Michelle Obama said 'Do More'—So this educator ran for office. Now, he wants you to run, too.

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.

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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. 

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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 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.