Public Education Matters

Various student voices 0:08
Public education matters. Public education matters. Public education matters.

Jeff Wensing 0:14
This is Public Education Matters brought to you by the Ohio Education Association.

Katie Olmsted 0:26
Welcome back to Public Education Matters. I'm your host, Katie Olmsted, and I'm part of the communications team for the Ohio Education Association and the nearly 120,000 public school educators. OEA represents across the state this year, all of Ohio's public school educators are also being represented by Chris Monsour, the 2026 Ohio Teacher of the Year. He's a high school science teacher in Tiffin who has spent this school year traveling the state and the country, talking to other educators, future educators, and community members about our public schools. To say he has been busy is a serious understatement, but fortunately for us, he was able to find some time to sit down with us in early April to catch up and let us know all about his adventures. Take a listen to our conversation.

Chris Monsour 1:27
Hi my name is Chris Monsour. I'm the 2026 Ohio Teacher of the Year. I teach at Tiffin Columbian High School in Tiffin, Ohio. I teach AP Bio, Anat Physiology, Honors Bio, and so I'm glad to be a guest here on the on the podcast. Thank you for having me, Katie.

Katie Olmsted 1:42
Thank you for coming on especially thank you for finding time in your very busy schedule. It has been one heck of a year for you. What has this been like?

Chris Monsour 1:50
It's been a whirlwind. So I've really enjoyed my time being Ohio Teacher of the Year. I've got to travel all across the state. I really do enjoy speaking to pre-service teachers and teachers that are currently in the classroom. So just like two weeks ago, I was down at Ohio State with their teacher mentor recognition program. So I got to be the keynote address and as they recognize their mentor teachers, that was really great. I visited the University of Findlay, Tiffin University. I got to go down to Miami University. They were doing a graduation for their students in the master's degree program, and so I got to go down and talk to them and spend the day followed up with that with a talk at the zoo. So I've been doing a lot of those kind of things also, you know, a lot a lot of events, lot a lot of athletic events for Teacher of the Year. Got to witness the coin toss at the Cleveland Browns game back in I think that was October, November. I don't remember. It's all been a blur. Columbus Crew. I got to sit down right on the pitch. I was the hometown hero Blue Jackets game. I get to sit on the ice. I'll be going to I'm going to be throwing out a pitch at the Guardians game. Be throwing out first pitch. Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is this Saturday. I'll be there. They bring in the teacher of the year to kind of get to look at some of their educational programming, and so I just kind of rambled off a bunch of stuff. I know there's more, but I don't want to be the one talking the whole time.

Katie Olmsted 3:06
Well, I actually want you to be the one talking the whole time. In that we are talking to you about the amazing things you've been able to share and the amazing things you've been able to do. One other one was the teacher appreciation night with the Cavs. I'm talking to you on April 8th, but that was just a couple weeks ago, and I know that's that's another one where we have members from all over the state who come and and they get to see your smiling face.

Chris Monsour 3:29
That one was really cool. I can't believe I forgot that one. Yes, at the Cavs, and we got to help. There was a special night for OEA members, but I think also, like a bunch of OEA members, got to hold the flag, and so I got invited to do that, so it's really cool. And I got to introduce myself to them. Hey, teacher of the year. Thank you for all you're doing. Thanks for all your hard works. Yeah, I don't I forgot that one. Yeah, the Cavs. That was, that was a great experience.

Katie Olmsted 3:50
Well you had so many of them, so it's, I understand how it's hard to keep track. I when I ran into you at the Blue Jackets game, it was like, your third event of the day.

Chris Monsour 3:58
Yes, I was at Miami. I was at the zoo. Then I had to go. I went to the governor's mansion, and then I went to the Blue Jackets game. So it's, yeah, I've been to the state legislature on the opening session. That was, was kind of nice. They all stood and applauded for me. Gave me a gave me a standing ovation. Was nice to meet all them and try to talk to them as best I could. And then Science Education Council Ohio was back in March. I was the keynote speaker for that, and I got to kind of return to my roots, because that's where all the professional development I do started, at SECO. So it's kind of cool to go back to there. So yeah, it's been a whirlwind. So like, this week, I'm at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Then I'll be at the OEA has something in May. It's in Columbus.

Katie Olmsted 4:38
Are you speaking at our RA? The Representative Assembly?

