Public Education Matters

Ohio educators want professional development opportunities that give them the tools to be the best educators possible for their students. But, too often, school districts prescribe PD that doesn't feel like a valuable use of anyone's time. Ohio's Educator Standards Board set out to change that by making the state's Professional Learning Standards more user-friendly and more useful. Educator Standards Board member Eugene Mach walks us through the process and the changes that are in the pipeline for educators around the state.

SEE THE CURRENT STANDARDS | If you'd like to look at the previously adopted Standards for Professional Development to see how they compare to the new Professional Learning Standards as proposed, click here to read the full document.

KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THE NEW STANDARDS | The Educator Standards Board voted to move their newly developed Professional Learning Standards forward to the State Board of Education for consideration in March. The Professional Learning Standards document is not on the agenda for the State Board of Education's April meeting. Check the State Board of Education's webpage to keep tabs on when the document moves forward and to see the latest version of the document under consideration. 

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: 

• Eugene Mach II, Warren Education Association President, Ohio Educator Standards Board member
  • Eugene is a high school business teacher at Warren G. Harding High School. He serves on the Ohio Educator Standards Board, NEA Resolution Committee (Citizenship and Right subcommittee Co-Chair), OEA/NEOEA Resolutions Committee, NEOEA Summer Leadership Committee, and is the President of the Warren Education Association. He has served on various other committees during his time as an active OEA member, is a former Warren City Council member and a former candidate for state representative. He holds a bachelors degree in Integrated Business Education, a Masters in Education Administration, and is currently working to complete a Masters in Business Administration with a focus in Human Resources 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 March 6, 2025. 

Mason High School intervention specialist Hakim Oliver believes relationships are the basis of who we are. He created his multi-session Building Bridges program to help bring people together by helping them share their own stories and learn from the stories of others. Now, he has written a book to share those lessons with others. Hakim shares his story in this episode of the podcast.

GET THE BOOK | Hakim Oliver's book, "Bridging Stories," is available now on Amazon. Click here to get it. 

 
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: 

• Hakim Oliver, Mason Education Association member
  • Hakim Oliver earned a Bachelor's degree in Special Education from Bowling Green State University and earned a Master's degree in Teacher Leadership from Wright State University.  He has been in the education field for 20 years.  He created a Special Olympics club for students with disabilities at Mason High School.  Hakim currently coaches middle school football and high school track for Mason.   
  • Relationships are his passion.  Mr. Oliver presented at various conferences, including The High Aims Summer Institute, Mason Student Leadership Conference, The University of Tennessee Innovation and Teaching Learning Conference, Maysville Community and Technical College, Ignite Conference, Great Lakes I-Ready Leadership Symposium, and the Ohio State Teacher Leadership Summit.
  • In addition to this, Hakim Oliver created Bridges Stories to connect members of a community.  These communities include Mason, Milford, Loveland, Lebanon, Maysville, Augusta, and Dayton.
  • The Bridging Stories program is intended to facilitate positive intergroup interactions and discussions, recognizing individual differences, and creating a community.  This event emphasizes building relationships through communication.  It is a multi-part series incorporating a panel discussion, public engagement and interaction, and small group discussion.  These discussions will conclude with sharing a meal at a local establishment.  This program is safe and positive for all backgrounds.  
  • This event is free for all community members except for the last session, where the participants will be sharing a meal at a local restaurant, where each participant is responsible for the cost of their meal.
  • Hakim Oliver authored a book "Bridging Stories," highlighting the topics discussed in the community sessions.  

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 March 4, 2025.

Almost 90% of Ohio's children - in big cities, small towns, and rural communities - grow up, learn, and dream at one of our public schools. But, House Bill 96, as introduced with the governor's plan for the next state budget, doesn't use updated costs in the Fair School Funding Plan formula calculations, leaving the formula broken and threatening to cut more than $100 million from hundreds of public school districts over the next two years, while at the same time continuing to pour much more money into private school voucher plans. Licking Heights Education Association Vice President Gina Daniels is among the thousands of educators, parents, and community members in our state who are coming together to stand up for the fully and fairly funded public schools our students need. In this episode, she explains why.

TAKE ACTION | Tell your Ohio lawmakers to keep their promise to our public school students by finishing the phase in of the Fair School Funding Plan with a formula that accurately reflects the costs of providing the world-class education all Ohio kids deserve. Click here to use OEA's Action Alert to contact your legislators.

KEEP UP TO DATE ON THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS | Click here to register to join the bi-weekly stakeholder calls with the All in for Ohio Kids coalition to make sure you have the latest information about where things stand for public school funding in Ohio as the state budget debate continues. 

