Ohio PTA Convention

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Welcome to the 2025 Ohio PTA Convention

April 24-25 2025

Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center
100 Green Meadows Drive
Lewis Center, Ohio 43035

All Aboard: Infinite Tracks to Leadership

Friday, April 25, 2025

5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Registration for Convention
J.E. Fisher Lobby

6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Keynote Address – Stephen Dackin, Director of ODE
Northpointe Ballroom

7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Workshop Session 1

8:15 pm – 8:30 pm

Ohio PTA Partnership Meeting & First
Timers/Volunteer Orientation
Northpointe Ballroom

8:30 pm – 11:00 pm

Meet and Greet & Awards (Membership, Advocacy and FSP)
Olentangy Brewery (behind hotel property)

Workshop Session 1 -- 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Good Luck, Babe!

The State of the Statehouse (Cypress 1)

Presented by Hannah Halbert — Policy Matters Ohio, Mélodie Agnew — All-In for Ohio Kids, and Tony Rett — Ohio PTA

This workshop will explore key legislative and budget proposals in Ohio with significant implications for public education, including changes to the Fair School Funding Plan and shifts in how schools are funded statewide. We’ll also look at current bills impacting classroom content and educational policy. Policy experts and advocates will offer insights and share practical ways PTA members, parents, and communities can engage in the legislative process and advocate effectively for Ohio’s students.

1st and 2nd Step Gold Key (Advocacy)

Hannah Halbert is Executive Director of Policy Matters. She joined the organization in 2010 as a policy liaison. She had previously spent nearly four years with the Equal Justice Foundation and the Legal Aid Society of Columbus where she protected homeowners from foreclosures during the housing crisis. Halbert was named project director in 2018, overseeing work and wages research. Halbert also serves on the board of the Central Ohio Worker Center and the Ohio Association of Nonprofit Organizations. She has a master’s in nonprofit management, a law degree from Hamline University and a bachelor’s degree from Transylvania University. Her life experiences shape her dedication to Policy Matters’ mission of building an Ohio where everyone thrives. She grew up in rural Kentucky, raised by her mother and stepdad, who worked as coa­­l miner.

Mélodie Agnew is a parent organizer with the Ohio Organizing Collaborative. She is primarily responsible for building a grassroots base of parents working to improve public education in Ohio. Her work is a part of the All in for Ohio Kids coalition, which aims to fully and fairly fund Ohio’s public schools so that every kid can get a great education no matter their race or income.

A native of Birmingham, Alabama, Mélodie is a community development professional with over 19 years of nonprofit experience. She is an alumna of Spelman College.

Ohio Statewide Family Engagement: Partners with PTA (Cypress 2)

Presented by Dr. Barbara Boone, Director of Ohio Statewide Family Engagement Center

In this session, we’ll introduce you to the Ohio Statewide Family Engagement Center (in case we aren’t already friends!). You’ll discover resources that every school in Ohio—from pre-K through graduation—can use to build strong partnerships with families. We’ll explore practical tools and materials from our center, and you’ll leave with resources you can start using tomorrow with your PTA, families, and teachers.

1st and 2nd Step Gold Key (Programs)

Dr. Barbara Boone — Director of the Ohio Statewide Family Engagement Center at The Ohio State University.

Dr. Boone leads a team focused on improving partnerships between home, school, and communities for children of all ages. They do this through research, developing tools and resources for families, facilitating professional development, and collaborating with state agencies, local school districts, and organizations.
She was previously an early childhood educator, parent educator, education consultant, and Director at the Ohio Department of Education. A sought-after speaker and advisor for school-family partnerships, Dr. Boone regularly works with state and district leaders across Ohio and the country.

A mother of three children and grandmother too, Dr. Boone takes a family-centered approach to education. She recognizes that each and every child will learn, grow, and live fulfilling lives when nurtured by their families, and supported by their schools and communities.

She received her Ph.D. from The Ohio State University, a Master’s degree from The University of Kentucky, and a Bachelor of Science from Michigan State University.

