New School Year, New Opportunities: Public education matters. Vote.
As the new school year gets underway, Ohio's educators are renewing their focus on delivering on the promise of the great public schools our students deserve. So much of that - for better or for worse - hinges on what happens at the ballot box in November. Ohio Education Association President Jeff Wensing kicks off Season 7 of the podcast with his takes on what's at stake in the upcoming election and some of the other big challenges and opportunities public school educators face this school year.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PRO-PUBLIC EDUCATION, PRO-LABOR CANDIDATES ON THE BALLOT | OEA members can click here to check out the list of OEA-member recommended candidates running for state and federal office.
SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK | If you'd like to share your thoughts on the Public Education Matters podcast, including your ideas for what you'd like to hear on future episodes, please email educationmatters@ohea.org.
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. Click here for some of those links 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.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PRO-PUBLIC EDUCATION, PRO-LABOR CANDIDATES ON THE BALLOT | OEA members can click here to check out the list of OEA-member recommended candidates running for state and federal office.
SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK | If you'd like to share your thoughts on the Public Education Matters podcast, including your ideas for what you'd like to hear on future episodes, please email educationmatters@ohea.org.
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. Click here for some of those links 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.
Featured Public Education Matters guest:
- Jeff Wensing, Ohio Education Association President
- A high school math teacher in Parma City Schools, Jeff Wensing was elected OEA President in 2025 after serving as the Association’s vice president for six years. A public education advocate and leader for more than 34 years, Jeff served as President of the Parma Education Association from 2012-2018, and as President of the North Eastern Ohio Education Association (NEOEA) from 2016-2018. He served on OEA’s Constitution and Bylaws Committee and President’s Cabinet, as Vice Chair of OEA’s District Leaders Council, and as a member of the Fiscal Fitness Review Committee and Systemic Practices Committee. As Vice President, Jeff continued to emphasize the importance of organizing members throughout the state.
- Jeff believes OEA’s commitment must be unwavering in protecting, promoting, and strengthening Ohio’s public schools. As President, he maintains open and effective communication with the OEA Board and district and local leaders to continue building OEA’s collective strength and lead the Association’s advocacy for all students and educators and efforts to ensure equity and inclusion.
- As President, Jeff prioritizes empowering local affiliates, equipping leaders for successful negotiations, expanding and diversifying OEA membership, enhancing political advocacy, safeguarding equitable funding for public schools, opposing unchecked voucher expansion, defending collective bargaining rights, and promoting safe and supportive schools.
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 approximately 115,000 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 public school students, including her own two children. She lives in Central Ohio with her husband, children, and cat, Davis, who is very mean, but also very cute.
This episode was recorded on August 20, 2026.
In this episode:
In this episode:
- 00:00 - Back to School and Ready to Make a Difference
- 00:20 - Welcome to Season 7 of Public Education Matters
- 00:37 - Why This Election Could Shape Ohio’s Schools for Years to Come
- 02:33 - What Educators Are Saying Across Ohio
- 03:29 - Reasons for Hope This School Year
- 03:43 - A New Push to Pay Student Teachers
- 04:36 - Facing Ohio’s School Staffing Shortages
- 05:26 - The $2.75 Billion School Funding Gap
- 07:21 - “Take the Dough, We Gotta Know”
- 08:59 - Supporting Candidates Who Support Public Schools
- 11:06 - Educators Lead the Endorsement Process
- 13:06 - From Columbus to Washington: Making Recommendations
- 14:21 - Sherrod Brown’s Record on Education and Labor
- 15:15 - Protecting Federal Support for Students
- 16:37 - Public Education: The Great Equalizer
- 17:24 - Why Strong Public Schools Strengthen Communities
- 19:04 - The Most Important Assignment: Vote
- 19:32 - What's Ahead in Season 7
- 21:55 - Closing Thoughts
