Educators need to have a seat at the table when policy decisions are being made, whether that's in their local community or in our statehouse in Columbus. But, for many educators considering a run for public office, it may be difficult to know where to begin. That's where NEA's See Educators Run program comes in. On this episode of the podcast, we hear from Orange Teachers Association member Ship Collins about what he's taking away from his time in the See Educators Run program, whether he ends up running for office or not. We also check in with OEA's Manager of Government Relations Dan Ramos about where a bill that's better known as the Higher Education Destruction Act stands in the Ohio General Assembly and why OEA members cannot let up any of the pressure on their local legislators to block this dangerous legislation.

LEARN MORE | For more information about the National Education Association's See Educators Run program, you can read a recent NEAToday story on it, watch a video from NEA featuring educators who have been through the program, or click here for more details about the program and how you can get involved.

TAKE ACTION | Your voice is critical when it comes to fighting back against Senate Bill 83. Use this link to contact your state representative to urge them to stop this bill.

SEE HOW OHIO'S LEGISLATORS STACK UP | Click here to explore OEA's new Legislative Scorecard and to see where your legislator, and other Ohio legislators, stand on public education and labor rights issues.

SUBSCRIBE | Click here to subscribe to Public Education Matters on Apple Podcasts or click here to subscribe on Google podcasts so you don't miss a thing. And don't forget you can listen to all of the previous episodes anytime on your favorite podcast platform, or by clicking here.

Featured Public Education Matters guests: 

• LeShun "Ship" Collins, Orange Teachers Association Member
  • For over two decades, LeShun “Ship” Collins has been empowering young minds and challenging his peers to transcend the common and accepted thought of social confines. A highly accomplished educator and innovator, Collins is leading the conversation and ultimately the transformation of social injustice by breaking down its barriers. Collins’ expertise is grounded in real-world experience. As a practitioner in health and physical education, he spent over 20 years in the school system building positive relationships and cultivating student growth. 
  • He has published two articles in the National Administrative Council Forum and The National Council of Multicultural Forum. Collins is sought after by universities and other educational institutions for his keen insight and perspective and for raising awareness of a flawed system that benefits some, but not all students. His mission to provide a voice to the marginalized and underrepresented inspired the release of “Considering Sensemaking as Artmaking in Promoting Social Justice-Oriented Work in Schools,” an article written by Collins and his colleagues and published in the University Council for Educational Administration journal.
  • To learn more about Ship's work with the Male Minority Leadership Group at Orange High School, click here to watch the Ohio School Spotlight video featuring that program. 
• Dan Ramos, OEA Manager of Government Relations
  • Dan Ramos is from Lorain, Ohio, where he attended school at St. John the Baptist and Lorain Southview High School.  After graduating high school in 2003, Dan obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science, International Affairs and Philosophy from Baldwin Wallace College in Berea, OH in 2007.  Through the 2008 presidential election cycle, he joined the Obama for America campaign, working to help elect President Obama in northeastern Ohio.  In 2009, Dan was hired by the Service Employees’ International Union (SEIU) District 1199 WV/OH/KY.  Initially working with SEIU as an Administrative Organizer, representing and negotiating contracts for SEIU’s state employees’ division, he became SEIU 1199’s Political and Legislative Liaison in late 2010.  In 2011, Dan worked with fellow labor lobbyists and attorneys in the effort to stop Senate Bill 5 while it was in the General Assembly, and then lead SEIU’s efforts field in Central and Northeast Ohio to collect signatures referendum and then defeat SB 5 on the November 2011 ballot.  In 2012, Dan moved to the Ohio Education Association. Dan has served as OEA’s Political Advocacy Consultant, where he was responsible for growing OEA’s member political action and legislative advocacy, increasing OEA’s PAC membership, the Fund for Children and Public Education, and assisting in OEA’s political coalitions, such as LEAD Ohio and the America Votes Coalition. In 2018, Dan Ramos moved to Cincinnati, Ohio where he served as a Labor Relations Consultant for the Warren County Leadership Council, representing over 2,400 certified and classified K-12 teachers and ESPs. 
  • Dan returned to his political role with OEA in 2021, returning as a UniServ Political Advocacy Consultant and then moving into his current role as the Manager of Government Relations in May of 2022. As the Manager of Government Relations, Dan heads up OEA’s efforts to engage the Ohio General Assembly and Members of Congress to advance OEA’s legislative policy priorities, build relationships with Ohio’s elected officials, and engage members in advocacy and accountability programs.  Dan also helps coordinate OEA’s political, coalition, and electoral programs.    

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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 Consulta...