Public Education Matters

When it comes to learning, educators know there is no one-size-fits-all approach. The same is true for students with complex behavioral and mental health needs. In this episode, we explore how the Ohio Department of Medicaid's OhioRISE (Resilience through Integrated Systems and Excellence) program has transformed the way those students get the support they need, bringing together schools, families, healthcare providers, and community partners to build individualized supports across multiple systems to help children succeed at home, in the classroom, and beyond.

LEARN MORE | Check out the OhioRISE brochure to learn more about the program or click here to visit the OhioRISE website and explore the resources and program details, including a map to find the care management entity in your county. You can also email [email protected] with your questions.

SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK | If you'd like to share your thoughts on the Public Education Matters podcast, including your ideas for what you'd like to hear on future episodes, please email [email protected].

SUBSCRIBE | Click here to subscribe to Public Education Matters on Apple Podcasts or click here to listen on Spotify so you don't miss a thing. You can also find Public Education Matters on many other platforms. Click here for some of those links so you can listen anywhere. And don't forget you can listen to all of the previous episodes anytime on your favorite podcast platform, or by clicking here.

Featured Public Education Matters guest: 

• Jessica Horowitz-Moore, Ohio Department of Medicaid Deputy Director of Children's Health Engagement 
  • Jessica Horowitz-Moore is a multidisciplinary leader dedicated to improving outcomes for children and families. She currently serves as the Deputy Director of Children’s Health Engagement with the Ohio Department of Medicaid, advancing statewide strategies that support child well-being. Previously, she was the Chief of Student and Academic Supports for the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce. With experience as a public defender, child abuse prosecutor, and elementary school principal, Jessica brings a unique, cross‑sector perspective to removing barriers to learning. She holds a JD from Hofstra University and both an MBA and bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University

In this episode:

• 00:00 - Supporting the Whole Child
• 02:20 - OhioRISE: A New Way to Support Kids with Complex Behavioral Health Needs
• 03:23 - Care Coordination and Wraparound Support
• 04:34 - Rethinking Crisis Response
• 06:26 - Helping Students Thrive in Every Environment
• 09:47 - What Educators Need to Know
• 12:39 - Keeping Kids Connected to Their Schools
• 13:32 - Measuring Success 
• 15:05 - The Wide Range of Student Needs
• 16:37 - Why These Supports Matter
• 17:44 - Stories of Hope and Transformation
• 20:13 - Successful Kids, Families, and Communities
• 20:48 - Finding Resources and Learning More

Connect with OEA:

• Email [email protected] with your feedback or ideas for future Public Education Matters topics
• Like OEA on Facebook
• Follow OEA on Twitter
• Follow OEA on Instagram
• Get the latest news and statements from OEA here
• Learn more about where OEA stands on the issues 
• Keep up to date on the legislation affecting Ohio public schools and educators with OEA's Legislative Watch

About us:

• The Ohio Education Association represents approximately 115,000 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 August 25, 2026.

For students to be successful in the classroom - and in life - they need to learn to identify and manage their emotions. But, teaching about abstract ideas like emotions with abstract concepts like color-coding just wasn't working for the students in Erin Nusker's Lake County kindergarten class. So, she got creative and came up with a new system - and a whole research-backed book series - to turn emotional regulation into something young learners could actually understand. In this episode, the Madison Education Association member shares how she brought her lovable weather characters to life on the page and in her classroom, and how her growing collection of resources is helping educators and families support student success every day.

TITLES IN THE 'CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF FEELINGS' BOOK SERIES:

• Sometimes I Feel Like a Tornado
• Tears Are Like the Rain: A Story of Overcoming Sadness and Building Confidence
• Sometimes I Feel Like the Weather: A Story About Identifying & Managing Emotions

BEYOND THE BOOKS | Educators can go to ErinNusker.net to download free printables for students, see recommendations for effective calming tools for your classroom, and find links to access digital curriculum, games and activities, and other downloadable resources through Erin's TPT site. 
 

SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK | If you'd like to share your thoughts on the Public Education Matters podcast, including your ideas for what you'd like to hear on future episodes, please email [email protected].

SUBSCRIBE | Click here to subscribe to Public Education Matters on Apple Podcasts or click here to listen on Spotify so you don't miss a thing. You can also find Public Education Matters on many other platforms. Click here for some of those links so you can listen anywhere. And don't forget you can listen to all of the previous episodes anytime on your favorite podcast platform, or by clicking here.

Featured Public Education Matters guest: 

• Erin Nusker, Madison Education Association Member
  • A kindergarten teacher in Madison Local Schools in Lake County, Erin Nusker is a children's book author and creator of the Cloudy with a Chance of Feelings series— where weather meets big emotions. With over a decade of classroom experience, Erin writes and illustrates social-emotional stories that help children understand their feelings through hands-on science, storytelling, and heart. Her mission is simple: help kids feel seen, understood, and empowered—one
    storm at a time.

