tag:eseapride.com,2005:/blogs/a-message-from-our-president?p=4A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT2018-09-16T16:19:08-04:00ESEAPRIDEfalsetag:eseapride.com,2005:Post/54308882018-09-16T16:14:43-04:002018-09-16T16:19:08-04:00Please LIKE us at "ESEA Pride" on Facebook!<p><span class="font_xl">As you know, there have been many articles in the news regarding our current contract negotiations with ESASD. Please click on the link below to follow us on Facebook, as we are utilizing that site to keep the public informed of our progress, as well as our public service and volunteer work throughout our community. </span></p>
<p><a contents="https://www.facebook.com/ESEA-Pride-1564851877157314/" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/ESEA-Pride-1564851877157314/" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/ESEA-Pride-1564851877157314/</a></p>
<p> </p>ESEAPRIDEtag:eseapride.com,2005:Post/43248072016-08-03T23:00:00-04:002016-08-14T17:47:55-04:00(08-03-18) "RCPE" 2016 - 2017<p><span class="font_large">Greetings team, <br> </span><br><span class="font_large">The following is a list of the upcoming RCPE events for the Northeastern Region. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Register online by clicking the link below or by printing, completing, and mailing the form (also listed below) and sending payment to Maureen Foster at the address listed on the flier. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Pre-registration is required at least one week prior to each session. No “walk-ins”. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Dinner is included and will be served at 5 p.m. Sessions immediately follow. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">There is a $10 refundable registration fee. Refunds will be mailed following your last session, provided you attended each of the sessions for which you registered. If you fail to cancel and are a “no show,” the $10 will not be refunded. You may use the same $10 for multiple sessions. However, if you are a “no show” for any session, you are automatically charged a registration forfeiture fee of $10 and will need to pay an additional $10 registration fee for any remaining sessions. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Call or email Maureen Foster to cancel at least 24 hours in advance. In the event of inclement weather, call PSEA at (570) 208-1149.</span></p>
<p><br><span class="font_large"><a contents="www.PSEA.org/NER.&nbsp;&nbsp;" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.psea.org/regions.aspx?region=45" target="_blank">www.PSEA.org/NER. </a></span></p>
<p><br><span class="font_regular">September 14, 2016 </span></p>
<p><em><span class="font_regular">Technology in Education Today 2.0: <br>Web Resources & Apps for Teachers in Today's Contemporary Classrooms </span></em></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Presented by Chris Clayton (2 hrs.) </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Already on board with getting devices in classrooms? If so, then in this session, we will explore the rapidly evolving and changing role that technology is playing in our daily lives and its connection to the field education and the practice and craft of teaching. Included will be a discussion of the shift inherent in moving from “institutionally organized” to more “self-organized” educational practices and the integral role that technology has played and is playing in this monumental shift. From “BYOD” (bring your own device) to “1 to 1” (one device for each student provided by the district) to “Blended Learning” and “Flipped Classrooms,” this session will focus on exploring these educational technology paradigms of instruction and will present attendees with information, strategies, and “take-away” tools and resources that educators can immediately actualize into their planning and instruction. Beginning with “why” technology should be used in the classroom, we will then shift to “what” teachers can do to effectively utilize technology in the classroom with a myriad of web-based and app resources that teachers can use to integrate devices into the classroom effectively with students. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular"> </span></p>
<p><strong><span class="font_regular">October 6, 2016 </span></strong></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Enthusiasm: A Key Component For Every Instructional Toolbox </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Presented by Bernie Miller (1.5 hrs.) </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Without enthusiasm, many lessons would fail. Without enthusiasm, supporting students facing challenges would fall on deaf ears. Enthusiasm is critical to the work we do as educators. Take a deep dive into the topic of enthusiasm and find out the what, how, and why behind this critical component. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular"> </span></p>
<p><strong><span class="font_regular">October 20, 2016 </span></strong></p>
