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    Advancing Education Together Summit 2025

    The Second Annual PDE Advancing Education Together Summit is sponsored by the Offices of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) and Postsecondary and Higher Education (OPHE).  This summit brings together LEA administrators and higher education deans from EPPs for a day of learning and collaboration.

    Date/Time

    The Second Annual PDE Advancing Education Together Summit will be held at the Harrisburg Hilton on July 10, 2025.  

    Advancing Education Together Summit 2025

    Registration

    To ensure accurate planning and a successful event, please register if you are certain you can attend. Your registration helps us provide sufficient food, comfortable seating, and engaging activities.

    Register by June 13, 2025, via the Registration Form.

    Registration is free; however, participants are responsible for lodging, parking, and travel expenses. 

    Schedule

    7am-8am - Breakfast

    8am-9am - Welcome/Opening Session

    9am-10:15am - Breakout Sessions 1

    10:25am-11:40am - Breakout Sessions 2

    11:45am-1:05pm - Lunch with Keynote Speaker – Wellness for All with Dr. Dana Milakovic

    1:10pm-2:25pm - Breakout Sessions 3

    2:35pm-3:50pm - Breakout Sessions 4

    Breakout Session Topics

    (Participants choose one presentation to attend during each session)
    *Please note that this list is subject to change

    Session 1

    • PDE Updates – Bureau of School Leadership and Teacher Quality (Dr. Kerry Helm)
    • Special Education Updates (Dr. Carole Clancy)
    • Labor and Industry/IU 18 Apprenticeship Handbook (Dr. Alan Hack, IU 16; TJ Warholic, L&I)
    • Working Together on Retention Panel (Induction/In-Service Teacher Training) (Carrie Anderson, PDE; Dr. Rebecca Burns, Kutztown University; Dr. Cathy Taschner, Schuylkill Valley School District; Dr. Paul Cindric, IU3;  Dr. Megan Ward, Cumberland Valley SD)

    Session 2

    • PDE Updates – Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (Amy Lena and Sabrina Lindsay)
    • Overview and Updates: Financial Literacy (new graduation requirements) and the new FAFSA (Ali Caccavellla, PDE)
    • Spotlight Session: Creating a Certified Teacher Registered Apprenticeship (CTRA) program (Dr. Natalie Rugg, LaRoche University; Dr. Vicki Donne, Robert Morris University; Dr. Ruth Auld, DePaul School for Hearing and Speech; Patrick McAleer, Gwynedd Mercy University; Jennifer Rawson, Bucks County IU; Jennifer Hertwig, Bucks County IU; Dr. Samantha Gross, Bucks County Community College; Dr. Katina Moten, PDE)
    • Critical Shortages Panel - Growing More Educators in Special Education, Career and Technical Education, Grades 4-8, and other areas (Carol Good, PaTTAN; Dr. Colleen Duffy, Misericordia University; Ty Yost, IU18; Dr. Priya Poehler, Commonwealth University - Lock Haven, Amy Lena PDE; Dr. Thomas Conway, Kutztown University, PAC-TE President)

    Session 3

    • PDE Updates – Bureau of School Leadership and Teacher Quality (Repeated from  Session 1) (Dr. Kerry Helm)
    • Dual Credit Enrollment
    • CTE Best Practice Roundtables - Showcase of Education CIP Programs (Judd Pittman and Lisa Golding - PDE)
    • Hiring Pipeline Panel (Student Teaching, Paraprofessionals, Hiring Dashboard, etc.) (Dr. Brian White, Superintendent, Butler Area School District; Dr. Danielle Kearns- Sixsmith, DeSales University; Dr. James Preston, Slippery Rock University; Dr, Meredith Mehra, The School District of Philadelphia; Scott Gaiber, Elevate 215; Dr. Carissa Pokorny-Golden, PDE)

    Session 4

    • PDE Updates – Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (Repeated from Session 2) (Amy Lena and Sabrina Lindsay)
    • Updates: Structured Literacy (Kate Bacher and Jen Wicht – PDE)
    • Spotlight Session:  Join BCTE in a session to design a CIP 13.0101 Education Program (Judd Pittman and Lisa Golding - PDE)
    • Updates from PHEAA - Grow Grants and PHEAA Helps (Tiffanie DeVan)

    Need additional information or have questions, please email RA-EDACT45@pa.gov.