Wednesday, 29 March 2017

Stepping Up in Student PSEA

As a freshman at Clarion University, I never would have pictured myself where I am today, the state president of Student PSEA, as well as a leader in other organizations on my campus. Student PSEA became a huge part of my life when I attended my first conference in April 2014.

Student PSEA provides numerous leadership opportunities to members at the annual Student PSEA State Conference and Convention. Some of these opportunities include leadership positons at the state, region, and chapter level. Other opportunities include being a student representative on a PSEA committee, attending the NEA SLC/RA, or attending the PSEA Gettysburg Summer Leadership Conference Student Track. Information about all of these opportunities are below. Links for more information and to apply for positions are located at the end of this post.

State Level Leadership Opportunities

(2016-2017 Student PSEA Committee)
 
Nominations for the positions of President-Elect, Vice President, Secretary and PACE Coordinator are made during the Student PSEA House of Delegates, held in conjunction with the annual convention. Nominees must be present to accept the nomination and complete the candidate nomination form to be declared a candidate for the position in question.

State President: The president presides at all meetings, appoints all committees, and serves as an ex-officio member of committees. The president is a member of the PSEA Board of Directors and must be able to attend all scheduled Board of Directors meetings (10 meetings a year). He/she is the spokesperson and the representative for Student PSEA at meetings and conferences. 

State Vice President: The vice president assists the president, as needed. He/she will assume the office of president in the event of absence or a vacancy or will substitute for the president when necessary at statewide meetings. The vice president also serves on the IPD committee. 

State President-elect: The president-elect must have two years of schooling remaining upon election. The president elect serves as the president’s shadow, learning the responsibilities and duties of the position they assume the following year. 

State Secretary: The secretary assists the president and the vice president as needed, records the minutes of all meetings of the Executive Council and State Convention, replies to correspondence, and maintains a file of all communications. 

State PACE Coordinator: The PACE coordinator will attend two meetings (three if the Political Institute takes place that year) of the PSEA-PACE Board of Directors as the Student PSEA representative and perform duties delegated. Following these meetings, it is the responsibility of the PACE representative to report procedures from the meeting to the president of Student PSEA.

Region Level Leadership Opportunities

(Northwest Region Board Pictured above
with Northwest region at the 2017 Western Conference)

During the annual convention, each region shall conduct its own caucus at which it shall elect its officers. Officers shall be nominated and elected in the order of President, Vice President, Secretary, Student PSEA Liaison to the House of Delegates, and PACE Coordinator.

Region President: The president presides at all region meetings, plans region meetings and events, works on the Student Executive Committee, and builds and develops relationships within their appointed region. The president is the spokesperson and the representative for their region and its members during meetings and conferences.

According to Article IV of Student PSEA Constitution, responsibilities of the region president include: submitting a region report to the president of Student PSEA by the start of every month, distributing this copy of monthly reports to local chapters, conducting at least one region meeting and region event, and updating a region directory

Region Vice President: The vice president assumes all responsibilities assigned by the region president. He/she works to enhance relations among chapters in the region and performs such duties as prescribed in the region constitution and bylaws.

Region Secretary: The secretary assists the president and the vice president as needed, records the minutes of all meetings of the Executive Council and State Convention, replies to correspondence, and maintains a file of all communications.

Region PACE Chair: The PACE chair shall plan region political workshops and voter registration drives to raise awareness for pro-public education candidates.

Region House of Delegates Representative: If you are elected to represent Student PSEA at the PSEA House of Delegates, you can expect to witness democratic process in action. Although student delegates are not eligible to vote on items at the House of Delegates, you will join with active members from the region you represent.

The PSEA House of Delegates is held twice a year – in May and December. Like the Business Meeting portion of the Student PSEA Conference and Convention, the House of Delegates is where the official business of PSEA is conducted. Elected delegates vote for state officers, and proposed changes to the Constitution and Bylaws; propose items for consideration; and vote on new and proposed business items.

