Dear Families,
I am very excited about my new role as president for PA Families. My husband, Don and I are in our sixth year of cyber schooling our children. Our son, Nathan, is in 6th grade and our daughter, Danielle, is in 1st grade.
Like many of you, we were very disappointed with our local brick and mortar school. Nathan was not being challenged. We needed to find a school that would let Nathan work at his own pace. That's when we found public cyber schools. Since being enrolled, Nathan and Danielle are both thriving in their cyber school.
I am looking forward to meeting with many of you at events throughout the year, including our annual Day on the Hill.
I would like to take a moment to thank Jenny Bradmon for her leadership over the last three years. She has helped make PA Families a strong coalition, helping advocate for cyber school families. She has also been very helpful to me as we made the transition.
Legislative Update
The House Caucus elections took place this week and the new Speaker of the House is Keith McCall – Carbon County. Todd Eachus – Luzerne County, has become the Majority Leader, Dwight Evans – Philadelphia County, continues to hold the Appropriations Chair seat while H. William DeWeese – Greene County assumes the Majority Whip position. For the first time a female has been chosen to hold a leadership position, Rep. Jen Mann – Lehigh County was chosen as the Caucus Secretary.
The Republican Minority leader is Sam Smith – Punxsutawney County. Mario Civera – Delaware County retains the Appropriations Chair while Mike Turzi – Allegheny County becomes the Minority Whip. Also Stan Saylor – York County, becomes the Minority Policy Chair.
If any of these representatives are in your district, take the time to write to them and congratulate them on their appointments! We should have the results soon from the Senate Caucus elections.
We are working hard on our plans for 2009 to continue to help protect our cyber schools. Our schools are working and are helping more than 21,000 students. We will need to work even harder in 2009 to educate our legislators and the public about our schools.
I am excited to work with all of you as we continue fight for our cyber schools.
Keep moving forward!
Cindy Strausburger
President