Chris Monsour 4:42
Yes. So I'm going in on Friday. I'll be there Friday and Saturday. I know I'll be there. It's like the second week of May.

Katie Olmsted 4:49
Yep, I'll be there. I'll see you there.

Chris Monsour 4:50
I'll be there Friday and Saturday, and then Space Camp comes up in July.

Katie Olmsted 4:55
Like the space camp?

Chris Monsour 4:57
The Space Camp in Alabama.

Katie Olmsted 4:58
You are living my dreams. Sorry, like everything else you're doing is fine. I'm happy for you, but no, I'm not happy for you anymore. I'm just jealous.

Chris Monsour 5:07
National, National Teacher of the organization, I went out to spent five days out at Google headquarters out there in California. Got to spend the day, day or two with Google, and got to meet all the other teachers of the year. So they brought in all 50 there's 56 because there's the 50 state teachers a year. There's like Department of Defense, different, but there's about, I think there's 56 but anyways, they brought us all out and we got to meet each other. So I know everybody. I know someone in every state, every commonwealth, every territory. So it's be, yeah, it's been a whirlwind.

Katie Olmsted 5:39
And even though it's hard to keep track of all of the different things, you do have a pretty common thread of the things you're trying to tell people through it. What are the messages?

Chris Monsour 5:48
My message is, stay the course, and that's what I try to really emphasize, is that teaching is tough now. We're not going to get into all the reasons, but we can pick from anyone, but teaching is tough now, and we just need to stay the course. We have all these changes, whether it's AI, other other things like that, but we, you know, just staying the course. Why are you in it? Like, why, you know? Why did you become a teacher when you have those really hard days, you know? Like, why are you still doing so, just stay the course. Like, Ohio needs good public school teachers. Ohio has awesome public schools, and we just need to stay the course. And we need to keep keep focused on that goal of making sure that every kid in a public school in Ohio has, you know, the best possible experiences. So stay in the course. And that's kind of been my theme, and then I have some other pillars, but yeah.

Katie Olmsted 6:35
And stay the course was also sort of the theme of your life. We did a video with you back in the fall that talked a little bit about this, but so shameless plug that'll be in the show notes if anybody wants to check that out, but talk to me a little bit about how you ended up here. You, you're the first person to say you never thought you'd be a teacher, and now you're the teacher of the year.

Chris Monsour 6:57
I am probably your alternative licensure teacher, right? So, I graduated from Heidelberg with a degree in biology. I had really good teachers growing up. So, like I said, not the best home situation. Had really good teachers. Got to college. Kind of thought, I want to do biology. Graduated, but then I, like, I don't know what I want to do with this. Like, I have a bio degree, you know, I was going to go, go to grad school, Ohio University. That didn't work out. I was waiting tables was like, August. School needed a science teacher. And back in 1999 I'm sure it was hard to find a science teacher. That late, I can only imagine what it's like now, in 2027 trying to find a science teacher. Actually, I being a department chair, I know. But anyways, waiting tables. Lays like, Hey, you're new here that. I was like, Yeah, I just graduated. Say, Hey, she was a superintendent. She said, Hey, we need a science teacher. You wanna try it? Like, how hard can it be? I learned, yeah, you know, and so, and I really enjoyed it, because I got to go into the classroom every day. I got to, you know, I got to do science. I didn't have an education background, per se. I didn't take classes in pedagogy or curriculum. But, like, I had a bio degree. And so like, you know, you have to do science, you know, you can't, you know, I really don't like, when I hear people say, Well, we're going to cover this content. You cover a book, you don't cover content. You teach kids. And so I think my, my, the one thing I had was, like, I knew how to, like, I knew how to set up labs. I, you know, experiments, and we got to go outside and do stuff. So I got to play almost every day in those first couple years, and probably because I was new. But then, yeah, and then over the course of my 27 years, I just, you know, I got to take, I took advantage of every experience that was given to me. Like, I got to travel, got to serve on committees, I got to do curriculum stuff. So, all come to full circle to this. You know, here I am, 2026 Ohio Teacher of the Year, and my term is going to, you know, you know, they're already getting applications for next year's Ohio Teacher of the Year. And so if you are listening this, I encourage you to Google Ohio Teacher of the Year and nominate a good teacher. But yeah. So here I am. It's April, it's end of the school year. I'm losing my voice, you know. So it's been quite the ride. I've enjoyed it, and I wouldn't change anything, so.

