What “student focused” really means
Sharon Sedlar | March 5, 2026
PaFEC was in central and eastern PA on Friday and Saturday for our Pop-ups last week; events designed to offer one-on-one, in person support for parents from all education options. We love to talk to families and ensure they have as much information as possible while navigating the PA K-12 education system. We frequently recall a favorite legislative champion, Senator Scott Martin, stating that “we only get one shot” when it comes to our children’s education. There are no do-overs. Parents are setting them up for life, and hopefully successfully.
On Friday, we set up shop at a Panera in ne Philadelphia with one of our Regional Parent Leaders, Shannon Mitchell. If you go to our website and search for her name, you’ll learn more about her story and passion. What are her children’s education options? Private, district and out-of-district placement (specialized education) – three children, three different options.
Shannon and I met with a mom whose child is an exceptional learner. Requests to the district for an evaluation of specialized services have been denied. We provided resources to her to work within the PA K-12 education system and provided insight on ways she could partner with her district to achieve what her child needs.
Saturday morning, Sara Walker and I met with a parent, previously in district education and now in cyber charter. Oh – and she is a district School Board Director as well! That conversation covered almost 3 hours and encompassed topics surrounding district, cyber charter, and special education; as well as school district and school board procedure, transparency, and ethics.
And then we met with Catiana Muniz in her Lancaster hometown at a Chick-fil-A. While no parents showed up, we were able to reconnect with her and her husband Jose to discuss upcoming events centered on the Latino community in that area. The Muniz family utilizes district education for one child (who is thriving) and cyber charter for another (also thriving). It works perfectly for them, but it took much time, effort, and heartache before finally finding the best fit.
And my own family utilized district, private, cyber charter, home education and district cyber before our most recent educational home: a blended private school environment with asynchronous core classes and in-person opportunities for classes like fashion and design, psychology, speech – and even participation in the school musical and the track team via a unique program offered only by Bishop McCort High School in Johnstown.
PaFEC helps families decipher and navigate the PA K-12 education system. Among some of the things we do, we love to:
- arm families with information via various sources (see the new resource below “Learning Journey”!); whether via phone, zoom, email, or in person
- work with families and educators who, every day, think up new exciting ways to help their children – sometimes even starting their own microschool!
- relay information and stories to legislators as they make decisions for students and families across our Commonwealth
“Student focused” conversations don’t start with buildings, money, and adults. They start with what students and parents say they need and want; making it all reality by building from there. And that is what we do across Pennsylvania for every student, and every family.