PARSS eNews

Dear PARSS Members,

The first weeks of school brings new challenges and opportunities each year, and for PARSS member schools you’re getting a big serving of each.

The state budget, as of this writing, is stalled, which no doubt creates stifling financial burdens for many of our small and rural districts. I want to assure you that here at PARSS we are advocating each day for a resolution that includes more funding and a change for charter/cyber school reform.

Although we can’t mediate a budget settlement in Harrisburg, we can offer an array of resources and consultation to help you reach your goals for the year. After covering nearly 2,000 miles on state roads this summer presenting workshops and speeches at PARSS schools, I’m well aware of how hard you and your teams work to provide the best learning environments for your students and communities. It’s always good to remind you that we can post job openings, offer professional development services, and plan school board and administrative retreats. Later this month you’ll receive application materials for our annual PARSS grant program, which this year has grown to $70,000.

In the coming weeks I’ll be traveling to more schools, most in western Pennsylvania, but I remain a phone call or email away if you need advice or information on any topic. That’s why we exist—to help you tackle problems and create solutions for change and advancement.

When you have a moment, please check out the new PARSS website that we launched this summer! It’s a breeze to navigate and even includes our new logo. You’ll encounter a panoramic photo of the lush green Pennsylvania countryside that leaves no doubt about who and where we serve.

I’ll close with high hopes of a new budget passing soon and send my best wishes for much success this school year!

Sincerely,

Edward Albert, Ed.D

The winners of these awards will be announced at the PARSS Conference in late April. We encourage you to take the time to submit a nomination—or have someone nominate a deserving educator or advocate—for these honors.

• Educator of the Year Nominations DUE BY FEBRUARY 1, 2026
• Advocacy Award Nominations DUE BY FEBRUARY 15, 2026

Your participation is essential in recognizing and celebrating the outstanding contributions of our colleagues. Thank you for supporting this important recognition process!

Each of us has favorite activities that give us energy, keep us positive, and help us maintain perspective. The key is to schedule and engage in those activities regularly, regardless of the competing pressures or the temptation to focus on the problems and expectations of work.

We may not be able to get away for extended breaks to fully recharge, but we can often find time to get away for a weekend and commit not to work or spend the entire trip thinking about work. Exposing ourselves to new ideas and different ways of thinking frequently can energize us and open new possibilities. An evening at the movies, reading a favorite book, listening to favorite music, or just visiting with someone from outside of education can help us avoid falling into “ruts” with our thinking.

Don’t forget to spend quality time with loved ones. Often, they feel the pressure under which we find ourselves, but they are not in a position to do anything about it. Committing to spend time pursuing mutual interests, learning together about a non-work-related topic, or just reconnecting and enjoying each other’s company regularly can make a big difference for us and those we care about.

Finally, remember that problems and pressures are almost always temporary. This month’s big deal is likely to be next month’s “so what.” Few issues and challenges we face will, by themselves, change the course of the organization or our careers. Not every problem is a crisis and not every challenge is a mountain we must climb. The secret to maintaining perspective and sustaining our energy often resides in deciding which battles are worth fighting and which likely will take care of themselves if given time and space.

Brian Griffith, Ed.D. - Asst. Executive Director

Jon Rednak, Ed.D. - Financial Officer

Ashley Rednak, Ed.D. - Conference and Special Projects Coordinator

Woodrow Sites, Ed.D. - Emeritus Historian

Website: www.parss.org
Location: 137 Stone Hedge Ct, Lebanon, PA, USA