For Educators by Educators: Ohio Educator Standards Bd. rolls out new Professional Learning Standards

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. 

Please note, the Educator Standards Board voted on March 7, 2025, to move forward this version of the Professional Learning Standards without the words 'equity' or 'inclusion,' despite the objections of several ESB members, including Eugene Mach, who is featured in this episode. This episode was recorded before that vote took place, so discussions about those changes are not included in the conversation you hear here.  

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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. 

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• 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