Our 5th Annual Summit & Day of Action is grounded in a simple question: how can we make teaching more sustainable and better support the educators Pennsylvania needs?

Together, we’ll build on last year’s work, share ideas and experiences, identify concrete priorities for advancing educator workforce solutions, and advocate directly with our elected officials.

📅 November 10, 2026 | 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

📍 Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts, 222 Market St, Harrisburg, PA 17011

Join us for day of learning, collaboration, conversation, and advocacy! The PA Needs Teachers 2026 Summit will bring together educators, policymakers, advocates, and community partners to explore how we can make teaching more sustainable and better support the educators Pennsylvania needs.

Last year, we came together to reimagine teaching in Pennsylvania. This year, we’re turning those ideas into action.

Here’s what to expect:

9:00 AM | What Is Happening in PA? | Whitaker Center
Get the latest teacher workforce data and new county-level fact sheets to bring into your legislative meetings.

9:15 AM | What Could Happen in PA? | Whitaker Center
Hear from a school using a strategic staffing model, learn about a new pilot in Philadelphia, and join a panel on what it takes to bring these models to more PA schools.

10:30 AM | What Can You Do About It? | Whitaker Center
Learn about advocacy strategies then practice in hands-on Action Labs.

11:15 AM | Advocacy Meetings and Lunch | PA State Capitol
Meet with legislators to share why supporting educators matters for your community

1:30 PM | PA Needs Teachers Press Conference | PA State Capitol, Main Rotunda
Call on lawmakers to invest in reimagining school models that meet their teachers' and students' needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Are you committed to building the educator workforce in Pennsylvania? Then you belong here!

    This highly participatory, full-day event will bring together a broad coalition of K-12 educators, policymakers, advocacy organizations, education leaders, and other community partners.

  • We suggest business or business casual so you can easily transition from collaboration to advocacy.

    Opt for comfy shoes — you may be getting your steps in around the Capitol!

    Throw in a light jacket or sweater in case the meeting room is chilly.

  • We recommend the following two nearby hotels for those joining us from out of town:

  • Why, thanks for asking! We’d love your help spreading the word to ensure the room is full of the people who know our educators’ needs best.

    This toolkit includes social media captions, graphics, and email language to make it easy.

Suggested Reading

Want to get ahead on the conversation?

Check out Reimagining Teaching: How Strategic Staffing Can Empower Teachers & Accelerate Learning in PA.

Authored by Teach Plus Pennsylvania Policy Fellows, the report explores innovative approaches to redesigning teacher roles in ways that improve outcomes for both students and educators.

It includes findings, themes, and participant input from our 2025 summit.

Read Here