<p><em><span class="font_regular">PA Core Standards Instruction and Assessments Shifts and Resources in Math & Literacy </span></em></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Presented by Chris Clayton (2 hrs.) </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">This session will focus on helping educators make meaningful and strategic changes to their instructional and assessment practices by connecting learning about PA Core Standards to classroom instruction? The session will provide participants with background knowledge and a litany of strategies and “take away” instructional and assessment resources connected to the PA Core Standards in both math and literacy across content areas that can be actualized in their classrooms immediately. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular"> </span></p>
<p><strong><span class="font_regular">November 9, 2016 </span></strong></p>
<p><em><span class="font_regular">Legal Implications of Technology Use in the School Environment </span></em></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Presented by Jeffrey Husisian, Esq. (2 hrs.) </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">This program will review legal implications for educators related to the use of employer-provided computers and electronic networks (including electronic mail and internet access), as well as social media, regarding school employment and/or certification. This course will also include discussion of employer monitoring of employee technology use, educator supervision of student communications as it relates to sexual harassment, criminal violations, and plagiarism. Finally, this program will include discussion of guidelines for protecting the security of employer-provided electronic networks. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular"> </span></p>
<p><strong><span class="font_regular">January 25, 2017 </span></strong></p>
<p><em><span class="font_regular">Promoting Peer Interaction, Over 20 Strategies To Consider <br>When Working With Students with Disabilities </span></em></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Presented by Bernie Miller (3 hrs.) </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Some students with disabilities are challenged in developing social skills and interacting in meaningful ways. In this era of inclusion, there is a heightened awareness of the need to promote peer interaction. This course will share the reasons why both educators and parents need to be involved in this effort, and the program will provide assessment tools and strategies to use with students, both typically developing students and students with disabilities. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular"> </span></p>
<p><strong><span class="font_regular">February 22, 2017 </span></strong></p>
<p><em><span class="font_regular">Reading Instruction Across the Content Areas in the PA Core Era </span></em></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Presented by Chris Clayton (2 hrs.) </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">The PA Core Standards call for students to independently read, analyze, and synthesize information from multiple texts and to use evidence from the texts to formulate well-defended claims with clear evidentiary support This session will present educators with information and tools to support reading instruction across the content areas. It includes a variety of specific strategies and take-away resources that content area teachers can immediately build into their lesson planning and actualize in their instruction. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular"> </span></p>
<p><strong><span class="font_regular">March 22, 2017 </span></strong></p>
<p><em><span class="font_regular">Student Achievement & Poverty </span></em></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Presented by Chris Clayton (2 hrs.) </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">This session examines socioeconomic status and student achievement in Pennsylvania and takes a look at approaches and interventions that are being implemented to help “close the achievement gap” for students around the country. Participants will leave the session with a better understanding of the facts and helpful knowledge and resources related to poverty and student achievement. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular"> </span></p>
<p><strong><span class="font_regular">April 6, 2017 </span></strong></p>
<p><em><span class="font_regular">Child Abuse Reporting Obligations Under the Newly-Amended Child Protective Services Law: <br>School Employees' Guide to Understanding their Legal Obligations to Report Child Abuse as Mandated Reporters </span></em></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Presented by Jeffrey Husisian, Esq. (2 hrs.) </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">This workshop includes a detailed discussion of the amendments to the Child Protective Services Law enacted into law in 2013-2014. Specific focus will be placed upon the obligations upon school employees as mandatory reporters to make child abuse reports and when those circumstances upon which those reporting obligations are triggered. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular"> </span></p>
