Ohio’s Teaching Financial Literacy Conference program has just been published (Click Here)! This event will be hosted at The University of Akron on July 6-7, 2023. We invite you to join us either in Akron or virtually through our hybrid offerings.  

As you know, Senate Bill 1 is a game changer for teaching personal finance in the State of Ohio. This is a historic time for our state and its families, as high school students are now required to complete a course of instruction in financial literacy for graduation. Participation in this Conference is eligible for the Ohio Financial Licensure License Validation training, as all sessions prepare educators to teach Ohio’s Learning Standards for Financial Literacy.

This two-day event will provide you with plenty of opportunities to connect with peers and financial industry experts. You’ll attend sessions on a variety of subjects to gain practical tips for incorporating personal finance and economics into your curriculum. Educators can choose to invest in their career further by pursuing discounted graduate credit (additional fee of $200 per hour, up to 2 hours). Information and resources will be available from our robust list of national and local exhibitors who are eager to share how they can support you and your students.

If unable to physically join us in Akron, please consider registering as a virtual attendee! Virtual attendees can tune into a select number of sessions throughout the Conference. A limited number of scholarships are available, and you can request to be considered when registering for the Conference.

We are thrilled to be working with all our partners, including our gold-level sponsor Charles Schwab, to bring this special event to life. After all, you are never too young to learn and talk about money. We truly appreciate your assistance in helping us get the word out to educators of all grade levels and subjects.

Register now at www.uakron.edu/barkercenter

The 2023 Ohio Teacher Leadership Summit is June 14. This exciting event will be held at the Ohio Union on the campus of The Ohio State University and bring together educators from schools, districts and organizations doing innovative work to develop teacher leaders. Summit attendees will share successes, lessons learned and strategies for overcoming challenges around teacher leadership implementation. 

Participants will share their knowledge, create networks and connections and participate in professional learning. The summit offers an opportunity to become engaged in a statewide network of teacher leaders and administrators to promote and strengthen teacher leadership. Ohio’s Teacher Leadership Summit aligns with current and future education topics related to Future Forward Ohio.

Registration is free and attendees will receive contact hour certificates. Register using this form.

Contact teacher.leadership@education.ohio.gov with questions.

The Department is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws. Attendees will have the opportunity to request accommodations or support when they register for the Ohio Teacher Leadership Summit. Conference organizers request at least two weeks advance notice to arrange accommodations.

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Ohio's top education official leaves her job as Republicans push plan to remake ODE

A

Anna Staver, The Columbus Dispatch

Published 12:45pm ET April 7, 2023

As state lawmakers debate whether to fundamentally change the role of Ohio's top education official, the woman in that position has decided to leave.

Stephanie Siddens, who has served as interim state superintendent for nearly two years, is expected to be approved as deputy superintendent for the Upper Arlington School District at its school board meeting Tuesday evening.

"Dr. Siddens and Dr. [Kristin] Robbins really stood out in our search to fill these vital roles in our administrative team," Upper Arlington Superintendent Robert Hunt said in a statement. "They will be tremendous assets to Upper Arlington Schools and the community as a whole."

Documents posted for the meeting stated Siddens would start in the suburban Columbus district on July 1.

Siddens didn't respond to a request for comment but posted on Twitter that it was "an honor to serve the students and schools of Ohio as interim superintendent."

Her impending departure comes as Republicans in the House and Senate push forward with legislation to remake how the Ohio Department of Education operates.

Senate Bill 1 would strip most educational responsibilities like curricula and long-term planning from a partially elected state board (which hires the state superintendent) and give it to the governor's office.

The new director, who would be appointed to a new cabinet position by Gov. Mike DeWine, would oversee the education of Ohio's 1.6 million public schoolchildren. The State Board of Education would be relegated to processing teacher licenses and revocations. And Siddens' current role as state superintendent would become an advisory position, both to the board and the new director.

"I feel that the purpose of the legislation is critical to the improvement of the state," bill sponsor Sen. Bill Reineke, R-Tiffin, said when he reintroduced SB 1 in January.

But Democrats have called his plan a political power grab that would restrict the ability of all parents to directly question state educational policies. The current State Board of Education holds monthly meetings where members of the public can testify.

Siddens hasn't publicly commented on the legislation.

Politicians and education advocates were quick to wish Siddens their best, including Gov. DeWine.

“I have nothing but respect for Interim Superintendent Siddens and appreciate her service as acting superintendent," Reineke said in a statement. "It is clear, however, that the governing structure at the Ohio Department of Education does not work. The State Board of Education has had two years to hire a full-time leader and has failed.

Others, like Ohio Education President Scott DiMauro, were "disappointed" to see her go.

"She has provided steady leadership during a time of uncertainty over the future of the department," he said. "I wish her nothing but the best."

When asked whether that uncertainty might have contributed to the move from overseeing the state's education policy to serving as a local assistant superintendent, DiMaure said, "It wouldn't surprise me, but I really don't know."

Anna Staver is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.

Ohio State Superintendent leaves as GOP pushes for education overhaul (dispatch.com)

On May 1^st, Ohio Lt. Governor Jon Husted launched a new resource that provides information to students, parents, and teachers about the different career pathways available to high schoolers. The “Find Your Career Pathway” video and toolkit aim to guide students in their educational journey to land a successful career right here in Ohio. 

The resource helps encourage Ohio students, parents, and schools to start conversations earlier about the best pathway to a successful career in Ohio. 

The video features five students from around the state sharing their experiences in each pathway. The highlighted pathways include:

• ·       Career Technical Education- provides students of all ages with the academic and technical skills, knowledge, and training necessary to succeed in future careers and to become lifelong learners.
• ·       Pre-Apprenticeships- teaches entry level technical and job-readiness skills for an apprentice occupation to prepare students for a formal Registered Apprenticeship training program upon graduation.
• ·       College Credit Plus- helps students earn college and high school credits simultaneously by taking college courses from local colleges or universities while in high school. 
• ·       Industry-Recognized Credentials - demonstrates the knowledge and skills students gain through hands-on learning in a specific job or industry.

In addition to the video, an accompanying toolkit was developed to share additional information on the various pathways and other resources that can help students and families learn more about each. 

For more information about the “Find Your Career Pathway” video and toolkit, visit Workforce.Ohio.gov/CareerPathways.

Find the video here

CareerPathwaysToolkit.pdf

NEWS RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT:

AJ Huff
513-594-6875
huffa@butlertech.org

Jay Patel, Butler Tech Biomedical Science
named 2023 U.S. Presidential Scholar

Hamilton, Ohio (May 10, 2023) – Jay Patel, a Senior in the Biomedical Science program at Butler Tech’s Bioscience Center, was selected as a U.S. Presidential Scholar in Career and Technical Education. He is the only representative from Ohio and one of twenty in the United States.  Patel was nominated by his instructor and chosen for his outstanding academic achievements and success in career tech education.

“In my 21 years of teaching, I have encountered few students who match Jay Patel’s drive, focus, and initiative,” shared Danielle Mink, PLTW Biomedical Sciences Instructor in her nomination letter for Patel.

By taking 16+ college classes and two capstone courses, Patel will graduate from high school with an associate’s degree in science and a phlebotomy technician certification this May. According to Mink, he is consistently a top-performing student in his classes, maintaining a 4.78 GPA despite working at his family business and being actively involved in extracurriculars. As a junior, Patel was selected for a highly competitive program that allows high school students to learn directly from healthcare professionals in the hospital setting. He was also elected U.S. High School Team Leader for the United Planet Global Health Program – an eco-activism initiative that pairs students from across the United States with students in Baghdad. His team designed a social media campaign that shared information about global warming with the citizens of both countries.

“Butler Tech has set me up to achieve my goals through resources that it has provided me such as opportunities to shadow doctors, network, and the ability for me to take college classes which have all helped me in developing my passion and allowed me to get a step in the right direction for my goals,” explained Patel.  “My instructors have pushed me relentlessly, finding and serving me with a full plate of opportunities that I gladly took.”

Patel volunteers regularly with a variety of community organizations. Most notable is his work with the Spiritual Care department at a local hospital. Being multilingual, he is able to help break the communication barrier by translating for patients. In an effort to improve the care of the hospital’s growing Hindu population, he was able to connect the hospital staff with leaders of a local Hindu religious center. Patel also devotes countless hours to Butler Tech – through National Technical Honor Society activities/events, serving on the HOSA leadership team in an effort to increase student body engagement in CTSO-related activities, and as a student representative at local and district business advisory meetings. Patel also serves as a Butler Tech Student Ambassador and assists with recruitment efforts across the district.

“At his core, Jay is a “helper” – he cares deeply about improving the lives of others, so it comes as no surprise that he wishes to use his talents in the health care field,” shares Mink.

“As one of his teachers, I cannot wait to see where he takes his path – his work ethic, dedication, passion, and empathy for others combine to make him an absolute joy to have in my life. I can’t imagine a more fitting individual to represent the state of Ohio as a Career Technical Presidential Scholar.”

After graduation Patel plans to attend the University of Cincinnati in Medical Sciences on a premed track. He would eventually like to attend New York University for medical school.  

In a busy State Board of Education (SBOE) meeting Tuesday, members voted to appoint Ohio Department of Education (ODE) Chief Program Officer Chris Woolard as the next interim state superintendent following the departure of Stephanie Siddens. In other actions, the board voted to award a contract to the search firm Ray & Associates in their hunt for permanent leader of the state education department, and they voted to request a formal opinion from Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost about the constitutionality of legislation to overhaul ODE and the state board, among other actions.

Interim State Superintendent

Chris Woolard has worked at ODE for the past 20 years, previously serving as research and evaluation manager, director of accountability, and senior executive director before stepping into the role of chief program officer.

“Chris Woolard, chief program officer for the Ohio Department of Education, works closely with the department’s program centers to oversee all initiatives related to continuous improvement, student supports, advancing professional supports, performance and impact, teaching, leading and learning, Future Forward Ohio (ESSER) state activities and educational options.

“Previously serving as the department’s senior executive director for the Center for Performance and Impact, Chris’ work focused on state assessments, development of Ohio School Report Cards, implementation of Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and the creation of data tools for educators and state-level policy research. Chris has completed a prestigious fellowship with the Harvard Strategic Data Project and has previously received the Data Quality Campaign’s State Data Leader Award for promoting data use to improve student learning and achievement,” ODE Chief of Communications Lacey Snoke told Hannah News.

Woolard received a bachelor’s degree in education and political science from Muskingum College and master’s and doctorate degrees in political science from Miami University. His term as interim state superintendent will begin Sunday, May 28 with a compensation of $202,321 annually (or $97.27 per hour) until the state finds a permanent replacement.

Outgoing Interim Superintendent Stephanie Siddens is leaving the department for a role as deputy superintendent of Upper Arlington City Schools this summer. Siddens has been interim superintendent for much of the last year and a half in two separate stints. The state has been mostly without a permanent superintendent since the fall of 2021, when Paolo DeMaria retired. Former State Board of Education Vice President Steve Dackin was briefly hired as his replacement last spring, but quickly resigned amid Ohio Ethics Commission scrutiny of his conduct in coordinating the search for a new superintendent only to apply for the job himself.

Siddens had recommended two senior officials for consideration as her replacement: Woolard and Jessica Voltolini, ODE’s chief of staff. Board members said they appreciated Woolard’s experience and leadership at the department.

“I'm just impressed with the experience. We need someone in that position who has been with the department and has the experience to be able to do the job,” board member Meryl Johnson said in favor of Woolard.

SBOE members ultimately voted 12 to four with two abstentions to appoint Woolard as interim state superintendent. Members Brendan Shea, Walt Davis, John Hagan and Diana Fessler voted no, and members Brandon Kern and Sue Hackett abstained from the vote.

“I’m honored to accept this role, and I am committed to working with the State Board of Education to continue advancing the work connected to the agency’s Future Forward Ohio priorities and ensuring a budget that supports Ohio’s students, educators and school communities,” Woolard said in a statement. “I am grateful for all Dr. Siddens has done as interim state superintendent and throughout her 17 years at the Ohio Department of Education.”

Search Firm

After delaying the search for a permanent education leader for months, SBOE members voted Tuesday to award a contract to the search firm Ray & Associates and to move forward with the hiring process.

Ray & Associates was one of three potential search firms the board interviewed near the end of last year, though they have postponed selecting one due to potential action on SB1 (Reineke) and HB12 (Jones-Dobos), and those bills’ predecessor 134-SB178 (Reineke). The legislation would strip most powers from the state superintendent and board and give them to a governor-appointed director of the renamed Department of Education and Workforce (DEW).

The president of Iowa-based Ray & Associates is Mike Collins, a former two-term elected Ohio SBOE member. Last December, he told the state board the agency is also one of the oldest and largest search firms in the country. Their fee was $43,200, including expenses. Like other candidates, they also offered a two-year guarantee to repeat their services if the selected candidate leaves for any reason within two years of the beginning of employment. (See The Hannah Report, 12/12/22.)

The board ultimately voted 12 to six to contract with Ray & Associates, with some members continuing to say the board should postpone the decision until it knows what the General Assembly will do or objecting to the selected search firm.

Members narrowly defeated a motion from member Brendan Shea to postpone the search firm vote for another month in an eight to 10 vote. Member John Hagan had backed that effort.

“I would suggest that rather than choosing a search firm when we don't know what the job is -- that we postpone this for another month, waiting to see what the results are at the Legislature. There is a move today to appoint another interim [superintendent], so I don't think we're in dire straits and [it’s] necessary to move forward,” he said.

Questions were also raised about if the offers from the prospective search firms still stood, though ODE chief legal counsel Tony Palmer confirmed they did.

“I just think it's a strong move at this moment to move forward with this. It complements the decision to … approve an interim [superintendent] today because I think it makes it very clear that we are moving forward, and that this is intended to be temporary and not another two-year interim situation, and it is going to take us several months just to do the work,” member Christina Collins said of moving forward with the vote.

Earlier this year, Sen. Andrew Brenner (R-Delaware), chair of the Senate Education Committee, suggested members should wait until at least May to vote on awarding the contract.

“We will probably have a discussion and/or vote, if anything, on SB1 or the House version between now and June 30. If we don't get that resolved by June 30, then probably nothing will happen … I would just maybe make a recommendation that if you're going to do this you might want to wait until the May meeting, because at that point, you can put things in process, and you know, if nothing happens by June, then there's probably a chance you will need to be hiring a superintendent anyway,” he told the board in March. (See The Hannah Report, 3/14/23.)

Members also voted on a motion from Hagan to contract with Nebraska-based McPherson & Jacobson. Some members like Walt Davis said they preferred McPherson for its performance data and the longevity of their placements. Hagan commentated that he was not “extremely impressed” by any of the three candidates, but was “least impressed” by Ray & Associates due in part because they helped the board hire former State Superintendent Paolo DeMaria.

Other members, like Michelle Newman, worried McPherson did not have enough knowledge of Ohio’s political climate. The motion to contract with McPherson was ultimately defeated in a six to 12 vote.

Collins made the motion to contract with Ray & Associates, citing their comparatively low cost and knowledge of Ohio politics. The motion was approved 12 to six, with board President Paul LaRue voting against it.

Attorney General Opinion

The board also approved a resolution from board member Teresa Fedor, a former state lawmaker, to request a formal opinion from the Ohio attorney general regarding the constitutionality of legislation to drastically restructure ODE and the SBOE.

The resolution notes the 1953 constitutional amendment in which voters removed the Department of Education from the executive office of the governor and created the State Board of Education.

“Section 4 [of the Ohio Constitution] states that the board shall appoint a superintendent of public instruction and that the respective powers and duties of the superintendent and the board shall be prescribed by law, for which the General Assembly has provided enabling language for nearly 70 years,” the resolution states.

The resolution asks for Attorney General Dave Yost’s formal opinion on the conformity of SB1 and HB12 to the Ohio Constitution.

The resolution was accepted by a vote of 13 to four with one abstention. Appointed members Brandon Kern, Jim Mermis, Vice President Martha Manchester, and President Paul LaRue all voted no. Appointed member Melissa Bedell abstained from the vote.

Last month, the elected members of the board approved a resolution advocating for the preservation of its general authority over the education system and opposing SB1 and HB12. (See The Hannah Report, 4/11/23.)

During discussion, Kern raised concerns that SB1 is a “moving target” and that any potential opinion from Yost would be rendered moot if the Legislature amended the bill. He also cast doubt on the likelihood Yost would issue an opinion, saying he’s not sure how “productive” the resolution would really be.

Kern also asked if the attorney general normally issues an opinion on pending legislation, with ODE Chief Legal Counsel Tony Palmer saying he is not aware of any cases of that.

Lobbying Activities

Board member John Hagan proposed an amendment to require additional reporting on lobbying activities that was ultimately defeated.

“The board wants to be aware of any conversations between staff in the department’s Office of Policy and Legislative Affairs and members of the General Assembly;

“The board wants to require additional reporting on the lobbying activities of the department’s Office of Policy and Legislative Affairs, to include a listing and summary of all meetings between office staff and members of the General Assembly,” the resolution states.

The proposal would have also required the state superintendent to provide the board with a list of all meetings scheduled for upcoming weeks, along with the topic of the meeting and the participants in each meeting.

While many members said they did want to know more about lobbying efforts by the department, they also suggested the resolution went too far and could be burdensome for ODE staff or even interfere with the relationship between ODE staff and lawmakers.

The resolution was defeated narrowly with an eight to 10 vote.

Superspecs formerly knows as 'Play Hard Don't Blink' is once again offering an opportunity to receive protective eyewear for your students!

Click here to view your eyewear options.

Click here for the application, deadline for submission is June 10th.

Emails will be sent out by early July to each applicant to let them know how many pieces of equipment to expect. 

Equipment will ship in August to the address provided.

Ohio ACTE Names Dee Smith Executive Director

The Ohio Association for Career and Technical Education (Ohio ACTE) announced the hiring of Dee Smith as executive director.

“Dee brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in association leadership and advocacy, but most importantly Dee brings her love and passion for CTE. Dee is committed to the continued growth of Ohio ACTE and is looking forward to collaborating with and supporting our members as we work together to promote the value of high quality CTE in Ohio. Dee believes by working together we are a stronger voice for CTE in Ohio. We see a bright future for Ohio ACTE with Dee as our executive director,” the association said in a statement.

“I am excited and humbled for the opportunity to use my experience as a CTE alumni, parent and professional advocate to ensure every Ohio student has access to high-quality career-technical pathways by supporting our members. I look forward to ensuring Ohio continues to be viewed as a national leader for CTE for the students of today and tomorrow,” Smith said in a statement.

Smith has worked at government relations firm Pappas & Associates since 2004. Previously, she was a legal assistant at Cark, Cook, Holt and Pugh in Memphis and at Roth Shannon and Underwood in Reynoldsburg.

Story originally published in The Hannah Report on May 1, 2023. Copyright 2023 Hannah News Service, Inc.

Connected Career Rounds

The Cleveland Clinic Center for Youth and College Education is pleased to announce that the full library of eleven Connected Career Rounds sessions from this school year is now available on-demand for free to all students and educators. In these videos, Cleveland Clinic caregivers walk through care scenarios and describe their professional roles, as well as how they got to where they are. The Connected Career Rounds team provides additional information about the depicted careers such as expected income, 10-year expected job growth, education requirements, and local education programs.

Students and school professionals can access these one-hour videos about careers in healthcare by going to this link and selecting “log in as a guest” in the bottom left corner. In addition to the sessions, you and your students can also access links to relevant educational programs and career resources, video features on in-demand jobs at Cleveland Clinic, and caregiver testimonials from healthcare professionals.

If you are interested in participating in live sessions next school year or you would like to receive updates about Connected Career Rounds, please complete the very short form at this link.

If you have any questions about the Center for Youth and College Education, please check out our website or reach out to cyce@ccf.org.