Pitt-Greensburg APEX 2025-2026
Professional Development
Table of Contents
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NEA/RA 2025
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Conferences
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State Conference 2025
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Teacher Leadership Institute (TLI) 2026
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Superintendent Speaks Series
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Positive Behavioral Intervention and Support
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Universal Design for Learning Principles
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Grading for Learning
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Multi-Tier Systems of Support
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Move, Engage, Assess
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Workshops ​​
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​Understanding the IEP Process
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Edge Speaker: Differentiating Instruction
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Affiliate Dinner (2025)
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Field Trip to Sewickley Academy
Conferences
NEA-RA 2025
Five of our members, Gage Pahlman, Sydney McLaughlin, Benjamin Myers, Nick Malizia, and Alice Evdokimova, attended the 2025 NEA-RA. While there, our students learned how teachers come together on the national level to fight injustice and create better lives for our students. During both events, they also attended breakout sessions where they learned how to advocate change for themselves and their field.
Gettysburg Summer Leadership Conference:
New and Early Career Teacher Track
In July of 2025, five UPG members, namely Garrett Mock, Erika Christeleit, April Pompura, Ben Myers, and Alice Evdokimova, attended the Summer Leadership Conference in Gettysburg. During the week, they learned how to navigate teacher contracts and collective bargaining, networked with new, current, and retired educators, talked with former Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year, and learned more about the many things that the union has to offer!
Student PSEA State Conference 2025
The 2025 SPSEA State Conference allows for Aspiring Educators to experience a professional conference and meet other educators from across the state. During the 2025 SPSEA State conference in State College, Pennsylvania, 18 Pitt-Greensburg SPSEA members attended. Two of our members were elected into regional positions. Ashley Nairn was elected Southwest Region President and April Pompoura was elected as PACE chair for the region. (Please note: State conference is also listed under leadership and development).
Event Attendance:Back row (L to R): Lex Hurey, Ben Myers, Gage Pahlman, Nick Malizia, Tyler Luffy, Cole CharlesMiddle Row (L to R): Erika Christeleit, April Pompurra, Alice Evdokimova, Sage Blair, Emily Korinek, Abby Branik, Irelande Heidenfelder, Julia GarbinskiFront row: Sydney McLaughlin, Garrett Mock, Ashley Nairn
Teacher Leadership Institute (TLI) 2026
The Southwest Regional Teacher Leadership Institute (TLI) was held on February 28th, 2026, at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg with the theme Growing as Educators. There were approximately 75 Aspiring Educators from Pitt-Greensburg, Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC), Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Penn-West Clarion, Saint Vincent College, Seton Hill University, and Westmoreland County Community College. Additionally, we had five high school students in attendance from two local high schools, Hempfield Area High School and Southmoreland High School. There were a plethora of breakout sessions to attend, including Social Emotional Learning, Classroom Management, Being Creative in the Classroom, A Panel of Teachers, and many more! In addition to our breakout sessions the keynote speaker was Ms. Hannah St. Clair, the current NEA Student Chairperson. We also had raffle baskets with the proceeds going towards PACE.
Superintendent Speaks Series
Superintendent Speaks Series
In the 2022-23 academic year, our university was approached by a local assistant superintendent who was frustrated about new teachers not knowing certain topics. He asked if he and other local administrators could come to Pitt-Greensburg and provide workshops for us to teach us important information about teaching an students. This led to the Superintendents Speak Series. Now in its fourth year, this program connects Pitt-Greensburg’s Student PSEA with local districts and provides our members with important information from the school districts in our region. Our members are able to learn valuable information at these monthly workshops and connect with local school districts.
Positive Behavioral Intervention and Support
Dr. Autumn Turk, Director of Curriculum and Development at Burrell School District, returned to our campus and taught us about Positive Behavioral Intervention and Support through a Trauma-Informed Lens! Dr. Turk not only highlighted how to create a safe classroom for the students, but also how to keep the mind healthy while teaching.