Chapter Level Leadership Opportunities

 Shippensburg University Chapter Executive Board & Edinboro University Chapter Executive Board

Nominations for chapter level positions are taken at individual Student PSEA chapter meetings at the chapter’s discretion. Each Student PSEA Chapter must have a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.

Chapter President: Works closely with the chapter advisor, seeking advice and help in the promotion of an effective state and chapter program. Maintains communications with the state student chairperson/president. Provides for the chapter by being informed, interested, considerate, and dedicated to local, state, and national student program. Presides at regular and special meetings and at chapter committee meetings. Plans each meeting carefully, and answers all correspondences promptly. Reports activities and sends newsletters to state organizers.

Chapter Vice President: Assists the president when requested. Picks up ideas from members and pass them on to the president and advisor. Assumes official host duties unless someone else has been assigned to do so, especially with guest speakers. Is involved in membership development.

Chapter Secretary: Works closely with the chapter advisor. Keeps notes during the meeting and types minutes soon afterward (within 10 days and distributes to officers). Records names of persons who make and second motions, and reports all action items. Has minutes of previous meeting, a list of committees, copies of the state and local constitution, and the bylaws on hand at each meeting. Reads the minutes of the meetings and calls the president’s attention to unfinished business.

Chapter Treasurer: Transmits dues to the state association. Keeps financial records up-to-date, including addresses of members. Disperses chapter funds for local expenses. Works with other officers to establish annual chapter budget.

Student Representative to a PSEA Committee

Nominations for student representatives to a PSEA Committee are taken on the floor at the Student PSEA State Conference and Convention. PSEA has a number of committees which encourage student participation. Committee meetings are typically held in Harrisburg three times a year (Sept. 1-Aug. 31) and authorized travel expenses are reimbursed.

(Cindy Severi, Student PSEA Representative to the 
PSEA Special Education Board)

Communications Committee: The Communications Committee assists the association with gathering and disseminating information related to challenges to teaching materials, resources, and techniques from any organization with an agenda to dismantle public education.

Intergroup Relations Commission: The Intergroup Relations Commission (IRC) initiates proposals for improving intergroup relations in schools and for ensuring equal educational opportunity for every child in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It performs other duties and assignments as delegated to it by the PSEA Board of Directors.

Leadership Development Committee: The Leadership Development Committee (LDC), through careful planning and direction, develops, monitors, and enhances leadership training to provide services for our members, who foster quality public education for all students.

Legislative Committee: The Legislative Committee is one of two elective committees established by the PSEA bylaws. The purpose of the committee is to prepare the association’s legislative program for presentation to the House of Delegates, after approval by the Board of Directors. It scrutinizes all proposed legislation, which may affect education in the state and seeks and executes the instructions of the Board of Directors concerning that legislation.

Resolutions Committee: The Resolutions Committee is one of two elective committees. The purpose of the committee is to review, develop, and revise PSEA resolutions. The Committee reports its proposed resolutions and amended resolutions to the House of Delegates at the December and May Houses of Delegates. A PSEA resolution is a statement of belief, intent, or position of PSEA. Currently, PSEA has four specific goal areas: (1) to promote the general educational welfare of the state; (2) to advance educational standards; (3) to foster professional zeal; and (4) to advance educational standards.

Minority Affairs Committee: The Minority Affairs Committee (MAC) increases awareness and encourages involvement on the part of ethnic minority members in programs on the local, regional, state, and national levels. The committee provides input into the association’s NEA bylaw 3.1 (g) plan and the Gettysburg minority scholarship program. The committee also reviews and assesses association goals, objectives, programs, and long-range plans to ensure that ethnic minority concerns are addressed.

Professional Rights and Responsibilities Commission (PR&R): The PSEA Professional Rights and Responsibilities Commission’s (PR&R) promotes professional conduct and defends member rights under the Code of Ethics/Bill of Rights and due process guarantees.
Special Education Board: The Special Education Board provides representation of district and intermediate unit special education teachers on a committee which provides communications to and seeks appropriate feedback from the membership, and serves in an advisory capacity to PSEA leadership.
 
