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Student PSEA

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More than 7,000 future educators studying at PA colleges and universities are members of Student PSEA. As part of the next generation of educators, Student PSEA helps members hit the ground running through professional development workshops, service projects, and more.  

And join the convo with other Student PSEA members. You'll hear things like, "Did you know you can join as a multi-year member? It's more cost effective and guarantees uninterrupted liability coverage!"

Why should you join Student PSEA? Here are the top 10 reasons why.

Join by completing the 2023-24 Student PSEA enrollment form or by clicking the button below.

Resources & Updates

The Source

The Source is an e-newsletter for Student PSEA members that focuses on current issues, provides quick updates, and spotlights activities and events happening around the commonwealth.

In this issue:

  • Save the date!
  • Now accepting Student PSEA awards and Celebrating Excellence awards nominations
  • Find the champions for public education on your ballot
  • A.P.E.X. spotlight: Mansfield University
  • Upcoming professional development resources and opportunities
  • Member Benefit spotlight: restaurants, travel, shopping, and more

Save the date for the 2024 Student PSEA Conference & Convention!

When: March 21-23, 2024
Where: Eden Resorts & Suites in Lancaster

The conference is FREE for all Student PSEA members to attend. There will be NO registration fee.

Questions? Contact students@psea.org.

Achieving Professional Excellence Program (A.P.E.X)

The A.P.E.X (Achieving Professional Excellence) program is designed to encourage chapters to participate in a variety of projects, which fall under five main categories: 

  • Community service
  • Leadership and membership development
  • Political action and advocacy 
  • Professional development
  • General organization and quality

A.P.E.X is documentation of goals achieved and activities conducted by Student PSEA chapters. Recognition and awards are presented at the annual state conference. The A.P.E.X committee strongly recommends that chapters wishing to participate select an individual to coordinate all documentation as
identified within the rubric throughout the year.

2022-23 A.P.E.X Winners

1st Place: University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg

2nd Place: Mansfield University

3rd Place: Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Scholarships

Lucy A. Valero Scholarship

The Lucy A. Valero Scholarship Fund, administered by PSEA, provides scholarships to outstanding Pennsylvania college and university students who are enrolled in accredited teacher preparation programs.

The fund also provides a scholarship to a high school student who is a member of the Future Educators Association.

NEA Aspiring Educators CREATE Grants

Student PSEA members and chapters are eligible to apply for CREATE grants.  These grants of up to $2000 should strengthen NEA's Aspiring Educators Program and build stronger partnerships.  Grants should also have a primary focus in one of the areas aligned with AE Core Values: 

  • Educator quality
  • Community engagement
  • Political action
  • Social justice

Professional Development Resources & NEA Micro-credentials

NEA AE Micro-credentials: NEA provides 16 micro-credential courses to aspiring educators that help you develop the skills and understanding you need in your first steps to becoming a classroom teacher.

PEARL: PSEA’s online learning hub with over 95 courses and counting.

PSEA's Center for Professional Learning webinars and book discussions:

Upcoming Early Career Educator webinars: 

  • Coming soon

Upcoming book discussions: 

  • The New Classroom Instruction That Works: The Best Research-Based Strategies for Increasing Student Achievement
    • Part 2, Chapters 5-7: Dec. 5, 7 p.m.
  • When You Wonder, You're Learning
    • Dec. 14, 7 p.m.

NSTOY-PA TEACH Program

EDGE Speaker Series

The EDGE program seeks to bring together pre‐professionals with experienced teachers and other education professionals who can share their wisdom, foster collaboration among professionals, and ignite a desire to excel as a great educator. PSEA members and staff are committed to the success of Student PSEA members, and the EDGE program provides an opportunity to interact, share ideas, and discuss the issues facing public education and
the teaching profession.

EDGE program goals:

  • Develop a series of mini‐courses for pre‐professionals
  • Provide an opportunity for pre‐professionals to interact with veteran teachers and other education professionals
  • Provide an opportunity for pre‐professionals to discover the positive and rewarding career that is education

Mini-courses title examples: 

  • Student PSEA, It’s Just Liability Insurance, Right?
  • Effective Classroom Management for Today’s Teacher: What does the research tell us works?
  • What Every Pre-Professional Educator Should Know as They Transition from College to Career

Educators' Employment Liability Insurance (EEL)

The NEA Educators' Employment Liability Program is a professional liability insurance program provided as a benefit of PSEA/NEA membership, and underwritten by a highly-rated insurance company.

