Public Education Matters

Every day, it takes a whole team of educators to help Ohio's public school students succeed, and Education Support Professionals (ESPs) are a vital part of that team. On this episode of Public Education Matters, we hear from three ESP leaders about the challenges faced by their ESP colleagues and the value of union membership for ESPs. We also hear from the editor of OEA's "Ohio Schools" magazine about the first-ever digital edition of that publication and the cost savings the move will achieve. 

SUBSCRIBE | Click here to subscribe to Public Education Matters on Apple Podcasts or click here to subscribe on Google podcasts so you don't miss a thing. And don't forget you can listen to all of the previous episodes anytime on your favorite podcast platform, or by clicking here.

CATCH UP ON OHIO SCHOOLS | Click here to read past issues of OEA's "Ohio Schools" magazine and see new editions as they are released.

LEARN MORE | For more information about the Ohio Association of Education Support Professionals (OAESP), a department within OEA, or for more information about ESP career families and the vital work ESPs do in Ohio's public schools, click here.

Featured Public Education Matters guests: 

• Tammy LaPlante, Ashtabula Association of School Employees 
  • "I am Tammy LaPlante, your OAESP Chair. I am a 17 year middle school custodian for Ashtabula Area City Schools, taking on a majority roles on the executive team within my first year. I am currently my locals Vice-president. A 2023 Graduate of the NEA ESPLI program. I advocate for members to create better working conditions that benefits their students' learning environment. I am on the OEA Board and enjoy the learning experience it has given me to shape the person I am. They are a family environment. Watching the students grow up was like watching my own children. I have seen the changes in them and them seeking me out just to say “Hi” when they realize I’m in their building. I’m pleased to be part of “My Union Family”! I am furthering my education taking online classes in Business Management Operations.  Ironically it aligns with a lot of my union involvement."
  • Tammy LaPlante was recently featured by the National Education Association in a Member & Activist Spotlight. Read the story here:  'Keep moving forward – together' 
• Joie Moore, Pickerington Support Staff Association
  • Joie Moore serves as the president of the Pickerington Support Staff Association, as a board member of Central OEA/NEA, and as an OEA board of director, Central Unit 2.  She is a participant in the OEA ESP Educator Voice Academy and a 2023 NEA ESP Leadership Academy graduate.  Joie is married to Greg, a fellow OEA member, for almost 24 years.  Joie and Greg have two adult children, who both graduated from Pickerington Schools, Frankie (22) and Nick (19).  In her downtime Joie enjoys spending time with her family, crafting and reading. 
• Cheryl Williams, Dublin Support Association 
  • Cheryl Williams began her career in public education in 2001. She has been an Administrative Secretary for the past 19 years. Prior to joining Dublin City Schools, she spent 5 years in Southwestern City Schools in a variety of education support positions such as cook, paraprofessional, clinic aide and also as an attendance secretary. An advocate for education support professionals (ESPs), Cheryl is a member of the Ohio Association of Education Support Professionals (OAESP) where she serves as treasurer and the National Council of Education Support Professionals (NCESP). She is in her third term as president of her local. Cheryl is member of several committees at the local, state, and national levels of the association including an appointment to the NEA Resolutions committee by President Becky Pringle. Cheryl has been a delegate to the OEA and NEA annual Representative Assemblies since 2014. She also graduated from the NEA's Education Support Professional Leadership Institute in 2023. Cheryl was selected from among hundreds of applicants to take part in that yearlong program that brings together 40 ESPs from around the country to focus on developing leadership skills.  
    Cheryl also has served on the OEA Education Foundation as a member of the board of directors.
• Julie Newhall, Writer and Publications Editor, Ohio Education Association 
  • The daughter of a NE Ohio art teacher and a graphic designer, Julie Newhall grew up with a deep appreciation for art, history, and literature, passions boosted by high school art, Latin, and journalism studies and co-editing the school newspaper. As an undergraduate at the University of Akron, Newhall studied print journalism and design and was a writer for the university’s alumni magazine and faculty and staff newspaper. She spent several years as a marketing manager for a magazine publishing company before heading to Northwestern University where she earned a master’s degree in journalism. After working as an editor for the University of Chicago, she joined OEA as editor of Ohio Schools Magazine in September 1997, a role that combined her love of education, editing, and publications. In 2015, she was recognized with the George Badner Award for Excellence in Editing and honored as Editor of the Year among NEA state affiliates. For Newhall, the most meaningful part of her work is sharing the stories of OEA members and having the opportunity to see firsthand the difference they make in the lives of so many students.
     

