Stuck in the middle? With burnout on the rise, pilot program aims to support mid-career educators

Educators who are in their second decade in the profession are facing burnout at alarming rates - 66% report that they're considering leaving their careers. Many feel that their needs as experienced professionals aren't being met and their voices aren't being heard. Building off the success of OEA's Ohio's New Educators program, which serves educators in the first ten years of their careers, a new pilot program has been launched to support mid-career educators specifically. Tonya Horn and Jovita Wade have been driving much of the new Mid-Career Educators cadre work, and join us for this episode to share what they've been hearing from other mid-career educators about why this kind of support is so important. 

MID-CAREER EDUCATORS WANTED | If you would like to get involved in the new Mid-Career Educators cadre, you can connect with Tonya by email at hornt@oeaone.org and you can reach Jovita by email at wadej@oeaone.org. You can also learn more about the Ohio's New Educators department, under which the Mid-Career pilot program is being organized, here.

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Featured Public Education Matters guests: 

• Jovita Wade, Fairborn Education Association member
  • Jovita Wade is an intervention specialist in Fairborn City Schools, currently working with high school students. She serves on the Western Ohio Education Association Board of Directors and is a Professional Efficacy Committee member. Jovita began her education career as a school secretary before becoming a teacher, having attained a Masters of Exceptionalities degree. She has been serving as a ONE Member Organizer and now has joined the Mid-Career Organizers Cadre. 
• Tonya Horn, Green Local Association of Support Staff member
  • Tonya Horn is in her 19th year as a paraeducator, working at Green Local Schools Middle School. She has served on the Northeast Ohio Education Association Board of Directors as well as the Ohio Education Association Board of Directors. Tonya is also a NEA Lead Member Organizer. Her work with Ohio's New Educators has now grown to include serving as a ONE Mid-Career Member Organizer.

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About us:

• The Ohio Education Association represents nearly 120,000 teachers, faculty members and support professionals who work in Ohio’s schools, colleges, and universities to help improve public education and the lives of Ohio’s children. OEA members provide professional services to benefit students, schools, and the public in virtually every position needed to run Ohio’s schools.
• Public Education Matters host Katie Olmsted serves as Media Relations Consultant for the Ohio Education Association. She joined OEA in May 2020, after a ten-year career as an Emmy Award-winning television reporter, anchor, and producer. Katie comes from a family of educators and is passionate about telling educators' stories and advocating for Ohio's students. She lives in Central Ohio with her husband and two young children. 

This episode was recorded on July 10, 2025.