Saturday, April 26, 2025

7:00 am – 8:00 am

Breakfast (included at hotel)
Ohio Dining Room

8:00 am – 12:00 pm

Delegate & Visitor Check-In
J.E. Fisher Lobby

8:00 am – 4:15 pm

Scholarship Raffle
Northpointe Prefunction

8:00 am – 10:15 am

General Session I
Northpointe Ballroom

10:30 am – 11:30 am

Workshop Session 2

11:30 am – 12:30 pm

Dedicated Exhibitor Time
Northpointe and Study

12:30 pm – 2:30 pm

Reflections Luncheon (ticketed event)
Northpointe Ballroom

2:45 pm – 4:15 pm

Workshop Session 3

4:40 pm – 5:30 pm

General Session II
Northpointe Ballroom

7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Installation Dinner (ticketed event)
Northpointe Ballroom

9:00 pm – 11:00 pm

DJ and Dancing
Northpointe Ballroom

General Session I -- 8:00 am - 10:15 am

Opening Remarks

Dr. Charles Smailek, Phd — Superintendent of Parma City School District
Dr. Smialek earned his bachelor’s degree in history from Ohio State University in 1998. He then earned his Master of Arts in Teaching degree from Kent State University in 1999, focusing on secondary social studies teaching. In 2008, he earned his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Kent State University.
He began his career in education as a social studies teacher at Euclid Central Middle School in 1999. He later served as an Assistant Principal, Middle School Principal, High School Principal, Assistant Superintendent, and Superintendent, all in Euclid.
On August 1, 2018, Charles Smialek, Ph.D., began his tenure as the Superintendent of the Parma City School District. Highlights of his time in Parma have included:

  • Creation of the ACES Center for Students with Autism (2020)
  • Creation of the Parma Academy of Gifted Enrichment (2023)
  • Three consecutive years of improved student achievement (2022-24)
  • Consolidation of district, including closing one high school and one elementary school to save $3.2M annually in operating funds
  • Recognition as one of the top 7% of improving school districts in Ohio (2024)
  • Earning of Five Star from rating from Ohio for outstanding Career Technical Education programs

Dr. Smialek has also won the Parma Area Chamber of Commerce Bright Star Award (2022), Ohio PTA Achievement Award (2023), and The Re: Source Cleveland Key to the Ohio City Farm Award (2024) for his collaboration with local and regional partnerships.
Dr. Smialek has also served on the faculties of Kent State University (2008-2012) and Cleveland State University (2014-2020).
Dr. Smialek lives in the Tremont neighborhood and is the proud father of Maria and Melissa, stepfather to Douglas, and guardian of nephews London and Lance.

Proposed Convention Rules

ADMISSION

  1. Badges must be worn in sight and shall be required for admission to all meetings, workshops and exhibits.
  2. When a convention vote is in progress, doors will be closed, and no one shall enter or leave the meeting hall until the vote is completed and results are announced.
  3. Delegates are requested not to leave the meetings except for an emergency.
  4. All electronic devices shall be silenced during all business meetings and workshops. Video cameras and recording equipment, other than that approved by the President, shall not be permitted in the meeting hall, workshops or during any other meeting. Video recording via electronic devices is also prohibited.

SPEAKING AND VOTING PROCEDURES

  1. Delegates shall show voting cards for the privilege of voting.
  2. Voting delegates wishing to speak shall go to the appropriate microphone, present their voting card to the microphone monitor, sign in, await recognition from the chair and state clearly their name, city and name of the PTA unit or council they represent, prior to addressing the convention body.
  3. A delegate will speak no more than two minutes at any one time on any question under debate. A delegate will speak no more than twice on the same question. A delegate cannot speak for the second time until all delegates seeking recognition have had the opportunity to speak for the first time.
  4. All motions shall be written on the appropriate motion form, signed, showing the name of the local PTA unit or council, city and PTA district represented before presentation.
  5. Written notice of any proposed new business, to be considered by the delegates, must be presented to the presiding officer prior to the first general meeting. The notice shall contain the subject matter to be considered plus the rationale. New business must be statewide in scope. Action on any item presented under new business must have a two-thirds vote of the registered and voting delegates to be considered.
  6. No item of business may be on the floor for debate more than thirty minutes exclusive of all points of order and points of information. Within this time frame, the chair shall recognize delegates “for” and “against” motions in alternating order.

NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

Ohio PTA Bylaws, Article VII, Nominations and Elections, “Section 3. The officers, except President, the Directors, and District Advisors shall be elected by ballot at the annual convention in odd numbered years by the voting body. A majority vote shall elect. When there is only one candidate for an office, the election may be held by voice vote.”

