What is an APEX? Does it talk?

What's an APEX? It's a magical, mythical creature created by Dr. Seuss in his best selling book The Apex and the Ardvark! You remember that one, right?

Probably not, because unfortunately APEX is not a Dr. Seuss character. APEX is Student PSEA's program designed to recognize and promote local chapters and region involvement. APEX stands for Achieving Professional Excellence. It is a program designed to encourage local Student PSEA chapters and regions to participate in a variety of projects, harnessing the opportunities PSEA can provide.

APEX is documentation of goals achieved and activities conducted by Student PSEA members through their local chapter or region. Chapters which participate are encouraged to submit documentation of their projects. At the annual Student PSEA Conference and Convention, participating chapters and regions are awarded in five different categories of APEX.  
 
APEX recognizes five categories of excellence. These include the four Student PSEA pillars: Community Service, Leadership and Membership Development, Political Action and Advocacy, and Professional Development; as well as General Organization and Quality (the appearance, organization, and professionalism of the APEX submission).  

Documentation of APEX can be in the form of online or physical portfolios, videos, slide shows, websites, scrapbooks, as well as other creative ideas.

Previously, APEX was often a scrapbook created by each chapter. It would be painstakingly created by a crafty chapter member, submitted when that chapter came to registration, viewed and judged, awarded, and then likely tucked in the back of the chapter's education closet. 
We saw the waste in this system, and the Student PSEA Executive Committee have worked very hard this year to update and revise the APEX Program Guidelines. One of our largest changes is that this will be the last year physical copies may be submitted as a chapter or region’s APEX submission. That’s right! We’re going green! At the end of this year’s Student PSEA Conference & Convention, we will only accept electronic submissions of APEX.

Additional changes include guidelines for APEX and the rewards system. Practicing teachers and student members invested a great deal of time and effort into making more straightforward guidelines, allowing for an easier understanding of what is expected from chapters across the state. 
A frequently mentioned problem was double-dipping. No, not double dipping your chip in dip. Double-dipping was using one event with multiple submissions for consideration in multiple pillars. The new guidelines prevent this use of double-dipping and encourage multiple, exciting projects to be planned.

The last change that has been made to APEX this year is the award ceremony. In the past, APEX winners were named during the closing ceremony of conference. There was little mention of APEX during conference. This year, Student PSEA would like to recognize all the time and effort each chapter put into creating their APEX and we will be celebrating chapter's submissions through a series of technology features. 

We would like to encourage chapters to show off their chapters and region's hard work. Show other student members how hard your chapter has worked to celebrate and advocate for strong public education.  

There's only about two weeks left until conference! Make sure that you write about your APEX and the exciting adventure it's been on through your chapter's submission.

We're looking forward to seeing you in Valley Forge, where together we will Revolutionize Education Through Service, One Battle at a Time.

Shelby Pepmeyer     &      Ashley Muscarella

Student PSEA President Elect         Student PSEA State President

With more questions or comments contact Ashley: ashleyrose@pitt.edu