Mideastern Region PSEA
May 2024 Newsletter
Our region represents 15,219 public school educators across the 35 school districts, two intermediate units, one comprehensive technical high school, healthcare worksites, and a virtual charter school. Thank you for being a member!
Teacher Appreciation Week
May 6-10 is Teacher Appreciation week and we are so thankful for the role that you play in the success of our public schools in Bucks and Montgomery Counties. Your advocacy, dedication, expertise, and kindness are what helps our schools and programs to be among the best in the state. THANK YOU for all you do!
Mideastern Region House of Delegates
Nearly 150 participants had a great time at The Warrington on Thursday, April 18th for our House of Delegates. The agenda of the evening included a student performance of Chord Street A Capella as well as region elections. Congratulations to the members listed below on their successful elections!
Region Governance Offices
- Region Vice President: Debbie Lee, Abington EA
- Region Treasurer: Sue Brown, Wissahickon EA
- Region Secretary: Nicole Peirce, Pennsbury EA
PSEA Statewide Committees
- Resolutions Representatives: Bill Gerhauser, Council Rock EA and Mike Hermann, Pennsbury EA
- Legislative Representative: David Diehl, Council Rock EA
- Council on Instruction and Professional Development Representative: Dave Curry, Council Rock EA
PSEA Statewide Committee Alternates
- Resolutions Alternate (2): RoseMaria Shire, Pennsbury EA and Kerry Bauerle, Pennsbury EA
- Council on Instruction and Professional Development Representative Alternate: Alyssa Devlin, Abington EA
- Legislative Representative Alternate: David Apfelbaum, Council Rock EA
CAPS Author Visit: J.A. White
Our CAPS author visit this year was a whirlwind, with stops at Salford Hills Elementary in Souderton, Diebler Elementary in Pennridge, and an educator workshop at our office. Teacher/author J.A. White shared his love of reading, writing, and creativity with all ages. We appreciate everyone who helped to make this day a success!
BCTHS Car Show
CAPS was a proud sponsor of this year's car show at Bucks County Technical High School! This event brings together students, staff, community members, and local businesses to help provide funds to graduating seniors to be successful in their future education and employment endeavors. Thank you for allowing us to support this important work!
Dylan Eddinger Photography
We'd like to give a quick shout out, photo credit, and THANK YOU to Dylan Eddinger Photography. Dylan and his team brought us fantastic photos from our author visit, region House of Delegates, the Bucks County Technical High School Car Show, and more!
CAPS Year in Review
If it feels like you have seen CAPS all over the place - it's probably because you have! We've had an amazing school year supporting the work of our students and members. Check out this brochure for a wrap up of all the ways we are proud to be a partner with all public school entities in our region.
Retiree Yard Signs and Social Media
Do you know a PSEA Mideastern EA Region or ESP Division member who will retire this school year? If so, we’d love to recognize their years of service and honor them on our CAPS social media accounts. Simply fill out the form here and we will do the rest!
We also have yard signs available at the region office. To obtain one for a retiring colleague or many for your local, please send me an email: bsenavaitis@psea.org
Educator Open House at the Michener
Our PSEA-CAPS Spring Educators Open House and Workshops at the Michener Museum on April 25th was a hit! Stay tuned for dates of future events at the Michener next school year.
SOS Update
In March, we reached out to you with the headline: Temperature Matters!
We went on to say that while many school buildings in our area have adequate HVAC systems, some school entities in Bucks and Montgomery Counties continue to face the challenging learning environments.
We are two months into our campaign of recording temperatures at the classroom level. Local leaders have been contacted. Contacts within associations have received thermometers and instructions for data collection. So far, members of 17 Mideastern Region locals have collected temperature data in 39 buildings. Roughly one-third of the data points indicate temperatures falling outside of the recommended range for optimal learning conditions.
Educators and support staff members from across our region agree that temperature affects the quality of the education in their learning spaces. Students learn best and staff work best in comfortable environments and research backs us up.
PSEA’s Mideastern Region is asking members to help gather data to help pinpoint problem areas for appropriate interventions and advocacy. Pennsylvania’s 2023-2024 State Budget includes new grant funding for schools to address environmental hazards and to improve HVAC systems. You can play a role in finding solutions!
If you are interested in joining in and supporting this effort, sign up using the link below. A SOS member-organizer will reach out to you and help you coordinate with local contacts to send you materials directly. Let us know that you will volunteer to help with this here!
CTE Corner
SkillsUSA, the student organization for CTE students, is promoting a National Signing Day on 5/7/24. This is a nationwide celebration showcasing the next generation of skilled professionals and the skilled career paths that have been, are and always will be essential to America’s future.
Local SkillsUSA chapters housed at CTE schools are encouraged to host a National Signing Day event and invite industry partners, administrators, teachers, elected officials, SkillsUSA alumni, family and friends to honor students as they sign letters of intent for a job offer, apprenticeship or advanced technical training.
With the ongoing labor shortage continuing to affect so many skilled trade areas, supporting student interest in pursuing these in-demand, high-paying careers and honoring those who do is more vital than ever.
