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As we move through the month of March, I continue to be inspired by the steady and purposeful work taking place across our organization as we advocate for excellence, equity, and opportunity for Black children and Black educators throughout Ohio.
I am especially pleased to share that the kick-off of our OABSE Regional Listening Tour was a tremendous success. The Northeast Ohio session was marked by meaningful and thoughtful dialogue among educators and education leaders who came prepared to speak candidly about the issues, challenges, and opportunities facing our schools and communities. We are deeply grateful to Dr. Warren Morgan, Superintendent of Cleveland Metropolitan School District, for serving as host, and to Dr. Henry Pettiegrew, Superintendent of East Cleveland City Schools and Chair of the OABSE Superintendent Commission, for his outstanding leadership in helping guide this important conversation.
The discussion generated valuable insights, and copious notes were taken and synthesized to help inform the development of OABSE’s legislative agenda and future education policy positions. These listening tour conversations are critical as we work to ensure that the voices of practitioners, district leaders, and community stakeholders are reflected in the advocacy priorities we advance on behalf of our children.
This month also brought a proud and meaningful moment as HABSE held a wonderful installation ceremony that was well attended and filled with promise for the future. We are grateful to the Honorable Judge Tonya Jones, who presided over the ceremony and officially swore in the newly elected officers. This occasion marked an important step forward in the continued strengthening of local affiliate leadership and engagement. HABSE’s momentum is a positive reflection of the ongoing work to build strong, mission-centered organizations that will serve educators, students, and communities with excellence.
In addition, OABSE continues to strengthen its presence and relationships at the state level through intentional legislative engagement. Recently, members of the OABSE Legislative Committee, led by Jacky Brown, Legislative Chair, along with committee members Dr. Henry Pettiegrew, Donald Jolly, Thanda Maceo, and Angela Bowman, made a concerted visit to the Ohio Statehouse to meet with Representative Sarah Fowler Arthur, Chair of the Ohio House Education Committee, and Senator Andrew Brenner, Chair of the Ohio Senate Education Committee.
These meetings served primarily as introductory conversations and an opportunity to begin building relationships with key legislative leaders. While the discussions were light on specific legislative and policy issues, they were important first steps in establishing rapport, opening lines of communication, and positioning OABSE to engage more deeply in future conversations regarding education policy and advocacy in Ohio. We extend our sincere appreciation to Barbara Shaner, our legislative advocacy consultant, for coordinating these meetings and making the necessary arrangements on our behalf.
As we continue to build a stronger and more coordinated advocacy network across the state, we are inviting all local affiliates to appoint two representatives to serve on the OABSE Legislative Committee as local affiliate representatives. These individuals will help carry the torch in their respective communities by engaging local elected officials, building relationships with legislators and policymakers, and coordinating with OABSE on matters of legislative advocacy and public policy.
Moreover, we are asking each local affiliate to appoint a local ICOA representative to connect with and support the national coalition-building effort. This is an important step toward strengthening our collective voice and advancing a unified strategy for coalition building across communities.
I am also proud to announce that OABSE has been awarded a grant from the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation to support a new and transformative initiative — the OABSE Teacher Leader Ambassador Program. This program will officially kick off at the Regional Conference on Saturday, May 2, with a full-day seminar for 20 teacher leaders from across the state of Ohio, who will serve as the inaugural cohort.
This initiative is designed as a comprehensive, three-part leadership development experience that includes:
- A full-day seminar at the conference,
- Participation in the National Teachers Institute (NTI), and
- Three full-day residency experiences are held throughout the year.
We are honored to have the support of the Foundation in advancing this important work. As Dr. Renee Willis, Executive Director of the Foundation, shared:
“We believe deeply in teachers and the vital role they play in shaping the future of our communities. In a time when the work of teaching is increasingly complex, we hope this investment serves as a catalyst, encouraging educators to continue growing, leading, and finding renewed purpose in their practice. We are proud to support the Ohio Alliance of Black School Educators and its Ohio Teacher Leader Ambassador Program. We remain committed to investing in the strength and sustainability of the teaching profession.”
The NABSE Midwest Regional Conference is also fast approaching, with less than six weeks until showtime. If you have not yet registered and secured your hotel accommodations, I strongly encourage you to do so now. You do not want to miss this high-impact gathering and extraordinary lineup of thought leaders from across the country who will address the most relevant issues facing our children, our schools, and our profession. Please be sure to review the conference link below for additional information regarding speakers, sessions, and the full conference schedule.
Finally, I encourage each of you to remain vigilant and alert for the many networking and professional development events sponsored throughout the year by our eleven local affiliates operating across the state of Ohio. There is always something happening in your area. I invite you to visit our website, oabse.org, to identify an affiliate located in your city, town, or nearby community and become actively engaged in the work.
OABSE remains committed to ensuring that our voice is present, respected, and influential where decisions are being made about public education. Through grassroots engagement, strategic advocacy, and collaborative leadership, we will continue pressing forward in service of our students, educators, families, and communities.
Thank you for your continued commitment to the mission and work of OABSE.
Forward ever, backward never,
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