OEA-R member Marti Franks on the past and future of union activism
Marti Franks has had a front row seat to witness and be part of union history, whether that was when she helped form the first union for Catholic school teachers in Michigan, when she became part of OEA's landmark work to ensure what are now known as instructional coaches were paid fairly as the professional educators they are, or even now, in her work as an OEA-Retired member advocating for public education and public school educators. In this episode, she shares her thoughts on the importance of unions in advocating for educators' working conditions and the importance of union activism among young educators as they shape the future of the profession.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HISTORY OF COLLECTIVE BARGAINING IN OHIO | Click here to listen to a Public Education Matters episode from earlier this season as Ohio marked the 40th anniversary of the law that legally protects collective bargaining for public sector employees taking effect in our state.
SUBSCRIBE | Click here to subscribe to Public Education Matters on Apple Podcasts or click here to listen on Spotify so you don't miss a thing. You can also find Public Education Matters on many other platforms, including YouTube. Click here for links for other platforms so you can listen anywhere. 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 FEEDBACK | OEA members have been weighing in on the Public Education Matters podcast and on podcasts in general to help shape the future of OEA's podcast. More feedback is always welcome! Please email educationmatters@ohea.org or complete the podcast survey here.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HISTORY OF COLLECTIVE BARGAINING IN OHIO | Click here to listen to a Public Education Matters episode from earlier this season as Ohio marked the 40th anniversary of the law that legally protects collective bargaining for public sector employees taking effect in our state.
SUBSCRIBE | Click here to subscribe to Public Education Matters on Apple Podcasts or click here to listen on Spotify so you don't miss a thing. You can also find Public Education Matters on many other platforms, including YouTube. Click here for links for other platforms so you can listen anywhere. 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 FEEDBACK | OEA members have been weighing in on the Public Education Matters podcast and on podcasts in general to help shape the future of OEA's podcast. More feedback is always welcome! Please email educationmatters@ohea.org or complete the podcast survey here.
Featured Public Education Matters guest:
- Marti Franks, Ohio Education Association-Retired member
- Born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1945, Marti spent the first 17 years of her teaching career in a parochial school and the last 27 in public education at Twinsburg High School. She has always been an education advocate. One of the things that struck her as a big difference between the two systems was accountability. She was able to take advantage of so many classes and professional development opportunities through the Twinsburg City Schools that she added 50 graduate hours to her resume. As drama director, her expenses were carefully monitored and every bill was recorded. Classroom records were carefully monitored too. Her sons were educated in the Twinsburg Schools as well, and that is a decision she has never regretted.
- "Teachers are teachers and students are students. I am still enjoying friendships I made on both sides of the desk. I have had the great privilege of teaching alongside former students," she said. "Education is the most important and gratifying professions on the planet. I have a million stories and some are pretty scary and others will warm the coldest heart."
- "The system of public education is so very important and we must protect and promote it at every turn," Franks adds. "It is my North Star."
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About us:
- The Ohio Education Association represents nearly 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 September 30, 2024.
