Public Education Matters

Ohio's educators are feeling burnt out in big numbers, and a lot of them report worsening behavior issues as one of the big reasons. Brittany Myers, an intervention specialist in Marietta, sees that a lot with her colleagues who need support to manage student behavior issues. Myers is able to use her skills as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst to work with her fellow educators on strategies to help them and their students be more successful. In this episode of the podcast, she shares some of her top tips for managing behavior issues at the elementary level especially - but educators at all levels won't want to miss her advice!

A FEW HIGHLIGHTS:

• The foundation for all other strategies: Consistency - Starting at 7:10
• Front loading - Starting at 8:55
• Visual tools - Starting at 11:55
• Appropriate rewards - Starting at 13:00 
• What to do when a child is in meltdown mode - Starting at 14:05
• Managing a student's challenging behavior and the rest of your class - Starting at 19:00

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.

THE POWER OF ONE | Brittany Myers credits OEA's Ohio's New Educators (ONE) program with helping her gain the confidence she needed to share her expertise with her fellow educators. To learn more about ONE and how you can get involved with this group of educators in the first ten years of their careers, click here.

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].

Featured Public Education Matters guest: 

• Brittany Myers, Marietta Education Association member
  • Brittany Myers is an Intervention Specialist in Marietta, Ohio, with 11 years of experience. She is a member of the Marietta Education Association and recently became licensed as a Behavior Analyst. Her passions are supporting her students' growth and success, but as an educator with a behavior analyst background, she likes to support her fellow educators in the difficult journey of classroom management. 

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

This episode was recorded on July 14, 2025.

In this jampacked episode, we spotlight three important dates: 10/4, 10/6, and 8/15. October 4, 2025, is OEA's Public Education Matters Day celebration at Kings Island and Cedar Point - We have what you need to know to join. October 6th is the voter registration deadline in Ohio this year - We have more on resources and programs to bring everything from voter registration drives to mock elections to your school, thanks to Kids Voting Ohio. And, August 15th was a pay date for Dayton Education Association members, as it should have been - We hear from the Dayton EA president about why it took a court order to get that done and why the ordeal has strengthened that local association.

LEARN MORE AND SIGN UP | Click here to visit the Kids Voting Ohio website to see more information about the programs available for Ohio students and educators and to check out all of the Kids Voting Ohio resources you can use in your classroom. Please note: Mock elections can be held in the weeks before Election Day or any other time of the year!

CELEBRATE PUBLIC EDUCATION MATTERS DAY | All OEA members are invited to enjoy a day of fun with their family, friends, and fellow educators at Kings Island and Cedar Point on Saturday, October 4, 2025. OEA is giving each OEA member up to four free admission tickets (including access to the Halloween Haunted Attractions) on a first come first served basis at the park gates, while supplies last. Discounted parking and additional discounted admission tickets and haunted attractions passes will be available for purchase through the end of the day of the event. Keep an eye on this webpage for the links and latest updates.   

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].

Featured Public Education Matters guests: 

• Andrea Kruse, Kids Voting Ohio
• Neil Mahoney, Dayton Education Association President

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

Interviews for this episode were recorded on August 29 and September 2, 2025.

In his first weeks in office as the Ohio Education Association's new president, Jeff Wensing has faced everything from the Ohio House attempting to override the governor's vetoes on the most damaging property tax provisions in the new state budget to questions about what the legislature's moves to silence the voices of educators by removing elected positions from the State Board of Education and the State Teachers Retirement System Board will mean for the future or our public schools. He's also had the chance to meet with many educators as they begin the new school year. As we begin Season 6 of this podcast, Jeff shares his thoughts on how Ohio's educators can stand up for our public school students by shining a spotlight on their success. 

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.

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].

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

This episode was recorded on August 12, 2025.

After 34 years in public education, Scott DiMauro is retiring from teaching when his second term as OEA President ends in July. As he prepares to finish that chapter in his life and reflecting on the big moments and lessons learned from his years in leadership and the classroom, Scott is also looking ahead to the future. He shares his thoughts in this season finale podcast episode.

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.

SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK | OEA members have been weighing in on the Public Education Matters podcast and on podcasts in general to help shape the future of OEA's podcast. More feedback is always welcome! Please email [email protected].