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: 

• Gina Daniels, Licking Heights Education Association Vice President
  • Gina Daniels is a history and government teacher at Licking Heights High School in Pataskala, Ohio where she has taught for the last 11 years. She has 24 years of experience in public education teaching middle school and high school social studies. She has served as Vice President of the Licking Heights Education Association for 7 years as well as serving on the OEA Organizing Committee. She is the proud product of public schools, daughter of a retired third grade teacher, and mother to two children who attend the Licking Heights schools as well.

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 March 17, 2025.

Eight years ago, Chardon Education Association member Dan Heintz was feeling distressed by what was happening in federal politics, when he heard someone ask Michelle Obama, 'What do we do now?' She responded, "We do more," and Heintz realized he could do more by running for the Cleveland Heights-University Heights school board. Now, he wants more educators to follow his path and serve on school boards in their own local communities. In this episode, Heintz highlights the importance of having educators' voices in the room when decisions are made about school districts' policies, and shares his own experiences navigating some of the difficult decisions CH-UH Board of Education has had to make.

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: 

• Dan Heintz, Chardon Education Association member
  • Dan Heintz is a public school grad, dad, teacher and advocate. He teaches at Chardon High School, serves on the Board of Education for the Cleveland Heights - University Heights school district, and is a member of the Steering Committee for the Vouchers Hurt Ohio lawsuit. 

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 January 15, 2025.

The 126 members of the Akron Association of Classified Personnel - one of five unions representing educators in Akron - have their work cut out for them when it comes to overcoming challenges in their district and community. But, they understand the power of standing together. And, they're willing to try new strategies to connect with stakeholders and build their strength. AACP Vice President Lola Booker-Brewer joins us for this episode to talk about some of the many new community and member engagement opportunities the local has created in the last year or so alone. 

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 LOCAL'S 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: 

• Lola Booker-Brewer, Akron Association of Classified Personnel Vice 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. 

This episode was recorded on February 18, 2025.

When students have access to music education in their schools -- taught by licensed music educators -- the impact on their lives can be huge, as they learn skills that serve them far beyond the four walls of their music classrooms. In fact, music in our schools is so important, March has been designated as Music in Our Schools month! In this episode, Margo Trinter, a music educator in Oberlin City Schools, and Jasmine Monacelli, a music educator in Sheffield-Sheffield Lake City schools, share their perspective on why music is such a valuable part the high-quality, well-rounded education every student deserves.

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 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] or complete the podcast survey here.

Featured Public Education Matters guests: 

• Margo Trinter
  • Mrs. Margo Trinter is a PK-4 music teacher at Oberlin City Schools where she teaches general music. She is going into her 13th year of education. She holds a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Education, both from Ashland University. She has been a clinician at the Ohio Music Educators Association Conference in the past. And is currently President of her local school union. She is passionate about music education, agriculture, and advocating for strong voices for all. When she isn’t busy at school she enjoys time with her husband, 2 kids, and her 3 legged dog on their farm 
• Jasmine Monacelli
  • Jasmine Monacelli is in her 10th year serving as the Director of Bands for the Sheffield-Sheffield Lake City Schools in Lorain County, Ohio. She teaches band to about 250 students in grades 5-12 at Brookside Intermediate, Middle & High Schools. Prior to the start of her career, Jasmine earned a Bachelor’s in Music Education from The University of Akron, and is a proud graduate of North Ridgeville City Schools. Jasmine is an active member and Treasurer of her local Teachers Association as well as a member of the Board of Directors for NEOEA. Jasmine lives in Lorain County near her childhood home with her husband Jonathan (Ironworkers Local 17) and their dog Soca (Jack Russell Terrier- age 7).  

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 November 14, 2024.

Despite bipartisan opposition, Senate Bill 1 is being fast-tracked in the Ohio General Assembly. The re-introduced version of Senate Bill 83, known by many as the Ohio Higher Education Destruction Act, micromanages higher education classrooms and threatens academic freedom on Ohio's public university and college campuses. Moreover, by prohibiting faculty and staff from striking and limiting their ability to bargain in areas that directly affect their ability to shape the learning conditions for their students, it's the biggest attack on workers' rights in Ohio since Senate Bill 5. And Ohioans are standing up to fight back. Nearly 1,000 people testified against SB 1 before the Ohio Senate voted it through in February. In this episode, we share some of their voices.

CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVE IN THE OHIO HOUSE | After the Ohio Senate approved SB 1 with a vote of 21-11 in mid-February, it moved to the Ohio House to consider. Use this Action Alert to tell your representative why they must oppose the bill in that chamber.

