Pennsylvania State Education Association

Week of 9-13-2021

Inside this issue

• September Voice preview: the debate about school start times
• Lancaster City EA member wins PSEA T-Shirt Design Contest
• In Memoriam: honoring recently deceased PSEA staff members
• PSEA’s Center for Professional Learning upcoming schedule
• Member Benefits spotlight: Voluntary Vision Plan

How do you feel about school districts adjusting start times to accommodate adolescent sleep schedules? Our latest cover story, in the September issue of Voice, delves into the science and competing opinions surrounding this surprisingly complex topic.

Check it out and see if you come away feeling the same way.

Bryan Hower, a member of the Lancaster Education Association, is the winner of PSEA’s T-Shirt Design Contest.

The contest, sponsored by the PSEA Communications Committee, asked members to imagine designs for a new member T-shirt. The committee reviewed all entries in the spring and selected three finalists.

Over the summer, PSEA members had the opportunity to vote online for their favorite design. Hower’s design was the top vote-getter.

“I am honored that my design was chosen by the PSEA members,” said Hower, who teaches computer science at J.P. McCaskey High School. “My design was inspired by my belief that PSEA is stronger when we work together for the common good of the students and teachers of Pennsylvania.”

PSEA expects to have T-shirts with the new design available through our PSEAWear online store later this fall.

In the past year, we’ve said goodbye to several PSEA staff members who have passed away, including former PSEA President John Yarnovic, who served PSEA for nine years, four of which as president. Below are the other staff members we recently lost.

• Ronald Watzman, who passed away in August 2021, served PSEA as a staff attorney from 2000–2010
• Floyd Montgomery, who passed away in August 2021, served PSEA as region field director from 1971–1995
• Jack Schmidt, who passed away in June 2021, served PSEA as assistant director of special services from 1970–1993
• Natalie Kershaw, who passed away in January 2021, served PSEA as a secretary in the Southern Region office from 1972–1991
• George Seidel Jr., who passed away in January 2021, served PSEA as AED for Government Relations & Professional Development from 1965–1979
• Claudine Nichols, who passed away in December 2020, was an accounting clerk from 1970–1997
• Patricia Blosser, who passed away in December 2020, served PSEA as convention coordinator from 1972–1993
• Raymond Alan Rodgers, who passed away in October 2020, served PSEA as a UniServ representative from 1977–1993

See the full schedule and see how you can earn Act 48/Chapter 14 credits at psea.org/prolearning

Webinars

• Social Emotional Equitable Learning
  • Sept. 21, 7-8:30 p.m.
• Transforming School Culture & Climate: The Servant Leadership Model in Schools and its Role with Social Emotional Learning & Character Development in Schools Today
  • Sept. 23, 5-6:30 p.m.
• SLOs 2.0: Student Performance Measure Templates
  • Sept. 28, 4-5:30 p.m.
• Connection Before Curriculum: Teaching in a Post Pandemic World
  • Sept. 29, 7-8:30 p.m.

Book Discussions

• Author Study: Katie DiCamillo
  • Sept. 22, 5-6 p.m.
• “Dragon Hoops”
  • Oct. 6, 5-6 p.m.
• “Funny, You Don't Look Autistic: A Comedian's Guide to Life on the Spectrum”
  • Oct. 12, 4-5 p.m.
• “Chutz Pow!”
  • Oct. 14, 5-6:30 p.m.

Member Well-being

• Mindful Mondays
  • Sept. 20, 5-5:45 p.m.
• Mindful Mondays
  • Oct. 4, 5-5:45 p.m.
• Mindful Mondays
  • Oct. 18, 5-5:45 p.m.
• Mindful Mondays
  • Nov. 1, 5-5:45 p.m.

The PSEA Voluntary Vision Plan offers low monthly payments, great frame and contact lenses allowances, exam coverage, fitting fee coverage for contact lenses, and offers the choice of 12-month or 24-month coverage. The plan is available to all PSEA members and eligible dependents to age 26. Enrollment opens the first of each month.

The 12-month plan highlights include a $250 frame allowance or $150 contact lenses allowance with monthly premiums of only $12 for single coverage, $24 for two party, and $35 for family coverage.

The 24-month plan highlights include a $250 frame allowance or $175 contact lenses allowance with monthly premiums of only $8 for single coverage, $16 for two party, and $23 for family coverage.

For more information on the vision program please visit https://pseahwf.org/voluntary_vision/ or call the PSEA Health & Welfare Fund at 800-944-7732 ext. 7024