PENNSYLVANIA EDUCATOR DIVERSITY CONSORTIUM INC

Across Pennsylvania, PEDC's regional hubs have continued to deepen engagement and strengthen local educator diversity efforts through consistent collaboration, programming, and community-building. Each region convenes monthly meetings that bring together educators, leaders, and partners to address the unique needs of their communities-ensuring the work remains responsive, grounded, and impactful. In the Southeast region, PEDC has hosted Inspire to Teach events, Juneteenth celebrations, and a Teacher Series that uplift and amplify the voices of educators in the field. These gatherings celebrate identity, purpose, and possibility while fostering meaningful dialogue and collective visioning around equity and culturally relevant and sustaining practices. In the Southwest region, PEDC has expanded its reach through Educator Incubators and Labs, including DiversifyEd and Inspire to Teach, which serve as innovative spaces for recruitment, preparation, and professional growth. The region has also prioritized intentional engagement with local leaders who are driving systemic change in schools and across communities. Sessions featuring leaders such as K. Chase Patterson, CEO of the Urban Academy of Greater Pittsburgh, have modeled how to center student voice, strengthen community engagement, and integrate data-driven strategies that foster belonging and inclusion. Together, these regional accomplishments reflect PEDC's ongoing commitment to meeting communities where they are, nurturing local leadership, and building collective power to sustain, and humanize Pennsylvania's educator workforce.

Beginning in 2024, the Pennsylvania Educator Diversity Consortium (PEDC) strengthened its statewide presence and collective impact through intentional collaboration, advocacy, and community care. With active participation from educators, leaders, and partners across the Commonwealth, PEDC's statewide meetings served as hubs for alignment, reflection, and coordinated action toward diversifying and sustaining Pennsylvania's educator workforce. PEDC advanced policy and advocacy efforts through Advocacy Day at the Capitol, mobilizing over 100 educators, students, and advocates to call for full funding of the $10,000 Student Teacher Stipend Program and additional investments in teacher recruitment and retention. This unified action elevated PEDC's voice in state policymaking and reinforced its leadership in shaping equitable educator workforce legislation. Throughout the year, statewide convenings addressed critical and timely issues, including mental health and educator wellness, the impact of federal education funding, and the advancement of Culturally Relevant and Sustaining Education (CRSE) across PK-20 systems. PEDC's sessions highlighted the intersection of wellness, equity, and policy-creating space for honest reflection and shared strategies to sustain educators amid political and social challenges. PEDC also celebrated the success of the 2025 Educator Diversity Summit, which brought together more than 430 participants statewide under the theme The Power of Solidarity: Diversifying the Educator Workforce, Together!, and introduced new resources like Navigating Challenging Waters: A Guide for Culturally Relevant and Sustaining Educators in PreK-12. The guide, created by members of PEDC's CRSE Community of Practice, offers practical tools to support educators in implementing CRSE within challenging environments. Collectively, these accomplishments demonstrate PEDC's capacity to mobilize a statewide network, influence education policy, and foster a culture of wellness, belonging, and shared purpose. Through its consistent engagement, collaborative structure, and unwavering focus on equity, PEDC continues to lead the movement toward a more just and inclusive educator workforce across Pennsylvania.