WATCH THE SENATE COMMITTEE HEARING | In hours of in person testimony, Ohio students, faculty, organized labor leaders, and other community members offered their thoughts on why Senate Bill 1 is bad for Ohio. Click here to watch the recording on the Ohio Channel.

READ THE TESTIMONY | The testimony featured in this episode represents excerpts from the full testimony submitted to the Senate Higher Education Committee. You can read all 1,000+ pieces of testimony here. You can also read OEA's full testimony and/or Adam Keller's full testimony by clicking on those links.

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 OEA member voices in this episode: 

• Jeff Wensing, OEA Vice President
• Adam Keller, Columbus State 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. 

This episode features testimony from the Ohio Senate Higher Education Committee hearing on February 11, 2025.

The Ohio Education Association is made up of about 750 Local associations across the state - each with its own elected leaders. But, when it comes to the prospect of stepping into Local leadership, some potential Local presidents may not even know where they would begin. As the presidents of the Trotwood Madison Education Association and the Northwest Teachers Association tell us, supports like trainings from the National Education Association for new presidents have been invaluable as they've embarked on and grown in their new roles.

SEE THE OHIO SCHOOLS STORY | Barb Newtown was also featured in the December/January edition of the Ohio Schools magazine. Click here to read the story on Page 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: 

• David Graham, President, Trotwood Madison Education Association
  • An 8th grade science teacher at Trotwood Madison Middle School, David Graham is in his 17th year of teaching. The 2024-2025 school year marks his first year as Local president. Graham received his bachelor's degree in Middle Childhood Education from Wright State University. He is currently pursuing his Master of Arts degree in Religion at Southern Evangelical Seminary, and expects to graduate in 2025.
• Barb Newtown, President, Northwest Teachers' Association (Stark Co.)
  • Currently serving in her fourth year as Northwest Teachers' Association president, Barb Newtown is passionate about community engagement and advocating for members. She is a middle school Tech Resource Teacher who has been teaching for 31 years. During that time, Newton has served 20 years as a building representative for her Local union. She also has 20 years of coaching experience at the middle school and high school level. 

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 December 16, 2024.

What do growing enthusiasm for a hog raffle and a quest for better inter-union communication have in common? These are two of the many items on April Troup's wish list as she continues to make her mark as president of the Norwayne Educational Support Professionals local. Troup, who is in her second year of her presidency, joins us for this episode to share her perspective on how her ESP local has achieved a more than 95% membership rate, and on some of the unique challenges faced by Education Support Professionals and ESP locals around the state.

SEE THE OHIO SCHOOLS STORY | April Troup was also featured in the October/November edition of the Ohio Schools magazine. Click here to read the story on Page 23.  

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: 

• April Troup, President, Norwayne Educational Support Professionals  

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 December 4, 2024.

From Diane Ravitch to 2022 National Teacher of the Year Kurt Russell - to a wide range of public school advocates and leaders in between - the Network for Public Education and Network for Public Education Action's 2025 national conference on April 5th and 6th in Columbus will bring together some of the biggest players in the national conversation about the future of our public schools. All Ohio educators and public school allies are invited to attend and be part of the conversation. NPE/NPE Action Executive Director Carol Burris joins us for this episode to dive into what the conference promises and why it's so important for all of us to stand together to save our public schools. 

REGISTER NOW | If you'd like to attend the Network for Public Education/Network for Public Education Action national conference at the Hyatt Regency in Columbus on April 5 and 6, 2025, click here for more information and to register.
 
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: 

• Carol Burris, Executive Director, Network for Public Education/Network for Public Education Action
  • Carol Burris, a retired public school teacher and principal, now serves as the Executive Director of the Network for Public Education, a national organization dedicated to supporting and improving public education. Dr. Burris, who has authored three books on educational equity, has received numerous awards for her leadership, including being named the 2013 New York State High School Principal of the Year. 
  • Carol Burris served as principal of South Side High School in the Rockville Centre School District in NY from 2000-2015. Carol received her doctorate from Teachers College, Columbia University, and her dissertation on equitable practices in mathematics instruction received the 2003 National Association of Secondary Schools’ Principals Middle of the Year Award. 
  • Carol serves as a Fellow of the National Education Policy Center and is the co-director of its Schools of Opportunity program.  She authored three books on educational equity. Articles that she has authored or co-authored have appeared in Educational Leadership, The Kappan, the American Educational Research Journal, Theory into Practice, The School Administrator and EdWeek.

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 January 15, 2025.