A high-quality public education is the foundation of a strong democracy, and part of the work Ohio's public school educators do every day to support that democracy is helping students understand the importance of civic engagement through the elections process and how they can shape their communities. In this episode of Public Education Matters, we learn more about how Kids Voting Ohio is helping teachers hold mock elections to teach their students about the process, and we sit down with middle school teacher David Grimes, who is running to bring his skills from his time in the classroom to a seat on Westerville's City Council.

BRING KIDS VOTING OHIO TO YOUR SCHOOL | To learn more about Kids Voting Ohio and to arrange for a mock election with your students, click here.

MORE ABOUT DAVID GRIMES | For more information about Westerville Education Association member David Grimes' campaign for Westerville City Council and to read about his full platform, click here.
 
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Featured Public Education Matters guests: 

• Andrea Kruse, Kids Voting Ohio Program Director 
  • Andrea Kruse is a communications specialist with over 25 years’ experience in creating and managing communication strategies for various organizations.  Andrea’s expertise includes strategic program development and implementation, public relations, social media, advertising placement, script writing and levy consulting.  Prior to consulting, Andrea was the Director of Communications for the Ohio Department of Youth Services.  In this role she managed the internal and external communication efforts as well as directed the agency’s public information programs and outreach.  Andrea has also worked extensively in video production, marketing, and media relations in various different capacities.    
     Andrea graduated from Ohio State University with a degree in broadcast journalism and political science.
• David Grimes, Westerville City Council Candidate
  • A 7th grade science teacher in Westerville City Schools, David Grimes also serves as Secretary of the Westerville Education Association. He is actively involved with Sustainable Westerville, WeRISE, the Westerville Queer Collective, the Westerville Garden Club, and Moms Demand Action, among other organizations. His leadership roles include serving as a Westerville Parks and Rec Advisory Board member, a core team member of Sustainable Westerville, and chair of the Westerville Green Team. Grimes is also a former Ohio's New Educators Member Ambassador and former president of Otterbein Middle Level Association.

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About us:

• TheOhio Education Association represents about 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.
• 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 July 25 and September 11, 2023.