Remembering OEA Awards & Scholarships namesakes

Ohio's Primary Election Day is March 19, 2024, and across Ohio, voters will be deciding everything from primary races for state legislative seats to school levies. The presidential primary, though, is usually what makes the headlines. And, at the upcoming Republican National Convention and Democratic National Convention, the parties' nominations for the US presidential race are usually what gets the spotlight. But as two educators who have been longtime DNC delegates tell us, their role as delegates at the national convention is much more than that. Plus, OEA Vice President Jeff Wensing gives us the details on upcoming bowling and golf events for members and their families and friends to help the OEA Fund's work supporting pro-public education, pro-labor candidates.

JOIN THE FUN FOR THE FUND | Click through these links for more information about upcoming bowling events with OEA and OEA Districts across the state and an inaugural golf outing in central Ohio to benefit the OEA Fund. You can also learn more about the OEA Fund itself by clicking here or by listening to this episode from last season of this podcast.   

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: 

• Tom Moscovic, OEA-Retired member, Elected DNC Delegate
  • "As a lifelong Democrat and Union member I know the importance of collective bargaining. I began my career as a member of Iron Worker's Local 17 and made a career change to education in my 40s. I spent 22 years in the classroom teaching Social Studies in the Willoughby-Eastlake School District in as an OEA member.  I served as President of the Willoughby Eastlake Teachers Association for 8 years. Since I retired in 2015, I have supervised student teachers at Cleveland State University in Cleveland.   I've been active in Democratic politics in Lake County for over 25 years. I am the OEA Fund State Chair for the OEA Retired members and I am currently a member of the OEA-R Advisory Council and a lifetime member of OEA-R. I have been married to my wife Paula for 53 years. We have one daughter and 3 grandsons. We have lived in Eastlake since 1972."
• Deloris Rome Hudson, OEA-Retired member, Elected DNC Delegate
  • "I am a retired educator who taught in Hamilton, OH. While there, I taught Family and Consumer Sciences and served as the president of my local for almost 20 years. I am now a Director on the OEA Board, and am a member of the South Western OEA (SWOEA) Executive Committee. Additionally, I serve as the president of the Butler County Retired Teachers Association (BCRTA) and of the South Western OEA-Retires (SWOEA-R)."
• 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.

Connect with OEA:

• Email educationmatters@ohea.org 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 February 13 and February 15, 2024.

The General Assembly's recent track record on public education issues - including efforts to attack honest education, create universal voucher schemes, and remove accountability measures for the state's charter schools - have earned Ohio a dubious distinction: We are near the bottom of the list of states when it comes to support for public schools. In fact, a new report from the national Network for Public Education gives Ohio an F. We hear from the Network for Public Education Action executive director about what led to Ohio's grade and why Ohio's charter schools should be raising big flags for everyone. We also hear from Columbus EA member Jacquia Hearn about a ONE Professional Development series empowering educators to stand up to book bans in our state and country.

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM | For more information about the Ohio's New Educators (ONE) professional development sessions and to register for the next Beyond the Classroom: Banned Books session on March 12th from 6:30-8 p.m. on Zoom, click here.

SEE THE NETWORK FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION'S WORK | Click here to learn more about the Network for Public Education, a national advocacy group, and the work it does to shed light on public education issues, like the rise of charter schools and private schools in the United States. Their work also includes a recent Washington Post piece looking at a problematic federal grant awarded to the Cincinnati Classical Academy, a Hillsdale College member school. UPDATE:  Click here to read the new NPE "Public Schooling in America" report.

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: 

• Dr. Carol Burris, Executive Director, 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 and as Executive Director of the Network for Public Education Action, 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. 
• Jacquia Hearn, ONE Member Ambassador
  • Jacquia Hearn is an eighth-year educator who teaches in Columbus City Schools. She is currently serving in her second year as an Ohio’s New Educator (ONE) Member Ambassador and Columbus Early Career Educators (CECE) Chair within her local. As a ONE Member Ambassador she works with the Beyond the Classroom (BTC) workgroup that provides free virtual professional development for members. Jacquia has spent the past year using her passion to get involved on a local, state and national level from becoming a active member of the Columbus Education Justice Coalition, to serving on the Human and Civil Rights Committee for OEA as a member of the Doris L Allen Minority Caucus (DLAMC) to attending her first National Education Association (NEA) Representative Assembly as a delegate.
      

Connect with OEA:

• Email educationmatters@ohea.org 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 January 23 and February 5, 2024.

Educators need to have a seat at the table when policy decisions are being made, whether that's in their local community or in our statehouse in Columbus. But, for many educators considering a run for public office, it may be difficult to know where to begin. That's where NEA's See Educators Run program comes in. On this episode of the podcast, we hear from Orange Teachers Association member Ship Collins about what he's taking away from his time in the See Educators Run program, whether he ends up running for office or not. We also check in with OEA's Manager of Government Relations Dan Ramos about where a bill that's better known as the Higher Education Destruction Act stands in the Ohio General Assembly and why OEA members cannot let up any of the pressure on their local legislators to block this dangerous legislation.

LEARN MORE | For more information about the National Education Association's See Educators Run program, you can read a recent NEAToday story on it, watch a video from NEA featuring educators who have been through the program, or click here for more details about the program and how you can get involved.

TAKE ACTION | Your voice is critical when it comes to fighting back against Senate Bill 83. Use this link to contact your state representative to urge them to stop this bill.

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: 

• LeShun "Ship" Collins, Orange Teachers Association Member
  • For over two decades, LeShun “Ship” Collins has been empowering young minds and challenging his peers to transcend the common and accepted thought of social confines. A highly accomplished educator and innovator, Collins is leading the conversation and ultimately the transformation of social injustice by breaking down its barriers. Collins’ expertise is grounded in real-world experience. As a practitioner in health and physical education, he spent over 20 years in the school system building positive relationships and cultivating student growth. 
  • He has published two articles in the National Administrative Council Forum and The National Council of Multicultural Forum. Collins is sought after by universities and other educational institutions for his keen insight and perspective and for raising awareness of a flawed system that benefits some, but not all students. His mission to provide a voice to the marginalized and underrepresented inspired the release of “Considering Sensemaking as Artmaking in Promoting Social Justice-Oriented Work in Schools,” an article written by Collins and his colleagues and published in the University Council for Educational Administration journal.
  • To learn more about Ship's work with the Male Minority Leadership Group at Orange High School, click here to watch the Ohio School Spotlight video featuring that program. 
• 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 educationmatters@ohea.org 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 Consulta...

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 educationmatters@ohea.org 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 geern@oeaone.org

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 educationmatters@ohea.org 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 myersa@oeaone.org

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 educationmatters@ohea.org 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.

Th...

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 educationmatters@ohea.org 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 educationmatters@ohea.org 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 educationmatters@ohea.org 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 educationmatters@ohea.org 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.