Public Education Matters

Policy Matters Ohio: 'Spend the American Rescue Plan money!'  - Season 2, Episode 19 The federal government is giving Ohio schools $4.4 billion through the American Rescue Plan Act for things like hiring more educators and school counselors and for increasing pay to attract and retain the best teachers for our kids. But, staffing issues that started well before the pandemic continue to force schoo...

Allen East School Nurse: 'We're resilient, but we need resources' - Season 2, Episode 18 The entire Allen East school community has turned to David Pryer constantly over the last two years, both in his role as an award-winning school nurse and as co-president of his local education association. Sen. Sherrod Brown also turned to Pryer to get his thoughts on mental health and our schools during a re...

TikTok Real Talk - Season 2, Episode 17 Effective educators connect with their students where they are. Katie Peters, who teaches 10th & 12th grade English in Washington Local Schools in Toledo, has joined TikTok to do just that. One of her recent videos reflecting on the state of the world for educators right now went viral. We asked Dr. Peters to share her thoughts. MORE | Click here to subs...

Columbus Teachers: 'No Heat, No Work' - Season 2, Episode 16 After Columbus Education Association members were ordered to work in classrooms without heat to deliver remote instruction to students who the district acknowledged could not safely learn in that building, those brave teachers exercised their legal right to declare a health and safety work stoppage. That action got quick results and nati...

Featured Education Matters guest:  Jennifer Harvey, middle school math teacher, Columbus City School's BlendEd K-8 program "After spending time in the Marines, raising 4 children, and deciding that nursing school was not for me (not a fan of sick people) I started my adventure in education. I have had the honor of teaching grades 2-8, dabbled in curriculum writing, and served as an elementary math...

Featured Education Matters guests:  Congressman Tim Ryan (OH-13), U.S. Senate Candidate  Tim Ryan is running for the U.S. Senate to cut Ohio workers in on the deal. A lifelong Ohioan who lives just a few miles from the house where he grew up in Niles, Tim has spent his career fighting for Ohio workers. He’s seen in his own community what happens when our politics and our economy aren’t working for...

Featured Education Matters guest:  Daniel Grove, Bloom-Carroll Education Association President Connect with us: Email educationmatters@ohea.org with your feedback or ideas for future 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 leg...

PUBLIC SERVICE LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM: HERE’S WHAT’S CHANGED  On October 6, 2021, the U.S. Department of Education announced major changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. The new changes might help you if:  You have federal student loans AND you work full-time for a school district, or institution of higher education AND you have Direct Loans OR You consolidate into the Di...

PUBLIC SERVICE LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM: HERE’S WHAT’S CHANGED  On October 6, 2021, the U.S. Department of Education announced major changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. The new changes might help you if:  You have federal student loans AND you work full-time for a school district, or institution of higher education AND you have Direct Loans OR You consolidate into the Di...

Featured Education Matters guest:  Tim Davis, Kenton Education Association Co-President Tim Davis is a teacher in his 26th year in music education, and in his 15th year with the Kenton City Schools. Tim currently serves as Co-President of the Kenton Education Association, as well as on the OEA State Board of Directors representing Northwest Ohio. Prior to his time in Kenton, Tim taught music at Ar...

Featured Education Matters guest:  Michael Libecap Springfield Education Association President Teaches in the Springfield City School District's OnCourse virtual learning program Connect with us: Email educationmatters@ohea.org with your feedback or ideas for future Education Matters topics Like OEA on Facebook Follow OEA on Twitter Follow OEA on Instagram Get the latest news and statements from O...

Featured Education Matters guest:  Malissa Thomas-St. Clair 7th & 8th grade math teacher, Champion Middle School, Columbus  Mothers of Murdered Columbus Children founder Central Ohio Crimestoppers Civilian of the Year "I am a 46 year resident of the city of Columbus, Ohio.  My heart is with this city.  As a native resident I have a rich history that is rooted in Columbus.  I was born at the fo...

Featured Education Matters guests:  Jada Jackson, mentor Jada Jackson is a Mathematics Instructional Coach at South High School in Columbus City Schools. She is currently in my 25th year of teaching. She is also a Faculty Representative in her building. Jackson has been married for 23 years and has two daughters, a sophomore in college and a high school senior. Queena Smith, mentee Queena Smith is...

