The officer team sits down with PSEA Government Relations gurus Dan Wiedemer and Erika Brunelle to discuss the hits and misses for educators in the 2024-25 Pennsylvania state budget. 

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Learn more and watch for upcoming episodes at psea.org/podcast.

Join us for an in-depth discussion about PSEA’s Advocates for Children and Education, or “ACE”, program, which is one of the ways PSEA members can advocate directly to lawmakers in the Capitol for public education. Aaron and Rachael sit down with PSEA's own ACE Program Coordinator, Jen Statler,  as well as ACEs Melissa Costantino-Poruben, a mathematics teacher in the Avonworth School District, and PSEA President of Higher Education Gretchen Osterman.

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Learn more and watch for upcoming episodes at psea.org/podcast.

Educators Rising is a national “Grow Your Own” program for high school students interested in a career in education, which has taken off in Pennsylvania over the past year with PSEA at the helm. Aaron, Jeff, and Rachael sit down to discuss this exciting program with PSEA Director of Education Services and Statewide Coordinator for Educators Rising Pennsylvania, Dr. Chris Clayton, as well as Educators Rising Teacher Leader at JP McCaskey High School in the School District of Lancaster, Amanda Funk.

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Learn more and watch for upcoming episodes at psea.org/podcast.

In December, the Pennsylvania House authorized $10 million in stipends for aspiring educators while they complete their student teaching. But much more is needed. How much more? This podcast was recorded before the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency determined that a $45 million state appropriation is necessary to fund student teacher stipends for all eligible student teachers. Aaron and Rachael discuss the issue with PSEA Assistant Director of Government Relations Kelli Thompson and Student-PSEA Vice President Amber Bloom, who is a student at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg.

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Learn more and watch for upcoming episodes at psea.org/podcast.

Aaron, Jeff, and Rachael sit down with PSEA-Retired members Scott Brown and Jacqualyn James to talk about a much-needed cost-of-living-adjustment for our pre-Act 9 retirees. Nearly 43,000 public servants who retired before 2002 have not seen a COLA in their pension in more than 20 years. Here are two of their stories. 

Click here to watch an interview Jacqualyn James did on this subject with "NBC Nightly News."

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Learn more and watch for upcoming episodes at psea.org/podcast.

As state officers for PSEA, Aaron, Jeff, and Rachael have made it their mission to be accessible to as many PSEA members as possible. What better way to do that than to lay it all out there on a special, self-reflective episode of Duty Free Lunch? 

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Learn more and watch for upcoming episodes at psea.org/podcast.

Aaron, Jeff, and Rachael are joined by fellow teachers and current PSEA Board of Directors members Amy Lightner and Jimbo Lamb, who share some potent memories from their own school days, the radical changes they've seen in the education landscape over their careers, and their journeys into union leadership.

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Learn more and watch for upcoming episodes at psea.org/podcast.

Peek behind the curtain of PSEA leadership with local presidents Dwayne McCarthur, Erin Huwalt, and Raquel Gray. They talk with Aaron and Jeff about the challenges and surprises of being a local president, the importance of teamwork, their strategies for maintaining a work-life balance, and how their union leadership roles have enhanced their work as educators.

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Learn more and watch for upcoming episodes at psea.org/podcast.

It's never easy being the new kid on the block. But new PSEA members Riley McGowan and Emily Goss have found a home in public education and in PSEA. Riley teaches music in the West Chester Area School District and Emily teaches special education in the Conestoga Valley School District, and they're both members of PSEA's New Member Task Force. Hear them get real about the struggles and triumphs of their teaching journey so far, and what they would have done differently if they could start over.  

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Learn more and watch for upcoming episodes at psea.org/podcast.

Middle school instructional aide and North East ESP President Michael Spellman has only worked in his district for one year, and he's been president for almost as long. Hear how he turned his local association around and increased membership by more than 350% in that short time. Hosted by PSEA President Aaron Chapin and Vice President Jeff Ney. 

Do you have some feedback for us? Send an email to [email protected]. 

Learn more and watch for upcoming episodes at psea.org/podcast.