In this episode:

• 0:00 - Why Emotional Regulation Matters for Young Learners
• 2:41 - Meet Erin Nusker and her Cloudy with a Chance of Feelings series
• 3:00 - From Classroom Challenge to Weather-Themed Solution
• 5:52 - Why Weather Works as an Effective Teaching Tool
• 8:01 - Connecting Emotions to Social-Emotional Learning Research
• 9:21 - Beyond the Books: Resources for Families and Educators
• 11:43 - Bringing Weather Characters into the Classroom
• 13:08 - Meet the Feelings Forecast: The Weather Characters
• 14:23 - No Bad Emotions: Learning to Weather the Storm
• 16:03 - Seeing the Impact on Students and Families
• 17:10 - Writing, Illustrating, and Self-Publishing the Series
• 18:17 - The Evolution of the Book Series
• 18:44 - What's Next for Cloudy with a Chance of Feelings?
• 20:16 - Navigating the SEL Debate
• 23:02 - Why Teaching Emotional Regulation Can't Wait
• 24:27 - Resources to Support Student Success and Closing Thoughts

Connect with OEA:

• Email [email protected] with your feedback or ideas for future Public Education Matters topics
• Like OEA on Facebook
• Follow OEA on Twitter
• Follow OEA on Instagram
• Get the latest news and statements from OEA here
• Learn more about where OEA stands on the issues 
• Keep up to date on the legislation affecting Ohio public schools and educators with OEA's Legislative Watch

About us:

• The Ohio Education Association represents approximately 115,000 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 July 16, 2026.

History's unsung heroes have been getting their long-overdue moments in the spotlight in Ben Purdy's Rocky River Middle School classroom, thanks to a totally made-up holiday that has delivered very real results by getting students excited about learning social studies. On this episode, the teacher who invented a day to celebrate The Un-Famous People Of History (aka TUFPOH) tells the story of how one small idea became a beloved tradition that helps inspire students to see themselves as the next generation of innovators and changemakers. And, he shares some of other innovative ways he sparks his students' curiosity and love of learning through creative lessons in his classroom.

BONUS BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO | Ben Purdy believes in the power of having students see and touch history, so he turned his classroom into a living history museum full of real-world historical artifacts for his students to engage with and enjoy. Watch the video at the bottom of these show notes or click here to see Mr. Purdy show off some of his favorite historical pieces in his collection while diving deeper into why his classroom-turned-history museum can make such a big impact on students' learning.

SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK | If you'd like to share your thoughts on the Public Education Matters podcast, including your ideas for what you'd like to hear on future episodes, please email [email protected].

SUBSCRIBE | Click here to subscribe to Public Education Matters on Apple Podcasts or click here to listen on Spotify so you don't miss a thing. You can also find Public Education Matters on many other platforms. Click here for some of those links so you can listen anywhere. And don't forget you can listen to all of the previous episodes anytime on your favorite podcast platform, or by clicking here.

Featured Public Education Matters guest: 

• Ben Purdy, Rocky River Teachers Association Member
  • Ben Purdy has taught social studies and English/Language Arts for 28 years, the last 26 of which has been in the Rocky River City School District.  He has surpassed 50 seasons coaching, including girls tennis and boys basketball.  As you would expect from a social studies teacher, he loves traveling and loves talking with people he meets along the way.  Ben lives in Rocky River with his two daughters, a yellow lab, and a golden retriever.  

In this episode:

• 00:00 - Inventing a Holiday
• 03:05 - TUFPOH's Origin Story
• 06:06 - Ruth Wakefield, Q-Tips, and Unsung Innovators
• 08:17 - Songs, Traditions, and TUFPOH Celebrations
• 09:59 - Researching History’s “Unfamous” People
• 11:18 - Ben Purdy’s Family Connection to History
• 13:34 - The Power of Getting Students Excited to Learn
• 15:15 - Innovative Classroom Traditions That Stand the Test of Time
• 15:59 - March Madness Meets American History
• 16:47 - Fantasy History League: Drafting Africa
• 17:46 - Today's Kids Deserve More Credit than We Give Them
• 21:19 - What Students’ TUFPOH Choices Reveal
• 23:56 - Shark Tank Comes to Social Studies
• 24:35 - The Lasting Legacy of TUFPOH
• 25:58 - A Classroom That Feels Like a History Museum and Closing Thoughts

Connect with OEA:

• Email [email protected] with your feedback or ideas for future Public Education Matters topics
• Like OEA on Facebook
• Follow OEA on Twitter
• Follow OEA on Instagram
• Get the latest news and statements from OEA here
• Learn more about where OEA stands on the issues 
• Keep up to date on the legislation affecting Ohio public schools and educators with OEA's Legislative Watch

About us:

• The Ohio Education Association represents approximately 115,000 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 July 15, 2026.

Growing up in a neighborhood known as "Drug City USA," Judge Marilyn Zayas never imagined she would one day run for Ohio’s highest court. In this episode, the OEA member-recommended State Supreme Court candidate shares how the power of education and a belief in opportunity and fairness helped shape her journey, and why judicial independence and the decisions of the Ohio Supreme Court are so important for the future of every public school educator, student, and community in the state.

JUDGE ZAYAS' RECORD | Click here to learn more about Judge Marilyn Zayas' background, experience, and the judicial philosophy that drives her service on Ohio's courts.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PRO-PUBLIC EDUCATION, PRO-LABOR CANDIDATES ON THE BALLOT | OEA members can click here to check out the list of all the OEA-member recommended candidates running for state and federal office.

SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK | If you'd like to share your thoughts on the Public Education Matters podcast, including your ideas for what you'd like to hear on future episodes, please email [email protected].

SUBSCRIBE | Click here to subscribe to Public Education Matters on Apple Podcasts or click here to listen on Spotify so you don't miss a thing. You can also find Public Education Matters on many other platforms. Click here for some of those links so you can listen anywhere. And don't forget you can listen to all of the previous episodes anytime on your favorite podcast platform, or by clicking here.

Featured Public Education Matters guest: 

• Judge Marilyn Zayas, OEA member-recommended Ohio Supreme Court candidate
  • Judge Marilyn Zayas has served on the First District Court of Appeals since 2016, when she was elected as the first Latina Court of Appeals judge in Hamilton County history. She is one of the most experienced appellate judges serving in Ohio.  Since joining the court, Judge Zayas was appointed by the Ohio Supreme Court’s Chief Justice to sit on the Second, Sixth, Eighth, and Tenth District Courts of Appeal.
  • Judge Zayas was also selected by the Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court to serve by special assignment at the Supreme Court for a criminal case in June 2018, and for a series of complex civil cases for March 13, April 2, and April 22, 2025.  Judge Zayas’ judicial record shows that she faithfully applies the law and our state and federal constitutions equally to all, independent of outside influence and politics.  Zayas earned an “Excellent” rating, the highest rating from the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association and the Norman S. Minor Bar Association. 
  • Judge Zayas is the product of hard-working parents who migrated from Puerto Rico and worked in factories and the printing industry.  She overcame numerous obstacles earning a college degree in computer science.  After experiencing the devastation that drugs and crime had on her working-class childhood neighborhood, she found a new home in Ohio in 1988.  Prior to attending law school, she had an esteemed career as an IT Manager at Procter & Gamble, where she managed teams and international projects, with multi-million-dollar budgets.
  • After her election, Judge Zayas created the Educating Tomorrow’s Leaders program, an educational program for high school, undergraduate, and law school students.  The program invites students to the Court of Appeals to interact with judges and attorneys, learn about the law, and inspire them to dream big and to never give up. Judge Zayas has also spearheaded initiatives at the court that provide cost savings and enlarged access for the community, including a user-friendly guide, designed to assist those who do not have an attorney.  
  • Prior to joining the Court of Appeals, Zayas served the community as an attorney for nearly 20 years, litigating in both state and federal courts.  She began her legal career as an intellectual property litigator at Holland & Hart, one of the most prominent law firms in Colorado.  After returning to Ohio, Judge Zayas worked for the Hamilton County Public Defender’s Office, and ultimately founded her own boutique law practice where she helped business owners, asylum applicants, and families successfully navigate the complex immigration system.  Judge Zayas earned a reputation as an attorney who provides honest and zealous representation while navigating complex and extremely intricate cases. 
  • She also served as an adjunct professor at her alma mater, the University of Cincinnati College of Law.  Further, recognizing the significance of safe communities, she spent several years partnering with various law enforcement agencies for community initiatives.
  • Judge Marilyn Zayas brought national attention to Ohio in 2024 when her judicial excellence was celebrated in Washington, D.C. upon her selection as the 2024 Judge of the Year by the preeminent National Hispanic Bar Association.  Judge Zayas was also recognized for her judicial excellence and many contributions locally in 2024 by the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners proclaiming October 11, 2024 as Judge Marilyn Zayas day.  
  • Her family includes her three adult children and rescue grand-fur-babies, Sparkle Lou and Kiwi.

In this episode:

• 0:00 - Accountability, Balance, and Ohio’s Future
• 2:51 - Meet Judge Marilyn Zayas
• 3:30 - An American Dream Rooted in Education
• 8:02 - Educating Tomorrow’s Leaders
• 10:59 - The Teachers Who Changed Her Life
• 12:50 - Why the Ohio Supreme Court Matters to Educators
• 13:20 - How Supreme Court Decisions Affect Everyday Ohioans
• 17:58 - School Funding and Constitutional Questions
• 19:58 - A Judicial Philosophy Built on Fairness
• 21:45 - Facts, Evidence, and the Challenges of AI
• 23:44 - Calling Balls and Strikes, Not Politics
• 25:52 - Why Voters Should Look Beyond Party Labels
• 27:14 - Judicial Independence and Public Trust
• 29:42 - Why This Election Matters for Public Education

Connect with OEA:

• Email [email protected] with your feedback or ideas for future Public Education Matters topics
• Like OEA on Facebook
• Follow OEA on Twitter
• Follow OEA on Instagram
• Get the latest news and statements from OEA here
• Learn more about where OEA stands on the issues 
• Keep up to date on the legislation affecting Ohio public schools and educators with OEA's Legislative Watch

About us:

• T...

What happens in Congress makes a big impact on Ohio's public school students and educators, and when Rep. Greg Landsman is re-elected to represent the people of Ohio's 1st Congressional District, he has big plans for ensuring Ohio's public school students and educators can get what they need to succeed. The Cincinnati-area Congressman joins us for this episode to share more on the Every Child Education Act component of his broader "Our Great American Moment" legislative platform, how he wants to continue to work across the aisle on Capitol Hill, and why he says setting up young Ohioans for academic and economic success has to start well before their first day of Kindergarten.
 