Featured Public Education Matters guest: 

• Scott DiMauro, Ohio Education Association President
  • Scott DiMauro, a high school social studies teacher from Worthington, was elected President of the OEA in 2019 after having served as vice president for six years. Over his 34-year career as an educator, Scott has worked to provide students the critical thinking and decision-making skills they need to be successful citizens in our democracy while advocating for students, educators, and strong public schools at all levels of his union.
  • Scott’s priorities as president have included strengthening local affiliates, enhancing professional supports for members, and elevating the voice of educators in public policy to ensure all students are given access to a high-quality education that inspires their creativity, imagination, and desire to learn. As OEA President, he helped lead a successful coalition effort that resulted in the historic passage of the Fair School Funding Plan along with an increase in the state minimum teacher’s salary as part of the most recent state budget bill.
    Scott has facilitated OEA’s Board and leadership team in educating and organizing members to advocate for social, racial, and economic justice. That priority has framed OEA’s advocacy on school safety, resistance to attacks on educators’ freedom to teach and students’ freedom to learn an honest education, and a comprehensive strategy to attract and retain caring, qualified educators—both licensed and support professionals—in every community across Ohio.
  • As vice president, Scott was proud to guide the OEA Commission on Student Success to lay out a comprehensive vision for high-quality education for all students and lay the groundwork for positive implementation of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act in Ohio. He also led an initiative to increase student access to breakfast in high-poverty districts and served as national spokesperson for the Partners for Breakfast in the Classroom. At the national level, he currently serves as president of the National Council of State Education Associations.
  • Term-limited to two three-year terms as OEA President, Scott will hand over the reins to OEA's new president in July. He is also retiring from teaching this summer. But, he says, his work in public education advocacy will continue. 

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

This episode was recorded on May 8, 2025.

From the Trump administration's 'skinny budget' that aims to cut $12 billion from the US Department of Education to the latest version of the state budget which underfunds Ohio's public schools by $2.75 billion in the next two years, threats at the federal and state levels make it more important now than ever the educators stand up for the supports and resources our students need. There are also opportunities to make our schools even better, including proposed legislation to support school meals and to provide financial support for student teachers. OEA Director of Government Relations breaks down some of the big issues, and tells us what we can do to make a difference right now.

TAKE ACTION NOW | Click here for the OEA Action Alert to contact your state lawmakers and tell them to fully and fairly fund our public schools in this state budget.  Click here to sign a petition to protect Ohio's classrooms and support the Fair School Funding Plan. Click here for a flyer with QR links and information to help encourage others to take action, too.

TELL YOUR STORY | Lawmakers need to hear from Aspiring Educators and active educators about what working full time as a student teacher while paying full tuition and receiving no compensation has meant in your own life, and why things need to change. Please contact OEA Government Relations if you have a story to share when HB 205, the Future Educators Support Act, comes up for proponent testimony.

LEARN MORE | Click here to see how your school district would benefit under a fully funded Fair School Funding Plan. Click here to see much your local school district will be shortchanged under the House-passed version of the state budget. Click here for fact sheets about the school districts in each Ohio legislative district to help in your conversations with your lawmakers. Click here for more resources from the All in for Ohio Kids coalition to help you engage your local school board and your state lawmakers on this critically important issue. 

SCHEDULE A MEETING WITH YOUR MEMBER OF CONGRESS | With Congress on recess from May 27 through June 2, now is the ideal window to meet with your U.S. Representative and Senators in your home district. In-person meetings during recess are one of the most powerful ways to make our voices heard. Here’s how to get started:

1. Find your members of Congress
   – Visit www.house.gov and www.senate.gov to look up your district’s Representative and Senators.
2. Request a meeting
   – Use their online “District Office” scheduling portals or call their local offices directly.
3. Prepare your message
   – Oppose proposed federal cuts: Explain how rollback of Title I, IDEA, ESSA and other critical education programs would widen opportunity gaps, undermine supports for students with disabilities, and force cuts to classroom staff and school services.
   – Highlight equity impacts: Emphasize that reduced funding disproportionately harms low-income and rural communities, jeopardizing after-school programs, mental-health services, and resources for English learners.
   – Call for investment: Urge them to protect and increase federal education funding so every student has access to qualified teachers, up-to-date materials, and safe learning environments.
4. Bring allies
   – Invite fellow educators, parents, or community members to join you for greater impact.
5. Provide feedback
   – Use OEA’s member lobbying feedback form to let us know how the conversation with you elected officials went and what subjects you discussed. Please also indicate if your requests went unanswered using OEA’s feedback form. 

Featured Public Education Matters guest: 

• Dan Ramos, OEA Director 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 Con...

