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. | | |
Welcome Back!
Summer was surely a time to enjoy life at a different pace, but I am ready to get back to work, including welcoming new members, setting up an inviting place for my students to enjoy, and socializing with colleagues I haven’t seen these past few months. All while holding onto these last few moments of summer!
I would like to welcome new members to ECOEA. As you joined your local, you also became part of ECOEA (East Central Ohio Education Association), OEA (Ohio Education Association) and NEA (National Education Association). ECOEA is one of ten districts in the state and has almost 8,000 members from 62 locals.
Fall is a busy time, especially in the world of union work. From new member drives in which ONE member ambassadors can help, to our Fall Legal Update at Hartville Kitchen, to electing delegates for the Representative Assemblies, to collaborating on how to implement new contract language, the work never ends.
I would like to personally invite you and your family to the Rubber Ducks on Friday, September 4th at 7 17 Credit Union Ballpark. They are graciously hosting union members and their families to celebrate the work being done. Your ECOEA leadership will be in attendance as well as some other guests. If baseball isn’t your thing, there is also a Public Education Matters Day being held on Saturday, September 26th at the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo and Columbus Zoos. Details are below in the newsletter and my hope is you can join us for one of these fun events!
Elections matter and my hope is that all locals take the opportunity this fall to elect delegates to the OEA Representative Assembly. These delegates are the voice of your local in the governing work of the Ohio Education Association and are automatic delegates to our ECOEA representative assemblies. The allotment of delegates is proportional to the number of members in a local; your local president receives this information from OEA. Every local is entitled to at least one delegate, so every local has the opportunity to have representation.
The delegate election must take place by October 10, with results reported to OEA by October 15. Delegates have three commitments. The OEA one-day Fall Representative Assembly will be in Columbus on Saturday, December 5. The ECOEA Spring RA will be held in person on Saturday, April 10, 2027. The OEA Spring Representative Assembly will be held in Columbus on May 14-15, 2027. ECOEA offers a one-time incentive grant of $250 to locals who have not elected delegates in the past five years. See the information on the ECOEA website for this grant. Be sure that your local is represented. Elections matter!
In the newsletter there are many additional opportunities for you as a member of ECOEA that I hope you take advantage of by attending or participating in. From our Legal Update at Hartville Kitchen in October, to various grants and scholarships available to you and your local, there are opportunities to be had by all. Our website, ecoea.ohea.us, is a wonderful resource to find opportunities, register for our events, and apply for scholarships and grants. Please share these resources and this newsletter with any new members as well, as they are not added to the system yet but we don’t want them missing out! We look forward to seeing and connecting with you at our ECOEA events throughout the year!
Sincerely,
Juliann Doerschuk
ECOEA President
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You're Invited!
All Ohio Education Association members are welcome to join Ohio's New Educators for a virtual Trivia Night via Zoom on August 19th at 6:00 pm. Test your knowledge and earn a chance to win a pair of Columbus Crew tickets!
Date: Wednesday, August 19th
Time: 6:00–7:30 PM
Location: Virtual (Zoom)
You're invited to kick off the school year with a soccer-themed evening of trivia, friendly competition, and educator connection. This special Crew Trivia Night celebrates the strategies, routines, and mindsets that help educators stay focused, keep the ball moving, and achieve their goals throughout the school year.
What's in the game plan?
- Fast-paced trivia rounds and mini-challenges
- Giveaways and prize drawings
- Your chance to win tickets for two to OEA Educator Night with the Columbus Crew on Saturday, September 5, 2026, at 7:30 PM
- Opportunities to connect and network with fellow educators from across Ohio
Whether you're new to OEA, new to the profession, or a longtime member, this is a great opportunity to connect with educators from across Ohio, share experiences, and have some fun together. Only OEA members are eligible to win prizes.
**Registration closes Monday, August 17, 2026.
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Join local union members at a FREE Akron RubberDucks game on Friday, September 4 hosted by the 717 Credit Union! Bring the whole family for a fun night when the RubberDucks face the Richmond Flying Squirrels. Hot dogs, soda/water, and fun in the stands filled with labor families as guests of the 717 CU! What a great way to kick off the Labor Day weekend!
Special guest at this event will be Senator Sherrod Brown, a champion of labor and workers, who will be there to honor union families.
The 717 Credit Union is hosting this event to honor all union workers. The 717 is a member-owned credit union rooted in the Warren, Youngstown, Akron, and Canton communities. Sign-up early; first come, first served!
Make sure to look for ECOEA officers, Juliann Doerschuk, President; Heather Zuniga, Vice-President; and Kelli Mohn, Secretary, who will be there cheering on the Rubber Ducks!
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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 will help in planning for the day. You can still receive zoo passes on the day of the event. If you would like to RSVP, click on this link: Public Education Matters - Ohio Education Association
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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!
A $25 deposit is required to hold your reservation. All reservations and deposits must be received in the ECOEA office no later than October 9. Guests and OEA-R retired members pay a $25 fee to attend with OEA-Retired members receiving a $10 refund after they attend the event.
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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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 OEA Educational Foundation Gala was held on July 25 at COSI in Columbus. The theme of the event was the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the founding of the OEA-Retired organization. Attendees enjoyed a fun afternoon of hors d'oeuvres, the Gala program, and auction bidding, followed by a chance to explore COSI. ECOEA attendees included Val Heban, Kathleen Purdy, Dee Meredith, Heather Zuniga, Michelle Martin Jones, and Kristine Twigg.
ECOEA was proud to be a Bronze Level supporter of this event and to donate a Gervasi gift basket to help raise funds for the OEA Educational Foundation. The OEA Educational Foundation funds initiatives that enhance student learning, student achievement and well-being, and promote social justice. The Foundatioin provides four funding opportunities annually:
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Diversity Grants--To develop and pursue instructional classroom programs or curriculum that promote diversity, tolerance, and respect for humankind.
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Innovation Grants--For the pursuit of innovative and creative practices where learning is enriched by experiences or projects.
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Whisper Grant for Students in Need--Funds provided directly to an OEA member to assist a student or group of students with an identified hardship in meeting an educational or personal need.
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Make-A-Wish--In collaboration with Make-A-Wish®, the Foundation provides seed money for OEA Locals seeking to make a child's wish come true.
Visit the OEA Foundation Website for more information or to apply for a grant.
| | On August 3, the ECOEA Executive Committee kicked off the year by volunteering at the Stark County Campus of the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank is the ECOEA Friend in Education for 2026. We were delighted to be able to give back to our community by volunteering with this great organization! | | |
Check out the OEA Access to Savings website to find members-only deals and discounts at many local and national businesses and attractions. Visit each day between September 2 - 16 to enter to win 2 tickets to any Fall Theme Park Event.
Find Deals, Discounts & More with OEA Access to Savings
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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
| | Per ECOEA Policy 3.6 Access to Financial Reports-the monthly Executive Committee financial report is available to any member upon request. | | |
Your ECOEA officers and staff:
President Juliann Doerschuk, Canton Professional EA
Vice President Heather Zuniga, Malvern EA
Recording Secretary Kelli Mohn, Plain Local TA
Business Manager Valerie Heban, OEA-Retired, North Canton EA
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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