There’s no better time than American Education Week to celebrate our hardworking ESP members. And none more deserving of recognition than Dee Scales, the 2021 Dolores McCracken PSEA Education Support Professional of the Year.
“I am honored to receive this recognition,” Scales said. “It means a lot because support professionals do a lot of work, not only within our schools but in our communities, as well. Many support professionals live in the communities where they work so they have a great rapport not just with students but with students’ families, too.”
Scales has worked as a paraprofessional in the Woodland Hills School District for the past 26 years, including working with students having special needs in life skills, learning support, and emotional support classrooms. She currently works with students in an emotional support classroom in the Dickson Preparatory STEAM Academy.
Scales serves as president of PSEA’s Education Support Professionals Western Division and sits on PSEA’s Racial Justice and Equity Taskforce, PSEA’s Resolutions Committee, and PSEA’s Credentials and Elections Committee. She is a delegate to both PSEA’s House of Delegates and the National Education Association’s Representative Assembly.
Dee on a recent episode of PA Newsmakers explaining the roles of paraprofessionals and support staff in schools.
Join us as we show our support for PA public schools and send the message that our schools are here for each and every student.
Just snap a picture that represents your pride in public schools and post it to your social channels using #PublicSchoolsForAll.
THANKFUL FOR PA EDUCATORS, SUPPORT STAFF
With American Education Week upon us, I want to take a moment to recognize everyone who makes Pennsylvania’s public schools terrific. That includes the educators and support professionals in our schools as well as the parents, guardians, and community leaders who partner with them. When it comes to educating the next generation of Pennsylvanians, we’re all in it together — and we all have a role to play.
The wonderful thing about our public schools is that every day the door is open to children of all backgrounds, abilities, and incomes. Dedicated professionals are there ready to help those students tackle tough challenges and succeed.
Over the past 20 months, educators have also partnered with school counselors, nurses, psychologists, and social workers to address the mental health needs of students who have struggled as a result of the pandemic.
Please join me during American Education Week Nov. 15-19 in saying thank you to the educators and support staff in your community schools. And let me say thank you for supporting Pennsylvania’s schools and educators, especially during these challenging times.
Our schools couldn’t do all that they do without your support.
Rich Askey,
President, PA State Education Association
Letter to the Editor - PSEA President, Rich Askey
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Finding creative new ways to engage kids in learning is one of teaching’s toughest challenges. Making it work for multiple classrooms across an entire school is tougher still. But that’s just what Katie Waddell, a second-grade teacher in the General McLane School District, Erie County, has accomplished with her Schoolwide Mobile Makerspace program.
Picture this. You're standing on the surface of a rocky, alien landscape on the edge of an enormous crater. Deposits of what look like snow and ice dot the landscape. You turn to the left to see Jupiter looming massively over distant mountains, dominating an alien sky packed with brilliant stars.
On a warm, June day, groups of students are huddled around enthusiastic teachers. Children are laughing, smiling, and enjoying their lessons. And as the breeze blows and birds sing a summer song, this doesn’t feel like a community that is struggling. It feels like a community with hope.