LANDSMAN ON THE ISSUES | Rep. Landsman is running for re-election in a newly redrawn district that stretches from Cincinnati through Warren and Clinton Counties - Click here for the latest on his campaign. Click here to read his full "Our Great American Moment" legislative platform, introduced in Congress in November, 2025. 

SUPPORTING STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, AND FAMILIES | The Every Child Education Act component of Landsman's legislative platform is rooted in early-childhood-development research, arguing that investment in the prenatal-through-early-childhood period has outsized long-term impact on educational and economic outcomes. Key provisions include:

• Expansion of paid family and medical leave
• Expanded, subsidized access to childcare and preschool
• An additional funded year of preschool for children not yet kindergarten-ready
• Expanded access to prenatal care for expecting mothers
• Increased teacher pay and expanded after-school/summer academic support
• Full funding of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
• Free two-to-four-year community college and trade school, paired with expanded financial aid and loan forgiveness 

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PRO-PUBLIC EDUCATION, PRO-LABOR CANDIDATES ON THE BALLOT | OEA members can click here to check out the list of all the OEA-member recommended candidates running for state and federal office. And listen to Season 7, Episode 2, starting around 28:55, for more on what goes into these candidate recommendations.

SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK | If you'd like to share your thoughts on the Public Education Matters podcast, including your ideas for what you'd like to hear on future episodes, please email [email protected].

SUBSCRIBE | Click here to subscribe to Public Education Matters on Apple Podcasts or click here to listen on Spotify so you don't miss a thing. You can also find Public Education Matters on many other platforms. Click here for some of those links so you can listen anywhere. And don't forget you can listen to all of the previous episodes anytime on your favorite podcast platform, or by clicking here.

Featured Public Education Matters guest: 

• Rep. Greg Landsman, OEA Member-Recommended Candidate for Ohio's 1st Congressional District
  • Greg Landsman serves as the U.S. Representative for Ohio’s First Congressional District.
  • He is a proud father and husband who calls Cincinnati and Southwest Ohio home.
  • Greg is a former teacher and son of teachers. He spent most of his career working on behalf of children and families, especially those who have been left out and left behind.
  • Before joining Congress in 2023, Greg successfully led a ballot measure to make Cincinnati the first city in America to provide two years of quality preschool.
  • He also served five years on Cincinnati City Council, where he led efforts to strengthen core services – from public safety to paving roads. Greg also led comprehensive eviction prevention reforms and new investments in children and families: prenatal care, childcare, affordable housing, and youth jobs.
  • In his first term in Congress, Greg took on the Speaker of the House to force a vote on the Social Security Fairness Act. The bill finally passed after it had been sitting in Congress for 25 years. It returns $20 billion a year to public retirees – such as police officers, firefighters, teachers, and letter carriers.
  • Greg has secured tens of millions of dollars for Southwest Ohio projects and hosted over 30 town halls and community conversations.
  • He is a reformer, and one of only a few members of Congress who sold all their stocks because he believes members of Congress should not be trading stocks. Greg also suspended his pay during the government shutdown, and is a leading voice in banning dark money and getting big money out of politics.
  • He serves as co-chair of the bipartisan What Works Caucus, co-founder of the Lowering Costs Caucus, and holds a leadership role in the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, where he works across the aisle to deliver real results.
  • Greg earned his undergraduate degree from Ohio University and a master’s in theology from Harvard. He lives in Cincinnati with his wife, Sarah, and their two children, Maddie and Elijah.

Connect with OEA:

• Email [email protected] with your feedback or ideas for future Public Education Matters topics
• Like OEA on Facebook
• Follow OEA on Twitter
• Follow OEA on Instagram
• Get the latest news and statements from OEA here
• Learn more about where OEA stands on the issues 
• Keep up to date on the legislation affecting Ohio public schools and educators with OEA's Legislative Watch

About us:

• The Ohio Education Association represents approximately 115,000 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 public school students, including her own two children. She lives in Central Ohio with her husband, children, and cat, Davis, who is cute, but mean, which just makes her all the more lovable.

This episode was recorded on August 24, 2026.

In this episode:

Every student deserves to walk into school with confidence, dignity, and the tools they need to learn. In this episode, Chardon High School teacher Kelly DiCato shares the story of the Chardon Care Closet and the community effort that is changing lives one backpack, toothbrush, notebook, and tube of chap stick at a time.

SUPPORT THE CHARDON CARE CLOSET | If you would like to make a donation to support the Chardon Care Closet's mission, you can learn more on the Chardon Care Closet's Facebook page, buy and send items through its Amazon wish list, or make a financial donation - Checks should be made out to: "Chardon Board of Education - Attn: Care Closet"

CONTACT KELLY | If you're thinking about bringing a Care Closet to your own school and would like to pick Kelly DiCato's brain about the lessons she's learned along the way with her project in Chardon, you can email her at [email protected].

SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK | If you'd like to share your thoughts on the Public Education Matters podcast, including your ideas for what you'd like to hear on future episodes, please email [email protected].