  1. The chairman of the Nominating Committee shall present the slate.
  2. When there are nominations from the floor:
    1. A copy of the qualifications of any nominee from the floor must be presented to the president and nominating chair thirty
      (30) days prior to the convention.
    2. Each of the nominees for that office shall have three minutes to address the delegates.
    3. Nominees may furnish sufficient copies of their qualifications, not to exceed one sheet of 8 1/2’ x 11” paper printed on both sides, with no PTA letterhead, for distribution to the convention delegates. Distribution will be at the conclusion of General Session I.
    4. No additional campaign materials will be permitted.
  3. When there are more than two candidates for an office and a candidate does not receive a majority vote on the first ballot, reballoting shall take place on the two candidates receiving the highest votes.
  4. The teller’s report shall include all votes cast for each nominee. In the reading of the report, the name of any person receiving votes, but who is ineligible for the office or has received one percent or less of the total votes cast for the office, shall be omitted.
  5. The president will announce the results following the teller’s report.

EMERGENCY RESOLUTIONS

An emergency resolution may be brought before the convention provided that:

  1. The necessity for the emergency resolution has occurred after the resolution deadline.
  2. The emergency resolution is in harmony with the PTA Purposes and Basic Policies and is accompanied by documented background information.
  3. The emergency resolution is presented to the presiding officer prior to the first general meeting of the convention. All criteria having been met; the resolution chairman will introduce it for consideration.
  4. A two-thirds affirmative vote of delegates present, and voting must be obtained before the emergency resolution will be considered.
  5. Sufficient copies of the emergency resolution are provided by the submitting group for the entire delegate body.

Proposed Ohio PTA Bylaw Amendments

Article 1 – Name

Insert after of Ohio “and a branch of National Congress of Parents and Teachers (National PTA).”

To read: The name of the association is the Ohio Congress of Parents and Teachers, Inc. It is also commonly known and will be referred to in these bylaws as the Ohio PTA. The Ohio PTA is a nonprofit corporation organized under the laws of Ohio and a branch of National Congress of Parents and Teachers (National PTA).

Article IV: Constituent Association, Section 10

Insert after Local PTAs/PTSAs “or Councils”

To read: Locals PTAs/PTSAs or Councils not in good standing by:

Article VII: Nominations and Elections, Section 2(b)

Strike “6” and replace with “4”

To Read: To consider the qualifications of all candidates proposed by Ohio PTA members or by members of the Nominating Committee submitted no later than 4 months prior to convention in an election year;

Article VII: Nominations and Elections, Section 2(c)

Strike “four” and replace with “3”

To Read: To submit one name for each office to be filled during the election held at the convention in the odd numbered years and announced to the Board of Directors 3 months prior to the annual convention; and

Article VII: Nominations and Elections, Section 4(c)

Strike “2 years as a member of the Board of Directors prior to taking office, except the President-elect who shall have served at least 4 years” and replace with “1 term as a member of the Board of Directors prior to taking office, except the President-elect who shall have served at least 2 years”

To Read: Each candidate to be an officer shall have fulfilled at least 1 term as a member of the Board of Directors prior to taking office, except the President-elect who shall have served at least 2 years on the Board of Directors prior to taking office.

Article XII: Directors and Region Advisors, Section 3

Insert a new c. and reletter: “Serve on the Field Service Committee as described in Article XIV, Section 4(h); and”

To read: Section 3. The Region Advisors shall:
     a. Lead the work within their regions;
     b. Promote the purposes and goals of the Ohio PTA;
     c. Serve on the Field Services Committee as described in Article XIV, Section 4(h);
     d. Perform the duties prescribed by these bylaws, standing rules, job descriptions and the parliamentary authority by the Ohio PTA.

Presenter

Origio Branding
Caitlin Phillips – Accounts Director
As Accounts Director at Origo Branding, Caitlin has partnered with Ohio for Responsible Gambling for over 4 years, helping to advance the campaign and media strategies for Pause Before You Play and Change The Game Ohio campaigns, leading the research, creative, media, and reporting efforts for these initiatives. She has also led problem gambling awareness initiatives for the Ohio Gambling Telehealth Network and Recovery Resources. Caitlin holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Xavier University and has presented on the topic of responsible gambling and youth gambling prevention at the Ohio Problem Gambling State Conference and the Cuyahoga Council on Problem Gambling’ summer symposium.