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 about 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 f...

Ohio adopted a package of laws in 2021 to strengthen supports for students with dyslexia through early screening and interventions and professional development to help educator help students with dyslexia thrive. But, as Ohio's dyslexia policy rollout continues in the 2023-2024 school year, some educators are expressing frustration. Delaware City Education Association member Natalie Geer, a ONE Member Ambassador, has been on a listening tour to better understand how the rollout has been going in different districts around the state. Plus, OEA CFO Kristy Spires shares the details about the Diversity, Innovation, Whisper, and Make-A-Wish grants available now from the OEA Educational Foundation, along with stories of how some of this grant money has been used in the past. 

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS | Natalie Geer and her fellow Ohio's New Educators (ONE) Member Ambassadors are continuing to collect stories and feedback from educators across the state about how the dyslexia policy rollout has been going in their district, which they hope to use to push for an Educator Voice Academy about the issue in the future. They are also looking into how ESSR funded positions, many of which will lose funding after this school year, are supporting the rollout of the dyslexia policy. If you'd like to share your thoughts or experiences, please email [email protected]

LEARN MORE ABOUT OEA'S EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION GRANTS | Click here for details about the four grants available from the OEA Educational Foundation now. The application deadline for the Diversity Grants and the Innovation Grants is February 10, 2024, while the Whisper Grants for Students in Need and the Make-A-Wish grants are open year-round.

SUBSCRIBE | Click here to subscribe to Public Education Matters on Apple Podcasts or click here to subscribe on Google podcasts so you don't miss a thing. 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: 

• Natalie Geer, Delaware City Education Association member
  • Natalie Geer is part of Ohio’s New Educators (ONE) as a Member Ambassador. She teaches in Delaware City Schools and is part of the Central district. Geer is a Learning Support Teacher, a position created with ESSER funds. She lives in Delaware with her fiancé, two step kids, and bulldog. 

• Kristy Spires, OEA Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Exec. Director of Business Services
  • Kristy is a graduate of The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business and holds a CPA in the state of Ohio, CAE, CGMA Certification and has earned the IOM designation. She has worked as an accountant and analyst in the public and private sectors in varied disciplines, including banking, international manufacturing, retail, real estate development, non-profit membership, and charities. She currently holds the position of CFO/Assistant Executive Director of Business Services for the Ohio Education Association, responsible for Financial, Membership, Human Resources, Facilities Operations, and IT Divisions. She serves on the executive management team and sits on and/or advises boards and committees. 
  • Formerly, Kristy served as the Chief Financial Officer for an international non-profit organization, The Fraternal Order of Eagles and its charitable affiliates, The Fraternal Order of Eagles Charity Foundation, Eagle Village Inc. and the Eagles Memorial Foundation. Kristy was on the Strategic Planning Committee and the Diabetes Research Center Steering Committee for the organization. The Fraternal Order of Eagles is a membership organization that unites fraternally for charitable purposes. The most recent endeavor is the building of The FOE Diabetes Research Center, a $25,000,000 fundraising project that is unprecedented in history, as the contributions are being raised through grass roots efforts of the membership. Kristy believes that volunteerism is the heart of our society and contributes time and professional services. The focus of much of her volunteerism is centered around issues of poverty, homelessness, and assisting women in underserved communities to obtain improved economic conditions for themselves and their families. Kristy is a member of the Ohio Society of CPAs, the AICPA, The American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), OSAE, and a lifetime Ohio State University Alumni member and an Alumni of Alpha Kappa Psi fraternity.

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 about 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 November 28 and December 12, 2023.

Marietta Education Association member Alex Myers is on a mission to make sure every child can get the benefits of great physical education classes in welcoming environments that embrace differences in kids’ abilities, and he wants to make sure educators have training about how to adapt their phys. ed. lessons to meet the needs of students with disabilities. Now, he's asking other educators to join him. Plus, now that OEA's revamped Legislative Scorecard has officially been launched, we're taking a deeper dive into the tool's features and how it can help ensure the best pro-public education lawmakers serve in Ohio's General Assembly.

