Pennsylvania State Education Association

Week of 4-28-2025

Inside this issue

• Congrats to PSEA member Ashlie Crosson for winning 2025 National Teacher of the Year!
• Voice preview: How fifth graders at March Elementary took over morning announcements
• PSEA Podcast: Burnout and breakthroughs - special education in focus
• Vote in the Primary Election on May 20
• Member Benefits spotlight: Boscov’s Travel

Congratulations to Ashlie Crosson, a Mifflin County High School English teacher and a member of the Association of Mifflin County Educators, for being named the 2025 National Teacher of the Year!

She is the first Pennsylvanian to win this award.

“Ashlie is always thinking about her students and advocating for them,” said Del Fuller, PSEA Central Region president and president of the Association of Mifflin County Educators. “She is constantly looking for opportunities to give her students new perspectives that would not normally be available to them. She has organized trips to Europe and D.C.; she runs our school newspaper and is a leader on using AI in the classroom.

“She strives to bring her ideas to the classroom and to share with her fellow teachers, making everyone around her better at their craft. Ashlie Crosson is a teacher students look up to and a teacher we should look to emulate.”

Read our press release on Ashlie’s win here.

Each morning, instead of hearing the standard intercom announcement from the principal’s office, the students at March Elementary School in the Easton Area School District start their day with “Lil’ Leopard News,” a student-run daily broadcast that covers school events, fun facts, and student spotlights.

The program, led by teacher Jennifer Brunetti, gives students full ownership of content creation, scriptwriting, and production.

“I don’t write anything, ever,” Brunetti said. “I’ll check for mistakes, grammar, edit, or say, ‘Are you sure about this? Can you show me where you found it?’ But this is less-is-more for me. The only real part I have is dropping it into the movie and loading it to YouTube and making sure they stay on task.”

The officer team dives into the powerful conversations that came out of PSEA's recent special education roundtables. More than 100 educators sat down with lawmakers to talk about challenges and brainstorm solutions. Two of those roundtable participants - special ed. teacher Cassie McCabe and speech therapist Christina Rojas - join us to share their experiences.

Don’t forget to vote for the two PSEA-recommended statewide judicial candidates in the May 20 Primary Election.

Voting in judicial elections is crucial for the future of public education. Judges make decisions that directly impact school funding, curriculum standards, and students’ rights. By electing judges who prioritize equitable and quality education, you help ensure that all students have access to the resources and opportunities they need to succeed.

Your vote influences the legal framework that shapes our schools and communities.

For a full list of PSEA-PACE recommendations in the May 20 Primary and Nov. 4 General Elections, visit SchoolHouseBallot.com

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