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Public Education Matters
Ohio’s public schools serve 1.6 million children – 90 percent of students in the state! What happens in the classroom has impacts far beyond the walls of the K-12 school building or higher ed lecture hall. So, on behalf of the 120,000 members of the Ohio Education Association, we’re taking a deeper dive into some of the many education issues facing our students, educators, and communities. Originally launched in 2021 as Education Matters, Public Education Matters is your source for insightful conversations with the people who shape the education landscape in Ohio. Have a topic you’d like to hear about on Public Education Matters? Email us at educationmatters@ohea.org
Public school educators are called to the profession by a dedication to serving their students. And, before their careers in the classroom, quite a few teachers served their country in the US Military. But not every veteran-turned-teacher knows their years of service in the military counts toward years of service for a higher initial placement on the salary schedule when they begin working for a school district in Ohio. That can mean missing out on a significant amount of money they should be receiving! Delaware City Education Association Member Josh Caslow shares his story of getting the credit he was owed for his time in the Army and National Guard, and his message to other veterans in the education profession.
KNOW THE LAW | Under Ohio Revised Code Section 3317.13 (Minimum Salary Schedule for Teachers), “years of service” includes:
- “All years of active military service in the armed forces of the United States, as defined in section 3307.75 of the Revised Code, to a maximum of five years. For purposes of this calculation, a partial year of active military service of eight continuous months or more in the armed forces shall be counted as a full year.”
- Unfortunately, since there is no minimum salary schedule in statute for Education Support Professionals in Ohio, years of military service does not necessarily impact salary schedule placement. But, just like teachers in Ohio, military veterans who become ESPs have the ability to purchase service credit in SERS/PERS, and also have licensure fees waived, if applicable to their position.
GET HELP | If you are an educator who previously served in the US Military, and you think you should have been credited for years of service that you have not received, please contact your Labor Relations Consultant.
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Featured Public Education Matters guest:
- Josh Caslow,US Army Veteran, Delaware City Education Association member
- “I’ve been an educator for the last 11 years, teaching grades 5, 6 and 7 math to students at all ability levels. Prior to education, I served in the United States Army for 6 and a half years, half being active duty and half in the Ohio National Guard. I have two children, 10 and 13, that I raise with their bonus mom, Natalie Geer.”
Connect with OEA:
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- Keep up to date on the legislation affecting Ohio public schools and educators with OEA’s Legislative Watch
About us:
- TheOhio 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 September 10, 2024.