Career Connections Learning to Life

Hi, I am Dr. Katie Monsour, and I recently joined ARIN IU 28 on October 20, 2025. I am a passionate educator, literacy advocate, and proud cat lover who began my career teaching in higher education, teaching composition, education, methods, and literacy courses at both Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) and the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown (UPJ), for over a decade.

Later, I transitioned into the K–12 setting, and taught in the Marion Center Area School District for almost a decade, gaining valuable classroom experience and a deeper understanding of student needs.

I'm known for my approachable style and practical insights, and I'm deeply committed to helping teachers feel confident and supported in their work. Whether I’m leading a workshop, collaborating with schools, or diving into the latest research with a cat curled up beside me, I *try* to bring energy, enthusiasm, and a genuine dedication to the success of both educators and students. I cannot wait to meet you!

Upcoming Conference!

The Pennsylvania Department of Education's 2025 SAS Institute,

is scheduled for December 8-10, 2025, at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education's "Career Opportunities" page offers resources for individuals interested in educational careers within the state. It provides information on current job openings, recruitment initiatives, and recognition programs aimed at attracting and retaining qualified educators. The page serves as a central hub for those seeking to contribute to Pennsylvania's educational system.

For the most up-to-date listings and detailed information, please visit the official page.

Discover the Path to Career Ownership – Free Online Session

Are you ready to take control of your future, achieve your financial goals, and create the lifestyle you’ve always wanted? As a Career Ownership Coach with The Entrepreneur’s Source, I help aspiring entrepreneurs explore the possibilities of business ownership—including franchising—through a personalized, no-cost, no-obligation coaching experience.

In this powerful online session, you’ll learn how to align your Goals, Needs, and Expectations with your skills, leadership strengths, behavioral traits, and driving forces to uncover the right opportunities for you. Whether you’re looking for more freedom, purpose, or income potential, we’ll explore what’s truly possible—often beyond what you ever imagined.

Register here.

Click here to learn how to research and compare education and training options that align with your career goals.

Participants will explore how to identify the skills and qualifications employers are looking for, compare these to various learning pathways, and evaluate which options best fit their strengths, interests, and financial situation. Participants will leave with actionable tools and resources to help make informed decisions about educational pathways.

Facilitated by Career Coach in Residence Shenelle Payne Cuffy.

The Career Coaches in Residence program is generously supported by lead donor Azrieli Foundation.

Questions about online programs? Email us at programproposals@tpl.ca

Description:

Now Enrolling for Spring 2026: Pennsylvania College of Technology is accepting registration for the Advanced Manufacturing Pre-Apprentice (AMP) Program for high school juniors and seniors, which will launch in January 2026. The four-month AMP program is a career exploratory program that provides students with an understanding of the technical training and career paths in the manufacturing industry.

Pennsylvania’s manufacturing industry is the cornerstone of the state’s economic success, but skill gaps and talent shortages have left employers unable to meet consumer demand and leave well-paying skill- based positions unfilled. Pre-apprenticeship is a low-risk, high-impact career development activity where students can explore an interest in manufacturing and related fields.

Benefits to the student:

• Learn foundational knowledge and skills that will prepare them for entry-level employment in a variety of manufacturing occupations
• Earn the Certified Manufacturing Associate industry certification
• Eligibility to enter a Penn College registered apprenticeship program (Mechatronics Technician, Industrial Manufacturing Technician, CNC Operator) in partnership with a manufacturing employer. First step to entering a high-skill, high-wage career path in manufacturing
• Pre-apprenticeship and industry certification qualify as alternative assessments for graduation under Act 158 and the Future Ready PA Index

Program Details: Preliminary AMP

Schedule: January 16, 2026 – May 15, 2026

• Instructional Core: 27 Online Learning Modules through Tooling U (self-directed)
• Instructional support provided by Penn College instructor
• 3 in-person, hands-on lab days
• Industry Day – An opportunity to meet Manufacturing Employers
• Credential exam for the Certified Manufacturing Associate AMP is offered at no cost to students or schools.

Participating students must be 16 years of age or older.

Where:

Virtual: Zoom Link: https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpct.zoom.us%2Fj%2F99272111553%3Fpwd%3D2oWaIIBsGFfBi5z2Cf0bv2yecAcrN0.1&data=05%7C02%7Cstephanie_rhodes%40iu5.org%7Cda0b8dea82dd4c301e4f08de0b27235f%7Ce76424f59a644f59be0

Contact: ayoder@pct.edu

Description: Give your students the opportunity to learn about more than 40 career areas with the region’s largest employer, UPMC. Registration

Where: David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, PA

When: Thursday, November 20, 2025, 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Intro Personal Finance presented by the Council for Economic Education Brief Session

This brief session will introduce the Council for Economic Education and highlight how their free classroom resources and instructional tools can empower teachers to integrate economics and personal finance into everyday lessons. Educators will leave with an understanding of what’s available and how these resources can make a lasting impact on student learning.