Katie Olmsted 9:10
Did anything about this whole thing surprise you?

Chris Monsour 9:13
Winning. I didn't think I shouldn't say winning. I should selected, select. It's not, it's not a competition. So, but being selected as Ohio Teacher of the Year, because I wasn't going to apply last year was not my best year of teaching in terms of, just, like, it was just, you know, year 26 lots of changes here, all of the other stressors, like, I don't know if I'm going to do this anymore. And then I applied, and then I made it to district one finalist, and I was district one teacher of the year. You know, in the summer I'm out in Yellowstone with a group of teachers, and I get a phone call that I had to get on a zoom. And here I am a finalist. A couple weeks later, I'm in Maine out in the woods, and they're like, hey, you know, whatever. So I guess surprise one getting actually selected. But two, like, I thought it was going to be a lot of work being teacher the year, but I just didn't realize quite how much, and like, how much under a microscope I am under, because I am representing all of Ohio's teachers. And so I've talked when I did the media training with you back in September, it's like, I, you know, I feel like I can freely talk to you, but there's been some, there's been some conversations where I'm like, you know, let's focus on the great public education that students in Ohio are getting. Who is your favorite teacher? And that usually, when I had to pivot, as you would say, that usually my pivoting, because it was I need to say, thank you, Katie, because, and that training really to help a few times, because here I am, I'm representing all of Ohio's teachers, and somebody's got an issue, and I'm like, Well, you know what? Let's let's talk about, what's good about teaching, you know? And hey, who's your favorite teacher? And always would redirect that so, but.

Katie Olmsted 10:49
I have to say, like, I am not a teacher, and this is the closest I've ever come to like a proud teacher moment. So thank you.

Chris Monsour 10:57
It was great because I didn't think I would have to pivot, but there's been time, and like, was groups that I wouldn't think I'd have to nothing necessarily negative, but it's just like, okay, that's not my lane.

Katie Olmsted 11:11
Right. And it's about staying. It's about staying the course, about the positive message that you're trying to get out there about our schools and about what our what our students need.

Chris Monsour 11:20
Yep.

Katie Olmsted 11:20
So, I mean, it is, I mean that's, that's exactly what it's for. Is if people are getting you off track from the thing that we should be talking about, it gets you right back on track about the things we need to be talking about.

Chris Monsour 11:28
I can tell you about the amazing students I have. You know? I can talk about the mate like, I visited a couple schools. Like I the first place I went was my high school, and it was awesome because it was this Brookfield High School. Shout out, if they're listening, Trumbull County, you know, Northeast Ohio, small district. I mean, when I graduated, maybe had like 60 kids in my class, but like, they have, like, created their own CTE program, and I got to go in there and visit, and it was amazing. And then I got to go to Port Clinton a few weeks ago, another teacher of the year from, I don't remember the year 2020, something, he created this whole, like, social emotional learning workshop. So I get the whole spent, spend the whole day doing that. So there are a lot of great things going on in Ohio with Ohio schools, and so that's what I think, that was, my role is just to kind of promote. I really, I really tried to do that everywhere I, you know, talk about the good, because it's so easy to be negative. It really is, you know, but, like, just think about all the positive stuff, so.

Katie Olmsted 12:26
In all of your travels, did you see things that you didn't expect to see? I mean, you're, you're talking about this small high school with their great CTE program, anything else like that?

Chris Monsour 12:35
Yeah. Well like, like I said when I went up to Port Clinton, I was, you know, the social emotional learning, like programming that this, that this teacher came up with, and I was just, I learned a lot, I got to present, but also just like, you know, like I said, just talking to teachers and, like, hearing their stories and hearing what they're doing, it's like, why aren't we hearing more about, like, what good they're doing in their communities? And it's easy. And like, I think as teachers, we don't like the attention. I don't. That's been the biggest thing for me is, like, I don't necessarily, I mean, I post on social media because I'm trying to promote teaching. I'm trying to promote, you know, the good, but it's, you know, when I'm getting recognized, like I'm at the Cavs game, I'm like, why am I down here sometimes? So it's like, the imposter syndrome, but, but just how supportive, you know, people really are of teaching. So like, you know, when I went to the Cavs game, when I went to the, you know, the Crew and all that, they were so, like, supportive of teachers. And so I think there's more support out there, but as we know, the greasy wheel gets all the attention, so. That makes sense?