Universal Design for Learning Prinicples
On October 21, 2026, Dr. Dan Clara, Assistant to the Superintendent at Southmoreland School District, presented on Universal Design for Learning Principles. We learned some guidelines regarding how we can engage our students, promote reflection, and create a learning environment that promotes growth and learning.
Grading for Learning
Dr. Beth Hutson, Superintendent of Mount Pleasant Schools, presented on Grading for Learning. We learned how to turn traditional grading into an opportunity to promote self-reflection and growth.​​
Multi-Tier Systems of Support
Dr. Gregory Egnor, Special Education Director of Student Services at Burrell School District, presented on multi-tiered systems of support. We learned how to integrate the three tiers in our classroom to support every students' success through progress monitoring and educational intervention.
Move, Engage, Assess
Dr. Timothy Gabauer, Superintendent of Schools for Mount Pleasant School District, and Mr. Robert Gumbita, Principal of Mount Pleasant High School, presented their thoughts on the words "Move, Engage, Assess" and how they relate to education. We learned how to "move" students to keep their attention and further their learning, how to "engage" students to get them more involved in their learning, and how to "assess" to promote self and peer-reflection while grading for learning.
Credit: kras99 - stock.adobe.com
Additional Workshops
Understanding the IEP Process
For a number of years, Pitt-Greensburg has been part of a local consortium that includes school districts like Hempfield Area, Jeannette, Yough, and Southmoreland. In this consortium, the school districts offer workshops regarding special education for parents, teachers, and aspiring educators. There is a state mandate to offer informational workshops to parents, but few parents come; hence the districts band together. Hosting it on the university campus allows for a "neutral" space for the various districts and allows our aspiring educators (who make up the bulk of the attendees) to attend. In this workshop, we learned all of the steps a student must go through in order to get an IEP, and how we, as teachers, fit into the process. We also learned how to implement accommodations into our lesson around the IEP.
EDGE Speaker: Differentiating Instruction
Dr. Christopher Clayton, PSEA Assistant Director for Education Services, presented a workshop on differentiation. In this workshop, we learned how to differentiate our lessons to support students who need it or enrich those who go above and beyond. Dr. Clayton also shared important resources and tools for differentiating as well.
Affiliate Dinner
On April 8, 2025, Pitt-Greensburg hosted the Westmoreland County "Affiliate Dinner." This program brings together aspiring educators from Westmoreland Community College, Seton Hill, Saint Vincent College, and the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg. Additionally, because it was being held at Pitt-Greensburg, students and faculty from Pitt-Johnstown were invited. While this program technically is part of "Trying Together" (previously PAEYC), Pitt-Greensburg's Student PSEA is the umbrella organization for all subgroups. Thus, Student PSEA members chaired and attended this event, our budget financially supported the event, and our secondary folks acted as support staff for the event.
The theme was "The Kaleidoscope Classroom: Changing Perspectives, Infinite Possibilities", with a focus on the beauty of diversity. Dr. Eboni M. Zamani-Gallaher, the Renée and Richard Goldman Dean of the University of Pittsburgh School of Education , was the keynote speaker. Prior to dinner, aspiring educators from Pitt-Greensburg and Pitt-Johnstown hosted tables showcasing various activities to complete with students, including making kaleidoscopes, connecting diversity in literature to crafts, and coloring puzzle pieces. Over 100 students and faculty from the various schools were in attendance. Additionally, the raffle baskets donated raised over $430 for Westmoreland Children First!
Event Attendance
Field Trip to Sewickley Academy
On February 26, 2026, Pitt-Greensburg early childhood majors had the opportunity to visit Sewickley Academy, a private, independent, college-preparatory academy that serves students pre-K to twelfth grade. The purpose of this trip was for aspiring elementary teachers to see all of the different options open to them, including private schools. In addition to observing in elementary grades, our aspiring educators got to team teach and work with practicing teachers