Workshop Session 2 -- 10:30 am - 11:30 am

Me and Bobby McRules

Presidents, Planning, and Parliamentary Procedure (Birch 2)

Presented by Barb Bungard, Ohio PTA Parliamentarian and Lauren Lloyd, Parliamentarian in Training

You are a PTA President, now what? Learn what it means to be the President, how to lead meetings, how to plan your year to meet deadlines, maximize events and collaborate with administrators. Find out how to handle the business end of the meeting from motions to discussion and taking the vote.

1st and 2nd Step Gold Key (Leadership)

This is How We Do It

Best Practices for Leaving a Lasting Legacy (Birch 3)

Presented by Ohio PTA Past Presidents Jackie Arendt, Gloria Cazan, and Lisa Mack

Learn how to build upon and improve the impression your PTA has made on your building and your families. How to lead with intention and humility and why it matters how your volunteers are treated. Learn the power first impressions can have on success throughout the year as well as increasing membership. Our mission means everything!

1st and 2nd Step Gold Key (Membership)

My Name Is

Branding and Marketing Your PTA (Cypress 1)

Presented by Lauren Suter, Ohio PTA Board Director, and Tony Rett, Ohio PTA VP Field Service

Learn how to build a strong, memorable PTA brand that resonates with your school community. This interactive workshop covers key branding concepts, design dos and don’ts, and the power of color and logo choice. We’ll walk through practical tools like Canva and Givebacks to show you how to create cohesive marketing materials and maintain a consistent digital presence. Perfect for both beginners and those looking to level up their PTA’s image!

1st and 2nd Step Gold Key (Membership)

If I Had a Million Dollars

Budgeting and Grant Writing to Fund Your PTA Dreams (Cypress 2)

Presented by Nicole Lesnick, Ohio PTA President-Elect, and Susan Strandberg, Ohio PTA Region 2 Advisor

Let Ohio PTA guide you through a smooth budget process to maximize events throughout the year. Learn
how to budget and apply for National PTA program grants. Maximize those grant dollars to inform families,
while promoting year-long family engagement.

1st and 2nd Step Gold Key (Programs)

Workshop Session 3 -- 2:45 pm - 4:15 pm

Taking Care of Business

Working with Our State Leaders to Support Public Education (Birch 2)

Presented by Jeff Wensing, Vice President of the Ohio Educators Association

Make your voices heard! Don’t be afraid to partner with our teachers and staff in our fight to preserve public
Education. Now, more than ever, our collaboration means everything.

1st and 2nd Step Gold Key (Advocacy)

Ohio Educators Association
Jeff Wensing — Vice President
Jeff Wensing has been a high school math teacher for 26 years with the Parma City Schools. Throughout his teaching career, Jeff has been an advocate and leader, serving as President of the Parma Education Association from 2012-2018 and as President of the North Eastern Ohio Education Association (NEOEA) from 2016-2018. One of Jeff’s accomplishments as a local and district leader was organizing members and the community to elect a new Parma Board of Education majority in 2017. Jeff has served on OEA’s Constitution and Bylaws Committee and President’s Cabinet, as Vice Chair of OEA’s District Leaders Council, and as a member of the Fiscal Fitness Review Committee and Systemic Practices Committee. Since his election as OEA Vice President in 2019, Jeff has continued to emphasize the importance of organizing members throughout the state. He believes the OEA must support locals in order to both maintain and grow membership. Jeff believes it is critical to listen to members before decisions are made, ensure communication throughout the process, and engage in full transparency. As Vice President, he focuses on the OEA’s strategic issues, shared values, and the students that members work with each day.

(Don’t) Take the Money and Run

Treasurer Case Studies featuring AIM (Birch 3)

Presented by Angela Revay, Ohio PTA President, and Brittany Hernandez, AIM Insurance

Join Angela and Brittany as they explore best practices as a Treasurer as well as what to avoid with some case studies. Bonding and Liability protection are key to insuring and protecting your units and councils. Brittany will explain what it means when AIM has you covered!

