Public Education Matters

The federal government is giving Ohio schools $4.4 billion through the American Rescue Plan Act for things like hiring more educators and school counselors and for increasing pay to attract and retain the best teachers for our kids. But, staffing issues that started well before the pandemic continue to force schools to move to close for in-person instruction now. According to the research institute Policy Matters Ohio, the American Rescue Plan money could make a big difference in that situation. 

• David Pryer, Policy Matters Ohio
  • Tanisha is serving as a State Policy Fellow at Policy Matters Ohio working on examining the state budget through the lens of the K-12 school funding structure, workforce development, and reforming Ohio’s cash bail system. 
  • Currently, Tanisha is responsible for understanding, tracking, and developing expertise on Ohio’s K-12 funding formula, its history, and its impact on equity and success. Tanisha is also focused on analyzing the budget funding streams for workforce development spending, and data support for projects related to bail and justice reform in the state. 
  • Tanisha received a PhD in Public Policy and Urban Affairs with a concentration in International Development from Southern University and A & M College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Her research interests include, International development and sustainability, closing the achievement gap, school funding and resources, broadband equity and the digital divide, dismantling the school-to-prison pipeline, sentencing reform, reducing mass incarceration for minority populations, and youth development and outcomes among underserved populations. Tanisha received her bachelor’s degree from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, in Sociology with a minor in Child and family relationships. In 2015, Tanisha received her master’s in Applied Behavioral Science from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. Tanisha currently serves as the Co-Founder and President of the Nelson Mandela Institute for Research (NMIR) at Southern University and A & M College, a senior research consultant with Crane R& D research firm, and as a research scholar with the Global Technology Management Partnership research group  (GTMP), where she engages in research, conference presentations and publications. 
  • National organization memberships include the Northeastern Educational Research Association (NERA), National Organization of Black Law Enforcement (NOBLE) and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).  Previously, Tanisha has held a number of internship positions for the advancement of her studies and career, most notable being, a member of the Inaugural class of the Louisiana Governor Fellowship program where Tanisha was immersed in Louisiana politics and policy innovation. Tanisha also served as a Political Affairs intern with The Borgen Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to alleviating global poverty through effective lobbying and fundraising efforts. Tanisha was also a Summer Pre-Doctoral Research Fellow at Educational Testing Services (ETS), the largest non-profit educational organization in the world, where she worked on educational policy reform initiatives. The culmination of these experiences created a passion for state policy work to alleviate issues occurring at the state level, which led to her interest for the CBPP fellowship. She believes that working at an influential organization such as Policy Matters Ohio will help her to develop the necessary understanding of state budget and policy work, and create the opportunity to influence policy decisions and develop initiatives to help improve the outcomes for all Ohioians. Alleviating the disparities within the education and criminal justice systems and service to her community are the forces that drive everything that Tanisha achieves. 
    
    

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• 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.