Pennsylvania State Education Association

Week of 2-9-2026

Inside this issue

• PSEA’s Keystone to Democracy is our antidote to Project 2025
• PSEA holds more special education roundtables for members and lawmakers
• Educators Rising continues to flourish across Pennsylvania
• PSEA job opportunity: Organizing/Communications Specialist (Region Advocacy Coordinator)
• Local Presidents – Be on the lookout for your NEA Representative Assembly (“RA”) delegate form
• Member Benefits spotlight: Tele-therapy
• PEARL & Center for Professional Learning

We are not in this alone. As PSEA members, we have each other’s backs. The Keystone to Democracy project is how we will provide facts about Project 2025 and learn how we can protect our schools, our students, and our members.

Click the thumbnail above to watch a video ad we’re running all across the commonwealth to raise awareness.

Click the button below to learn more about Keystone to Democracy.

Last year, PSEA President Aaron Chapin convened five special education roundtables across Pennsylvania so that special education and Department of Pupil Services members could describe their work to local legislators and highlight key special education issues that state policymakers need to address.

The roundtables were such a success that we’re holding more again this year.

These gatherings, which began in early February, are designed to bring real educator voices to the table. Special education teachers, paraprofessionals, school psychologists, counselors, and other specialists get to sit down face-to-face with lawmakers to talk about what is happening in their classrooms and schools. The goal is to replace assumptions with firsthand experience and practical ideas.

“These roundtables give PSEA members who work in special education the chance to advocate directly for meaningful, realistic change,” Chapin said. “Lawmakers will leave with a clearer understanding of what support looks like in practice and why it matters. These have been incredibly insightful, and I’ve been thrilled to see our members’ voices have such a profound impact on the way legislators perceive the work that they do.”

Educators Rising, the community-based movement that provides Grow Your Own programming for high school students to help refuel the educator pipeline, is growing by leaps and bounds.

The 2023-24 school year ended with 168 members, that number more than doubled last year, to 342 student members spanning 25 chapters. Teacher leaders, who mentor the future educators in this program, are active in 45 chapters, with another 44 chapters under curriculum acquisition agreements. 

“As the statewide coordinator for Educators Rising in Pennsylvania, we’re thrilled to see this program continue to flourish and pave the way for future educators excited to enter the profession, armed with top-notch skills and training thanks to robust curricula and strong leadership,” said PSEA Vice President Jeff Ney. 

The program will be bringing that energy to State College for the PA Educators Rising Spring State Conference on March 13. We currently have 217 registered for the event with 69 participants in the four different competitions that will be held there.   

You can find out more about Educators Rising, including information on the conference, at the link below.

PSEA is seeking a field-based Organizing/Communications Specialist (Region Advocacy Coordinator) for our West Chester, PA office. This position works closely with labor relations staff to engage and motivate members, school employees, and the community around workplace issues and support for public education.

Ideal candidates will have strong labor credentials, demonstrated organizing experience, and excellent written and verbal communication skills. The role requires the ability to promote membership, develop and implement campaign and crisis strategies, build relationships with media, and effectively use digital organizing tools and databases, including peer-to-peer texting, virtual phone banking, online engagement platforms, and systems such as VAN. Experience in labor, nonprofit associations, electoral or legislative campaigns, or education is preferred. A bachelor’s degree is required. This position is based in West Chester and requires regular in-office presence, with evening and occasional weekend work.

For a complete job description, please visit our website at www.psea.org/jobs. Please send a cover letter and resume to jobs@psea.org by March 1.

PSEA is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and actively seeks diverse candidates and those with the ability to work with a diverse range of people.

During the week of Jan. 19, The National Education Association emailed your NEA Representative Assembly delegate form. This document provides the number of delegates allowed to represent your local and is the only form available for you to report your delegates to the upcoming RA. Completed forms should be sent to Denise Rutledge, PSEA Convention Coordinator, at drutledge@psea.org no later than April 10.

Please make sure to check your email as well as your spam/junk folder. If you believe you have not received the emailed form from NEA, you may request access to a duplicate form at www.nea.org/delegaterequirements.

The 2026 NEA Representative Assembly will be held July 3-7 in Denver, Colorado, and is the world’s largest democratic deliberative assembly. The RA consists of nearly 7,000 delegates representing state and local affiliates, student members, support professional members, and retired members.

Enjoy convenient access to therapists and counselors from the comfort of home. Get support for anxiety, depression, stress/PTSD, panic disorder, grief, family and marriage issues, and more. Members, spouses, and any dependents age 18 years up to and including age 25 are covered under one membership. 

Only $25.79 per month for PSEA members

• Consults are always $0 for counseling
• Mental health consults are $25
• No insurance needed
• Designed for educators
• No contracts, cancel anytime
• 30-day money back guarantee

PEARL

Visit 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

• Supporting Gifted Learners
  • Feb. 18, 7-8:30 p.m.
• Taking PVAAS Beyond the Score: Using Student Reports to Inform Instruction
  • Feb. 26, 7-8 p.m.
• Creating Legally Sound and Student-Centered IEPs
  • March 11, 7-8:30 p.m.

Book discussions

• Learning by Mistake: 12 Strategies to Turn Student Errors into Opportunities
  
  • March 3, 7-8 p.m.
• Americanized: Rebel Without a Green Card
  
  • April 14, 7-8 p.m.
• See Me After Class: Advice for Teachers by Teachers (2024 edition)
  
  • April 22, 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.