 (Student PSEA Members at the 2017 PSEA Special Education Conference)

Running for NEA SLC/RA

(Student PSEA Members at the 2016 NEA SLC)

What is the NEA SLC/RA? NEA SLC/RA stands for the National Education Association Student Leadership Conference and Representative Assembly. At the NEA SLC, aspiring educators from across the United States come together with one thing in common – their passion for public education! Each year aspiring educators receive professional development in a variety of sessions. They hear from amazing keynote speakers, and have the opportunity to run for national level positions. 

At the NEA RA, aspiring educators blend in with current and retired educators, also known as EA members. We sit with our respective regions in our states and we experience the democratic process that takes place to encourage high quality, public education for all students. Each year those who attend make great connections and network with other educators and aspiring educators from across the United States. It is one of the most exciting and thrilling opportunities that you could experience. I highly recommend running for a spot to attend.

For a second year in a row, we have decided to provide this opportunity to more members. Each year, around 15 student members attend the NEA SLC and RA. Last year and again this year, we will also be sending another 15 students to the NEA SLC. The top 10 nominees who receive the most votes during the voting process will attend the NEA SLC and RA with the incoming Student PSEA Executive Board. The next 15 nominees with the top votes will have the opportunity to attend the NEA SLC portion of the conference only.

This year, we have decided to adapt the nomination to create a smoother nomination process as well as provide more time for nominations of state-level officers. This year’s nomination process for the NEA SLC/RA will be as follows:
                    1. Each student member interested in attending the NEA SLC/RA will sign their name
            on a list for their region indicating interest.
      
          2.  Each student member who signs the list indicating interest will then be required to
              fill out the Google form with contact information and a short description of why you
              are interested in attending.

          3. Nominations will then be taken on the floor. The Nominating Committee from each
             region will nominate all members from that region.
(Student PSEA Members at the NEA RA)

Running for the Gettysburg Summer Leadership Conference
*Must be 21 by the time of the conference to apply*

(Student PSEA Members at the 
PSEA Gettysburg Summer Leadership Conference)

For the second year in a row, the PSEA Gettysburg Summer Leadership Conference will be featuring a Student Track! Last year we were able to take 14 student members. This year, we are hoping to take more! We have scholarships provided to pay for the conference. Some regions also graciously provide scholarships to student members should Student PSEA give out all of their scholarships. 
All meals on campus are paid for, the dining options are the food court or the lunch tent that provides different lunches throughout the week. You get to stay in a dorm on the Gettysburg College campus with other Student PSEA members. This experience teaches you so much about the union that supports you through your career. I truly believe that this conference is something that every aspiring educator should attend in the year before they graduate. You learn so much more than what you would learn in a classroom about your profession. Look below for more information and how to apply!
(Student PSEA Members getting ready for a class at Gettysburg)

All of these opportunities have provided to be invaluable experiences. I have learned so much about my union and I became more passionate about public education through each of these experiences. The Student PSEA State Conference and Convention is just the beginning of a world of possibilities!
More information about the Student PSEA State Conference and Convention, NEA SLC/RA, and Gettysburg, including testimonials! – http://studentpsea2013.wixsite.com/studentpseaconf
More information about the Gettysburg Summer Leadership Conference – https://prezi.com/fnde8_6smd8n/psea-gettysburg-leadership/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy

Student Representative to a PSEA Committee Application Form – https://docs.google.com/forms/d/15RXbZhhhw1V5tmwOSI0fjBmKYIhnElaWMXIHJuGll_I/viewform

PSEA Gettysburg Summer Leadership Conference Application Form – https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1pNRGst69J6eZoMUAVIzD7vwJ-tYzdicrLX534BdYOn4/edit?usp=drive_web

            Shelby Pepmeyer,
State President

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