SUBSCRIBE | Click here to subscribe to Public Education Matters on Apple Podcasts or click here to listen on Spotify so you don't miss a thing. You can also find Public Education Matters on many other platforms. Click here for some of those links so you can listen anywhere. And don't forget you can listen to all of the previous episodes anytime on your favorite podcast platform, or by clicking here.

Featured Public Education Matters guest: 

• Kelly DiCato, Chardon Education Association Member
  • An Algebra One teacher at Chardon High School, Kelly lives in Chardon with her two boys and her husband of 12 years. This school year is her 21st year of teaching, and her 21st year of teaching Algebra One - plus other preps, of course. DiCato loves exercising and running, gardening, playing her boys, and now, making sourdough bread :)

Connect with OEA:

• Email [email protected] with your feedback or ideas for future Public Education Matters topics
• Like OEA on Facebook
• Follow OEA on Twitter
• Follow OEA on Instagram
• Get the latest news and statements from OEA here
• Learn more about where OEA stands on the issues 
• Keep up to date on the legislation affecting Ohio public schools and educators with OEA's Legislative Watch

About us:

• The Ohio Education Association represents approximately 115,000 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 July 20, 2026.

In this episode:

• 00:00 -A Community Steps Up
• 00:25 - Podcast introduction
• 02:37 - Meet Kelly DiCato
• 02:45 - From One Student's Story to a Schoolwide Resource
• 05:11 - Finding Space Inside the School
• 06:47 - The First Donations Arrive
• 08:49 - $17,000 in Community Support
• 11:41 - The Work Behind the Mission
• 13:30 - Why Helping Students Matters
• 15:42 - Removing Barriers to Student Success
• 17:48 - A Community That Always Says Yes
• 19:35 - Expanding the Impact Beyond Chardon
• 21:14 - A Community Effort
• 21:58 - Closing Thoughts
• 22:13 - Support the Chardon Care Closet

What happens when one of the key legislative champions behind the Fair School Funding Plan sets his sights on statewide office? In this episode, OEA member-recommended candidate Jay Edwards reflects on his record of fighting for public schools in the Ohio legislature and explains how, as Ohio's next state treasurer, he would use the office's influence to strengthen educator retirement security, elevate educator voices, and continue advancing policies that help Ohio students succeed.

EDWARDS ON THE ISSUES |Click here to visit EdwardsForOhio.comand learn more about Jay Edwards' priorities as Ohio's next State Treasurer. Click here to read the write-up in OEA's Ohio Schools magazine about why Edwards was named a Legislative Champion for Public Education at OEA's Representative Assembly in Spring, 2025.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PRO-PUBLIC EDUCATION, PRO-LABOR CANDIDATES ON THE BALLOT | OEA members can click here to check out the list of all the OEA-member recommended candidates running for state and federal office.

SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK | If you'd like to share your thoughts on the Public Education Matters podcast, including your ideas for what you'd like to hear on future episodes, please email [email protected].

SUBSCRIBE | Click here to subscribe to Public Education Matters on Apple Podcasts or click here to listen on Spotify so you don't miss a thing. You can also find Public Education Matters on many other platforms. Click here for some of those links so you can listen anywhere. And don't forget you can listen to all of the previous episodes anytime on your favorite podcast platform, or by clicking here.

Featured Public Education Matters guest: 

• Jay Edwards, OEA member-recommended candidate for State Treasurer
  • Jay Edwards is a native son of Southeast Ohio. Born and raised in Nelsonville, Jay attended Nelsonville-York High School before going on to Ohio University on a football scholarship, where he graduated with his degree in mathematics.
  • Jay first ran for public office in 2016 at the age of 27, becoming a member of the Ohio House of Representatives, representing Athens, Meigs, Washington, Vinton and Morgan counties.
  • During his time in the legislature, Jay served as Chairman of the House Finance Committee, where he wrote and sponsored the state's operating and capital budgets. As Finance Chair, Jay successfully fought for a billion dollar increase in public education funding and helped secure nearly $400 million for higher education capital projects across Ohio.
  • Jay lives in Nelsonville with his partner, Jayde, and their three children.

In this episode:

• 00:00 - Welcome & Why This Election Matters
• 02:48 - Meet Jay Edwards, OEA's 2025 Legislative Champion for Public Education
• 05:05 - Fighting Student Hunger and Expanding School Meals 
• 07:53 - The Fair School Funding Plan and School Funding Reform 
• 09:54 - What Does the Ohio State Treasurer Do? 
• 11:08 - Protecting Educators' Retirement Security Through STRS 
• 13:19 - Changes to the STRS Board and Why They Matter 
• 15:12 - Transparency, Accountability, and Teacher Voices 
• 17:31 - Listening to Ohioans Across the State 
• 18:05 - Using the Treasurer's Office as a Voice for Public Education 
• 19:48 - A Direct Invitation to Ohio Educators 
• 21:58 - Closing Thoughts and Next Steps

Connect with OEA:

• Email [email protected] with your feedback or ideas for future Public Education Matters topics
• Like OEA on Facebook
• Follow OEA on Twitter
• Follow OEA on Instagram
• Get the latest news and statements from OEA here
• Learn more about where OEA stands on the issues 
• Keep up to date on the legislation affecting Ohio public schools and educators with OEA's Legislative Watch

About us:

• The Ohio Education Association represents approximately 115,000 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 8, 2026.

