Pennsylvania State Education Association

Week of 6-30-2025

Inside this issue

• A time to reflect on the ideals of Independence Day
• U.S. House passes terrible budget reconciliation bill
• Introducing this year’s Innovative Teaching Grant winners!
• Congratulations to Sue Lemmo for securing a second term on the PSERS Board of Trustees
• PEARL & Center for Professional Learning – summer series
• Member Benefits spotlight: GE Appliances Store

As we mark another Independence Day, it’s worth remembering what we’re really celebrating. This holiday signifies the ideals that are at the core of the American identity – freedom, self-governance, and equal rights and opportunities for all.

Today, with attacks on voting access, to rising authoritarian rhetoric, to anti-democratic legislation like the horrible budget reconciliation bill the U.S. House just passed, the core principles that shaped this nation are being tested like never before.

As educators, support professionals, retirees, students, and nurses, it’s our duty to ensure that the real, accurate accounting of this country’s founding and ongoing struggles continues to be told so that these values are never forgotten.

The fight for freedom did not end in 1776. In many ways, it was just the beginning. It’s up to each of us to keep the flame of freedom lit and burning brightly so it can be passed from generation to generation for another 250 years. 

Today, the U.S. House of Representatives narrowly approved a massive federal budget reconciliation bill that includes hundreds of billions in funding cuts to health care, nutrition assistance, and other federal programs. The bill now goes to President Trump for his signature.

Thousands of PSEA members joined advocates from across the nation to voice our strong opposition to this terrible bill, because it will cut billions from Medicaid and nutrition programs and create a tuition voucher program which will cost as much as $8 billion per year.

“It is heartbreaking to see Congress embrace a budget bill that strips meals and health care away from children and families to fund massive tax breaks for the super wealthy,” said PSEA President Aaron Chapin.

“There is no way that Pennsylvania or any other state can backfill the loss of billions in federal funding. Hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians will go hungry. Even more will lose their health care. Public schools will lose funding they now receive through Medicaid to provide health-related services to students, and billions will be diverted from public education to fund a tuition voucher program.”

PSEA will conduct a full analysis of this new law. Stay tuned for updates.

(left to right) 2025 Innovative Teaching Grant recipients Elizabeth Brown, Bob Young, Janice Pearson, Pamela Brigham, Brendan Storino, Lauren Hess, and Susan Elnitsky

This year’s Innovative Teaching Grant recipients

PSEA’s Council on Instruction and Professional Development annually awards Innovative Teaching Grants. All entries must be submitted by Feb. 1 of each year. Click here to find out more.

This year’s recipients are:

Susan Elnitsky

Northwestern Region, Northwestern EA

Third Grade STEM Club

STEM (Science, Technology, Education, and Mathematics) education plays an increasingly important role in preparing our students for the future. This project proposal aims to address this need by implementing a weekly STEM club that allows approximately 75 third-grade students annual access to the skills and knowledge needed for the 21st century.

Lauren Hess, Brendan Storino

Mideastern Region, Cheltenham Twp EA

Playground Communication Board

Speech Language Pathologists at Wyncote Elementary School in the Cheltenham School District are seeking funding to purchase a communication board for our playground. Our school has students who demonstrate communication differences, which limit their ability to communicate.

Jeffery Kuntz

Central-Western Region, Punxsutawney Area EA

Living Your Best Leader in Me Life

“Living Your Best Leader in Me Life” is a unique approach to connect everyday life in an elementary school to the Leader in Me’s Eight Habits of Highly Effective Students. Schools today need multiple pathways to help connect our students to leadership skills, empathy, and community service.

Pamela Brigham (ESP), Elizabeth Brown, Brian Gresh, Elaine LaFuria, Sean McErlane, Janice Pearson, Karen Rodemoyer, and Robert Young

Northwestern Region, Harbor Creek EA & ESP

Full STEAM Ahead on the Hogwarts Express

The Harry Potter Festival and accompanying activities promote literacy, creativity, and STEAM learning for all students. Students and their families engage in many interactive activities, such as designing operational games, potion-making, herbology, and more. This festival fosters imagination, collaboration, and innovation while instilling a love for reading in a magical environment.

Congratulations to Sue Lemmo for her reelection to the Pennsylvania Public School Employees’ Retirement System (PSERS) Board of Trustees seat representing retirees.

On June 13, the PSERS board announced that Sue had won her reelection by acclamation, because she had run unopposed. Sue’s new term begins on Jan. 1, 2026, and ends on Dec. 31, 2028. She is currently serving as the retired board member on the PSERS board and was elected vice chairperson in January 2024.

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

• Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) in the Classroom Today: What Is It and What Does It Look Like in the Classroom?
  • July 8, 10-11:30 a.m.
• Effective Classroom Management for Today’s Teacher: What Does the Research Tell Us Works?
  • July 15, 7-8:30 p.m.
• Your AI Assistant: Using AI in Planning & Preparation
  • July 29, 10-11.30 a.m.

Book Discussions

• The Missing Link to Help Them Think: Connecting Executive Function and SEL Skills to Boost Student Achievement
  • July 10, 7-8 p.m.
• Beautiful Child
  • July 17, 7-8 p.m.
• The Body Keeps the Score
  • Aug. 7, 10-11:30 a.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.

Big savings every day!

PSEA members enjoy exclusive access!

The GE Appliances Store is an exclusive shopping website where members can save up to 25% off MSRP on select GE appliances.

• Special savings on Profile, Cafe, GE, Monogram, Haier, and Hotpoint major appliances
• Additional promotional and rebate offers
• Shop their new suite of small appliances
• Convenient in-home delivery, installation, and haul-away services available

Register to access the GE Appliances Store now!

Phone: 1-866-907-6490