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...

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 ...

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 Retireme...

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.

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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 s...

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 ...

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 l...

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 ...

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 ...

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 Kaufm...

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 Ma...

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.

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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 t...

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 co...

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 fo...

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 Mona...

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 area...

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 ...

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% m...