Ohio is now spending more than $1 billion in public taxpayer dollars each year on private school vouchers, but how much do we really know about where that money goes and whether it delivers any real results? In this episode, State Sen. Kent Smith (D-21st District) and State Sen. Bill Blessing (R-8th District) discuss their bipartisan efforts to bring transparency and accountability to Ohio’s near-universal voucher system, while also tackling the bigger questions of school funding, property taxes, school meal access, and the future of public education.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PRO-PUBLIC EDUCATION, PRO-LABOR CANDIDATES ON THE BALLOT | State Sen. Kent Smith is the OEA member-recommended candidate for the 21st Ohio Senate district. OEA members can click here to check out the list of all the OEA member-recommended candidates running for state and federal office. And listen to Season 7, Episode 2, starting around 28:55, for more on what goes into these candidate recommendations.

WATCH THE PRESS CONFERENCE | Click here to see the video of Sens. Blessing and Smith's press conference on May 27, 2026, announcing the introduction of SB 443 in the Senate. Blessing and Smith were joined by Representative Justin Pizzulli (R-Scioto County); Alana Cropper, Treasurer of Forest Hills School District; Piet Van Lier, Deputy Director of Honesty for Ohio Education; and Karen Rego, President of the Cleveland Heights Teachers Union for this press event.

BLESSING'S LETTER TO THE EDITOR | While discussing property tax levies in this episode, Sen. Blessing mentioned a letter to the editor he previously wrote. Click here to read his statement. 

SMITH'S 2023 PREDICTION | During our conversation for this episode, Sen. Smith referenced a Cleveland.com article about Gov. DeWine's announcement in the 2023 State of the State about expanding vouchers in Ohio to near-universal eligibility. Smith warned of the  consequences of voucher expansion for public education funding, which have since come to pass. Click here to read the story from January 31, 2023.

ICYMI: STATEHOUSE EDITION | Sen. Smith has released weekly, award-winning video updates on state government since Spring 2023. Access the full video archive and keep an eye out for new releases on Smith's Senate webpage.

SUBSCRIBE | Click here to subscribe to Public Education Matters on Apple Podcasts or click here to listen on Spotify so you don't miss a thing. You can also find Public Education Matters on many other platforms. Click here for some of those links so you can listen anywhere. And don't forget you can listen to all of the previous episodes anytime on your favorite podcast platform, or by clicking here.

Featured Public Education Matters guests: 

• State Sen. Louis W. Blessing III (R-Colerain Twp.)
  • State Senator Louis W. Blessing, III is serving his second term in the Ohio Senate. He currently represents Ohio's 8th Senate District, which encompasses a portion of Hamilton County. He began his career in the legislature serving as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives, representing the 29th Ohio House District.
  • Senator Blessing has an extensive background in electrical engineering. He currently works as an engineer at Super Systems, Inc. in Cincinnati and previously worked at Duke Energy and Nova Engineering.
  • He earned his Bachelor of Arts in mathematics and Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering at the University of Cincinnati. The Senator is a licensed professional engineer and is a member of the Ohio Society of Professional Engineers. He currently resides in Colerain Township with his wife Heather and their three sons.
  • 136th General Assembly Committee Assignments: 
    • Ways & Means (Chairman)
    • Education Committee (Vice Chair)
    • Finance
    • Financial Institutions, Insurance and Technology
    • Judiciary
• State Sen. Kent Smith (D-Euclid) 
  •  **OEA member-recommended candidate for re-election in November, 2026**
  • State Senator Kent Smith currently represents Ohio’s 21st Senate District - having been elected to the Ohio Senate in 2022. Prior to his service in the Senate, Smith served four terms in the Ohio House of Representatives (from 2015-2022). He joined the Ohio General Assembly after serving Euclid, Ohio as a Member of the Euclid Board of Education from 2002 – 2013. In his 12 years on the Euclid School Board, Senator Smith never missed a meeting. As a Euclid School Board Member, he was a four-time winner of the “Award of Achievement” which is awarded annually by the Ohio School Boards Association to less than three percent of all School Board Members in Ohio.
  • Senator Smith graduated from Miami University in 1988 and earned his Master of Science in Urban Studies from Cleveland State University in 2001. His master's degree thesis - which was written in 2001 - was about the emerging threat of Predatory Lending and the Subprime Market. He also co-authored the first Predatory Lending Report by Policy Matters Ohio in 2002. Following his master’s degree studies, he sought his Ph.D. at Cleveland State University in Economic Development.
  • In late 2019, prior to the COVID pandemic, Senator Smith was admitted into the Public Leadership Credential program offered by Harvard's Kennedy School.  Senator Smith completed the coursework during 2020 and 2021.  He finished the program's Capstone requirement in January 2023 and graduated from the program in May 2023.
  • Senator Smith serves as the Ranking Member on the Senate Energy and Local Government Committees. He also serves on the Senate Education, Judiciary, Public Utilities, Rules and Reference, and Transportation Committees.
  • Throughout his time in the State House, he served as the Ranking Member on the House Public Utilities (134th and 133rd GA), Financial Institutions (133rd GA), Financial Institutions, Housing, and Urban Development (132nd GA), and Economic & Workforce Development (131st GA) Committees. He also served on the House Higher Education and Career Readiness, Technology and Innovation, Education, Commerce and Labor, and Rules & Reference Committees. During his first term in the Ohio Senate (135th GA) he served as the Ranking Member on the Senate Energy and Public Utilities, Financial Institutions and Technology, and Ways and Means Committees. He also served on the Senate Judiciary, Transportation, and Rules and Reference Committees.
    • Click here to learn more about Sen. S...