Recently named the High School Teacher of the Year by her local Veterans of Foreign Wars post, the wider VFW district, and the state VFW organization under the VFW's Smart/Maher National Citizenship Education Teacher Program, Celina Education Association member Alicia Ball is dedicated to teaching her students be good citizens by getting them outside their classroom and building up their community, and she's always adding new projects to her list. In this episode, Ball explains why she's so passionate about her students' community service, and how these activities help fuel her through hard times and good times alike.

HELP ALICIA'S STUDENTS | If you have connections, resources, or any ideas that can help Alicia Ball take her students to volunteer at a soup kitchen in New York City, please send Alicia an email at [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, including YouTube. Click here for links for other platforms 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.

SHARE YOUR STORY | Public Education Matters continues to lift up the good work of OEA members and OEA locals across the state. Help us tell your local's story! Please send us an email at [email protected] to let us know about what educators you know are doing to help their schools, students, co-workers, and communities.

Featured Public Education Matters guest: 

• Alicia Ball, Celina Education Association member
  • Alicia Ball is the proud mom of two girls, Baylie and Linden, and wife to Andy. She is teaching English at Celina High School and is just about to complete year 15. She teaches dance part time and loves reading, boating, and shopping. 

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

The interview in this episode was recorded on April 17, 2025. 

Books that feature diverse voices - from diverse characters and diverse authors - help students discover their own voices and write themselves into the history books of tomorrow. Across Ohio, educators are using diverse literature to prompt important discussion, create welcoming learning environments, and help young people see themselves and the world around them in new ways. In this episode, we dive into the work of two local associations to do just that!

CHECK OUT THE READ-INS | Click here to view a gallery of photos and videos from some of Twinsburg Education Association Diversity Read-Ins and other events throughout this school year.

CELEBRATE DIVERSE READERS IN LIMA | Lima-area students and their families are invited to join the Lima Education Association, OEA, and OEA-Retired at the third annual Summer Celebration of Diverse Readers to enjoy free family activities, free food, and free diverse books!

• Thursday, May 22, 2025 (the last day of school for Lima City Schools)
• 2 p.m.-6 p.m.
• Lima Town Square
• More info: www.ohea.org/diversereaders

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, including YouTube. Click here for links for other platforms 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.

SHARE YOUR STORY | Public Education Matters continues to lift up the good work of OEA members and OEA locals across the state. Help us tell your local's story! Please send us an email at [email protected] to let us know about what educators you know are doing to help their schools, students, co-workers, and communities.

Featured Public Education Matters guest: 

• Kristie Woolbright-Lewis, Twinsburg Education Association member
  • With more than 25 years in education, Kristie is the Department Chair and School Counselor at Twinsburg High School. She focuses on improving the ninth grade transition and new student transfer experience. She developed a program to cultivate student leaders who would support and assist incoming students. Most recently the initiatives expanded to incorporating Diversity Read Ins that would embrace empathy, encourage change, and increase acceptance of all students and our differences. 
  • Kristie's career in education began in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. There she taught Health/PE 1999 until 2007. In 2007, she was afforded the opportunity to begin her heart's passion work as a school counselor.  While in CMSD, she worked with amazing educators who assisted her with gaining experience and knowledge that supported as she embarked upon the new position she accepted in 2018 at Twinsburg High School. 

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

The interview for this episode was recorded on April 7, 2025.

When the Association for Cuyahoga County Employees for Special Students (ACCESS) sat down at the bargaining table a few years ago, they were told, 'if you don't like it here, you can leave.' In that moment, ACCESS leaders said, 'if we don't like it here, we can make it better.' And that's what they did - nearly going out on strike to achieve those critically important gains in their contract. In this episode, we hear from ACCESS Co-President Ky Theophanous about his journey to leadership, that 2023 bargaining crisis, and how it brought the members of his local association together to better advocate for themselves and for the individuals they serve through the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities today.

READ THE STORY IN OHIO SCHOOLS | Parts of this conversation with Ky Theophanous were featured in the April/May 2025 edition of OEA's Ohio Schools magazine. Click here to check out the story on pages 20-21. 

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, including YouTube. Click here for links for other platforms 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: 

• Kyriakos "Ky" Theophanous, ACCESS Co-President

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

The interview in this episode was recorded by Julie Newhall on February 25, 2025. 

As the demand for Career Tech education continues to grow in Ohio, Career Tech programs continue to struggle to attract and retain educators to serve students because of problems with the way most salary schedules are structured. Career Tech educators often have years or decades of prior experience in the private sector - and the expertise they can share with their students is invaluable as a result - but many do not have the advanced degrees that other educators who took a more traditional path to the classroom often do, so Career Tech educators' salaries often don't reflect the value they bring to our schools. The Greene County Career Center Education Association recently bargained a new kind of salary schedule and new contract language to change that, and now they're hoping other local associations will follow their lead.

