Across Ohio, educators are contending with growing caseloads of English Learners (ELs) while fighting for the supports and resources they need to meet their students' needs. Members of the Ohio Education Association's EL Cadre are coming together to support each other in that fight and to advocate for the students they serve. On this episode of Public Education Matters, two EL Cadre members set the record straight about what it takes to deliver a high-quality education to every student - no exceptions - and why EL educators need to have a meaningful voice in conversations at every level. Plus, we're talking about opportunities for all educators in Ohio to enjoy deals and fan experiences at upcoming NHL and NBA games.

GET YOUR TICKETS | For full information and to purchase tickets for Educator Appreciation Night games with the Columbus Blue Jackets, click here. Or, click here to learn more about the Educator Appreciation Night games with the Cavs and to get your tickets to those. Make sure you join OEA for Educator Appreciation Night with the Blue Jackets on December 16th against the New Jersey Devils and on March 8th with the Cleveland Cavaliers against Minnesota.

READ THE REPORT | Click here to check out the WestEd "Ohio English Learner Cost Study" and learn more about the costs of implementing English Learner programs in Ohio schools as well as recommendations to effectively deliver those services. 

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Featured Public Education Matters guests: 

• Helen Vassiliou, Lakota Education Association member 
  • Helen Vassiliou is an educator in Southwest Ohio serving multilingual learners in the Lakota Local School district. She has experience working K-12 and at the university level. Helen was a recipient of the 2017 Charles Redd Center Teaching Western History award and the 2021 Ohio Excellence in Teaching award from Ohio TESOL. She is a proud member of Ohio TESOL where she shares her knowledge of technology integration and instruction and she is a proud member of the OEA EL Cadre advocating for the success of all multilingual learners across the state.
• Debbie Skarsten, Pickerington Education Association member
  • Debbie Skarsten is a grades 7/8 EL Teacher at Ridgeview Junior High in Pickerington, OH.  She also teaches in the graduate TESOL program at Capital University.  Debbie has served on various EL committees in Ohio including the OEA EL Cadre, ODE EL Advisory Committee, and is currently serving as treasurer of Ohio TESOL.  Debbie was also a representative on the WestEd Cost Study Committee.  Debbie is a second language learner by virtue of being a high school exchange student, parents EL students who joined her family through international adoption, and has taught EL students in both the content and EL classroom. 

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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.
• 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 October 25, 2023.