Education Matters is back for Season 2 and we're kicking things off with a check up on some of the big issues facing Ohio's students, educators, and communities right now. OEA President Scott DiMauro offers his perspective on school funding, COVID-19 precautions, honesty in education, school board elections, and more.
Show Notes
Featured Education Matters guest:
- 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 30-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.
- Connect with Scott on Twitter and Facebook
Featured School Board Candidate:
- David Bothast - Running for Talawanda School Board, Oxford, Ohio
- Currently teaches 5th grade science at an inner city public school in Hamilton, Ohio.
- David Bothast has been actively involved in the "business of education" since completing his active duty US Navy service in December 2001. He has taught in both public and charter schools and undergraduate and graduate university levels, as well. Bothast has served as the Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations for a university in southern Indiana and also a Family Engagement & philanthropy officer for a university in southwest Ohio.
- MORE | To learn more about where David Bothast stands on the issues, check out his campaign website here.
Topics in this episode:
- 1:15 - School Funding
- 4:30 - Electing friends of education, regardless of political party, in 2022
- 5:00 - Redistricting
- 6:05 - "If educators make their voices heard -- and by the way, educators are the most trusted voices in their communities -- we can have a big impact. But it's up to us to start organizing now and to make sure we're holding politicians accountable for their decisions as we move forward in the weeks and months to come."
- 6:45 - Fighting back against attacks on academic freedom and honesty in education
- 12:00 - Dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and trying to keep schools open for in-person learning
- 12:35 - "Unfortunately, the pandemic has been politicized."
- 16:00 - Educators running for local school boards across the state
- 18:15 - Talawanda School Board candidate David Bothast
Connect with us:
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 a 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 September 29, 2021.
What is Public Education Matters?
Ohio's public schools serve 1.6 million children - 90 percent of students in the state! What happens in the classroom has impacts far beyond the walls of the K-12 school building or higher ed lecture hall. So, on behalf of the 120,000 members of the Ohio Education Association, we're taking a deeper dive into some of the many education issues facing our students, educators, and communities. Originally launched in 2021 as Education Matters, Public Education Matters is your source for insightful conversations with the people who shape the education landscape in Ohio. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on Public Education Matters? Email us at educationmatters@ohea.org