Public Education Matters Ohio Education Association

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. 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: 


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 CandidateA 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:

The Ohio 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. Sh

As the new school year gets underway, the Ohio Education Association is unveiling a new sound and new format for its podcast, while reaffirming the unwavering commitment of its 120,000 members to creating the excellent public schools every child deserves. Ohio Education Association President Scott DiMauro kicks off season 4 of the podcast with an insightful look at how educators are using their united voice to demand the supports and resources Ohio's public schools, students, and educators need to succeed. OEA Manager of Communications and Marketing Valancia Turner also joins this episode to highlight how OEA's app can be a useful tool for members!
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: 


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.


 Valancia "Val" Turner, Ohio Education Association Manager of Communications and MarketingAt OEA, Val Turner leads the development, alignment, and implementation of OEA’s strategies in the communications, media, public relations, and marketing areas. Val previously worked with Franklin County Children Services as the Director of Public Information.  Prior to FCCS, she worked at iHeart Media as a Senior Account Executive where she presented campaigns, created multi-platform campaigns, analyzed campaign results, and provided services to a client base ranging from small to large organizational sizes.  She also owned and operated a media consulting company, and has had extensive involvement with various community organizations in Central Ohio.  Val holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing from University of Phoenix and an MBA from Franklin University.  

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

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


SUBSCRIBE | Click here to subscribe to 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.
Connect with OEA:

Email educationmatters@ohea.org 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 aff

The strength of Ohio's public schools is in the beautiful diversity of the nearly 1.7 million students they serve, and it is imperative that educators are empowered to provide culturally responsive education in inclusive environments to students of every race, background, gender, religion, and ability, so all students can learn, grow, and thrive. But when it comes to best serving Muslim students, many Ohio educators may not know where to begin. The Ohio chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is working to change that with a new webpage full of tools and resources. Amina Barhumi, the CAIR-Ohio Executive Director for the Columbus and Cincinnati offices, explains how this Educator Resource page came about and how it will grow in the future.
GET THE TOOLS | Visit CAIR-Ohio's Educator Resource page at https://cair-ohio.com/educator-resource/

Featured Education Matters guest: 
Amina Barhumi, CAIR-Ohio Executive Director
Amina Barhumi is the Executive Director of the Council of American Islamic Relations, Ohio Chapter, leading both the Columbus and Cincinnati offices. As a lifelong human rights and democracy activist, she joined CAIR-Ohio in 2020, first as the Outreach Director, and then stepped up to lead the organization during a challenging transition. Today, she manages one of the most prominent CAIR offices in the country with a team of civil rights and social justice advocates dedicated to empowering American Muslims through legal services, legislative advocacy, and community organizing.Under Amina’s leadership, CAIR-Ohio strengthened its organizational infrastructure, built and elevated community power, established new and improved existing local partnerships, and prioritized multiply marginalized Muslim communities in Ohio.
Amina is deeply passionate about building capacity and power for Ohio Muslims. She engages elected officials, media, local institutions, and the public through her work about issues that matter to American Muslims. She strongly believes in investing in our future leaders through training and internship programs.
Amina earned her degree in Business Management from the University of Illinois at Chicago and is currently an MPA Candidate at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at the University of Syracuse. Amina, her husband, and four children have called Columbus home for over 13 years.

SUBSCRIBE | Click here to subscribe to 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.
Connect with OEA:

Email educationmatters@ohea.org with your feedback or ideas for future Education Matters topics
Like OEA on Facebook

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Get the latest news and statements from OEA here

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:

The Ohio 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 May 24, 2023.

Across the state, school districts have found it harder and harder to fill some positions as many educators leave the profession and fewer educators join the workforce in their place. After Manchester City Schools in Adams County could not get candidates to apply for a high school science teaching job, the superintendent asked Jeff Crask - who was working at Wal-Mart after retiring from teaching nearly a decade ago - to come back to his old classroom. Crask tells us why he agreed to fill the need, and why he's decided to stay on for another year.
DIVE DEEPER | To learn more about recommendations from OEA members about solutions to address the growing teacher recruitment and retention crisis, click here. 

