Welcome to "The Source," an e-newsletter exclusively for Student PSEA members. In each issue, you'll receive the latest updates from your association, advice from veteran educators, professional development offerings, and more to support you as an aspiring educator.
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Inside this issue
- IMPORTANT UPDATE: Student teacher stipends
- Student PSEA member featured in NEA Today for Aspiring Educators
- Lucy A. Valero scholarship applications due Jan. 31
- Student PSEA hosts fall events across the state
- Upcoming professional development opportunities
- Member Benefits spotlight: PSEA Visa Signature Card
Don't forget! Please take five minutes to complete the Student PSEA Member Fall 2025 Survey to share your current status and plans for the 2025-26 school year.
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IMPORTANT UPDATE: Student teacher stipends
After nearly five months, a 2025-26 state budget was passed by the Pennsylvania Legislature and signed by Gov. Josh Shapiro on Nov. 12. This state budget includes $30 million for the Pennsylvania Student Teacher Support Program to pay student teachers a $10,000 stipend for the work they do during their 12-week student teaching experience.
About 3,500 student teachers have applied for a stipend in the 2025-26 school year, however, the $30 million investment in this program is likely not enough for all applicants to receive a stipend.
Now that this budget is final and the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) knows how much program money is allocated for the 2025-26 academic year, it can begin to determine which applicants will be considered “provisionally eligible” for the program, verify provisional eligibility with students’ colleges and universities, and distribute stipends to school districts for remittance to eligible student teachers.
Here are the steps PHEAA will take over the next several weeks in order to provide eligible fall 2025 and spring 2026 student teachers with a stipend:
- PHEAA will select the population of 2025-26 student teacher stipend applicants that will be “provisionally eligible” based on earliest date and time of their application and the program’s allocation in the budget. Once selected, PHEAA will notify those student teachers. Start watching your email over the next two weeks!
- After determining which applicants are “provisionally eligible,” PHEAA will send certification listings to colleges and universities to verify student teachers’ eligibility (GPA, placement location, etc.). Once the certification listings are returned to PHEAA, it will update the eligible applicants’ records in their system.
- PHEAA will send a second notification with final approval to applicants who are verified as eligible to receive a stipend.
- PHEAA will begin scheduling the disbursement of stipends to school districts. PHEAA will send a disbursement roster to school districts, and the Pennsylvania Treasury will release funds to school districts two weeks later. PHEAA indicates that it hopes to begin disbursements for fall 2025 and spring 2026 student teachers in early 2026.
- There is a two-week window for the stipend money to travel to school districts’ accounts for disbursement.
- School districts are responsible for providing stipend payment to eligible student teachers. PHEAA does not provide the stipend payment directly to student teachers.
IMPORTANT! Are you a fall 2025 student teacher who applied for a stipend? Here’s what you need to do.
If you are a fall 2025 student teacher, please provide your student teaching placement’s business office with your current contact information and mailing address as soon as possible. Because fall 2025 student teachers will no longer be in their placements when stipend checks are issued, it’s important that school districts have your correct information on file to ensure your stipend is mailed to you without delay.
If you are a spring 2026 student teacher, you will likely be asked to provide your contact information and mailing address while in your student teacher placement.
Rest assured PSEA will continue to keep you up to date as PHEAA works to disburse student teacher stipends. For more information about the Pennsylvania Student Teacher Support Program, visit www.pheaa.org.
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Student PSEA member featured in NEA Today for Aspiring Educators
Student PSEA's PSEA-PACE chair and PennWest University-Edinboro student Gavin Mitsdarfer was featured in the fall 2025 issue of NEA Today for Aspiring Educators magazine to share why they chose to become an educator. Gavin also shares why they continue to be an advocate for the Pennsylvania Student Teacher Support Program, which provides $10,000 stipends for eligible student teachers.
“I’ve had two campus jobs just to afford groceries and gas. That $10,000 stipend will help me afford to drive to my student teaching placement, which could be up to 50 miles away. It means I won’t have to choose between food and fuel.”
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Lucy A. Valero scholarship applications due Jan. 31
PSEA's Lucy A. Valero Memorial Scholarship Fund offers scholarships to Student PSEA members in good standing. Scholarship recipients are chosen by the trustees of the Lucy A. Valero Memorial Scholarship Fund composed of PSEA officers, staff, and the Student PSEA president, and will be awarded at the upcoming 2026 Student PSEA Conference and Convention in State College.
Applications must be postmarked no later than Jan. 31, 2026.
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Student PSEA hosts fall events across the state
This fall, Student PSEA chapters welcomed Dr. Chris Clayton to their college campuses to participate in professional development sessions about effective instruction, student achievement, and how to transition from being an aspiring educator to full-time teaching.
In early November, Student PSEA leaders gathered in western Pennsylvania for an annual leadership retreat to collaborate and prepare for upcoming events like the 2026 Student PSEA Conference and Convention.
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Upcoming professional development opportunities
Student PSEA Events
2026 Student PSEA Conference and Convention - March 28-29, 2026
The 2026 Student PSEA Conference and Convention will be held at the Penn Stater in State College from March 28-29, 2026. Attendees will network with fellow aspiring educators from across Pennsylvania, elect Student PSEA’s 2026-27 officers, donate to PSEA-PACE, and hear from public education experts. The 2026 Student PSEA awards and A.P.E.X. awards will be presented, and Interactive Learning Project competitions will take place at the conference.
2026 Student PSEA Outreach to Teach - April 18, 2026
Save the date! The annual Outreach to Teach community service project will be held at Stonehurst Hills Elementary School in the Upper Darby School District on April 18. The service project is an opportunity for aspiring educators to make a positive impact in a Pennsylvania public school before becoming a teacher. More information to come.
2026 Teacher Leadership Institute - Feb. 28, 2026
Save the date! Join Student PSEA's Southwestern Region for the 2026 Teacher Leadership Institute on Feb. 28 at the University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg. Attendees will network with fellow aspiring educators and participate in a PSEA-PACE raffle. More information to come.
Keep an eye out for more information on upcoming 2026 Student PSEA events on Student PSEA's Facebook page and in future issues of The Source.
Center for Professional Learning Events
Webinars
• Collaborating, Communicating, and Connecting to Build Strong School Teams: Dec. 11, 7-8:30 p.m.
Book Discussions
• Educating for Global Competence: Preparing Our Students to Engage the World: Dec. 3, 7-8 p.m.
EDGE Speaker Series
EDGE brings pre‐professionals, experienced teachers, and other education professionals together to collaborate and discuss the issues facing public education and the profession. Interested in inviting an EDGE speaker to your Student PSEA chapter event? Review the list of available topics and email students@psea.org with a presentation topic, event details, and contact information.
NNSTOY-PA TEACH Program
NNSTOY-PA is a statewide organization of teachers who have been named Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year finalists and are available for speaking engagements. Interested in inviting a finalist to attend and/or speak at your Student PSEA chapter event? Click here to submit a speaker request.
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Member Benefits spotlight: PSEA Visa Signature Card
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.
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Connect with Student PSEA on social media
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The Source provides you with pertinent information, interesting features, and valuable resources on your journey as a Student PSEA member.
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400 N. 3rd Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101
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This message is intended for PSEA Members and their families.
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