SHARE YOUR IDEAS AND EXPERIENCES | If you'd like to join the growing community of Ohio educators who are coming together to help each other create welcoming adaptive physical education classes, please email Alex Myers at [email protected]

SEE HOW OHIO'S LEGISLATORS STACK UP | Click here to explore OEA's new Legislative Scorecard and to see where your legislator, and other Ohio legislators, stand on public education and labor rights issues.

SUBSCRIBE | Click here to subscribe to Public Education Matters on Apple Podcasts or click here to subscribe on Google podcasts so you don't miss a thing. 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: 

• Alex Myers, Marietta Education Association member 
  • Alex Myers is a K-2 Physical Educator currently in his 9th year at Marietta City Schools. He is also a current Ohio’s New Educators (ONE) Member Ambassador. He is currently working to expand awareness and comfort in educating our students on IEPs in Physical Education. He believes that every student deserves to feel welcome in the Physical Education environment and we need to destigmatize the intimidation factor of students with disabilities in inclusions settings.
• Jeff Wensing, OEA Vice President
  • A high school math teacher in Parma City Schools, Jeff Wensing has been a public education advocate and leader for more than 30 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. One of Jeff’s accomplishments as a local and district leader was organizing members and the community to elect a new Parma Board of Education majority in 2017.
  • Jeff has 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.
  • Since his election as OEA Vice President in 2019, Jeff has continued to emphasize the importance of organizing members throughout the state. He believes the OEA must support locals in order to both maintain and grow membership.
  • Jeff believes it is critical to listen to members before decisions are made, ensure communication throughout the process, and engage in full transparency. In his second term as Vice President, he has continued to focus on the OEA’s strategic issues, shared values, and the students members work with each day.
• Dan Ramos, OEA Manager of Government Relations
  • Dan Ramos is from Lorain, Ohio, where he attended school at St. John the Baptist and Lorain Southview High School.  After graduating high school in 2003, Dan obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science, International Affairs and Philosophy from Baldwin Wallace College in Berea, OH in 2007.  Through the 2008 presidential election cycle, he joined the Obama for America campaign, working to help elect President Obama in northeastern Ohio.  In 2009, Dan was hired by the Service Employees’ International Union (SEIU) District 1199 WV/OH/KY.  Initially working with SEIU as an Administrative Organizer, representing and negotiating contracts for SEIU’s state employees’ division, he became SEIU 1199’s Political and Legislative Liaison in late 2010.  In 2011, Dan worked with fellow labor lobbyists and attorneys in the effort to stop Senate Bill 5 while it was in the General Assembly, and then lead SEIU’s efforts field in Central and Northeast Ohio to collect signatures referendum and then defeat SB 5 on the November 2011 ballot.  In 2012, Dan moved to the Ohio Education Association. Dan has served as OEA’s Political Advocacy Consultant, where he was responsible for growing OEA’s member political action and legislative advocacy, increasing OEA’s PAC membership, the Fund for Children and Public Education, and assisting in OEA’s political coalitions, such as LEAD Ohio and the America Votes Coalition. In 2018, Dan Ramos moved to Cincinnati, Ohio where he served as a Labor Relations Consultant for the Warren County Leadership Council, representing over 2,400 certified and classified K-12 teachers and ESPs. 
  • Dan returned to his political role with OEA in 2021, returning as a UniServ Political Advocacy Consultant and then moving into his current role as the Manager of Government Relations in May of 2022. As the Manager of Government Relations, Dan heads up OEA’s efforts to engage the Ohio General Assembly and Members of Congress to advance OEA’s legislative policy priorities, build relationships with Ohio’s elected officials, and engage members in advocacy and accountability programs.  Dan also helps coordinate OEA’s political, coalition, and electoral programs.    

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 about 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.

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From addressing issues with chronic absenteeism and classroom behavior problems to help students achieve their full potential and plan for their futures, family engagement with educators is crucial. In this episode of Public Education Matters, the director of the Ohio Statewide Family Engagement Center at the Ohio State University offers practical advice for building positive relationships with families and students and outlines resources available to help educators in this work. OEA UniServ Organizer Rachel Grabowski dives into OEA's Aspiring Educators division and outlines upcoming opportunities for AEs to use their united voices to strengthen their leadership skills and their future profession.

CHECK OUT THE RESOURCES FOR EDUCATORS | The Ohio Statewide Family Engagement Center offers more than 500 resources to support professional learning and help educators build strong, constructive relationships with families and community partners around everything from math and literacy topics to behavioral supports and mental health. Click here to check them out.
 
