The Ohio Education Association (OEA) is a member organization for education professionals in Ohio that supports left-of-center policies regarding social issues, school vouchers, and charter schools and opposes right-to-work policies that allow employees to refrain from being a member of or contributing to labor unions. It is the Ohio state-level affiliate of the National Education Association. 1 2
Background
The Ohio Education Association is a member organization for education professionals in Ohio that was founded in 1847. In July 1967, the organization was registered (under the name Ohio Education Assn) as a tax-exempt 501(c)(6) organization. It is the Ohio affiliate of the National Education Association. 3 4
Policy
The Ohio Education Association supports policies that would increase the regulation of charter schools; align funding of public schools with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) aims; introduce a moratorium on the expansion and creation of school voucher programs; reduce class sizes; and increase the privileges and rights of tenured school faculty. 5
In particular, the Ohio Education Association strongly opposes right-to-work legislation, which protects the right of workers to work without joining or supporting a union. The organization claims that though supporters of right to work legislation “wield buzz words” including “freedom” and “choice,” that “the true goal” of such policies is to enrich corporate shareholders. 6
On October 10, 2022, the Ohio Education Association published a statement opposing Ohio’s Third Grade Reading Guarantee, a policy that does not allow students who do not pass a certain standardized test testing reading comprehension from progressing to the next grade. In its statement, the organization’s president, Scott DiMauro, characterized the policy as “mandatory retention” and claimed that it allowed state politicians to determine the “fates” of students based on “arbitrary cut-scores on high-stakes English language arts tests.” 7
On October 23, 2023, the Ohio Education Association published a press release announcing its endorsement of U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) for re-election, citing among other things the senator’s support for policies that increased tax-deductions for teachers, reduced student testing, and reduced funding for private schools. 8
Leadership
Patricia Collins Murdock is the executive director of the Ohio Education Association. Previously, Murdock was OEA’s assistant executive director for field operations and regional director; lobbyist, manager of government relations, and manager of external partnerships for the National Education Association; and legislative counsel in the office of former U.S. Senator John Glenn (D-OH). Additionally, Collins Murdock has worked in various policy and programmatic capacities for organizations including the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Service Employees International Union, Food Research and Action Center, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the African American Cultural Center at the University of Connecticut. 9
Scott DiMauro is the president of the Ohio Education Association as well as the president of the National Council of State Education Associations and a high school social studies teacher in Worthington, Ohio. Previously, DiMauro was the vice president of OEA and the national spokesperson for Partners for Breakfast in the Classroom. 10
Jeff Wensing is the vice president of the Ohio Education Association as well as a high school math teacher in Parma City Schools. Previously, Wensing was president of the Parma Education Association, and president of the North Eastern Ohio Education Association. 11
Mark Hill is the secretary-treasurer of the Ohio Education Association. Previously, he was a middle school math teacher with Columbus City Schools and later with Worthington City Schools as well president of the Worthington Education Association. 12
References
- “OEA on the Issues.” Ohio Education Association. Accessed April 29, 2024. https://www.ohea.org/get-involved/oea-on-the-issues/
- “OEA on the Issues.” Ohio Education Association. Accessed April 29, 2024. https://www.ohea.org/get-involved/oea-on-the-issues/
- “Ohio Education Assn.” ProPublica. Accessed April 29, 2024.
https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/314269414
- “NEA | Ohio Education Association: Membership Application.” National Education Association. Accessed April 29, 2024. https://www.mynea360.org/s/join-now?state=OH
- “OEA on the Issues.” Ohio Education Association. Accessed April 29, 2024. https://www.ohea.org/get-involved/oea-on-the-issues/
- “OEA on the Issues.” Ohio Education Association. Accessed April 29, 2024. https://www.ohea.org/get-involved/oea-on-the-issues/
- [1] “OEA calls for end of mandatory retention under Third Grade Reading Guarantee.” Ohio Education Association. October 10, 2022. Accessed April 29, 2024. https://www.ohea.org/press-releases/2022/oea-calls-for-end-of-mandatory-retention-under-third-grade-reading-guarantee/
- “OEA & NEA recommend Sen. Brown for re-election to US Senate.” Ohio Education Association. October 23, 2023. Accessed April 29, 2024. https://www.ohea.org/press-releases/2023/oea-and-nea-recommend-sen-brown-for-reelection-to-us-senate/
- “Leadership.” Ohio Education Association. Accessed April 29, 2024. https://ohea.org/about/leadership/
- “Leadership.” Ohio Education Association. Accessed April 29, 2024. https://ohea.org/about/leadership/
- “Leadership.” Ohio Education Association. Accessed April 29, 2024. https://ohea.org/about/leadership/
- “Leadership.” Ohio Education Association. Accessed April 29, 2024. https://ohea.org/about/leadership/