready to vote for these PSEA-recommended candidates in the General Election on Nov. 4.

PSEA is proud to join communities across Pennsylvania to celebrate Pride Month! Our LGBTQ+ students, educators, and support professionals are important and essential members of our school communities. We stand with you and support you this month and always.

Administrative Assistant – Administrative Services

PSEA is seeking a highly organized and detail-oriented Administrative Assistant to support our Administrative Services Division in Harrisburg. This full-time, in-person position plays a key role in coordinating departmental activities, supporting internal events, managing documents and databases, and assisting with budgeting and financial processes.

The ideal candidate will have experience in administrative support roles, strong communication and organizational skills, and proficiency with Microsoft Office, especially Excel and PowerPoint. A background in budgeting or financial management is a plus.

To apply, send a cover letter and resume to jobs@psea.org by June 20.

Staff Associate – Government Relations

PSEA is currently hiring a highly motivated and detail-focused Staff Associate to join our Government Relations Division in Harrisburg. This full-time, on-site role provides essential administrative and logistical support for a range of legislative and member engagement activities, including scheduling legislative meetings, coordinating events, managing communications, and supporting day-to-day operations within the division.

The successful candidate will bring administrative or clerical experience, strong written and verbal communication skills, and proficiency with Microsoft Office, especially Word and Excel.

To apply, send a cover letter and resume to jobs@psea.org by June 25.

For a complete posting and job description for these and other available positions, visit www.psea.org/jobs

PSEA’s annual Department of Pupil Services Conference is happening Aug. 5-6 at our NEW LOCATION - the Wyndham Garden in State College.

If you're a DPS member, you don't want to miss this fantastic opportunity to network with your colleagues from across the state and to learn from our expert presenters and each other.

Register to attend the conference today!

Act 48 credit hours and CEUs available.

Here’s what you need to know:

• You must register by July 19 to attend.
• The registration cost is $80 for PSEA members.
• If you plan to stay at the Wyndham Garden, you will need to make your hotel reservations directly with the hotel. Call the Reservations Department before June 30 at (814) 466-2255 and ask for the PSEA DPS Conference rate. PSEA cannot guarantee this room rate or availability after June 30.
• We will provide a T-shirt at no additional cost to conference attendees who register before July 1.

We hope to see you there. Register to attend the conference today!

Enjoy convenient access to therapists and counselors from the comfort of home. Get support for anxiety, depression, stress/PTSD, panic disorder, grief, family and marriage issues, and more. Members, spouses, and any dependents age 18 years up to and including age 25 are covered under one membership. 

Only $25.79 per month for PSEA members

• Consults are always $0 for counseling
• Mental health consults are $25
• No insurance needed
• Designed for educators
• No contracts, cancel anytime
• 30-day money back guarantee

PEARL

Visit the new, improved 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

• Intro to the 3D Science Standards
  • June 24, 10-11:30 a.m.
• Understanding Autism: Supporting Student Behavior with Compassion and Strategy
  • June 26, 7-8:30 p.m.
• Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) in the Classroom Today: What Is It and What Does It Look Like in the Classroom?
  • July 8, 10-11:30 a.m.

Book Discussions

• The Missing Link to Help Them Think: Connecting Executive Function and SEL Skills to Boost Student Achievement
  • July 10, 7-8 p.m.
• Beautiful Child
  • July 17, 7-8 p.m.
• The Body Keeps the Score
  • Aug. 7, 10-11:30 a.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.