LEARN MORE ABOUT OEA'S ASPIRING EDUCATORS | Click here to learn more about joining OEA's division for undergrad and graduate students who are preparing for careers in education.

SUBSCRIBE | Click here to subscribe to Public Education Matters on Apple Podcasts or click here to subscribe on Google podcasts so you don't miss a thing. 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: 

• Barbara Boone, Ph.D., Principal Investigator & Director, Ohio Statewide Family Engagement Center at the Ohio State University 
  • Dr. Boone leads a team conducting family engagement initiatives creating professional development, tools, and processes for families, school personnel, and organizations.
  • A sought-after trainer and speaker, Barbara’s past experiences as a Director at the Ohio Department of Education, education consultant, program evaluator, college instructor, parent educator, and early childhood educator allow her to leverage skills and understanding from multiple perspectives. Her work has focused on improving partnerships between home, school and communities for children of all ages through research, developing tools and resources, facilitating professional development, and leading state and local initiatives. Barbara has enjoyed helping thousands of families and educational professionals grow, and her own family of five, and local schools too. A New Jersey native, Barbara is an avid hiker and beekeeper.

• Rachel Grabowski, UniServ Organizer
  • Rachel Grabowski is an Organizer with the Ohio Education Association in the Organizing and Member Engagement Department. Her background in organizing comes from her leadership roles in her local association while employed as an intervention specialist and family and consumer sciences teacher in Northeast Ohio for 8 years. She earned a B.S in Education with an Intervention Specialist concentration and worked towards a minor in American Sign Language from Kent State University. Rachel has been a tireless advocate for special needs students, serving as an at large member of the Ohio Association of Special Needs Professionals. She has also served as a ONE (Ohio’s New Educators) member ambassador for 4 years where she began her journey supporting Aspiring Educators. Over the last year she has served as the AE State Organizer supporting the vision and work of Aspiring Educators and advisors throughout the state. 

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 about 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 November 28 and 30, 2023.

Ohio's public school educators are called to the profession by an unwavering commitment to student success. But not every person in Ohio's public school classrooms now may have felt that calling at the beginning of their career arc. On this episode of Public Education Matters, we hear from 2024 Ohio Teacher of the Year Mark Lowrie about his journey from being a sports producer to building one of the best high school broadcast journalism programs in the country. We also learn more about OEA's partnership with VESi and Ursuline College to offer OEA members nine graduate credit hours for professional development for just $200.

WATCH LINCOLN LIVE | To check out some of the award winning work Ohio Teacher of the Year Mark Lowrie's broadcast journalism students are doing at Gahanna-Jefferson High School, click here.

LEARN MORE | Click here for more information about OEA's partnership with VESi to offer a yearlong subscription to online graduate courses.

SUBSCRIBE | Click here to subscribe to Public Education Matters on Apple Podcasts or click here to subscribe on Google podcasts so you don't miss a thing. 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: 

• Mark Lowrie, 2024 Ohio Teacher of the Year 
  •  Mark Lowrie teaches broadcast journalism at Gahanna Lincoln High School. A graduate of Ohio University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in communication, Lowrie worked 12 years in broadcast TV before earning his master’s degree in education at the University of Akron and his integrated language arts 7-12 license. Since then, Lowrie has twice built Ohio’s most honored school broadcasting program. In four years at Gahanna Lincoln, Lowrie designed four new courses and increased TV class enrollment from 27 to 130. His students produce Lincoln Live, a live newscast streamed throughout the school and on multiple social media platforms to provide the district a public relations channel. Previously, Lowrie spent 18 years at Marion L. Steele High School in Amherst producing their live, daily newscast, Steele News Live. 
  • The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) has honored Lowrie’s students with seven National Student Production Awards (SPA) and 79 Regional SPAs. Also known as the Student Emmys, Lowrie’s students led the nation with three National SPAs in 2022, including Best Newscast and the National Scholastic Press Association Pacemaker Award, which honors the top four broadcast programs nationally. 
  • Lowrie has served as varsity football assistant coach, assistant athletic director, National Honor Society Advisor and union-negotiating team member. Lowrie received the 2022 Ohio University Scripps College of Communication Fellowship. He earned a Master of Arts in school leadership from Concordia University (Chicago) and his Professional Principal License (5-12). 
• Nicholas Gurich
  • Nick Gurich is OEA's Director of Education Policy, Research, and Member Advocacy. In coordination with OEA's three Education Policy and Practice Consultants, Nick oversees professional learning opportunities for OEA members, including the VESi program.

