Duty Free Lunch

By Pennsylvania State Education Association, PSEASociety & Culture Education Government

Duty Free Lunch episodes

February 12, 2025 Teach happier: strategies for a more fulfilling career
Aaron and Rachael sit down with educator, instructional coach, author, and podcaster Suzanne Dailey, along with PSEA Mideastern Region President Bill Senavaitis, to explore practical strategies for staying positive in education. Suzanne shares insights from her Teach Happier podcast and book, offering science-backed techniques to help educators feel more grounded and fulfilled.
Do you have some feedback for us? Send an email to [email protected].
Learn more and watch for upcoming episodes at psea.org/podcast.
HOSTS
PSEA President: Aaron Chapin
PSEA Vice President: Jeff Ney
PSEA Treasurer: Rachael West
EPISODE CREDITS
Written and produced by David Constantin
Recorded and edited by David Arva
LINKS
Send an email to [email protected].
Learn more at psea.org/podcast.
26 min
February 05, 2025 Breaking down the budget: What's in it for PA schools
We're back with another late-breaking budget breakdown! The officer team sits down with PSEA Government Relations gurus Dan Wiedemer and Kelli Thompson to comb over the details in Gov. Shapiro's Feb. 4 Budget Proposal. They explore key funding increases, the impact on school districts, and the fight for more support for student teachers.
Do you have some feedback for us? Send an email to [email protected].
Learn more and watch for upcoming episodes at psea.org/podcast.
HOSTS
PSEA President: Aaron Chapin
PSEA Vice President: Jeff Ney
PSEA Treasurer: Rachael West
EPISODE CREDITS
Written and produced by David Constantin
Recorded and edited by David Arva
LINKS
Send an email to [email protected].
Learn more at psea.org/podcast.
25 min
January 29, 2025 Why Phoenixville's Educators Rising program is a model for schools everywhere
When Brittney Ehrenzeller started a small club at Phoenixville Area High School to inspire and mentor students interested in an education career, she had no idea it would balloon into the thriving, in-demand program it is today. Aaron and Jeff sit down with Brittney to hear how she did it, and hopefully inspire more future teacher leaders to start an Educators Rising chapter in their schools.
Do you have some feedback for us? Send an email to [email protected].
Learn more and watch for upcoming episodes at psea.org/podcast.
HOSTS
PSEA President: Aaron Chapin
PSEA Vice President: Jeff Ney
PSEA Treasurer: Rachael West
EPISODE CREDITS
Written and produced by David Constantin
Recorded and edited by David Arva
LINKS
Send an email to [email protected].
Learn more at psea.org/podcast.
27 min
January 15, 2025 A student teacher's stipend story
Aaron and Jeff sit down with Kaylin Shewmake, a Penn State University student and Student PSEA Central Region president. Kaylin was one of the fortunate recipients of the student teacher stipend that was awarded this past year. She talks about her experience applying for and receiving the stipend, the improvements she hopes to see in the future, and how fully funding this stipend is key to attracting more future educators in Pennsylvania.
Do you have some feedback for us? Send an email to [email protected].
Learn more and watch for upcoming episodes at psea.org/podcast.
HOSTS
PSEA President: Aaron Chapin
PSEA Vice President: Jeff Ney
PSEA Treasurer: Rachael West
EPISODE CREDITS
Written and produced by David Constantin
Recorded and edited by David Arva
LINKS
Send an email to [email protected].
Learn more at psea.org/podcast.
26 min
January 01, 2025 Pod-aversary reflections: The year in review and what lies ahead
In a special episode, Aaron, Jeff, and Rachael celebrate the podcast’s one-year pod-aversary. They discuss key PSEA highlights from 2024, including success with a student teacher stipend, ongoing efforts to secure a pre-Act 9 retiree COLA, and plans to address ESP shortages with a dedicated Lobby Day in 2025. The team also shares their favorite memories from the year and looks ahead to new goals and more tapping into the collaborative spirit that drives PSEA’s mission forward.
Do you have some feedback for us? Send an email to [email protected].
Learn more and watch for upcoming episodes at psea.org/podcast.
HOSTS
PSEA President: Aaron Chapin
PSEA Vice President: Jeff Ney
PSEA Treasurer: Rachael West
EPISODE CREDITS
Written and produced by David Constantin
Recorded and edited by David Arva
LINKS
Send an email to [email protected].
Learn more at psea.org/podcast.
29 min
December 18, 2024 Celebrating America’s 250th with Cassandra Coleman
In this episode of Duty Free Lunch, we’re looking ahead to America’s 250th birthday in 2026 and Pennsylvania’s key role in the celebrations. Cassandra Coleman, Executive Director of America250PA, joins Aaron, Jeff, and Rachael to share how the commission is connecting history with education and highlighting Pennsylvania’s contributions. They discuss programs for students, partnerships with schools and museums, and ways educators can get involved to bring history to life in the classroom. Plus, Cassandra shares her favorite piece of Pennsylvania trivia - don't miss it!
