Public Education Matters

Kelsie Bullock is a small-town teacher making a big impact - and proving that every student deserves to belong. A few years ago, she started a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Club for her Morgan County high school students.  Now, as political attacks threaten programs like hers, Bullock and her students are standing strong, creating a safe space where everyone can connect across differences and f...

Ironton Education Association President Daniel Murphy and his fellow educators in their rural community live in a deep red part of Ohio - Donald Trump won 75% of the vote in Lawrence County in 2024. But Murphy says partisan labels mean nothing when it comes to making sure rural students' needs are met. In this episode, he shares what he wants all lawmakers to understand about the challenges facing...

When Ohio lawmakers began signaling their intention to break their promise to finish fully and fairly funding our public schools in the latest state budget, a lot of Ohioans were left feeling disappointed and downtrodden. Jessica Harper was left feeling mad. The Jackson City Education Association President turned that anger into action, bringing together her fellow educators and community members...

As Columbus Education Association member Shanette Strickland puts it: "If you can manage 6th, 7th, and 8th graders, adults are no problem." Educators have many transferrable skills needed to be effective leaders in their local city governments. Strickland, who is currently the Reynoldsburg City Council President and running for Reynoldsburg Auditor in the upcoming General Election, shares her jour...

After years of refusing to have the state pay its fair share of the cost of running Ohio's public schools and forcing local property tax payers to carry a bigger load to make up the difference, Ohio lawmakers are pushing a number of property tax changes that could slash revenues for school districts with devastating impacts on Ohio's public school students. So, what can the state actually do to pr...

For years, the Ohio legislature has pushed to have the state pay a smaller and smaller share of the cost of running Ohio's public schools, placing a bigger and bigger burden on local property taxpayers to make up the difference. Now, Ohio lawmakers are pushing a whole raft of property tax reform bills, many with potentially disastrous consequences for public school students across the state. So, w...

Whether they're learning Spanish, French, German, or any other language, World Language programs open up doors for Ohio's public school students every day. Unfortunately, World Languages educators have to constantly fight back against attacks on their programs as they fight for the opportunities their students need. Teays Valley Education Association Vice President Haylee Ziegler is passionate abo...

Educators who are in their second decade in the profession are facing burnout at alarming rates - 66% report that they're considering leaving their careers. Many feel that their needs as experienced professionals aren't being met and their voices aren't being heard. Building off the success of OEA's Ohio's New Educators program, which serves educators in the first ten years of their careers, a new...

Public education is not partisan, but it is political. What happens at the statehouse in Columbus makes a huge impact on what happens in our classrooms every day. That's why the OEA Ohio's New Educators (ONE) group is working to make sure educators have a seat at the table with lawmakers who are making education policy decisions. As ONE Member Organizer Alex Myers points out, the most effective co...

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 he...

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...

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 t...

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. SUBSCRIBE | Cli...

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 o...

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...

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 d...

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 t...

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 resu...

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,...

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 Standa...

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. GET THE BOOK...

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 publ...

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 bo...

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...

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...