Featured Education Matters guest: 
Jeff Crask, Manchester Ohio River Educators member
Jeff Crask returned to teaching at Manchester High School in Adams County for the 2022-2023 school year, after retiring from teaching in 2014. He has agreed to return to Manchester High School for the 2023-2024 school year, too.
Crask served three years in the US Army, 1975-1978, as a Medical Specialist, Stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. After the Army, Crask earned his BS in Biology at Campbellsville University, Campbellsville, Kentucky, in 1984. Cabpbellsville University had about 600 students at the time. In 1986, he received an MS in Botany from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. 
Before taking his first teaching job as a chemistry teacher at Knott County Central High School in Hindman, Kentucky, Crask was the overnight DJ at rock station WKQQ in Lexington, Kentucky, which he described as his dream job at the time. Crask described his first year of teaching at Knott County Central High School as a nightmare, saying "I didn't know much about Chemistry and I sure didn't know how to discipline students."
Crask had a much better first year when he became a Biology/Chemistry Teacher at Manchester High School, where he taught from 1992 until 2014. He didn't know anyone when he moved to the area for the job, but enjoyed the small class sizes, especially. His biggest class had 20 students, while his Anatomy class only had five students. 
After 22 years at Manchester High School, Crask retired in 2014. He worked at Amazon and then Walmart. "I found out that I'm not very good at working really fast for 8-10 hours. Oh well," Crask said of the experience. 
In 2022, Crask says his former coworkers from Manchester High School kept asking him to come back and teach again, or the students weren't going to have a Biology teacher, so after some soul-searching he told them he would. Crask says he had a great year and will teach at least one more. "It was nice to use the science equipment again," he said.
Crask has three grown children, James, Juliana, and Jack. James teaches Kindergarten in Portsmouth, Ohio!

SUBSCRIBE | Click here to subscribe to 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.
Connect with OEA:

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 legislation affecting Ohio public schools and educators with OEA's Legislative Watch

About us:

The Ohio 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 A

Education is often a family business, with generations of great educators following a parent's footsteps into the profession. For Columbus Education Association member Tara Johnson, education was certainly in her blood, but it wasn't her first career choice. For this final installment in the A Legacy of Education series, Tara Johnson, and her mom Terry Johnson, a retired Columbus teacher, sat down to share their thoughts on how the profession has changed, the need to create better pipelines to get educators of color into the profession, and why they would recommend this career to others.
HEAR MORE 'A LEGACY OF EDUCATION' EPISODES | To listen to previous Education Matters interviews featuring parents and their children who have followed them into careers in education, check out these episodes: 

A Legacy of Education: Jillian Majzan & Stephanie Hall
A Legacy of Education: Sandra Dowdy & Calista Altenburger 
A Legacy of Education: The Jessens 

Featured Education Matters guests: 

Terry Wiggs Johnson, retired educatorTerry graduated from Central State University College of Education in 1967. She received her Masters of Education from Xavier University in Cincinnati in 1972. She taught for Dayton Public Schools, Buffalo Public Schools and then moved to Columbus in 1969. She taught for 32 years as an elementary school teacher and a reading teacher. Terry Johnson always enjoyed working with elementary students, especially in Language Arts.

Tara Johnson, Columbus Education Association member
Tara is a product of Columbus City Schools. She graduated from Mifflin High School. She is the daughter of Terry Wiggs Johnson and Theodore W. Johnson who both graduated from Central State University in the late 60’s. Both are also retired Columbus City School teachers. Coming from a household of educators, who graduated from Central State University, she followed in their footsteps and graduated from Central State University, but refused to go into education. She pursued a degree in Finance, instead. While at Central State she was very active. She was a member of the Finance and Investment Society, College of Business Student Advisory Council, Tour Guide, Resident Assistant, and a Student Ambassador. She worked for the Vice President for Finance as a student worker. She also continued to volunteer at Main Street Elementary School in Columbus when she came home during breaks.  
After graduation, Tara began to work at Central State in the finance department. She volunteered with the Student Affairs area and worked very closely with the Alumni Affairs office. After leaving Central State University, she went on to two other universities, Kent State University and Virginia Union University, to work. 
She decided it was time to get a master’s degree, so she enrolled in Eastern Michigan, where she completed a Master’s Program in Individualized Studies in Higher Education Administration and Finance. Upon graduating from Eastern Michigan, she decided to continue to pursue her career in Higher Education and worked at Virginia Community College Systems and Wright State University. While at Wright State University, she began to look for something different. Tara had done some volunteer work in her aunt’s classroom and some substitute teaching for Columbus City Schools while getting her master’s degree, so she decided to teach at the K-12 level. Tara went back to Central State University to get her licensure to teach in Social Studies at the high school level, saying she felt like high school students were closer to the college students she was used to working with for the past 20 years. Due to Covid, it took her longer than I had expected, but she completed my licensure program in Spring of 2021. 
Tara began teaching at Eastmoor Academy High School in the Fall of 2021. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and a life member of Central State University Alumni Association. 


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