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 about 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 October 26 and November 21, 2023.

Across Ohio, educators are contending with growing caseloads of English Learners (ELs) while fighting for the supports and resources they need to meet their students' needs. Members of the Ohio Education Association's EL Cadre are coming together to support each other in that fight and to advocate for the students they serve. On this episode of Public Education Matters, two EL Cadre members set the record straight about what it takes to deliver a high-quality education to every student - no exceptions - and why EL educators need to have a meaningful voice in conversations at every level. Plus, we're talking about opportunities for all educators in Ohio to enjoy deals and fan experiences at upcoming NHL and NBA games.

GET YOUR TICKETS | For full information and to purchase tickets for Educator Appreciation Night games with the Columbus Blue Jackets, click here. Or, click here to learn more about the Educator Appreciation Night games with the Cavs and to get your tickets to those. Make sure you join OEA for Educator Appreciation Night with the Blue Jackets on December 16th against the New Jersey Devils and on March 8th with the Cleveland Cavaliers against Minnesota.

READ THE REPORT | Click here to check out the WestEd "Ohio English Learner Cost Study" and learn more about the costs of implementing English Learner programs in Ohio schools as well as recommendations to effectively deliver those services. 

SUBSCRIBE | Click here to subscribe to Public Education Matters on Apple Podcasts or click here to subscribe on Google podcasts so you don't miss a thing. 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: 

• Helen Vassiliou, Lakota Education Association member 
  • Helen Vassiliou is an educator in Southwest Ohio serving multilingual learners in the Lakota Local School district. She has experience working K-12 and at the university level. Helen was a recipient of the 2017 Charles Redd Center Teaching Western History award and the 2021 Ohio Excellence in Teaching award from Ohio TESOL. She is a proud member of Ohio TESOL where she shares her knowledge of technology integration and instruction and she is a proud member of the OEA EL Cadre advocating for the success of all multilingual learners across the state.
• Debbie Skarsten, Pickerington Education Association member
  • Debbie Skarsten is a grades 7/8 EL Teacher at Ridgeview Junior High in Pickerington, OH.  She also teaches in the graduate TESOL program at Capital University.  Debbie has served on various EL committees in Ohio including the OEA EL Cadre, ODE EL Advisory Committee, and is currently serving as treasurer of Ohio TESOL.  Debbie was also a representative on the WestEd Cost Study Committee.  Debbie is a second language learner by virtue of being a high school exchange student, parents EL students who joined her family through international adoption, and has taught EL students in both the content and EL classroom. 

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 about 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 October 25, 2023.

Public education is the foundation of a strong, functioning democracy, and as part of their education opportunities in Bay Village, Ohio, a group of 17- and 18-year-old students is doing their part to support the future of our democracy by becoming poll workers for Election Day on November 7th. The Bay High School teacher who coordinated this opportunity for them shares his thoughts on this episode. We also hear from OEA's Secretary-Treasurer and Assistant Executive Director of Member Advocacy about opportunities for Local associations to get grant money to solve local problems, become more effective in their work as Locals, and support members' wellness.

APPLY FOR GRANTS FOR YOUR LOCAL | Click here for more information about the Special Projects grants, two-year Special Projects grants, and Effective Locals grants through OEA's Affiliate Grant programs. Or, click here to learn more about applying for Wellness Grants for your Local association. Anyone who would like to learn more about the Local Engagement Grant should reach out to their Labor Relations Consultant (LRC).

BAY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE PRESS | If you'd like to check out some of the recent media coverage about Bay High School students becoming poll workers, click here to see the News 5 story, click here to see the WestLife News story, click here to read the Cleveland.com story, or click here to read the story in the Morning Journal.

