Pennsylvania State Education Association

Week of 8-26-2024

Inside this issue

• Happy Labor Day, PSEA!
• Congratulations to the winners of PSEA’s Fabric of Unionism Art Competition
• Keep those classroom setup photos coming!
• Center for Professional Learning & PEARL
• Member Benefits spotlight: PSEA Visa Signature Card

Happy Labor Day to all of our amazing members! Your dedication, passion, and hard work shape the future every day.

Labor Day is a celebration of the collective power that has led to better wages and working conditions and the ability to advocate for the needs of education workers and students. This holiday underscores the ongoing fight for labor rights and the vital role unions play in shaping a fair and just system of public education.

This weekend, take a moment to celebrate your place in that effort. Thank you for all you do!

Grand Prize: “Coming Through” by Rebecca Pennock (student of Dr. Lisa Draper), Liberty High School, Bethlehem Area School District

PSEA recently recognized four teachers and six students in the Jennifer J. DuBois Fabric of Unionism Art Competition. This competition highlights the significant contributions of the labor movement through art.

“The arts are a necessary and vital part of the curriculum in our public schools,” said PSEA President Aaron Chapin. “Students who study art are more likely to be high academic achievers and to have good school attendance. Pennsylvania is home to an array of talented educators and students, and PSEA is thrilled to showcase their artwork.

“By using their talent to tell the story of the labor movement, these artists are helping educate Pennsylvanians about the accomplishments of labor and its necessity for our future.”

The contest, held for the first time since 2019 due to the pandemic, awarded $1,000 to grand prize winners, with additional prizes for second and third place.

More details and the full array of artwork are available at www.psea.org/FOU

Lisa Treese, Kindergarten Teacher, Tyrone Area EA

Thank you for all the wonderful photos of your classroom setups as you head back to school. Click here to check out the submissions from last year. And please, keep them coming!

Email your submission to comms@psea.org

Don’t forget to include your name, job title, and local association. 

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

• Certification, Tenure, Induction, and Act 48
  
  • Sept. 24, 7-8 p.m.
• Effective Instruction: What Does the Research Tell Us Are the Most Effective Instructional Approaches, Strategies, and Techniques?
  
  • Oct. 1, 7-8:30 p.m.
• Your AI Assistant: Using AI in Planning & Preparation
  • Oct. 9, 7-8:30 p.m.

Book Discussions

• Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers Who Helped Win World War II (Young Readers Edition)
  
  • Sept. 25, 7-8 p.m.
• The Classroom Community Collection by Shannon Olsen
  
  • Oct. 17, 7-8 p.m.
• Every Connection Matters: How to Build, Maintain, and Restore Relationships Inside the Classroom and Out
  
  • Nov. 19, 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.

PSEA has partnered with Commerce Bank to bring members the PSEA Visa Signature credit card offer. With this card, members can earn cash back rewards with every purchase, with no point cap or opt-in required.

• Earn 3 percent cash back on coffee shops, fast food, and ride-sharing services,
• Earn 2 percent cash back on gas and restaurants, and
• Earn 1 percent cash back on all other purchases.

Enroll in the toggle feature and add more flexibility to your PSEA Visa Signature credit card. With the toggle feature, you can:

• Choose to Pay Now by a specific category or purchase amount,
• Choose to Pay Later by a specific category or purchase amount, or unwind a transaction.

Check it out and get the card that rewards you and supports Pennsylvania educators with every purchase.