Rolling out Ohio's dyslexia policies. Plus, OEA's Educational Foundation grants.
Ohio adopted a package of laws in 2021 to strengthen supports for students with dyslexia through early screening and interventions and professional development to help educator help students with dyslexia thrive. But, as Ohio's dyslexia policy rollout continues in the 2023-2024 school year, some educators are expressing frustration. Delaware City Education Association member Natalie Geer, a ONE Member Ambassador, has been on a listening tour to better understand how the rollout has been going in different districts around the state. Plus, OEA CFO Kristy Spires shares the details about the Diversity, Innovation, Whisper, and Make-A-Wish grants available now from the OEA Educational Foundation, along with stories of how some of this grant money has been used in the past.
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS | Natalie Geer and her fellow Ohio's New Educators (ONE) Member Ambassadors are continuing to collect stories and feedback from educators across the state about how the dyslexia policy rollout has been going in their district, which they hope to use to push for an Educator Voice Academy about the issue in the future. They are also looking into how ESSR funded positions, many of which will lose funding after this school year, are supporting the rollout of the dyslexia policy. If you'd like to share your thoughts or experiences, please email geern@oeaone.org
LEARN MORE ABOUT OEA'S EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION GRANTS | Click here for details about the four grants available from the OEA Educational Foundation now. The application deadline for the Diversity Grants and the Innovation Grants is February 10, 2024, while the Whisper Grants for Students in Need and the Make-A-Wish grants are open year-round.
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.
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS | Natalie Geer and her fellow Ohio's New Educators (ONE) Member Ambassadors are continuing to collect stories and feedback from educators across the state about how the dyslexia policy rollout has been going in their district, which they hope to use to push for an Educator Voice Academy about the issue in the future. They are also looking into how ESSR funded positions, many of which will lose funding after this school year, are supporting the rollout of the dyslexia policy. If you'd like to share your thoughts or experiences, please email geern@oeaone.org
LEARN MORE ABOUT OEA'S EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION GRANTS | Click here for details about the four grants available from the OEA Educational Foundation now. The application deadline for the Diversity Grants and the Innovation Grants is February 10, 2024, while the Whisper Grants for Students in Need and the Make-A-Wish grants are open year-round.
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:
- Natalie Geer, Delaware City Education Association member
- Natalie Geer is part of Ohio’s New Educators (ONE) as a Member Ambassador. She teaches in Delaware City Schools and is part of the Central district. Geer is a Learning Support Teacher, a position created with ESSER funds. She lives in Delaware with her fiancé, two step kids, and bulldog.
- Natalie Geer is part of Ohio’s New Educators (ONE) as a Member Ambassador. She teaches in Delaware City Schools and is part of the Central district. Geer is a Learning Support Teacher, a position created with ESSER funds. She lives in Delaware with her fiancé, two step kids, and bulldog.
- Kristy Spires, OEA Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Exec. Director of Business Services
- Kristy is a graduate of The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business and holds a CPA in the state of Ohio, CAE, CGMA Certification and has earned the IOM designation. She has worked as an accountant and analyst in the public and private sectors in varied disciplines, including banking, international manufacturing, retail, real estate development, non-profit membership, and charities. She currently holds the position of CFO/Assistant Executive Director of Business Services for the Ohio Education Association, responsible for Financial, Membership, Human Resources, Facilities Operations, and IT Divisions. She serves on the executive management team and sits on and/or advises boards and committees.
- Formerly, Kristy served as the Chief Financial Officer for an international non-profit organization, The Fraternal Order of Eagles and its charitable affiliates, The Fraternal Order of Eagles Charity Foundation, Eagle Village Inc. and the Eagles Memorial Foundation. Kristy was on the Strategic Planning Committee and the Diabetes Research Center Steering Committee for the organization. The Fraternal Order of Eagles is a membership organization that unites fraternally for charitable purposes. The most recent endeavor is the building of The FOE Diabetes Research Center, a $25,000,000 fundraising project that is unprecedented in history, as the contributions are being raised through grass roots efforts of the membership. Kristy believes that volunteerism is the heart of our society and contributes time and professional services. The focus of much of her volunteerism is centered around issues of poverty, homelessness, and assisting women in underserved communities to obtain improved economic conditions for themselves and their families. Kristy is a member of the Ohio Society of CPAs, the AICPA, The American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), OSAE, and a lifetime Ohio State University Alumni member and an Alumni of Alpha Kappa Psi fraternity.
Connect with OEA:
- Email educationmatters@ohea.org with your feedback or ideas for future Public Education Matters topics
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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.
- Public 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 November 28 and December 12, 2023.
