Mason educator shares lessons in Building Stories and Building Bridges
Mason High School intervention specialist Hakim Oliver believes relationships are the basis of who we are. He created his multi-session Building Bridges program to help bring people together by helping them share their own stories and learn from the stories of others. Now, he's writing a book to share those lessons with others. Hakim shares his story in this episode of the podcast.
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 STORY | Public Education Matters continues to lift up the good work of OEA members and OEA locals across the state. Help us tell your local's story! Please send us an email at educationmatters@ohea.org to let us know about what educators you know are doing to help their schools, students, co-workers, and communities.
Featured Public Education Matters guest:
- Hakim Oliver, Mason Education Association member
- Hakim Oliver earned a Bachelor's degree in Special Education from Bowling Green State University and earned a Master's degree in Teacher Leadership from Wright State University. He has been in the education field for 20 years. He created a Special Olympics club for students with disabilities at Mason High School. Hakim currently coaches middle school football and high school track for Mason.
- Relationships are his passion. Mr. Oliver presented at various conferences, including The High Aims Summer Institute, Mason Student Leadership Conference, The University of Tennessee Innovation and Teaching Learning Conference, Maysville Community and Technical College, Ignite Conference, Great Lakes I-Ready Leadership Symposium, and the Ohio State Teacher Leadership Summit.
- In addition to this, Hakim Oliver created Bridges Stories to connect members of a community. These communities include Mason, Milford, Loveland, Lebanon, Maysville, Augusta, and Dayton.
- The Bridging Stories program is intended to facilitate positive intergroup interactions and discussions, recognizing individual differences, and creating a community. This event emphasizes building relationships through communication. It is a multi-part series incorporating a panel discussion, public engagement and interaction, and small group discussion. These discussions will conclude with sharing a meal at a local establishment. This program is safe and positive for all backgrounds.
- This event is free for all community members except for the last session, where the participants will be sharing a meal at a local restaurant, where each participant is responsible for the cost of their meal.
- Hakim Oliver is in the process of completing a book "Bridging Stories," highlighting the topics discussed in the community sessions.
Connect with OEA:
- Email educationmatters@ohea.org with your feedback or ideas for future Public 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 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 March 4, 2025.