***This is a special video and audio episode of this podcast - The full episode video is available at the bottom of these show notes or by clicking here.***

When it comes to public education and workers' rights, there is a clear choice in the race for Ohio's next governor. While Vivek Ramaswamy has repeatedly said he wants to eliminate teachers' unions and has pushed proposals that would slash public school funding to pay for more tax breaks for the wealthy, Dr. Amy Acton is calling for fully funding public schools, protecting collective bargaining rights, and ensuring educators have a seat at the table to help tackle the big issues in our state. In this episode, Dr. Acton joins us for a one-on-one conversation about her plans for Ohio's schools, students, educators, and communities. We also sit down with OEA Director of Government Relations Dan Ramos for a behind-the-scenes look at how OEA members evaluate candidates and make recommendations based on their support for public education and labor issues. If you want to understand what's at stake in this election - and why OEA members enthusiastically recommended Amy Acton for governor - this is an episode you won't want to miss.

ACTON ON THE ISSUES | Click here to visit actonforgovernor.com and learn more about where Amy Acton stands on the big issues in our state. Click here to read OEA's statement on OEA members' decision to support Dr. Acton in the race for Ohio governor. 

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PRO-PUBLIC EDUCATION, PRO-LABOR CANDIDATES ON THE BALLOT | OEA members can click here to check out the list of all the OEA-member recommended candidates running for state and federal office.

READ THE ARTICLE | During our conversation, Dr. Acton mentioned a piece by Mike Curtin that provides an important primer on taxes in Ohio: "Ramaswamy's weary staff hasn't explained property, income taxes to him, so I will"

SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK | If you'd like to share your thoughts on the Public Education Matters podcast, including your ideas for what you'd like to hear on future episodes, please email [email protected].

SUBSCRIBE | Click here to subscribe to Public Education Matters on Apple Podcasts or click here to listen on Spotify so you don't miss a thing. You can also find Public Education Matters on many other platforms. Click here for some of those links so you can listen anywhere. And don't forget you can listen to all of the previous episodes anytime on your favorite podcast platform, or by clicking here.

In this episode:

• 00:00 Opening Message: Building the Ohio We Deserve
• 00:31 Welcome to Public Education Matters
• 02:05 Vivek Ramaswamy in His Own Words 
• 2:32 Contrasting Visions for Ohio's Public Schools
• 04:04 Amy Acton on How Public Schools Changed Her Life
• 06:50 What Ohioans Are Saying About What Their Schools Need
• 10:18 Funding Public Schools and Addressing Property Taxes
• 15:50 Fair School Funding and Ohio's Tax Debate
• 20:36 The Role of Educators' Unions in Ohio's Future
• 25:24 Ohio Politics, Statehouse Races, and Ending Gerrymandering
• 26:34 Acton's Closing Call to Action
• 28:20 How OEA Members Recommend Candidates 
• 29:02 Dan Ramos on Why This Election Matters 
• 31:00 Public Education Is Not a Partisan Issue
• 33:38 Inside OEA's Candidate Screening Process
• 38:11 Voting Information and Final Reminders
• 38:42 Closing Thoughts and Season 7 Preview

Featured Public Education Matters guests: 

• Dr. Amy Acton, OEA Member-Recommended Candidate for Ohio Governor
  • Growing up in Youngstown, in a family who’d worked in the steel mills, Amy Acton faced a difficult childhood. She overcame periods of abuse, hunger, and neglect, and even wound up living in a tent in the middle of winter. That challenging upbringing molded the values and determination that have shaped a career dedicated to lifting others.
  • From working as a waitress to delivering newspapers, Amy worked her way out of poverty and put herself through college and medical school to become a doctor. She experienced firsthand what so many Ohio families face today—working harder than ever and still feeling like they’re falling behind.
  • After medical school, she began a lifelong focus on children’s health. Her first assignment was a pediatrics residency tackling the horrific consequences of the crack cocaine epidemic in children. She then began a residency at Children’s Hospital and Ohio State University, where she trained in pediatrics and preventive medicine. There, she created the first-ever residency rotation in child advocacy and gained a master’s degree in public health.
  • Amy emerged as a community leader for children’s health as the Director of Project L.O.V.E, a partnership between Columbus area hospitals and community stakeholders focused on preventive health for Columbus-area children. She also joined the faculty at Ohio State University, where she became an award-winning professor of maternal and child health and global public health.
  • Amy later joined the Columbus Foundation, where she led on a wide variety of community health issues, from youth homelessness to women’s health.
  • In 2019, Governor DeWine asked Amy to serve in his administration as the Director of the Ohio Department of Health. Amy put partisanship aside to serve the people of Ohio. Amid a wide variety of issues, she worked with Republicans and Democrats throughout the state to hold the big drug companies accountable for the opioid epidemic and shape a historic settlement to fund addiction recovery programs. When the pandemic hit, her steady leadership and voice for common sense not only saved countless lives but also helped Ohio’s economy and schools open earlier than other states. For her leadership, Amy earned a Profile in Courage Award from the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation in 2021 and was named Woman of the Year for Ohio by USA Today in 2022.
  • Following her service in the DeWine administration, Amy returned to the Columbus Foundation and helped found the Center for Human Kindness, then worked with CEOs, mayors, and community advocates to launch Rapid 5, a nonprofit to integrate the region’s park system and waterways, while lifting health and economic wellness. She also partnered with WKYC on an award-winning series called Health, Hope & Healing, where she spoke to Ohioans about the challenges they face and the innovative solutions they’re using to move themselves forward.
  • Now, Amy’s running for Governor because she refuses to look away from Ohioans who are struggling while politicians in Columbus cater to billionaires and corporations.
  • Amy lives in Bexley, Ohio with her husband, Eric, a lifelong teacher...

