Pennsylvania State Education Association

Week of 9-8-2025

Inside this issue

• PSEA President talks school funding on PCN
• Fundamental Facts about public education
• PSEA Member Spotlight: Darla Romberger
• PSEA Job Opportunity: Financial Accounting Analyst – Financial Management
• PEARL & Center for Professional Learning
• Member Benefits spotlight: Contact Fill contact lenses

PSEA President Aaron Chapin joined officials with the Pennsylvania School Business Officials Association and the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators on “The PCN Capitol Preview” to discuss school funding and the overdue 2025-26 state budget. The episode aired on Monday. 

During the program, Chapin urged lawmakers to pass a real state budget that maintains the critical investments in our public schools that our students and school communities deserve. He also referenced the importance of funding the second installment in the multiyear plan to ensure our public school funding system is constitutional.

Click the thumbnail above or the link here to watch the episode in its entirety.

PSEA has updated its “Fundamental Facts: Pennsylvania Public Education” report, offering the latest data on school funding, staffing, compensation, and student performance.

Released each year, the report is designed to help members, parents, policymakers, and communities understand both the challenges and opportunities in Pennsylvania’s public schools. As the new school year begins, it serves as a clear, reliable resource for everyone who cares about public education.

Here’s some of what you’ll find in the “Fundamental Facts” report:

Darla Romberger (third from right) led the Cumberland Valley Agricultural Science program to be named the 2024 National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE) Region VI Outstanding Middle/Secondary Agricultural Education Program. Also pictured are co-teachers Dianna Jarema (third from left), Megan Cole (fourth from left), and Jenna Kibbe (fourth from right).

Cumberland Valley’s Agricultural Sciences and FFA program was recently named the 2024 NAAE Region VI Outstanding Middle/Secondary Agricultural Education Program. Led by Darla Romberger, the program has grown to serve more than 700 students and continues to expand. We asked Romberger what makes the program stand out, how it’s evolved, and what lies ahead.

Read our Q&A with her in the July issue of Voice:

PSEA is seeking a highly skilled and detail-oriented Financial Accounting Analyst (Accounting Coordinator) to join our Financial Management Division in Harrisburg. This position involves overseeing a wide range of financial operations, including general ledger activity, accounts payable, payroll processing, financial reporting, and more. The position also plays a key role in budget development and supports accounting for PSEA’s Health and Welfare Fund.

Ideal candidates will bring at least three years of progressively responsible accounting experience (including supervisory duties), a bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field (master’s preferred), and proficiency with Microsoft Excel and enterprise accounting systems. Experience with union or nonprofit accounting is a plus.

To view the full job posting and description, visit www.psea.org/jobs.

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume to jobs@psea.org by Sept. 25.

PSEA is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and actively seeks diverse applicants and those committed to working with a broad range of people.

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

• Evaluation of New & Early Career Educators
  
  • Sept. 23, 7-8 p.m.
• Ready, Set, Support: Open Chat for Special Educators
  
  • Oct. 2, 7-8 p.m.
• The PSEA AI Task Force Impact Report: Keeping Education Human with Ethical, Practical, and Professional Guidance for AI Use in Pennsylvania Schools Moving Forward
  
  • Oct. 8, 7-8:30 p.m.

Book Discussions

• Spooky Stories to Read in the Classroom
  
  • Oct. 29, 7-8 p.m.
• Demystifying Disability: What to Know, What to Say, and How to Be an Ally
  
  • Nov. 5, 7-8 p.m.
• Educating for Global Competence: Preparing Our Students to Engage the World
  
  • Dec. 3, 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 Member Benefits offers members and their families big savings on brand-name contact lenses through Contact Fill.

Program Benefits:

• Dependable service to your home, school, or office
• Free standard shipping and handling on all orders (use promotion code "PSEA")
• Convenient 24/7 online ordering
• Personable customer service
• No hidden charges
• PSEA members must log in to take advantage of this discount program
• NVA vision insurance accepted as a form of payment