Manheim Township Education Association

MTEA Awards Future Teacher Scholarship to Ava Paul

The MTEA Scholarship is an $8,000 grant paid in four equal yearly installments to a member of the senior class who has been accepted into an approved program for teacher education. Our district's educators donate to this scholarship because we want to help ensure committed teachers for the next generation of students. This year, we had an extremely competitive pool of candidates, which bodes well for the future of the teaching profession. We certainly hope all of our applicants find their way back to teach at MT.

Tonight, at MTHS's Senior Awards Night, the MTEA Scholarship was awarded to Ava Paul.

Ava plans to attend Penn State University to major in elementary and early childhood education. Ava shared in her application that she has wanted to become a teacher after several of her Manheim Township teachers made an impact on her. During Ava's junior year, she shadowed one of our fifth grade teachers at Landis Run. She took on students with a variety of needs including learning disabilities and behavioral difficulties, but this did not deter her. She shared that the experience gave her a "sense of purpose" she had never felt in her whole life. This year, Ava participated in MTHS's brand new Educators Rising program, which engages HS students who have thought about careers in education and shows them what it looks like to become a public school teacher through instruction and hands-on experiences. This year, Ava shadowed in a 3rd grade classroom at Bucher. According to her mentor teacher at Bucher, Mrs. Rychener, Ava is quick to recognize the individual needs of students and to provide support. She is "proud to have her joining the field of education."

Congratulations Ava, and best wishes as you pursue your goal of becoming a teacher.

Green and white support across MTSD today for Donegal School District 💚🤍 We stand with you in sympathy and solidarity!

MTEA, please wear your green and white tomorrow as an act of solidarity and support for Donegal SD.

Congratulations to Mrs. Kristen Rychener, third grade teacher at Bucher Elementary, for being named Manheim Township School District’s Employee of the Month for May! 🎉

Mrs. Rychener’s kindness, positivity, and dedication make a lasting impact on students, staff, and families every single day. From celebrating students’ successes and creating a joyful classroom environment to supporting colleagues with thoughtful acts of encouragement, she truly embodies what it means to care for a school community.

Her compassion, creativity, and unwavering commitment to helping others feel valued and supported make Bucher Elementary a brighter place for everyone.

Thank you, Mrs. Rychener, for the incredible difference you make each day. 💙
Bucher PTO

Yesterday, MTHS participated in an Educators Rising national signing day event, a community-based movement dedicated to cultivating the next generation of teachers. This event celebrates high school seniors who have taken the Educators Rising course and made a commitment to pursue degrees in education, marking an important milestone in their journey towards becoming educators.

Educators Rising provides a vital framework to nurture and support aspiring teachers through school chapters, curriculum, and a national conference and competition event. Educators Rising offers a clear pathway to increase teacher diversity and quality within the communities by using the program when students come back to teach in their home district.

New for 26-27: MTEA, in collaboration with MTSD, is offering two Ed Rising mini-scholarships for members of the senior class who participate in the Ed Rising course and are accepted into an approved program for teacher education at a college or university. Each $300 scholarship is a grant paid for the completion of microcredentials completed during a student's junior or senior year of high school.

Thank you to Melisa Diehm and Samantha McNally for advocating for this program at MTHS!

With over 40% of school-aged children affected by chronic or mental health conditions, school nurses play a vital role in improving attendance, reducing health disparities, and supporting student success. We can support our school nurses by advocating at the state and local level for lower caseloads and stable funding so that all students have what they need to succeed.

Please note: this includes educators, support professionals, custodians, police, firefighters and other public employees who haven't had a COLA since 2002. Do the math and you'll realize why many of these folks would be struggling to get by. Info on how to take action in the comments.

Pennsylvania's retired teachers are struggling without cost-of-living raises [Lancaster Watchdog] Inflation hurts, and no one feels the pinch more than senior citizens living on fixed incomes.

May is National Speech-Language-Hearing Month, which is a great time to honor school speech-language pathologists for their role in improving student communication and academic success. Thank you to our eight SLPs for all you do to support students.

MTEA showed up in red today in solidarity with our colleagues in SDoL. We're united in the belief that supporting educators means supporting students. Our schools are strongest when they are built on responsible leadership and when they are fully funded. Lancaster City Education Association

The Manheim Township Education Association stands in solidarity with the Lancaster Education Association as they face furloughs due to a budget deficit in the School District of Lancaster.

Educators are not expendable. The people who support, teach, and care for our students every day are essential to strong schools — because working conditions are learning conditions.

When one district faces these challenges, it impacts our entire educational community.

These furloughs also underscore the critical importance of strong financial management AND the need for full and adequate funding for public schools. Our students and communities deserve stability, not cuts that disrupt learning and livelihoods.

We stand with our colleagues in Lancaster and support their call for fair, responsible solutions that prioritize students, educators, and the long-term health of our schools.

We encourage all MTEA members to wear red this Friday, April 24th, as a visible sign of solidarity with LEA.

Lancaster City Education Association

Congratulations to Mrs. Jennifer Tucker, Learning Support Teacher at Reidenbaugh Elementary School, on being named Employee of the Month! 🎉

Jenn is the kind of educator every student deserves. She is described by her colleagues as a “natural, empathetic leader” with incredible organization, a calm presence in high-stress situations, and a deep, genuine care for her students. She truly “sees the potential in everyone” and works tirelessly to ensure each child feels safe, empowered, valued, and loved. 💙

Her impact reaches far beyond her classroom. Jenn is a constant source of support for staff and families, always willing to step in, collaborate, and think creatively to solve challenges. Her colleagues appreciate her thoughtful insight, positive attitude, and unwavering commitment to teamwork.

What truly sets Jenn apart is her dedication to others. She consistently puts students, staff, and families first and is a passionate advocate for student success. Even on the toughest days, she continues to show up with professionalism, resilience, and heart. As one colleague shared, “our school is a better place because of Jenn.”

We are so fortunate to have Jenn as part of our school community. Her impact will be felt for years to come.

👏 Congratulations, Jenn! Thank you for all that you do for MT! 💫