Please share this newsletter with your new members! We will not have their emails in our files until later this fall when all membership forms are processed by OEA. We don't want anyone to miss the benefits of membership. | | |
All members are welcome to attend our annual Fall Roundtable at the Hartville Kitchen on Monday, October 19, beginning at 5:30 PM. After a traditional turkey dinner and some yummy pie, OEA Attorney Rachel Reight will present a Legal Update, sharing current legislation and court cases that affect you in your job. The event is FREE to all members who will receive a one hour PD certificate for attending. There are door prizes, too!
As an ECOEA member, a refundable $25 deposit is required to hold your reservation. Guests and OEA-Retired members pay a $25 fee to attend, with OEA-Retired members receiving a $10 refund after they attend the event. All reservations and deposits must be received in the ECOEA office no later than October 9.
Deposits can be paid to ECOEA by cash or check or by credit card, and will be returned to active ECOEA members when they attend.
Complete your reservation today at this link:
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Happy Retirement Val!
East Central OEA would like to congratulate Val Heban on her retirement as Executive Director. Val served ECOEA for over 13 years with exceptional service and dedicated leadership. Her commitment and passion have made a lasting impact on our members and our organization.
We are truly grateful for her leadership and legacy of excellence.
Enjoy your retirement, Val!
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In Ohio, public education matters, and the work you do matters every day.
We’re coming together again to lift up the power and importance of our public schools and public school educators on Saturday, September 26, 2026, for this year’s Public Education Matters Day celebrations!
Ohio Education Association members are invited to join OEA for a fun day with their family and friends at:
Each OEA member can get up to four free admission tickets to the zoo of their choice.
We can’t wait to see you at one of Ohio’s great zoos as we stand together for our students, our profession, and the future of public education!
RSVP is not required, but is strongly encouraged and will help in planning for the day. You can still receive zoo passes on the day of the event.
To RSVP, click on this link: Public Education Matters - Ohio Education Association
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David Augusta Unit Scholarships
Each fall, ECOEA awards three scholarships of $500 to members for continuining education. The scholarships are named for long-time public education advocate David Augusta, Louisville EA, and former ECOEA Executive Director, who was instrumental in the implementation of these scholarships.
One scholarship is awarded in each of the three ECOEA voting units by lottery drawing from all applicants. This scholarship is open to all ECOEA members. Deadline to apply is November 1.
Apply here: David Augusta Unit Scholarship Application
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ECOEA Public Relations Grants 2026
Qualifying locals are encouraged to submit an application for a Public Relations Grant for a project to enhance the image of your local as a community partner. Maximum grant requests are based on membership in your local. For 0-100 members, the maximum grant is $500. For 101-300 members, the maximum is $750. If your local has over 300 members, the maximum grant is $1000. To qualify, a local must have elected and sent delegates to the ECOEA Fall Delegate Briefing and/or ECOEA Spring Representative Assembly. Fourteen local associations have qualified for 2026-2027 for their participation in governance last year. Application deadline November 1.
Apply here: ECOEA Public Relations Grant Application
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The Ohio Association of Education Support Professionals is excited to announce our Fall Conference!
October 9-10, 2026
The Ohioan
Lewis Center, OH 43035
Join us at 5:00 PM on Friday, October 9 and 8:00 AM to 2:30 PM on Saturday, October 10
The Ohio Association of Education Support Professionals welcomes you to register for its annual conference, October 9th and 10th, at The Ohioan, Lewis Center, Ohio. We have 60 funded spots for our conference and as an OAESP member you have early access to these spots. With our annual fee of $5, all funded OAESP/OEA members will have the conference fees waived and will be provided food and drinks and double accommodation for the conference. For those of you who are not an OAESP Member but would like to become a member, please check the appropriate box during your registration and you may complete a registration form at the conference. Dues for the year are $5 and cash or check (made payable to OAESP) can be paid at the conference
Our conference will feature presentations about the ESP Bill of Rights, legal updates, and a membership/treasurer workshop. We will also discuss the new structure of grants and ESP Mentorship opportunities moving forward. We encourage you to bring a team and learn/discuss/plan together!
Register here: OAESP Conference - Ohio Education Association
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Your local is part of the governance system of OEA and is entitled to participate in the OEA Representative Assemblies held in December and May. Elected delegates are in proportion to the size of your local, but every local is entitled to at least one delegate. The elected delegates are the voice of the membership and vote on changes to the Constitution and Bylaws, Legislative and Resolution platforms, approve the budget, debate New Business Items, and elect officers. If your local does not elect a delegate, you are letting other people make decisions without representation.
Be involved! The delegates you elect to OEA also automatically serve as delegates to the ECOEA Spring Representative Assembly on April 10. Locals that elect and send delegates are eligible for ECOEA Public Relations and Internal Organizing Grants. Use your local voice by electing delegates by October 10 and reporting to OEA by October 15. Elections matter!
| | ECOEA members enjoyed a fun night of Akron RubberDucks baseball on Friday, September 4, at the "Celebration of Labor" hosted by 7 17 Credit Union. This event was free to labor union members and their families. It was a great evening of baseball, food, and fun as the RubberDucks won both games of the double header against the Richmond Flying Squirrels. | | |
Join the OEA-Retired Racial and Social Justice Committee Book Study for another year of exciting discussions!
All OEA members are invited to join us on this journey. We aim to inspire engaging conversations on books that relate to everyday experiences on the topics of racial and social justice. This will help us learn from each other and grow in understanding.
All sessions will be virtual on Zoom and will take place the third Monday of each month from 7 pm –8 pm (unless otherwise stated).
2026 Book Reading Schedule:
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September 21 & October 19 – Slave Ship by Marcus Rediker
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November 16 – Tears We Cannot Stop by Michael Eric Dyson
A certificate of attendance will be issued to all participants based on the hours they attend. Approval for CEU credits is dependent upon your local LPDC committee.
Click here to register: OEA-R Book Study Registration
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Navigating higher education is better when you have a roadmap. The NEA College Benefit, powered by Edvance, connects you to pathways that support your goals and exclusive tuition savings to make your goals more attainable. Edvance identifies the right schools and programs so you can focus on your journey ahead.
Find your recommended pathway: https://hubs.la/Q041_Lgt0
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Your ECOEA officers and staff:
President Juliann Doerschuk, Canton Professional EA
Vice President Heather Zuniga, Malvern EA
Recording Secretary Kelli Mohn, Plain Local TA
Executive Director, Laurie Spangler, OEA-Retired, Plain Local TA
Website ecoea.ohea.us
ECOEA Office Phone (330) 499-8587
ECOEA Email ecoea@sbcglobal.net
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