SUBSCRIBE | Click here to subscribe to Public Education Matters on Apple Podcasts or click here to subscribe on Google podcasts so you don't miss a thing. 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: 

• Robert Grossman, Bay Teachers Association member  
  • Robert Grossman has been teaching for 33 years: 29 in public education in the Bay Village City School District at Bay High School. Robert is the Social Studies Department Chair, he teaches Advanced Placement United States Government and Politics and World History, and is the Advisor of the Student Council.
• Mark Hill, Ohio Education Association Secretary-Treasurer
  • Mark Hill began his career in public education in 1988, first as a middle school math teacher with Columbus City Schools and later with Worthington City Schools. Mark served as President of the Worthington Education Association from 2010-2018 and has served as a member of the OEA Board of Directors. Mark served as chair of the OEA Resolutions Committee as well as numerous committees for Central OEA/NEA. Mark was also elected to serve two four-year terms on the STRS Board from 2010-2018, serving as Chair and Vice Chair of the Board for each of those terms.
  • Mark’s experience in leadership was shaped by the crises of Senate Bill 5 and pension reform. The SB5 attack on collective bargaining took place in Mark’s first year as president of Worthington EA, and he led his local association to participate in the statewide repeal effort. In the same year, as the STRS pension fund faced a solvency crisis, Mark worked with the rest of the STRS board to bring long term sustainability to the pension so that its members could count on a secure retirement.
  • As Secretary-Treasurer, Mark has continued to advocate for a budget that reflects OEA priorities including supporting locals, organizing members to support public education, providing professional resources for members, and advocating for high-quality education for all students regardless of race or economic circumstances.
    Mark led the Board of Directors to adopt policies that make it easier for locals to recruit members and to ensure OEA has a streamlined process to hire quality staff to consult with locals. Additionally, Mark provides Local Treasurer’s Training differentiated by experience, and offers locals advice on financial reporting, membership enrollment, and issues with local elections.
• Airica Clay, Ohio Education Association Assistant Executive Director of Member Advocacy

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 about 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 October 19 and October 23, 2023.

Local school boards play a critical role in setting the working and learning conditions in Ohio's classrooms every day. That's why it is critical to elect school board candidates who understand the real issues facing our schools and what our students need to learn grow and thrive. In this episode, we hear from two school board candidates running for seats in the Cincinnati area who are able to provide that important perspective as recently-retired teachers. We also hear from OEA's Manager of Government Relations about the upgrades in the works for OEA's Legislative Scorecard, which helps members keep track of how members of the General Assembly stand on education and labor related issues, so they can make informed decisions at the ballot box. 

 
SUBSCRIBE | Click here to subscribe to Public Education Matters on Apple Podcasts or click here to subscribe on Google podcasts so you don't miss a thing. And don't forget you can listen to all of the previous episodes anytime on your favorite podcast platform, or by clicking here.

MEET THE CANDIDATES | Click here to learn more Sycamore School Board candidate Victor Harris; Click here to learn more about Milford School Board candidate Myra Powers. 

Featured Public Education Matters guests: 