Katie Olmsted 13:39
Yeah, I mean, and that's the thing, I think it's human nature to to sometimes focus on the negative. I you know, I was a former journalist, so the if it bleeds, it leads, sort of thing, the the negative stuff does get people's attention, but it's not the real story of our schools. And to have you going around the state, learning the real story and telling the real story, I think is so important. What are your students taking from this?

Chris Monsour 14:06
Um, so I have been out, so I have missed more days this year than I ever, like in 27 years. I may, you know, I missed a day here, there. And so the students think it's cool. However they they have made some comments like, you know, I've missed quite a bit, and not, I mean, I'm planning for it, but I think they think it's cool, you know, they consider, you know, you know, the teacher of the year, but the absent, me not being the classroom, I didn't realize how much an impact it would have on learning and so on. But also, I don't like to miss school, so sometimes would cause me stress not to be there. But I think they think it's a cool thing. You know, when I'm at the Browns game and I put a picture, you know, when I was at the Cavs game, actually had a student there, Brady Miller, and he took a picture of it, and he put on a Snapchat and like, so everybody. So I think they think it's, it's a good experience. It's the one thing that for me it's tough, is just like, you know, missing the days. So I don't like to miss school, but.

Katie Olmsted 15:06
You love teaching. It's what you want to be doing.

Chris Monsour 15:08
I love it, and I think it's been good for the school, because we've had kind of a rough patch few years ago, but I think it's been really positive for the community. So I think it's good to, you know, bring some positivity to the school district. And if I told you, but like, when I got announced, say, like, one of the billboards in town, like, had my face up there and everything, so it's cool. So I think it's been good for the community. It's been good for my students, been good for me. But, like, it's April, and I'm like, Okay, what we you know, it's, and just as a teacher, I got seniors all the way down to sophomore, so I'm, like, getting ready for this state test, AP exam.

Katie Olmsted 15:39
Yeah.

Chris Monsour 15:40
It's good. You got to be organized. And that's also taught me is, like, how to use my time a little bit better, because when I'm out for like, two days. So it's been a good experience.

Katie Olmsted 15:51
So I know you mentioned you love talking to the pre-service teachers. Do you think you being such a visible person? Do you think maybe you're inspiring any of your students to become educators?

Chris Monsour 16:01
Maybe, maybe I just, I'm not sure that's a good question. I never thought about that. That might be something to ask them. I definitely have some students who are interested in teaching. I have some students that are definitely interested in in science and the traveling aspect, but I would hope that they would, you know, if they're thinking about it, that they'd be like, oh, you know, you know, that could be me someday. Because that was interesting. I keep. I got to present at Educators Rising Conference back in maybe March. My days are all time runs together.

Katie Olmsted 16:24
Yes, I understand that.

Chris Monsour 16:24
But that was cool. That was amazing to be there with the educators rising because there's like 1000 students there, and they all want to be teachers. And they were so excited. And that was the one thing that I told him, is like, you know, stay the course. But like, hey, this could be you someday. It takes a while. Took me 26 years to get here and figure it out, and some days I still don't think I have it figured out. But that was probably one of my favorite experiences, though, was talking to all those students. And so that was a pretty cool experience. There was, yeah, I totally forgot about that one, because it was like, I got back from California. I was at school for two days. I was in Columbus, but it was just their energy and their excitement. And they were from all over the state, and they were like, you know, I did a breakout session. I had 40 kids in there, and they just wanted to hear about, like, what's it like to be teacher the year? And they got to ask me questions.

Katie Olmsted 17:19
Oh, like me. I'm just taking your brain same thing.

Chris Monsour 17:23
And I do think, you know, I teach biology, we talk about, like, homeostasis, so you have peaks and valleys. And I think right now, with how things are, we're just kind of a little dip, but, but like, seeing those kids, I'm like, Okay, I you know, it'll, it'll, it'll, it'll even out. We'll reach equilibrium at some point. And so I just think, you know, as I tell my students in biology, the only constant life is change. And so we're going through this change in public education, and it'll, it'll eventually work itself out, and what it looks like, we're just going to have to, going to have to roll with it. And, like I say, stay the course and figure it out. And so I think looking how eager those students were and the things that they were talking about, what they were doing with AI and stuff. I was just like, This is awesome, but I might only, you know, I'm at year 27 so I'm like, you know, looking down, down the road, maybe five, six years. I'm like, Okay, what's it going to be like for me?