1st Step Gold Key (Financial Review/Budget) and 2nd Step Gold Key (Leadership)

Count on Me

Supporting Students and Families with IEP/504 Process (Cypress 1)

Presented by Carolynn Head and Brandi Muhammed from the OCECD and Linda Freeman Walker, Ohio PTA

Carolyn and Brandi from the Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities will walk you through what an IEP is versus a 504 and how each can assist and protect your student with different learning needs. Learn how to get your school to hear your concerns for your student. Linda Freeman Walker will explain the process to become a district surrogate and assist other students that may be in special guardianship circumstances when it’s time for their IEP/504 meeting.

1st and 2nd Step Gold Key (Advocacy)

Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities
Carolynn Head — Information Specialist & Tainer
Carolynn Head joined the Coalition on September 30, 2024 as an Information Specialist/Trainer assisting families in Fairfield, Franklin, Madison, and Pickaway counties. Carolynn works with children from preschool through transitioning adulthood age. She provides special education information, assists with understanding the special education evaluation process, rights, educational programs, services and supports to parents/guardians of students with special needs. She supports families with their students with disabilities in school programs such as 504, IEP, rights, information and resources as well as any other situations involving the special education process.
Carolynn is a mom of three grown children and grandmother of a four, including a now eleven year old grandson with High Functioning Autism, ADHD, and a whole lot of exceptionality and giftedness. In Carolynn’s forty plus years of educational work, she has utilized her skills and strengthened her commitment to serving Ohio’s students, families and communities, as well as her own family.

Walk This Way

Train the Trainer (Cypress 2)

Presented by Janice Wanko, Ohio PTA Region 1 Advisor, and Ohio PTA Past Presidents

Learn how to take all the PTA knowledge you’ve acquired over the years and pass it along to other leaders! Sharing the information of how to run our 501(c)(3) organizations is important for smooth transitions, transparency and continuity.

3rd Step Gold Key (Required Workshop)

General Session II -- 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm

OHIO PTA PROPOSED SLATE OF OFFICERS FOR 2025-2027

The Nominating Committee met on and submits the following slate for the
Ohio PTA Board of Directors 2025-2027 term, to be considered at the
annual Ohio PTA Convention.

  1. President Elect
  2. Vice President of Leadership
  3. Vice President of Field Service
  4. Secretary/Treasurer
  5. Region 1 Advisor
  6. Region 2 Advisor
  7. Region 3 Advisor
  8. Region 4 Advisor
  9. Region 5 Advisor
  10. Board Director
  11. Board Director
  12. Board Director
  13. Board Director
  14. Board Director
  15. Board Director
  16. Board Director
  17. Board Director
  18. Board Director

Tony Rett
Lauren Suter
Susan Strandberg
OPEN
Heather Ekechi
OPEN
Micki Young
Melissa Wolfe
Jeanne Groetz-Shockling
Dana Paul
Paige Jesse
Dominica Brantley
Gloria Lawson
OPEN
OPEN
OPEN
OPEN
OPEN

Ohio PTA President 2023-25

Angela Revay

Welcome to the 118th Ohio PTA All Aboard Convention! I wish to thank each of you for spending your weekend with us to learn how to keep your voices strong for all the children and families in our community! Ohio PTA plans to take you on a journey like no other as we continue our route to advocating for our schools and for public education! There are also opportunities for you to learn how to engage families, how to advocate for our population of students with additional instructional needs, how to maximize your PTA budgets, and how to put best practices in place for keeping the PTA books, branding and how to leave a lasting legacy for your own PTA units and councils!
Be sure to check the convention program for Gold Key workshops and opportunities. Many changes in the state and in the country, have occurred and continue to evolve, since the start of my term as Ohio PTA President, in 2023. Now, more than ever, it is critical that we keep moving forward to protect our students and families and ensure that they receive the fair and equitable public education that our Ohio Constitution entitles them to! The challenges to our PTA mission and to what PTA fights for are coming hard and fast! If we remain focused and engaged with each other as well as with the organizations you will meet this weekend, together we can make an impact and move the needle back to where it belongs! We are excited to have an update from Director Stephen Dackin, of the Ohio Department of Education. We will, again, showcase our Reflections Program student artists during the luncheon on Saturday. 2025 is also an election year for Ohio PTA and we will see our nomination and election process in action during General Session II. We hope that you will join us for the Installation Dinner and festivities to follow, as we celebrate the new leaders that will make up our Ohio PTA Board of Directors for the 2025-2027 term!

For questions, email Marcella McCurdy at office@ohiopta.org or contact the Ohio PTA office at 614.781.6344.