• Myra Powers, Milford Board of Education candidate  
  • A retired teacher, mother, and grandmother, in Milford, Ohio, Myra Powers taught 41 years in Milford in grades Kindergarten through 9th grade, including general, gifted, and special education classes. Teaching is Powers' passion, and she did everything she could to ensure the success of her students. She regularly tutored students after school and on Saturdays at no cost, often providing transportation. When one of her students could not be placed in a foster home, she became a long-term foster parent. Powers is proud to have been named the Milford/Miami Township Educator of the year. She also received accreditation as a National Board Certified Middle Childhood Generalist. Powers is active in the Milford community and serves as chairperson for the Milford Citizens Advisory Commission. She volunteers at Boyd E Smith Elementary, where her grandchildren attend. She is the chairperson for STEAM Night and she volunteers at Book Fairs, Walk-A-Thons and Field Days. She also volunteers for Feed Our Flock. And, she serves on the board of the Milford Schools Foundation.  "I have a proven track record of putting schools and community first! I am excited to continue my service to Milford Schools and our students by serving on the school board," Powers said.
  • http://myraformilford.com/
• Victor Harris, Sycamore Board of Education candidate
  • Victor Harris is a recently retired Sycamore teacher with both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from Miami University, who taught History at the Sycamore Junior High for the past 33 years.  In addition to his teaching responsibilities, he served as the Social Studies Department Supervisor for 19 years and coached numerous sports at the Junior High and/or High School including:  Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Boys Soccer, and  Boys and Girls Lacrosse.  He was the Sycamore Education Association (SEA) Junior High Building Representative for over 30 years. He was a member of the SEA Negotiations Team as well as these District Committees: Curriculum Steering, Evaluation, Multicultural, Safety, and Supplemental. At the state level, he assisted in writing the 8th Grade Ohio Social Studies Standards and was on the Standards Setting Committee for the Ohio Graduation Test. In these various capacities, Harris acquired an intimate knowledge of the workings of the Sycamore School District and will leverage this to best benefit the district and community.
  • https://www.victorharrisforsycamore.org/
• Dan Ramos, Ohio Education Association Manager of Government Relations
  • Dan Ramos is from Lorain, Ohio, where he attended school at St. John the Baptist and Lorain Southview High School.  After graduating high school in 2003, Dan obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science, International Affairs and Philosophy from Baldwin Wallace College in Berea, OH in 2007.  Through the 2008 presidential election cycle, he joined the Obama for America campaign, working to help elect President Obama in northeastern Ohio.  In 2009, Dan was hired by the Service Employees’ International Union (SEIU) District 1199 WV/OH/KY.  Initially working with SEIU as an Administrative Organizer, representing and negotiating contracts for SEIU’s state employees’ division, he became SEIU 1199’s Political and Legislative Liaison in late 2010.  In 2011, Dan worked with fellow labor lobbyists and attorneys in the effort to stop Senate Bill 5 while it was in the General Assembly, and then lead SEIU’s efforts field in Central and Northeast Ohio to collect signatures referendum and then defeat SB 5 on the November 2011 ballot.  In 2012, Dan moved to the Ohio Education Association. Dan has served as OEA’s Political Advocacy Consultant, where he was responsible for growing OEA’s member political action and legislative advocacy, increasing OEA’s PAC membership, the Fund for Children and Public Education, and assisting in OEA’s political coalitions, such as LEAD Ohio and the America Votes Coalition. In 2018, Dan Ramos moved to Cincinnati, Ohio where he served as a Labor Relations Consultant for the Warren County Leadership Council, representing over 2,400 certified and classified K-12 teachers and ESPs.
  • Dan returned to his political role with OEA in 2021, returning as a UniServ Political Advocacy Consultant and then moving into his current role as the Manager of Government Relations in May of 2022. As the Manager of Government Relations, Dan heads up OEA’s efforts to engage the Ohio General Assembly and Members of Congress to advance OEA’s legislative policy priorities, build relationships with Ohio’s elected officials, and engage members in advocacy and accountability programs.  Dan also helps coordinate OEA’s political, coalition, and electoral programs.    

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 about 120,000 teachers, faculty members and support professionals who work in Ohio’s schools, colleges, and universities to help improve public education and the l...

Educators know mental health must be treated like physical health - it's a basic need that must be met for students to be able to successfully learn and grow in our schools. But, since even before the pandemic, there's been a growing mental health crisis among children. Dr. Ariana Hoet, executive clinical director for Nationwide Children's Hospital's On Our Sleeves program, joins the Ohio Education Association for this episode to discuss factors that contribute to the crisis, what can be done to support students in schools, and the resources available to help educators help kids. In this episode, we also hear some of the message and a new resolution from the Ohio House of Representatives that was shared with educators as part OEA's first-ever Public Education Matters Day celebrations across the state.

IMPORTANT RESOURCES | Click here to learn more about On Our Sleeves, and check out some of the following resources for educators:

• GoNoodle: https://www.gonoodle.com/tags/L2nZb2/all-the-feels
• Teacher curriculums: https://www.onoursleeves.org/mental-wellness-tools-guides/educator-sign-up
• Sign up for teacher listserv: https://www.onoursleeves.org/sign-up (just click educator)

Follow On Our Sleeves on Instagram at @onoursleevesofficial and On Our Sleeves on Facebook.

 
SUBSCRIBE | Click here to subscribe to Public Education Matters on Apple Podcasts or click here to subscribe on Google podcasts so you don't miss a thing. And don't forget you can listen to all of the previous episodes anytime on your favorite podcast platform, or by clicking here.

MORE DETAILS | Click here to learn more about the Public Education Matters Day celebrations around the state. 

