Public Education Matters; it's the heart of it all. In the Season 3 finale, we reflect on the challenges and victories over the last school year as well as the opportunities that lie ahead as educators across the state join with parents and community leaders to show the world why Public Education Matters in Ohio. Ohio Education Association President Scott DiMauro shares his thoughts about why Public Education Matters to him, and how the issues of equity, educator recruitment and retention, collective advocacy, and access to a high quality-education for every child without exception all tie back to that important central theme.

SHARE YOUR PERSPECTIVE | If you'd like to add your voice to the many others who are telling the world why Public Education Matters in Ohio, please record a short video on Soapboxx to share your thoughts. You can do it from your mobile or desktop device, and it's as easy as clicking on the blue 'Record Your Video' button and saying a few sentences about why Public Education Matters to you. Click here to get started.

Featured Education Matters guests: 

• 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 32-year career as an educator, Scott has worked to provide students the critical thinking and decision-making skills they need to be successful citizens in our democratic society. He has likewise advocated for students, educators and strong public schools at all levels of his union.
    Prior to becoming a full-time OEA officer, Scott served for nine years as President of Central OEA/NEA, and has experience as president of his local, as a member of his local bargaining team, chairperson of Central’s leadership and professional development programs, and political action coordinator. He also led the NEA Standing Committee on Legislation for three years.
  • As vice president, Scott served as co-chair of the Healthcare and Pension Advocates for STRS and represented OEA’s members on a variety of coalition boards and steering committees. He chaired the OEA Legislative Committee and continues to work with OEA’s Government Relations staff to represent educators in the legislature and State Board of Education. He was proud to help lead efforts of the OEA Commission on Student Success to lay out a comprehensive vision for high-quality education for all students and lay the groundwork for positive implementation of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act in Ohio. He also led an initiative to increase student access to breakfast in high-poverty districts and served as national spokesperson for the Partners for Breakfast in the Classroom.
  • Scott’s priorities as president include strengthening local affiliates, enhancing professional supports for members, and elevating the voice of educators in public policy issues to ensure all students are given access to a high-quality education that inspires their creativity, imagination, and desire to learn.
• Educators whose voices were featured in the introduction to this episode through Soapboxx videos they recorded sharing their thoughts on why Public Education Matters include:
  • Stephanie Myers, Pandora-Gilboa Education Association
  • Dan Greenberg, Sylvania Education Association
  • Shelly Ahleman, Liberty Center CTA

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Connect with OEA:

• Email [email protected] with your feedback or ideas for future Education Matters topics
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• Learn more about where OEA stands on the issues 
• Keep up to date on the legislation affecting Ohio public schools and educators with OEA's Legislative Watch

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 June 1, 2023.