Week of 9-26-2022

Inside this issue

• Find the public school champions, like Josh Shapiro, on your ballot
• Belle Vernon teacher wins NEA Teaching Foundation grant
• Declare your candidacy as an NEA-RA delegate today!
• ESP substitutes wanted
• PEARL and Center for Professional Learning
• Member Benefits spotlight: AmeriServ mortgage and home equity loans

The governor’s race isn’t the only high-stakes matchup on the ballot in November. Down-ballot races can have a big impact on your job and your school as well.

Visit www.schoolhouseballot.com to see our recommendations for the other candidates on your ballot who have sworn to fight for public education at a time when it’s under unprecedented attack.

As for that governor’s race, the choice couldn’t be clearer. Josh Shapiro is PSEA’s recommended candidate. Watch the video above to see just some of the reasons why.

Congratulations to Belle Vernon Area High School science teacher Angela Musto, who was one of 49 educators from across the country selected for the 2023 NEA Foundation Global Learning Fellowship.

The yearlong program involves a combination of remote and in-person workshops and seminars culminating in a 10-day trip to South Africa next summer. Fellows are divided into smaller cohorts based on the results of a Myers-Briggs personality test. They’ll have the opportunity to learn from each other and from a mentor on “how to be global learners and global teachers.”

“I'm looking forward to working with a group of other people and a mentor to learn how to bring this idea of what it means to be a global citizen into the classroom, especially in Belle Vernon,” said Musto. “Anywhere it's going to be great, but in a suburban, more rural community, I think it can add a lot of value to what we do.”

Learn more about the program and find out how to apply for the 2024 fellowship at the link below.

Have you declared your candidacy to be a delegate at next year’s NEA Representative Assembly? You can do so either by filling out the form included in the September issue of Voice and mailing it in or by filling out and submitting the form online at PSEA.org/nomination.

PSEA will be accepting candidates until the Oct. 21, 4:30 p.m. deadline.

If you have questions regarding the voting process, email NEABallot@psea.org or call Kelby Waltman at (800) 944-7732, ext. 7105.

There’s a staff shortage in Pennsylvania’s public schools. That means there aren’t enough paraprofessionals, bus drivers, and aides to give our students the support they need.

Do you know someone who would be a great education support professional? Encourage them to go to www.psea.org/subswanted where they’ll find a map and contact information for every school entity in Pennsylvania, which will make it easy to inquire about opportunities to become a substitute. 

PEARL

Earn Act 48 credits, Chapter 14 verification, or postgraduate credits on PEARL, PSEA’s member exclusive online learning system with more than 95 courses and counting.

Here are just a few of the courses you have access to:

• Differentiating and Team Teaching: Distance Learning Edition
• Taking Seesaw to the Next Level
• Multi-Sensory Learning Using Arts Integration

Webinars

• Effective Classroom Management: Current Research & Best Practices for Today’s Teacher
  • Oct. 4, 5:30-7 p.m.
• De-escalation: A Handy Tool When Confronted with Challenging, Anxious, or Hostile Behaviors
  • Oct. 13, 5:30-7 p.m.
• Using the Science of the Brain & Learning to Optimize Teaching & Instruction
  • Oct. 18, 5:30-7 p.m.

Book Discussions

• Gender Queer: A Memoir
  • Oct. 25, 6-7 p.m.
• Improve Every Lesson Plan with SEL
  • Nov. 3, 6-7 p.m.
• Poison for Breakfast
  
  • Nov. 15, 6-7 p.m.

Member Well-being

• Mindful Mondays
  • Oct. 17, 4:45 p.m.
• Mindful Mondays
  • Nov. 14, 4:45 p.m.
• Mindful Mondays
  • Dec. 12, 4.45. p.m.

Rates for AmeriServ’s fixed interest home equity loans remain highly competitive. With housing values increasing, now is a great time to tap into that new equity and establish a loan in a Line home equity account with AmeriServ. The product offers great flexibility of being a line of credit and the opportunity to lock in low, fixed-rate loans within the same account. Lock in low rates for consolidating higher interest debt, home improvements, vehicles, dream vacations, or many other purposes. Please click on the link below to see just how low the home equity loan rates are.

PSEA home equity benefits include:

• No annual fee and no fixed-rate lock fees (up to $25 annual fee savings)
• Low introductory rate offered on the credit line
• Use it as a line of credit, fixed rate loans, or both at the same time

If you are looking to buy a house, take advantage of AmeriServ’s competitive mortgage rates and PSEA specific program enhancements, which include:

• Market-leading mortgage interest rates
• No loan origination fees (savings of $695)
• One FREE rate relock opportunity ($400 value)
• $250 credit on interest rate buy-down options

Clink on the link below to see current rates.