Featured Education Matters guests:  Sophie Crawford, FPPA Organizing Committee Member Sophie Crawford has worked as an RBT (Registered Behavior Technician) for Findlay City Schools since 2017.  She was a teacher for 23 years in France for the French national Education, including 4 years as a principal. She moved to the USA in 2006 and started to work with autistic children in 2009.  Anne Smith, FP...

Featured Education Matters guest:  Kurt Russell, Ohio Teacher of the Year Kurt Russell is a veteran teacher at Oberlin High School in the Oberlin City Schools district who believes education can transform students’ lives. For the past twenty-five years, Russell has included cultural relevance in the curriculum for the 9th-12th grade classes he teaches: African American history, US history, IB hist...

Featured Educational Service Center Candidate: Barry Alcock, retired educator, running for the Central Ohio ESC Board 46 years in public education Classroom English teacher in middle school and high school Middle School Gifted Language Arts, Middle School Intervention and Inclusion Language Arts, Department Chair. High School English, Intervention and Inclusion Vocational High School English, Inte...

Featured School Board Candidates: Jon Parker-Jones , Middle School Band Teacher in Upper Arlington, Running for Hilliard School Board Jon grew up near Dayton and was the first in his family to graduate college. He is proud to have earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Education at Ohio State University, and have completed additional coursework at Northwestern University, The Juilliard School,...

Featured Education Matters guest:  Scott DiMauro, Ohio Education Association President A high school social studies teacher from Worthington, Scott DiMauro was elected President of the OEA in 2019 after having served as vice president for six years. Over his 30-year career as an educator, Scott has worked to provide students the critical thinking and decision-making skills they need to be successf...

ACTION ALERT: Urge your state lawmakers to support the Fair School Funding Plan now! SHOW US YOUR SUMMER OF FUN: OEA Members, submit your photos here. Featured Education Matters guest:  Scott DiMauro, Ohio Education Association President A high school social studies teacher from Worthington, Scott DiMauro was elected President of the OEA in 2019 after having served as vice president for six years....

SIGN THE PETITION | Tell Ohio's policymakers to fairly and fully fund public schools for Ohio's families now. No matter where they live or what they look like, all of Ohio’s kids deserve a public school that inspires their creativity, unlocks their potential, and nurtures their dreams. But for years, certain politicians have pitted parents against teachers and communities against each other while...

Featured guest:  Antoinette Miranda, State Board of Education Member - District 6 Dr. Antoinette Miranda is Professor and Director of the School Psychology Program at The Ohio State University and holds the Casto Professorship in Inter-professional Education. She has spent well over 35 years in education both K-12 and post-secondary. She has worked as a school psychologist in urban, suburban and r...

OEA MEMBERS | Click here to learn more about how you can get involved in OEA Educator Lobby Days on June 8 & 9, 2021. Featured guest:  Jeff Wensing, Ohio Education Association Vice President A high school math teacher from Parma, Ohio, prior to his election as OEA Vice President in Spring 2019, Jeff Wensing served as the President of the Parma Education Association and as the President of the...

Featured guest:  Karen Wright, Ohio Education Association 2021 Education Support Professional of the Year  Karen Wright has served as the Wellington High School Principal's Secretary in Wellington Exempted Village Schools in Lorain County for 30 years, spending the last 20 years as President of the Wellington Support Staff Association. She grew up in a union family, joining her first union (Local...

ACTION ALERT: Urge your state Senator to support the Fair School Funding Plan now! Featured Education Matters guest:  Stephen Dyer, Director of Government Relations, Communications & Marketing, Ohio Education Association Prior to joining OEA, Stephen Dyer was the Education Policy Fellow at Innovation Ohio, a Columbus-based Progressive think tank, where he fights for the right of all Ohio’s chi...

To connect with a crisis counselor through the National Crisis Text Line in Ohio , text 4HOPE to 741 741. The Crisis Text Line is a free, confidential service available 24/7 via text on mobile devices Wellness Wednesday: DeStress Disco Bash  Wednesday, May 26 @ 6 p.m. Open to all OEA members Click here to register Featured Education Matters guest:  Andrew Smith, MSW, LISW-S Andrew is a school soci...