Engaging students in elections & celebrating a win for Dayton educators. Plus, a Public Education Matters Day save-the-date

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

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

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

SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK | If you'd like to share your thoughts on the Public Education Matters podcast, including your ideas for what you'd like to hear on future episodes, please email [e-mail].

Featured Public Education Matters guests: 

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

Connect with OEA:

• Email [e-mail] with your feedback or ideas for future Public Education Matters topics
• Like OEA on Facebook
• Follow OEA on Twitter
• Follow OEA on Instagram
• Get the latest news and statements from OEA here
• Learn more about where OEA stands on the issues 
• Keep up to date on the legislation affecting Ohio public schools and educators with OEA's Legislative Watch

About us:

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

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