The Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators (PASA) and the Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials (PASBO) will hold a press conference to call for urgent legislative action on cyber charter funding reform. Education leaders from across the Commonwealth will gather on the front steps of the Capitol to highlight the financial impact on public schools and outline specific, actionable reforms to improve fairness, accountability, and transparency in cyber charter operations.

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Asia Tabb speaks with Nancy Bell and Danielle Keperling about an open house on May 17 at the 1850 Bowmansville Roller Mill. This is one of only two functional mills left in Lancaster County and the last standing as the combination grist and sawmill of its kind in the County. Plus, visitors can experience history firsthand as two millers from George Washington's Mount Vernon gristmill will be operating the facility, adding an extra layer of authenticity to the event.

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Asia Tabb spoke with Kim Hogeman, Erin Igo and Abby Buchan about York Colleges Museum Exhibit Project.

For this exhibit, we focused on the Zion Lutheran Church, which is located on South Duke Street in York City. This exhibit focused on three subtopics within Zion Lutheran Church's history: creating, designing, and reviving the community. Each section focuses on different attributes of the church. More specifically, the creating community aspect of the exhibit discusses the church's contributions to the York community. The designing community subtopic focuses on architecture and the development of the church as a whole. Lastly, the revving community focuses on the congregation, the voice of veterans, pastors, and families to light. This exhibition will be at MarketView Arts Center on 37 W Philadelphia St, York, PA 17401-5309, and will be open on May 2nd at 6:00 p.m.

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Ashlie Crossan, an English and journalism teacher at Mifflin County High School in Lewistown, Pennsylvania, has just been named the 2025 National Teacher of the Year — and while the spotlight may be on her, she’s making it clear her mission is still focused on the students she serves.

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In Harrisburg, a small team is taking a new approach to curb gun violence—one that places empathy, community engagement, and early intervention at its core. Group Violence Intervention (GVI), led by Angelo Bailey and Gina Vasquez, aims to interrupt cycles of violence by connecting high-risk individuals with resources, not just repercussions. The program, supported by law enforcement but driven by community partnership, is actively shifting the narrative around crime prevention.

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Coming up on this week's edition of The Spark Weekly.

This week, Dickinson College President John Jones and Susquehanna University President Jonathan Green joined more than 300 higher-education leaders in publicly condemning what they described as “unprecedented government overreach and political interference endangering American education and public research funding."

also, on the program,

Acclaimed award-winning author Dan E. Hendrickson shines a powerful light on female empowerment through his gripping novels centered around heroic women who lead with courage, conviction, and heart.

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This week’s journalist roundtable dove into the growing staffing shortages impacting all corners of the justice system—from sheriff’s deputies to public defenders.

Joining the conversation were Dan Nephin, reporter for LNP/LancasterOnline, and Kara Jeffers, multimedia journalist at Lilly Broadcasting. Both shared insights from their reporting and on-the-ground observations, highlighting how vacancies in law enforcement and legal defense are straining local justice systems across Pennsylvania.

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Listen to the podcast for the full conversation.

With Mother’s Day just around the corner, author Dan E. Hendrickson joins The Spark to share a story rooted in love, legacy, and liberation. His latest novel, Brandy, Dame of the Caribbean, continues the saga of a woman pirate turned abolitionist, capturing both swashbuckling adventure and heartfelt family moments.

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