As the new school year gets underway, Ohio's educators are renewing their focus on delivering on the promise of the great public schools our students deserve. So much of that - for better or for worse - hinges on what happens at the ballot box in November. Ohio Education Association President Jeff Wensing kicks off Season 7 of the podcast with his takes on what's at stake in the upcoming election and some of the other big challenges and opportunities public school educators face this school year.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PRO-PUBLIC EDUCATION, PRO-LABOR CANDIDATES ON THE BALLOT | OEA members can click here to check out the list of OEA-member recommended candidates running for state and federal office.

SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK | If you'd like to share your thoughts on the Public Education Matters podcast, including your ideas for what you'd like to hear on future episodes, please email [email protected].

SUBSCRIBE | Click here to subscribe to Public Education Matters on Apple Podcasts or click here to listen on Spotify so you don't miss a thing. You can also find Public Education Matters on many other platforms. Click here for some of those links so you can listen anywhere. And don't forget you can listen to all of the previous episodes anytime on your favorite podcast platform, or by clicking here.

Featured Public Education Matters guest: 

• Jeff Wensing, Ohio Education Association President
  • A high school math teacher in Parma City Schools, Jeff Wensing was elected OEA President in 2025 after serving as the Association’s vice president for six years. A public education advocate and leader for more than 34 years, Jeff served as President of the Parma Education Association from 2012-2018, and as President of the North Eastern Ohio Education Association (NEOEA) from 2016-2018. He served on OEA’s Constitution and Bylaws Committee and President’s Cabinet, as Vice Chair of OEA’s District Leaders Council, and as a member of the Fiscal Fitness Review Committee and Systemic Practices Committee. As Vice President, Jeff continued to emphasize the importance of organizing members throughout the state.
  • Jeff believes OEA’s commitment must be unwavering in protecting, promoting, and strengthening Ohio’s public schools. As President, he maintains open and effective communication with the OEA Board and district and local leaders to continue building OEA’s collective strength and lead the Association’s advocacy for all students and educators and efforts to ensure equity and inclusion.
  • As President, Jeff prioritizes empowering local affiliates, equipping leaders for successful negotiations, expanding and diversifying OEA membership, enhancing political advocacy, safeguarding equitable funding for public schools, opposing unchecked voucher expansion, defending collective bargaining rights, and promoting safe and supportive schools.

Connect with OEA:

• Email [email protected] with your feedback or ideas for future Public Education Matters topics
• Like OEA on Facebook
• Follow OEA on Twitter
• Follow OEA on Instagram
• Get the latest news and statements from OEA here
• Learn more about where OEA stands on the issues 
• Keep up to date on the legislation affecting Ohio public schools and educators with OEA's Legislative Watch

About us:

• The Ohio Education Association represents approximately 115,000 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 public school students, including her own two children. She lives in Central Ohio with her husband, children, and cat, Davis, who is very mean, but also very cute.

This episode was recorded on August 20, 2026.

In this episode:

• 00:00 - Back to School and Ready to Make a Difference
• 00:20 - Welcome to Season 7 of Public Education Matters
• 00:37 - Why This Election Could Shape Ohio’s Schools for Years to Come
• 02:33 - What Educators Are Saying Across Ohio
• 03:29 - Reasons for Hope This School Year 
• 03:43 - A New Push to Pay Student Teachers
• 04:36 - Facing Ohio’s School Staffing Shortages
• 05:26 - The $2.75 Billion School Funding Gap
• 07:21 - “Take the Dough, We Gotta Know”
• 08:59 - Supporting Candidates Who Support Public Schools
• 11:06 - Educators Lead the Endorsement Process
• 13:06 - From Columbus to Washington: Making Recommendations
• 14:21 - Sherrod Brown’s Record on Education and Labor
• 15:15 - Protecting Federal Support for Students
• 16:37 - Public Education: The Great Equalizer
• 17:24 - Why Strong Public Schools Strengthen Communities
• 19:04 - The Most Important Assignment: Vote
• 19:32 - What's Ahead in Season 7
• 21:55 - Closing Thoughts