ECOEA March Newsletter🏀

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Upcoming Dates:

March 24-31-VOTE FOR ECOEA candidates in the second round of NEA At-Large Delegate Elections! All active members will receive an email to vote online--don't delete it, vote! Elections matter!
March 27: OEA Night at the Cleveland Cavaliers
April 11-ECOEA Spring Representative Assembly, Stark County ESC Auditorium
April 21-OEA-Retired Spring Conference
May 8-9-OEA Spring Representative Assembly, Greater Columbus Convention Ctr
May 15-Deadline to apply for ECOEA/OEA Scholarship to attend OEA Summer Leadership Academy
June 18-SAVE THE DATE-ECOEA Summer Leadership/OEA Treasurers' Training
June 22-24-SAVE THE DATE-OEA Summer Leadership, Columbus/apply for ECOEA Scholarship to attend now!
July 4-7-NEA Representative Assembly, Denver, CO

Donate to the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank

William and Dolores Quinn Scholarships for Members and Children of Members

ECOEA is proud to announce the winners of the Quinn Scholarships for 2026. Winners were drawn from all applicants at the ECOEA Scholarships, Awards, and Grants meeting in March.

Congratulations to Ellie Rickett, member of the Triway Education Association, as the winner of the Quinn for Members $500 Scholarship.

Congratulations to Julie Mace, member of the Tuscarawas Valley Teachers' Association, as the winner of the Quinn Memorial Scholarship of $500. This one-time scholarship is provided by the Quinn family to honor Dolores Quinn, who passed last summer at the age of 96. Mrs. Quinn served as our first Executive Secretary, who along with her husband Bill, helped establish ECOEA in 1959.

Our Student Quinn winner is Kenley Hayes, daughter of Melissa Hayes, member of the Newcomerstown Teachers' Association. Kenley is a senior at Newcomerstown High School and will be a freshman in the School of Education and Human Ecology at the Ohio State University in the fall.

We are thrilled to honor the Quinn Scholarship recipients at our Spring Representative Assembly on April 11, 2026. Congratulations to all our winners and applicants who are committed to growing professionally and pursuing excellence in education.

INTERNAL ORGANIZING GRANT 2026

Congratulations to the Rittman Education Association! Their Internal Organizing Grant for $500 was approved for funding. Their grant titled Start the Year Strong: Communication Kickoff was written by Rittman Co-President Jennifer Dziczkowski to increase member engagement and meeting attendance through incentives and a luncheon. Great idea, Rittman EA!

SPRING PUBLIC RELATIONS GRANTS SPRING 2026

Two locals applied for and received funding of $500 each for their Public Relations Grants this spring. They will be recognized and receive their grants at the ECOEA Spring RA.

The East Holmes Teachers' Association member Kari Kaufman submitted a grant titled Preparing Every Student for Success; A Community Partnership to Provide Essential School Supplies. EHTA will partner with an established community non-profit, Love INC, to provide a basic student need so that every student can come to school ready to learn. Great idea!

Triway Education Association member Julie Miller proposed a PR Grant called Reading Under the Lights to partner with the United Way in support of an established community program where students and families gather at Triway Stadium for a literacy night that includes therapy dogs, the library, school organizations, emergency personnel and other community helpers. Great way to show TEA as a community partner! Congratulations to these members and their locals for showing their community spirit!

OEA-R Retired Update

OEA-Retired members continue to advocate for public education and the benefits you have earned. Kathleen Purdy represents ECOEA on the OEA-Retired Advisory Council.

Support ECOEA Retired candidates in the NEA Delegate and the OEA Advisory Council elections. Your vote helps support ECOEA retired members in statewide elections!

Did you know that OEA-Retired has an archive of videos of OEA-Retired members reading books that you can use in your classroom? Check it out!

OEA Read Across America Titles

Read Kathleen's MARCH NEWSBRIEF here.

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Rocket Arena Discount Tickets

The ECOEA annual Legislative Dinner had a record number of 136 members and guests registered to attend on Friday, March 6, at LaPizzaria Restaurant. We were honored to welcome the following legislators:

Senator Casey Weinstein, SD 28
Senator Jane Timken, SD 29
Representative Scott Oelslager, HD 48
Representative Jim Thomas, HD 49
Representative Matt Kishman, HD 50

Representative Scott Oelslager was honored for his lifetime of service as an Ohio legislator in both the Senate and House in a tribute read by member Carol Kinsey. Members and guests dined with the legislators who then were introduced and called to the Panel for the evening's program. President Juliann Doerschuk was the panel moderator and posed discussion questions to the legislative panel that were crafted from pre-submitted questions from members. All questions submitted before and during the event have been compiled and sent to all state legislators that serve the ECOEA District, both in attendance and not. You can read the questions at the button below.

We were delighted to have a diverse group of members from across the district in attendance:

Alliance Education Association
Canton Local Education Association
Canton Professional Educators' Association
Claymont Education Association
East Holmes Teachers' Association
Fairless Education Association
Jackson Classified Personnel Association
Malvern Education Association
Minerva Local Education Association
New Philadelphia Education Association
North Canton Education Association
Northwest Teachers' Association
Plain Local Teachers' Association
Rittman Education Association
SCEPTA
Tuscarawas Valley Teachers' Association
Wellsville Teachers' Association
Wooster Education Association

This local lobbying provides an opportunity for members to speak directly to legislators and forge relationships that can extend past the dinner. We hope you will join us next year on Friday, March 5, 2027!

Legislative Dinner Questions 2026

ECOEA/OEA Application for Summer Academy Scholarship

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 Valerie Heban, OEA-Retired, North Canton EA

Website ecoea.ohea.us

ECOEA Office Phone (330) 499-8587

ECOEA Email ecoea@sbcglobal.net