PSEA's Career Toolkit

Education is a challenging and rewarding profession. And Pennsylvania’s public school students need the very best and brightest to make sure they’re getting the power of a great education.

  • Quickly compare starting salaries in your area (or across the state) and see where the jobs are
  • Get student debt and loan guidance
  • Continue to develop your professional career with classes in our Center for Professional Learning
  • Find current creditation and insurance documents

Find more resources in PSEA's Toolkit and start planning a career in public education by clicking the button below. 

Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) resources

Get hands-on teaching experience as a substitute

The Pennsylvania General Assembly recently approved bipartisan legislation that will help get more substitute teachers into public school classrooms and address the substitute teacher shortage that is stretching educators and support professionals to the breaking point. 
 
As a student, you can help. Here’s how: 
 
  • Soon-to-be-college graduates who have completed all of their requirements except a PRAXIS exam and have not yet received their diplomas can become day-to-day substitutes or long-term subs on a temporary basis.
  • Current college students who have completed a minimum of 60 credits in a Pennsylvania college or university teacher preparation programs can be substitutes.  

Get started by visiting www.psea.org/subswanted, and learn more about the substitute teacher legislation at www.psea.org/sublegislation.  

Student Debt Resources

NEA is working to cancel student debt and improve loan forgiveness programs for educators. That's why you have access to NEA's Student Debt Navigator, a free online student loan evaluation tool to help you manage your debt that offers: 

  • Easy-to-use software that automatically determines repayment options and any loan forgiveness programs
  • Student loan experts ready to help

NEA's Navigating Your Student Debt fact sheet

Student PSEA and NEA Awards

Student PSEA offers various awards for chapters, faculty advisors, members, and leaders. 

Outstanding Chapter Event Award: Nomination Form

The Student PSEA Organization Outstanding Chapter Event Award recognizes chapters that have achieved excellence through an event that created involvement for their chapter members and/or their community members.

Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award: Nomination Form

The Student PSEA Organization Outstanding Chapter Faculty Adviser Recognizes individuals for dedication and service to the PSEA Student Program at the chapter level.

Outstanding Servant Leader Award: Nomination Form

The Student PSEA Organization Outstanding Servant Leader Award recognizes individuals who have achieved excellence throughout the year by providing leadership at the region or chapter level.

Exceptional Underclassman Award: Nomination Form

The Student PSEA Organization Exceptional Underclassmen Award recognizes freshmen or sophomores who have achieved excellence throughout the year by providing leadership at the region or chapter level.

NEA's Aspiring Educator Awards - The GramAEs

NEA offers the opportunity for state and chapter affiliates to be recognized for their great work through 10 award categories. 

  1. GramAEs Awards and Descriptions
  2. 2024 Award Nominations coming soon

NEA Podcast: School Me

Starting your education career? NEA's School Me podcast brings you advice from experienced educators about classroom management tips, lesson plan ideas, and inspiring stories to help strengthen your career.

By the numbers

7 Thousand

PSEA represents more than 7,000 future educators at Pennsylvania colleges and universities. 

Student PSEA Leadership

2023-24 Student PSEA Executive Committee

President
Emily Jett, University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg

President-elect
Riley Artis, Slippery Rock University

Vice President
Amber Bloom, University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg

Secretary
Alexandra McKinney, Mansfield University

PSEA-PACE Chair
Marina Lagatutta, University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg

2023-24 Student PSEA Executive Board

Central Region President
Grace Grenier, Mansfield University

Central-Western Region President
Jessica Vognetz, Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Eastern Region President
Lillian Carney, Albright College

Mideastern Region President
Vacant

Midwestern Region President
Vanessa Huth, Slippery Rock University, and Sarah Peace, Clarion University

Northeastern Region President
Olivia Lykens, Bloomsburg University

Northwestern Region President
Gavin Mitsdarfer, Edinboro University

Southern Region President
Katlyn Hoskins, Shippensburg University

Southeastern Region President
Haley Maher, West Chester University

Southwestern Region President
Kayla Loebach, University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg

Western Region President
Vacant