<p><strong><span class="font_regular">April 20, 2017 </span></strong></p>
<p><em><span class="font_regular">De-escalation </span></em></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Presented by Bernie Miller (1.5 hrs.) </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Increase your awareness and skills when dealing with students with challenging behaviors. You can become a calming influence in a potentially explosive situation. Language, tone, volume, body position, and intensity are part of what influences the outcome. De-escalation is good for the student and thus good for staff.</span></p>ESEAPRIDEtag:eseapride.com,2005:Post/41339972016-04-01T10:45:00-04:002016-04-13T10:41:50-04:00(03-30-16) 2016 PSEA PACE Candidates<a contents="2016 PSEA PACE candidates" data-link-label="2016-psea-pace-recommended-candidates.pdf" data-link-type="file" href="/files/237416/2016-psea-pace-recommended-candidates.pdf">2016 PSEA PACE candidates</a>ESEAPRIDEtag:eseapride.com,2005:Post/40942642016-03-18T08:44:10-04:002016-04-13T10:42:08-04:00(03-18-2016) STATE BUDGET UPDATE <p><strong>Important state budget update </strong></p>
<p>Today, the state Senate and House passed a 2015-16 budget, which now sits on the governor's desk. </p>
<p>This budget provides a $150 million increase in basic education funding, a $50 million increase in Ready to Learn Block Grants, and a $50 million increase in special education funding. Gov. Wolf had proposed increases of $400 million in basic education funding and $100 million in special education funding. </p>
<p>It's not the budget that our schools need or that our students deserve. Once again, Republican leaders have passed a budget that falls far short of what we’re fighting for. Gov. Wolf has released a statement indicating he intends to veto this budget. </p>
<p>Regardless of what occurs with this current iteration of the budget, PSEA will continue to fight for a balanced budget that properly funds our schools. Lawmakers and the governor need to come to an agreement on a real, balanced budget before schools are forced to close. </p>
<p>What happens then?<br><br><br><strong>We've been fighting for a good budget, and we won’t stop</strong></p>
<p>PSEA members and staff have been fighting for a proper budget since day one. </p>
<p>Even before Gov. Wolf proposed his first budget last March, PSEA was at the forefront of advocacy efforts to confront and solve the school funding crisis. For four years before Gov. Wolf was elected, PSEA members reminded everyone who would listen about the consequences nearly $1 billion in school funding cuts had on our schools and students. </p>
<p>These efforts propelled education to the number one issue in Pennsylvania for three years running and helped elect Tom Wolf in November 2014. </p>
<p>When Gov. Wolf proposed his first budget, we stood with him. </p>
<p>Since Gov. Wolf's first day in office, PSEA leaders have been crafting joint advocacy strategies with other labor unions, working with education associations and advocacy groups, leading the Coalition for Fair Education Funding to design a fair school funding formula, and much more. We have also met repeatedly with the secretary of education, members of the governor's senior staff, and the governor himself. </p>
<p>Just as important, PSEA members sent 92,000 emails to legislators and made thousands of phone calls. Our Advocates for Children and Education had hundreds of meetings with lawmakers, our Building Action Coordinators coordinated efforts in their buildings, and our statewide officers spoke out - again and again - about the urgent need to pass Gov. Wolf's education funding plan. </p>
<p>No organization and no group of advocates have done more than PSEA to get a budget that ends the school funding crisis – and we're not going to stop fighting. </p>
<p>We need a budget immediately, because continuing to operate without one is too costly to our schools. </p>
<p>Regardless of whether this budget becomes law, there is a tough road ahead for public education in Pennsylvania. As lawmakers begin to debate next year's budget, they must find a way to do better. We have another chance to get this right in 2016-17, and we need to take it. </p>
<p>But, first, we need to make sure that schools don’t close this year. </p>
<p>With a $2 billion state budget deficit looming for next year, it is absolutely essential that lawmakers and the governor come together on a spending plan that closes this funding gap, invests in our public schools, and ensures that every student has the resources to get an excellent public education. </p>
<p>Today, Pennsylvania ranks 45th in the nation in state support for the public schools and 50th in school funding equity. The state provides only 32 percent of the funding school districts spend on classroom instruction through its basic education subsidy. Learn more atwww.psea.org/funding. </p>
<p>Regardless of where this new 2015-16 budget plan lands, we will need to keep fighting for the resources our schools, students, and communities need in the next budget. And, as we do, we need to remember just how important it is to fund our schools properly and end the school funding crisis once and for all.</p>ESEAPRIDE