Katie Olmsted 18:13
Right? Well, and that's the thing you're learning from these students who have quite the time horizon. You're also, as you mentioned, talking to the other state Teachers of the Year on the national level. Did you learn anything from those conversations?

Chris Monsour 18:28
You know, it's kind of there's a lot of differences. So like, Ohio does a, did a, Angela there at the State Board of Ed, she did a, she does a really good job of, like, Ohio has treated me really well so many other states, they don't even get a plaque or anything, and so I've been able to travel and so, but I've learned that we're all kind of in a similar situation. Every state's like there, whether it's not being able to, you know, fill positions or things like that. But we all have a shared, shared vision. We all want things, you know, we want the best possible educate, best possible education for, you know, our students and so, but like some states, they get to do other things. Some others don't get to do so that trying to think, what else I learned? Like, we were, we were there for four days. A lot of it was a lot of like, trying to, like, you know, what was interesting was like, so I started my term, or whatever like in September, they had just started theirs, like in January. So, like, I had already done all these things. And so it was kind of cool. Like, hey, get yourself a digital business card. Hey, reach out to these folks. Get through these kind of things. So yeah, but in the awareness, like group chat, and so we'll be getting together again virtually on the 15th. So I made some friends. It's like, I said, it's cool to say that I know somebody in all 50, whatever, 50 states and everything else.

Katie Olmsted 19:47
And now, as you mentioned, your term started in September, and we have a few more months left on it, but next year, you'll be back in your classroom, back to the homeostasis of your life.

Chris Monsour 19:59
Yeah.

Katie Olmsted 20:00
Um, are you, are there things you've taken from this time on the road that will change the way that you teach?

Chris Monsour 20:08
I really haven't had a chance to think about that, but probably again, I you know the importance of being in the classroom.

Katie Olmsted 20:16
Yes.

Chris Monsour 20:17
You know, excited. You know that the importance of, you know, I really work with some great, I work with some great colleagues here at Columbian, and so some of them have helped me out. Like, when we've had, like, I've been gone, their issues. So the importance of having good colleagues, but also, like, the importance of having, you know, you know, good public schools. I think the importance of that. But yeah, I really haven't had like, I think once January rolls around, the final event's done and I could just sit back, then I might think more about it, but I really haven't thought about I haven't had time to reflect back on like, how this experience has impacted me and my teaching yet. Does that make sense?

Katie Olmsted 20:54
Yeah. I mean, there's believe I get it very loud and clear here. You have not had a second of downtime to really just sit back. So when that comes, it will be interesting to see how your thoughts change about it.

Chris Monsour 21:09
Yeah, but again, just like going out and, like, you know, going kind of going back, like, there's, you know, there's really good things going on in public education, and, you know, I would hope people would focus on that, but that's tough to do, and as a journalist, you probably know that.

Katie Olmsted 21:25
Well as somebody who gets to host this podcast and talk about all those positive things, there's a lot of opportunities to talk about positive things because of people like you who are bringing the positive stories to life and sharing that and representing educators across our state. Chris, thank you so much for taking this time to sit down with me. Please go take a nap.

Chris Monsour 21:44
Thank you so much, Katie, thanks for all your help over this course of this. We'll call it year my term, but I appreciate it.

Katie Olmsted 21:56
Our thanks and congratulations again to Chris Monsour, the 2026 Ohio Teacher of the Year, as we mentioned in that conversation. Here's a really good video with Chris about his stay the course message in the Ohio School spotlight video library. The link is in the show notes for this episode, and there's also a link to see Chris in a strong unions make strong public schools video talking about how his local association, the Tiffin Education Association, has been able to keep class sizes manageable so they can individualize instruction and improve student outcomes. Needless to say, Chris has had a lot of good stuff to talk about lately. If you want to talk about something you're passionate about on this podcast, please email me at educationmatters@ohea.org, we are winding down this season of the podcast, but we are always looking for guests to share their thoughts with us for when the new season starts this fall. There are still a few more episodes this season, though, and they will continue to drop every Thursday through the end of this school year, make sure you join us for those conversations, because in Ohio, public education matters.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai