COLUMBUS — May 13, 2013 — The Ohio Education Association (OEA), representing 121,000 teachers, education support professionals and higher education faculty, held its Spring Representative Assembly at Veterans Memorial in Columbus. The theme of the Assembly, May 10-11, was Our Guiding Values. The OEA is the eighth largest state affiliate of the 3 million-member National Education Association (NEA).
Highlights of the Representative Assembly included a visit by political commentator Ed Schultz, host of MSNBC-TV’s “The Ed Show.” Delegates honored Schultz as the recipient of the Ohio Education Association Friend of Education Award. Schultz was recognized for being a staunch ally of educators, public education and organized labor. He stood with Ohioans on Issue 2 to defend collective bargaining rights. He is a friend to everyone who works for a living, everyone who belongs to the middle class, and everyone who longs for an America that treats all its citizens with respect and fairness. While addressing the assembly Schultz said, “There is an unparalleled, unprecedented, relentless attack on public education and public school educators. You can’t cut 6,000 teachers out of a state budget and expect to have the same results.””
Delegates also welcomed special guest NEA President Dennis Van Roekel. Van Roekel praised the leadership of outgoing OEA President, Patricia Frost-Brooks saying, “She has led OEA members through some difficult times but she hasn’t been content to survive. She has constantly demanded that we set our sights higher, strengthen our professions, and transform public education. The strength of OEA lies in its’ members, when they come together to collectively advocate for public education and students.”
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The Ohio Education Association (ohea.org) represents 121,000 teachers, faculty members and support professionals in Ohio’s public schools, colleges and universities.
CONTACT: Michele Prater
614-227-3071; cell 614-378-0469, praterm@ohea.org