Featured Public Education Matters guests: 

• Dr. Ariana Hoet, PhD, On Our Sleeves Executive Clinical Director 
  • Ariana Hoet, pediatric psychologist at Nationwide Children's Hospital and executive clinical director of On Our Sleeves, is the driving force behind its mission of providing educational resources that break stigmas, increase mental health literacy, and support children’s mental health.
  • Dr. Hoet believes all children and families should have a fair opportunity to be as healthy as possible. That enthusiasm extends into her desire for making sure that people of all backgrounds are accepted and celebrated – a passion born from her own experience as an immigrant to the U.S. from Venezuela. Her work in this arena led her to being recognized as a Distinguished Hispanic Ohioan by the Ohio Commission on Hispanic/Latino Affairs and an “EXTRAordinary” Volunteer by the Down Syndrome Association of Central Ohio for her work within the Spanish-speaking community.
  • Dr. Hoet works in Pediatric Primary Care where she serves primarily Latino and Somali immigrant children. She is also a clinical assistant professor of Pediatrics in the Department of Pediatric Psychology and Neuropsychology at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and The Ohio State University, with a role in training the next generation of behavioral health professionals who will tackle the emerging mental health crisis in children.
  • Dr. Hoet has become a go-to national expert for outlets including USA Today, CNN, Good Morning America, and Newsweek because she is a vital public voice for youth mental health, and also because she has made an impact on countless young lives in her clinical practice.
  • The work of On Our Sleeves and Dr. Hoet helped draw U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy to Nationwide Children’s in October of 2022 to discuss the county’s growing pediatric mental health crisis. In panel discussions before central Ohio business executives at Nationwide Children’s, and with hundreds of college students at Otterbein University, Dr. Hoet and Dr. Murthy spoke passionately about addressing often-misunderstood mental health challenges.
  • Dr. Hoet is the proud mom of a toddler and enjoys family time, dancing, and Ohio State football. She is also involved in Latino community events, both personally and professionally. Dr. Hoet is the co-founder and vice president of Parenting Culture, a national non-profit for culturally responsive and inclusive parenting resources and a board member of Proyecto Mariposas, the Columbus non-profit serving Latina mothers and daughters.
  • She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from The Ohio State University and a doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro. She completed her residency at The University of Colorado School of Medicine and a post-doctoral fellowship at Akron Children’s Hospital.

• Jeff Wensing, Ohio Education Association Vice President
  • A high school math teacher in Parma City Schools, Jeff Wensing has been a public education advocate and leader for more than 30 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. One of Jeff’s accomplishments as a local and district leader was organizing members and the community to elect a new Parma Board of Education majority in 2017.
    Jeff has 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.
    Since his election as OEA Vice President in 2019, Jeff has continued to emphasize the importance of organizing members throughout the state. He believes the OEA must supp...

A high-quality public education is the foundation of a strong democracy, and part of the work Ohio's public school educators do every day to support that democracy is helping students understand the importance of civic engagement through the elections process and how they can shape their communities. In this episode of Public Education Matters, we learn more about how Kids Voting Ohio is helping teachers hold mock elections to teach their students about the process, and we sit down with middle school teacher David Grimes, who is running to bring his skills from his time in the classroom to a seat on Westerville's City Council.

BRING KIDS VOTING OHIO TO YOUR SCHOOL | To learn more about Kids Voting Ohio and to arrange for a mock election with your students, click here.

MORE ABOUT DAVID GRIMES | For more information about Westerville Education Association member David Grimes' campaign for Westerville City Council and to read about his full platform, click here.
 
SUBSCRIBE | Click here to subscribe to Public Education Matters on Apple Podcasts or click here to subscribe on Google podcasts so you don't miss a thing. 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: 

• Andrea Kruse, Kids Voting Ohio Program Director 
  • Andrea Kruse is a communications specialist with over 25 years’ experience in creating and managing communication strategies for various organizations.  Andrea’s expertise includes strategic program development and implementation, public relations, social media, advertising placement, script writing and levy consulting.  Prior to consulting, Andrea was the Director of Communications for the Ohio Department of Youth Services.  In this role she managed the internal and external communication efforts as well as directed the agency’s public information programs and outreach.  Andrea has also worked extensively in video production, marketing, and media relations in various different capacities.    
     Andrea graduated from Ohio State University with a degree in broadcast journalism and political science.
• David Grimes, Westerville City Council Candidate
  • A 7th grade science teacher in Westerville City Schools, David Grimes also serves as Secretary of the Westerville Education Association. He is actively involved with Sustainable Westerville, WeRISE, the Westerville Queer Collective, the Westerville Garden Club, and Moms Demand Action, among other organizations. His leadership roles include serving as a Westerville Parks and Rec Advisory Board member, a core team member of Sustainable Westerville, and chair of the Westerville Green Team. Grimes is also a former Ohio's New Educators Member Ambassador and former president of Otterbein Middle Level Association.

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 about 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.
• 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 25 and September 11, 2023.