Heather Negley
Human Resources Manager
Heather Negley is the Human Resources Manager at the Commonwealth Foundation.
Heather earned a BS in Communication from Millersville University and an MBA in Strategic Leadership from Messiah University. She spent 23 years at Messiah University. There she developed her passion for education, servant leadership, and gracious hospitality and, for 10 years, served as the director of conference and event services.
Prior to joining the Commonwealth Foundation, Heather dedicated two years working for a local township where she learned the mechanics behind effective municipal government.
In 2023, Heather earned her Certified Professional Certificate through the Society for Human Resource Management. She is a member of that organization as well as the Human Resources Professionals of Central PA. Heather lives in Boiling Springs with her husband and two sons. She enjoys reading, sewing, laughing, and spoiling the family’s dog and two cats.
Education
Emergency Education Scholarship Accounts
Educational impacts from COVID-19 will reverberate for years—particularly for students who are already struggling. Emergency ESAs can help stem learning losses and keep kids on a path to success.
Memo
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Telemedicine Bill Could Save Lives, but Special Interests Stand in the Way
Around the country, states are embracing telemedicine as the new norm in primary and continuing care. Pennsylvania is one of just eight states without laws governing telemedicine.
Commentary
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Pennsylvania Kids and Schools in Crisis: How to Save Them
Pennsylvania private schools serve over 200,000 kids, many of them low- to middle-income. If private schools are forced to close, public schools will have enormous new costs as they try to…
Commentary
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Is it Easier to Be Tiger King Than Buy Booze in Pennsylvania?
For Pennsylvanians, mixing up their favorite cocktail and following the adventures of an off-the-wall zoo owner named Joe Exotic might be easier said than done. State-run liquor stores shut down…
Commentary
Read More: Is it Easier to Be Tiger King Than Buy Booze in Pennsylvania?Government Accountability
Wolf Makes Reopening Concessions, but Stops Short of Transparency
April 20, 2020, Harrisburg, Pa. — Today, Governor Wolf vetoed a bill, SB 613, that would have brought clarity to Pennsylvania’s controversial business shutdown and provided hope for the future. But…
Press Release
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Pa. Legislature Leads National Move Toward Safe Reopening
April 15, 2020, Harrisburg, Pa. — Today, the Pennsylvania State Legislature passed a bill that would partially repeal Gov. Tom Wolf’s sweeping shutdown of so-called “non-life-sustaining” businesses, which has caused more than 1.3…
Press Release
Read More: Pa. Legislature Leads National Move Toward Safe ReopeningCriminal Justice Reform
Ensure Prisoner Release is Reasonable and Safe During COVID-19
April 10, 2020, Harrisburg, Pa. — Today, Governor Wolf announced that his administration will be releasing qualified state prisoners under the Temporary Program to Reprieve Sentences of Incarceration Program. The Commonwealth Foundation…
Press Release
Read More: Ensure Prisoner Release is Reasonable and Safe During COVID-19Education
Top 5 Questions about Homeschooling
We're suddenly homeschoolers—what now? How do I handle educating kids of various ages? What resources are available? We've got the answers you're looking for! …
Commentary
Read More: Top 5 Questions about HomeschoolingRegulation
Op-Ed: Coronavirus Crackdown Exposes Failing Government Liquor Monopoly
The state liquor monopoly, not the coronavirus, caused the present alcohol shortage. Now is the time to push for changes.
Commentary
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Op-Ed: With classes canceled for weeks, schools must embrace innovation
Now is the time for the Philadelphia School District to embrace innovation, creativity, and critical thinking.
Commentary
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Op-Ed: State Lawmakers Must Act Now to Mitigate Crisis
In this time of uncertainty, lawmakers must not be passive. Instead, they should advance their own solutions to the problems developing in their districts and among their constituents. …
Commentary
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Education During Coronavirus
Education is not what it was two months ago. From parents to politicians, everyone is grappling with how to keep kids lives and schooling just a bit normal. Our education…
Commentary
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Pennsylvania’s Budget Is Not Crisis Proof
COVID-19 has highlighted some of the cracks in our current budget system. Sticking to these budget basics will help Pennsylvania withstand the current crisis, as well as reform the budget…
Commentary
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Budget Is Not Crisis ProofCriminal Justice Reform
How Pa. Can Keep Prisons and Communities Safe During Coronavirus
Pennsylvania’s prisons and jails are particularly vulnerable to the quick spread of COVID-19. Here are several recommendations for mitigating the risk in our corrections system while protecting public safety. …
Fact Sheet
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Wolf’s Business Shutdown is Broken, Here’s How to Fix It
Gov. Wolf’s shutdown of “non-life-essential" businesses has caused more than 1.1 million Pennsylvania workers to lose their jobs in the last three weeks alone. This unprecedented loss of income is…
Commentary
Read More: Wolf’s Business Shutdown is Broken, Here’s How to Fix ItTaxes & Economy
State Unemployment Fund Returns to Crisis
The unemployment insurance fund was neither properly replenished nor reformed after running out of money in 2008. It is about to run out of money again. …
Commentary
Read More: State Unemployment Fund Returns to CrisisHealth Care
Cyber Charter School Teachers Speak Out
Pennsylvania parents who may not have given any consideration to cyber public charter schools previously are doing that now in the wake of the coronavirus. This has the education establishment upset…
Commentary
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Understanding Cyber Charter Schools
Misconceptions abound when it comes to cyber charter schools—and opponents use that confusion to attack this important option. In the current era of school shutdowns, it's more important than ever…
Fact Sheet
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Stories of Hope and Flourishing in Pennsylvania during COVID-19
It’s all too easy to fall into the pit of bad news these days. But thankfully, people and markets are creative and charitable, especially in tough times. Here are some…
Commentary
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Pennsylvania Can Beat COVID-19. Here’s How
It’s a thin tightrope to walk, but lawmakers must balance policies that keep Pennsylvanians safe with those that empower medical workers, protect the health care supply chain, and …
Commentary
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Harrisburg & COVID-19
How is state government reacting to the coronavirus? And what can the Legislature do to help alleviate the pain Pennsylvania is enduring?…
Commentary
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