Join Us for Advocacy Day in Harrisburg!
Advocacy Day in Harrisburg for our region is on Tuesday, June 25!
Here's the scoop:
Drive to Harrisburg the evening before (or on the day of - PSEA will pay your room and mileage in accordance with fiscal policy)
Meet at PSEA headquarters in the morning to learn the issues of the day
Head directly across the street to meet with your PA House Representative or Senator (the appointments are made for you). You likely will not be meeting alone - there will be other people from the region there who have the same elected officials.
Head back over to PSEA headquarters to tell us how it went.
Go home - and maintain a relationship with your elected officials!
Yes, if you are attending from our region you must attend on June 25 and not the other days - the feedback that we have from legislators is that they do not want to have four meetings about the same thing, which we can appreciate. Click here to register!
PSEA Member Benefits Helps You Shop for Insurance
Dust off those insurance policies! Liz works hard to find you the best insurance coverage, for a price that meets your needs. Check out your PSEA Member Benefit savings by safely sharing your current insurance coverage with Liz here. Or, give her a call directly on her mobile phone: 267-278-1432. You won’t regret it!
Who Are Your Beneficiaries?
Nominating and Updating Beneficiaries
Have the circumstances of your life changed recently? Or maybe in the 20+ years since you first completed PSERS paperwork? Take a few minutes to make sure that your PSERS and life insurance beneficiaries are up to date.
It’s a best practice to update your beneficiaries when:
- You or your beneficiary divorces or marries
- One of your beneficiaries passes away
- One of your beneficiaries has a name or address change
- You have a child or adopt a child
- A minor beneficiary reaches age 18
Additional information from PSERS: https://www.psers.pa.gov/Active-Members/Pages/ChangingBeneficiaries.aspx
Update Your Information with PSEA
Is it time to update your PSEA profile? Consider taking a minute to provide your updated information if:
PSEA emails are going to your school email and not your personal email (huge )
PSEA emails are going to an old email address that you no longer check regularly
Issues of The Voice magazine are going to your parent's house or a former apartment because that's where you lived when you first began working for a public school
The landline you got rid of six years ago is still listed as your primary phone number
You're at a different school or teaching in a different subject area than you were when you began working
To update your profile, go to www.psea.org and follow these steps:
- Click on "My PSEA Log In"
- Log in using your credentials
- Scroll down and click "My PSEA"
- Click "Edit" on your profile and confirm it's you
- Update anything that is need of an update
- Click "Update"
Thanks for taking the time to make sure your information is accurate and up-to-date!
How Can I Transfer My Old VHS Tapes?
The Bucks IU W.O.W. (We're Outstanding Workers) Program can convert your older media to DVDs or thumb drives!
Students participating in this Bucks IU Life Skills Transition Program receive job training by providing various services throughout the school year. All services are provided under supervision as part of the student being able to learn and practice employment skills they can use in the future.
Save your memories and get your old photos and materials transferred to DVD or thumb drive!
- Photographs or slides - $10 per 100
- Documents - $10 per 100 1-sided pages
- VHS, 8mm film, mini tapes - $5 per tape/film
To order, please email the program at WOW@bucksIU.org or call 215.529.2601. All orders will be available for drop off/pick up at the Bucks IU Perkasie Square, near Landis Market (529 Constitution Ave, Perkasie, PA).
PSEA Welfare Grants
The PSEA Education Foundation provides financial assistance to PSEA members who are experiencing dire hardship through illness, disability, and/or financial need. Applications are submitted to the PSEA Retirement & Welfare Committee, which reviews the applications and makes recommendations to the PSEA Education Foundation.
For more information or to apply, please scroll to the bottom of this page.
How Much Are You Saving?
Special Program: PSEA Personal Legal Services
PSEA has a Personal Legal Services Program for members and their families. The program provides discounted rates and two 30-minute consultation sessions free during each membership year with the designated law firms below. The areas of concentration are:
- Personal Injury (Cordisco & Saile)
- Workers' Compensation (Cordisco & Saile)
- Domestic Relations (Susan Levy Eisenberg, Esq)
- Criminal Law (Neff & Sedecca)
- Wills & Estates (Martin Herring)
Stay Connected
Mideastern Region PSEA
Bill Senavaitis, President, Central Bucks EA
Bill McGill, President-Elect, Perkiomen Valley EA
Debbie Lee, Vice President, Abington EA
Sue Brown, Treasurer, Wissahickon EA
Jen Dan LoStracco, Secretary, Bucks County IU EA
Alan Malachowski, Past President, Montco Retired
Theresa Prato, PACE Director, Bucks County Technical High School EA
Maria Bennett, NEA Director, New Hope-Solebury ESPA
Colleen Brodbeck, NEA Director, Pennsbury EA
Website: www.psea.org/mer
Location: 601 Bethlehem Pike, Building C, Montgomeryville, PA 18936
Phone: 215.853.2100
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PSEAMER
This message is intended for PSEA members and members of their immediate households.