Ironton Education Association President Daniel Murphy and his fellow educators in their rural community live in a deep red part of Ohio - Donald Trump won 75% of the vote in Lawrence County in 2024. But Murphy says partisan labels mean nothing when it comes to making sure rural students' needs are met. In this episode, he shares what he wants all lawmakers to understand about the challenges facing rural schools. He also shares his message to his local members about the importance of electing pro-public education leaders, regardless of political party.

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Featured Public Education Matters guest: 

• Daniel Murphy, Ironton Education Association President
  • Daniel is a proud father, first and foremost. To his children, Jasmine and Kingston, he is a hero, a teacher, and a source of unconditional love. It is from this foundational role that his mission to nurture, protect, and empower others flows. As a Physical Education teacher at Ironton Middle School, he has spent the last decade channeling that paternal energy into the gymnasium and onto the playing fields, understanding that building strong character is just as important as building strong bodies.
  • But his classroom has no walls. For twenty years, he has been a pillar on the football field, coaching at multiple levels. In the grit and grind of practice, he has taught young athletes about discipline, teamwork, and resilience—lessons that extend far beyond the final whistle. This same unwavering dedication is offered to his faith community, where he serves as a deacon, providing spiritual guidance and support.
  • Recognizing that his duty of care extended to the very colleagues who shape Ironton’s future, he stepped into a new role three years ago as President of the Ironton Education Association. Here, he found a new arena for his passion. The same fire he brings to his students, his players, and his church, he now brings to serving his union members every single day.
  • His mission is clear and profound: to better the work environment and culture for everyone involved in the Ironton City Schools District. He fights not just for teachers, but for the dedicated support staff, the students they all serve, and the entire ecosystem that makes education possible. He understands that a thriving school is built on respect and fairness for all.
  • His guiding light in this work is a powerful conviction, echoed in one of his favorite quotes from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter.”
  • He has chosen a life of purposeful noise. He is not silent about fair treatment. He is not silent about safe and supportive schools. He is not silent about the things that matter to his family, his students, his fellow educators, and his community.
  • Through his roles as a father, teacher, coach, deacon, and union leader, he demonstrates that true impact is measured not by a single grand gesture, but by the sum of a thousand daily commitments. He is a builder—of stronger bodies, sharper minds, fairer workplaces, and a more compassionate community. His story is a powerful reminder that one person’s dedicated life can be the catalyst for a better world for all.
     

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About us:

• The Ohio Education Association represents nearly 120,000 teachers, faculty members and support professionals who work in Ohio’s schools, colleges, and universities to help improve public education and the lives of Ohio’s children. OEA members provide professional services to benefit students, schools, and the public in virtually every position needed to run Ohio’s schools.
• Public Education Matters host Katie Olmsted serves as Media Relations Consultant for the Ohio Education Association. She joined OEA in May 2020, after a ten-year career as an Emmy Award-winning television reporter, anchor, and producer. Katie comes from a family of educators and is passionate about telling educators' stories and advocating for Ohio's students. She lives in Central Ohio with her husband and two young children. 

This episode was recorded on September 11, 2025.