Duty Free Lunch
Duty Free Lunch is the official podcast of the Pennsylvania State Education Association. Join us as we unpack the issues that matter most to Pennsylvania educators and especially PSEA members. From cutting-edge classroom strategies to thought-provoking policy discussions, if it impacts our education community, it's on the menu.
Episodes
Aaron and Rachael welcome their first lawmaker to the podcast, State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, one of Pennsylvania’s most dynamic voices for working families. Listen as they dig into the ongoing state budget battle, the future of public education funding, and what keeps Rep. Kenyatta hopeful in today’s highly charged political climate.
Do you have some feedback for us? Send an email to podcast@psea.org.
Jeff and Rachael explore how PSEA uses surveys and research to stay connected to its 177,000 members. Guests Dr. David Wazeter and Dr. Katherine Hamilton from PSEA's Research division share what the data reveals about educator stress, job satisfaction, and public perception, and how those insights shape our work as an organization.
Do you have some feedback for us? Send an email to podcast@psea.org.
Lenny Robinson has spent 23 years as a custodian in the Wissahickon School District. But to his students and community, he’s so much more. In this episode of Duty Free Lunch, we celebrate the 2025 Civil Rights Educational Leader Award winner and hear from the colleagues who helped shine a light on his extraordinary impact.
Do you have some feedback for us? Send an email to podcast@psea.org.
Canon-McMillan teacher Chelsea Geist turned her high school classroom into a zoo - literally. Aaron and Jeff talk to her about how it started, the impact on students, and what it takes to run a living zoo at school.
Do you have some feedback for us? Send an email to podcast@psea.org.
Learn more and watch for upcoming episodes at psea.org/podcast.
Welcome to Season 3 of "Duty Free Lunch"! We're kicking it off with a look at the state of the union as PSEA Executive Director Jim Vaughan joins Aaron, Jeff, and Rachael to discuss PSEA happenings, the current state of our politics, and what's in store for PSEA members in the new year.
Do you have some feedback for us? Send an email to podcast@psea.org.
Learn more and watch for upcoming episodes at psea.org/podcast.
PSEA PACE Chairperson Theresa Prato and Central York teacher Gina Grolemund join Aaron and Rachael to talk about political organizing, winning school board seats, and how PACE makes a real difference for public education.
Do you have some feedback for us? Send an email to podcast@psea.org.
Learn more and watch for upcoming episodes at psea.org/podcast.
Ann Monaghan, PSEA’s Dolores McCracken ESP Member of the Year for 2025-26, joins Duty Free Lunch to discuss the challenges, rewards, and joys of being a support professional in Pennsylvania’s public schools.
Do you have some feedback for us? Send an email to podcast@psea.org.
Learn more and watch for upcoming episodes at psea.org/podcast.
National Teacher of the Year Ashlie Crosson returns to Duty Free Lunch with sharp insights, honest reflections, and urgent ideas. From rural education to teacher burnout to student empowerment, Ashlie's national exposure has given her new insights into the state of teaching today.
Do you have some feedback for us? Send an email to podcast@psea.org.
Learn more and watch for upcoming episodes at psea.org/podcast.
Pennsbury elementary school teacher Jenn Fumanti sits down with Aaron and Jeff to share the remarkable story of her family's five-generation commitment to teaching in Pennsylvania. From coal stoves to Chromebooks, hear how public education shaped her legacy, and why she's proud to carry the torch today.
Aaron and Jeff are joined by Allen Lombardozzi and Elaine LaFuria, two STEM teachers from the Harbor Creek School District. They share the story behind Advanced Technologies Group, a student program powered by HAM radio, science, and sheer curiosity. From building antennas to speaking directly with astronauts aboard the International Space Station, their students are putting STEM to good use.
Join us for another dispatch from the legislative trenches as Aaron and Jeff sit down with PSEA-Retired leaders Todd Miller and Russ Stevenson during PSEA’s ACE Lobby Days in Harrisburg. They cover why retired educators remain on the front lines, the fight to protect pensions, and the push for a cost-of-living adjustment for pre-Act 9 retirees.
Do you have some feedback for us? Send an email to podcast@psea.org.
This episode was recorded during PSEA’s ACE Lobby Days, where educators from across Pennsylvania come together to meet with lawmakers and make their voices heard. Joining us are two advocates, teachers, and local presidents Amanda Simcoe and Mike Soskil. They join Aaron and Rachael to talk about what it means to lead not just in their schools, but in their communities and at the Capitol, on issues like school funding, educator shor...
What happens when a father and daughter go from paraprofessionals to certified teachers together? The officer team sits down with Jermaine and ShaWanna Bailey, a dynamic duo from the York City School District who did exactly that. They share their powerful story of career transformation through the “Grow Your Own” program, the challenges they overcame, and why representation in the classroom matters.
…doesn’t always stay at the House of Delegates. In fact, this is the episode where all is revealed – the ins and outs and goings on at the twice-yearly gathering of our union brothers and sisters. The officer team welcomes back Executive Director Jim Vaughan to break down everything that goes into this important event – from delegate elections and new business items to behind-the-scenes prep and personal reflections. Whether you’re...
The officer team dives into the powerful conversations that came out of PSEA's recent special education roundtables. More than 100 educators sat down with lawmakers to talk about challenges and brainstorm solutions. Two of those roundtable participants - special ed. teacher Cassie McCabe and speech therapist Christina Rojas - join us to share their experiences.
Do you have some feedback for us? Send an email to podcast@psea.org.
Aaron and Jeff chat with Tiffany Zook, a Family and Consumer Sciences teacher at Penn Manor High School, who shares how she turned military-style MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) into a hands-on cooking competition for her students. With help from a Marine Corps staff sergeant, the project gave students a taste of field rations and a big serving of creativity, collaboration, and practical skills.
Public schools are under attack, and educators need to fight back. Aaron and Jeff are joined by expert guests to dig into the latest threats to public education, like devastating federal budget cuts, and what we can do about them. NEA’s Mary Kusler and PSEA’s Jen Statler discuss the Trump administration’s drastic cuts to the U.S. Department of Education, the impact on Pennsylvania schools, and how educators can take action.
We take you straight from the steps of the state Capitol to the podcast studio, where we break down the first ESP Lobby Day and the fight for a living wage. Our support professionals keep our schools running, yet nearly half of them make less than $20 per hour. The officer team interviews ESP President Rudy Burruss and Vice President Marc Howshall on a promising new House bill, the impact of raising ESP wages to at least $20 an hou...
Aaron, Jeff, and Rachael sit down with 2025 PA Teacher of the Year Leon Smith to discuss the challenges facing education today. From the shrinking teacher pipeline to the urgent need for more diverse educators, Leon shares his insights on why representation matters, how to rebuild the profession, and what gives him hope for the future.
Do you have some feedback for us? Send an email to podcast@psea.org.
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