Where: ZOOM: https://www.solutionwhere.com/WW/Aspx/Public/Search/ShowCourse.aspx?courseNum=757&cId=134&pCId=0

When: Wednesday, December 3, 2025, 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM

The Pennsylvania Department of Education, Bureau of Career and Technical Education (BCTE), has compiled this resource guide, which lists industry-recognized credentials for career and technical education programs in Pennsylvania's career clusters.

These industry-recognized credentials measure competence in core content and performance standards in a specific set of work-related tasks. The work-related tasks and assessment must connect with workforce demands.

The resource guide is designed to assist schools with the process of identifying organizations that provide industry-recognized credentials. The guide is organized by career cluster.

Within each cluster, programs appear in Classification of Instructional Program Code (CIP) order with the name of the industry credentials and provider. Other Credentials has an additional table that contains credentials that may be applicable to multiple clusters or programs.

General comments or questions about the resource guide should be directed to Beth Marshall at betmarshal@pa.gov.

With historic investments in career and technical education, vo-tech, and apprenticeships, the Shapiro Administration is ensuring that Pennsylvania students have the freedom to chart their own course and the opportunity to succeed.

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) announces the availability of approximately $3,800,000. in state funds for Schools-to-Work -Round 6 (STW6) Grant awards, that will be competitively awarded up to $250,000. each. The STW6 Grant focus is building programs to fill current and anticipated labor market needs by increasing workforce training and partnership programs, as well as utilizing the Apprenticeship Training Office’s current workforce initiatives, to develop the skills of students in Grades 9 through 12 through the building or expansion of Pre-Apprenticeship programs as outlined in the Notice of Grant Availability (NGA).

• Schools to Work - Round 6 NGA
• Appendix A: Application Form
• Appendix B: Project Summary Cover Page
• Appendix C: Project Narrative
• Appendix D: Letters of Support
• Appendix E: Grant Financial Reporting Package - Budget & Justification Form
• Appendix E: Budget Preparation Manual
• Appendix F: EO 2021-06 Worker Protection Certification Form
• Appendix G: Local Board Notification Form
• Appendix H: Grant Action Plan

The application deadline for the Schools to Work – Round 6 Grant is Monday, December 22, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. E.T.

2025-2026 Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness (OTDA)

Public Service Announcement Challenge (PDE/IU13)

The Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13 (IU13), in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), is sponsoring the Public Service Announcement (PSA) Competition, a statewide challenge that encourages teams of students in 9th through 12th grade to use their problem-solving, creative, and strategic-thinking abilities to solve real-world lifesaving challenges. Winners will be selected by members of the Organ Donation Advisory Committee (ODAC).

DEADLINE 11:59 PM 4/13/26

- Pennsylvania teens in grades 9 -12.

- Challenge: Create a video explaining why being an organ donor is crucial and why you will designate yourself. Use the theme, “The Power of 1” to demonstrate how the organs of 1 donor can save up to 8 lives and enhance the lives of 75 people through tissue donation. Be sure to include this fact in your entry to encourage your peers to become organ donors.

- Award: The statewide winning team (2-4 individuals) will be awarded $3,000. The winning team members will receive certificates as well as their school receiving a traveling trophy and a permanent trophy engraved with the school’s name. The team will also be invited to attend the Annual OTDA Spring Conference in State College on May 15, 2026.

For more information including judging criteria, please visit the OTDA Challenge website.

Are you ready for this year’s NASA TechRise Student Challenge? This competition provides a hands-on opportunity for participants to gain critical skills in engineering, computing, electronics, and more that will be required for America’s technical workforce.

Who? 6th-12th grade students (4-6 student team, teacher advisor)

Future Engineers: NASA TechRise Challenge Deadline: November 3, 2025, 11:59 pm

60 winning teams will be selected to build their proposed experiment.

Each winning team will be awarded:$1,500 to build their experiment.

Includes a starter kit, including a flight box in which to build their experiment

An assigned spot to test their experiment on a NASA-sponsored flight

Develop a science or technology experiment idea for one of the following NASA TechRise flight vehicles:

• Suborbital-Spaceship with approximately 3 minutes of microgravity.
• High-Altitude Balloon with approximately 4 to 8 hours of flight time at 70,000 to 95,000 feet and exposure to Earth’s atmosphere, high-altitude radiation, and perspective views of our planet.

For more information, please visit the NASA TechRise Student Challenge website.

PDE’s Career Readiness Advisor, Laura Fridirici, will provide professional development on the newly revised Career Education and Work Standards in a statewide webinar on February 6, 2026. Participants can earn Act 48 credits for the one-hour training. Follow the Career Ready PA Coalition Eventbrite page for upcoming details.