View as Webpage

Upcoming Dates:

• April 21-OEA-Retired Spring Conference
• May 8-OEA Awards Luncheon
• May 8-9-OEA Spring Representative Assembly, Greater Columbus Convention Ctr
• May 13-Deadline to apply for an OEA Regional Scholarship to attend OEA Summer Leadership Academy
• May 15-Deadline to apply for ECOEA/OEA Scholarship to attend OEA Summer Leadership Academy
• May 22-Amy Acton townhall at the Canton Memorial Civic Center Register here
• May 28-Deadline to apply to OEA Summer Leadership Academy
• June 18-ECOEA Summer Leadership/OEA Treasurers' Training
• June 22-24-OEA Summer Leadership Academy, Columbus
• July 4-7-NEA Representative Assembly, Denver, CO
• July 29-SAVE THE DATE-ECOEA Summer PD Zoom-Special Education Update with Daria DeNoia

ECOEA SPRING REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY

The ECOEA Spring Representative Assembly was held on Saturday, April 11, at the Stark County ESC Auditorium with 36 delegates and 36 guests in attendance, with Juliann Doerschuk, Canton Professional EA, presiding.

Elections were held for ECOEA Executive Committee expiring term and vacancy positions. Congratulations to the following members:

• Stark County Rep #5-Amanda Arway, Plain Local TA
• Stark County Rep #6-Kimberly Davis, Minerva Local EA
• Wayne County Rep #2-Alisha Mayfield, Rittman EA
• Minority Rep-Tamika Moss, Canton Professional EA

Declared vacant were:

• Carroll County Rep
• Holmes County Rep

Elected to the OEA Board of Directors to complete the term and the upcoming three-year term for Unit 1:

• Kristine Twigg-Fairless EA

Elected to represent ECOEA on OEA Standing Committees were:

• Convention Planning-Caitlin Driscoll, Alliance EA
• Collective Bargaining and Member Advocacy-Scott Miller, Wooster EA
• Organizing Strategy-Matthew Balsinger, Wooster EA

ECOEA presented the Friend of Education Award to the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. Katie Carver-Reed, COO of the Foodbank, accepted the award and shared a presentation about the good work of the Foodbank in this region, particularly that 108 Backpack programs are supported by the Foodbank. President Juliann announced that through our fund-raising efforts this past month, $3,249 was raised by member and local association donations. Shout out to Claymont EA and Triway EA for their association fundraising drives that totaled $1,113!

ECOEA Scholarships, Awards, and Grants Committee Chair Melissa Radich (Triway EA) presented the following grants:

Public Relations Grant of $500 to:

• East Holmes TA, accepted by member Caryn Rubio

Internal Organizing Grants of $500 to:

• Rittman EA, accepted by Co-President Alicia Mayfield and delegate Rachael Ryan
• Triway EA, accepted by President Melissa Radich

President Juliann presented the Quinn Scholarship for Members to Ellie Rickett of Triway EA. An additional member scholarship was provided from memorial donations to Julie Mace, Tusky Valley TA. Student award winner Kenley Hayes, daughter of Melissa Hayes, Newcomerstown TA, was presented with a $1,500 check to The Ohio State University toward her studies to become a teacher. Kenley addressed the RA and recognized her mom as her inspiration to become a teacher. Congratulations to these scholarship winners.

Remarks were given by OEA President Jeff Wensing, OEA Vice President Dan Greenberg, and OEA Secretary-Treasurer Rob McFee. The NEA Directors provided a report and information about the upcoming NEA Representative Assembly. ECOEA Standing Committee chairpersons provided reports of their activities this year. The Assembly passed the proposed 2026-2027 budget presented by VP Heather Zuniga, Malvern EA.

MIchelle Martin Jones, Canton Professional EA, in her role as OEA Board of Directors ECOEA-3, gave a delegate briefing to prepare delegates to participate in the OEA Spring Representative Assembly in Columbus, May 8-9.

Stay-till-the-End door prize winners were Brian Burdine, Wooster EA and Katherine Elliott, Alliance EA. Thank you to the delegates for representing your local associations and doing the work of the assembly for ECOEA!

ECOEA GRANT ELIGIBILITY 2026-2027

Congratulations to the following locals who qualified for next year's grants by having a locally elected delegate attend at least one of the ECOEA Representative Assemblies last year. They are now eligible to apply for Public Relations and Internal Organizing Grants. Don't see your local listed? Be sure to hold an OEA delegate election in the fall and participate in the governance of your district and state organizations! Eligible locals are:

• Canton Professional EA
• Claymont EA
• East Canton EA
• East Holmes TA
• Fairless EA
• Minerva Local EA
• North Canton EA
• Northwest TA
• Plain Local TA
• Rittman EA
• SCEPTA
• Southern Local TA
• Triway EA
• Wooster EA

Approved in the budget at the RA on Saturday were increased funding levels for our PR and IO grants. Next year, there will be a tiered funding level based on the number of members in your local.

• 1-99 members grant amount up to $500
• 100-299 members grant amount up to $750
• 300+plus members grant amount up to $1,000

ECOEA is committed to supporting our local associations with projects in their local communities through Public Relations grants, and engaging and retaining members with Internal Organizing grants. Plan now to elect delegates when you return to school in the fall and become actively involved in the district and state governance.

A plan for your future – and your families. Whether you’re planning for your next step or helping a family start their education journey, the NEA College Benefit, powered by Edvance provides the support and savings you need to create a plan for a stable future. Use the power of your union to secure a future you can be proud of.

See how Edvance can help you plan: https://hubs.la/Q041_Lgt0

Registration is now open for the OEA Summer Leadership Academy, June 22-24, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency Columbus. Registration fee is $100 which covers two nights double occupancy at the hotel, meals, and workshop. ECOEA is proud to offer sixteen member scholarships to attend, one per local, first-come, first-served! Our scholarship is by reimbursement; member pays the $100 when registering. After the member attends the SLA, a refund check is sent to them. Deadline to apply for an ECOEA scholarship is May 15th. Apply now!

OEA is offering regional scholarships. ECOEA is in Region 2. The application is at the gold button below.

PRO TIP: You will get an immediate response on the ECOEA application. If you don't get an ECOEA scholarship or are waitlisted, immediately submit for an OEA Region 2!

Your ECOEA officers and staff:

President Juliann Doerschuk, Canton Professional EA

Vice President Heather Zuniga, Malvern EA

Recording Secretary Kelli Mohn, Plain Local TA

Interim Executive Director Valerie Heban, OEA-Retired, North Canton EA

Executive Director, Laurie Spangler, Plain Local TA

Website ecoea.ohea.us

ECOEA Office Phone (330) 499-8587

ECOEA Email ecoea@sbcglobal.net