Do you have some feedback for us? Send an email to [email protected].
Learn more and watch for upcoming episodes at psea.org/podcast.
HOSTS
PSEA President: Aaron Chapin
PSEA Vice President: Jeff Ney
PSEA Treasurer: Rachael West
EPISODE CREDITS
Written and produced by David Constantin
Recorded and edited by David Arva
LINKS
Send an email to [email protected].
Learn more at psea.org/podcast.
28 min
December 04, 2024 Building more resilient students and healthier schools
Aaron and Jeff delve into student health and wellness with PSEA leaders Michelle Sholder and Adam Oldham. Michelle, president of PSEA’s Department of Pupil Services (DPS), and Adam, a school counselor, share their expertise on addressing issues like trauma, anxiety, and the impact of social media on students. They share practical strategies and emphasize the need for more certified student service professionals. They also explore PSEA's professional development opportunities and advocate for more empathetic, systemic solutions to help students thrive.
Do you have some feedback for us? Send an email to [email protected].
Learn more and watch for upcoming episodes at psea.org/podcast.
HOSTS
PSEA President: Aaron Chapin
PSEA Vice President: Jeff Ney
PSEA Treasurer: Rachael West
EPISODE CREDITS
Written and produced by David Constantin
Recorded and edited by David Arva
LINKS
Send an email to [email protected].
Learn more at psea.org/podcast.
25 min
November 20, 2024 PSEA’s 2024 Education Support Professional of the Year Becky Marszalek
Aaron and Jeff sit down with with PSEA’s 2024 Dolores McCracken Education Support Professional of the Year, Becky Marszalek, a paraprofessional at Avonworth Elementary School and president of Avonworth ESP with 18 years of education experience. Becky shares some of the challenges and joys of her journey from nannying to working in education, emphasizing the importance of trust, consistency, and the evolving support for paraprofessionals within the education community.
Do you have some feedback for us? Send an email to [email protected].
Learn more and watch for upcoming episodes at psea.org/podcast.
HOSTS
PSEA President: Aaron Chapin
PSEA Vice President: Jeff Ney
PSEA Treasurer: Rachael West
EPISODE CREDITS
Written and produced by David Constantin
Recorded and edited by David Arva
LINKS
Send an email to [email protected].
Learn more at psea.org/podcast.
24 min
November 08, 2024 Election 2024: What the results mean for Pennsylvania's educators
In this special post-election wrap-up of Duty Free Lunch, we break down the latest election results and their impact on Pennsylvania's public education landscape. Aaron welcomes Dan Wiedemer and Sari Stevens from PSEA's Government Relations unit to discuss key issues from the Nov. 5 election, from voter turnout and demographic trends to the policy priorities that could shape our schools’ future. Tune in as we explore the path forward for educators and PSEA’s ongoing commitment to putting students and public schools first.
Do you have some feedback for us? Send an email to [email protected].
Learn more and watch for upcoming episodes at psea.org/podcast.
HOSTS
PSEA President: Aaron Chapin
PSEA Vice President: Jeff Ney
PSEA Treasurer: Rachael West
EPISODE CREDITS
Written and produced by David Constantin
Recorded and edited by David Arva
LINKS
Send an email to [email protected].
Learn more at psea.org/podcast.
25 min
November 06, 2024 Take three deep breaths: Managing stress in education
Aaron and Jeff tackle a topic that hits close to home for educators: stress and how to effectively manage it. They are joined by Dorothy Morelli, a career educator with over 30 years of experience and co-founder of the non-profits CREATE and Bounceback, and Denine Goolsby, an SEL expert with 46 years as an educator, principal, and executive in social-emotional learning. Also joining in is Sandy Williams, PSEA’s wellness facilitator, who highlights wellness resources for members, offering quick techniques to find calm and joy in stressful moments.
Do you have some feedback for us? Send an email to [email protected].
Learn more and watch for upcoming episodes at psea.org/podcast.
HOSTS
PSEA President: Aaron Chapin
PSEA Vice President: Jeff Ney
PSEA Treasurer: Rachael West
EPISODE CREDITS
Written and produced by David Constantin
Recorded and edited by David Arva
LINKS
Send an email to [email protected].
Learn more at psea.org/podcast.
27 min

About Duty Free Lunch

From the publisher's feed

Duty Free Lunch is the official podcast of the Pennsylvania State Education Association. Join us as we unpack the issues that matter most to Pennsylvania educators and especially PSEA members. From…