SEE THE GCCCEA COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT AND SALARY SCHEDULE | Greene County Career Center Education Association President Doug Picard is happy to show other local leaders what his association accomplished in its latest negotiations and share his insight about how it could be replicated for other educators across the state. You can reach Doug by email at [email protected]

LISTEN TO OUR PREVIOUS CONVERSATION | Regular Public Education Matters listeners may recognize Doug Picard from a previous episode this season. Doug reached out with the follow up discussed in this episode after an earlier conversation about the Growing Demand for Career Tech in Ohio. Click here to listen to that conversation in Season 5, Episode 17.  

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, including YouTube. Click here for links for other platforms 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.

SOCIAL SECURITY FAIRNESS | For too long, the federal Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provisions of the Social Security Act have unfairly hurt Career Tech educators, who often enter the education profession after private sector careers. At the end of 2024, Sen. Sherrod Brown's Social Security Fairness Act passed in Congress. Click here to read OEA's statement on the landmark legislation.

Featured Public Education Matters guests: 

• P.R. Frank, Greene County Career Center Education Association member
  • An educator for 31 years, P.R. Frank came to CTE in 2007 after 15 years as a public school educator. He helped to start three successful Dayton schools, has led teacher professional development, and has taught in classrooms ranging from elementary to post-secondary education. Prior to joining a career technical school, P.R. enjoyed developing his own small business as a digital media creator in his spare time. He champions great curriculum design, excellent teaching, and giving students a step up in life pursuits.
• Doug Picard, Greene County Career Center Education Association President 
  • Doug Picard is in his sixth year as a manufacturing and engineering instructor at the Greene County Career Center (GCCC) in Xenia, Ohio. Before joining GCCC, he served 21 years in the U.S. Air Force, where he taught in classrooms, developed avionics test programs, and authored technical policies. At GCCC, his teaching emphasizes human-centered design and adaptive technologies to support underrepresented communities. Picard has also collaborated with the University of Dayton and Central State University as a research mentor for their Global STEM Research Experience for Teachers where he studied engineering in developing areas in Ecuador and India. Over the next three years, he will work with these universities, along with Wright State University, on a National Science Foundation-funded Research Experience for Teachers focused on electronics and semiconductors.

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

The interview for this episode was recorded on April 14, 2025.

Union membership empowers educators to improve their lives and advocate for themselves and their students to ensure Ohio's learners have the supports and resources they need to succeed. Now, thanks to a partnership between NEA Member Benefits and Edvance, OEA membership has extra value - with access to up to 50 percent off tuition for many online college and certification courses. In this episode, we hear from Ashley Kaufman about how the NEA College Benefit through Edvance is helping OEA members and their families break down barriers and earn degrees.

EXPLORE THE PROGRAMS AND THE SAVINGS | Edvance has negotiated tuition discounts for a number of 100% online schools and programs for OEA Members and their families. Click here to start exploring the available programs to see how NEA's College Benefit can help make college and certificate courses accessible and affordable to you and your family.

SHARE THIS RESOURCE WITH YOUR FELLOW EDUCATORS | Education benefits like those available through the Edvance network are just one more reason for educators in your district to join your local association. Click here for information local leaders can share with other educators.

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, including YouTube. Click here for links for other platforms 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: 

• Ashley Kaufman, Director of Channel Management, Edvance
  • Ashley Kaufman is the Director of Channel Management at Edvance, bringing a career rooted in marketing, higher education, and franchising to this role. Passionate about work that helps others grow personally and professionally, Ashley believes that education is a powerful tool—equipping individuals with the knowledge and insight to make informed decisions that support themselves, their families, and their communities.
  • With a deep understanding of the challenges working adults face when pursuing a higher education, Ashley works to build strategic partnerships with union leaders that makes higher education more attainable and impactful for union members and their families to advance their careers and achieve their goals.
  • As a parent of young children, Ashley sees firsthand the profound role education plays in shaping the future. Her commitment to lifelong learning isn’t just professional—it’s personal. She strives to set an example of continuous growth, kindness, and the pursuit of opportunities that make a meaningful impact, both at work and at home.
    • Connect with Ashley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleykaufman1208/
      • Connect with Edvance: https://www.linkedin.com/company/edvance-education/

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About us:

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

This episode was recorded on March 17, 2025.