Rep. Brennan on paid student teaching and why our union matters more than ever

About this episode

Ohio Rep. Sean Patrick Brennan discusses House Bill 523 and the significance of unions for educators.

Ohio Rep. Sean Patrick Brennan (D-Parma) knows if you're not at the table, you get the scraps. After a 30-year career in a public school classroom, he's now at the table in the General Assembly, serving as the Ranking Member on the House Education Committee. He joins us for this episode for a deeper dive into House Bill 523, a bill he has co-sponsored to allow paid student teaching and remove other barriers for Aspiring Educators trying to enter the education field. He also shares his thoughts on the importance of our union in this moment, as someone who recently made the choice to become a Lifetime member. WATCH | Rep. Brennan wrote a guest column for the April/May edition of Ohio Schools called "Why Our Union Matters More Than Ever." Click here to watch a short video of him sharing that message . LEARN MORE ABOUT HB 523 | Click here to read the full text of the bill and to track its progress in the Ohio General Assembly. Click here to read OEA President Jeff Wensing's testimony in support of House Bill 523 in the House Education Committee in February, 2026. TELL YOUR STORY | Help advocate for a more accessible path to becoming an educator by sharing your perspective about your…

People in this episode

Guest: Sean Patrick Brennan

Topics covered

• paid student teaching
• education policy
• union importance
• aspiring educators
• Ohio legislation

Keywords

• student teaching
• education
• union
• House Bill 523
• Ohio

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Ohio Education Association, House Education Committee

Books & works: Why Our Union Matters More Than Ever

Places: Ohio

More episodes of Public Education Matters

• Listening, Learning, and Leading through the Challenges Ahead · May 28, 2026 · 27 min
• Tallmadge Teachers Association: Turning grant funding into member impact · May 21, 2026 · 27 min
• The whirlwind adventures of the 2026 Ohio Teacher of the Year · May 14, 2026 · 23 min
• United for Public Education: Why you can't afford to miss this year's Summer Leadership Academy · May 7, 2026 · 19 min
• Saying Thanks: Talking with my former teacher about his lasting impact, 20 years later · April 30, 2026 · 40 min
• Protect Ohio Schools: Decline to sign the property tax petition · April 23, 2026 · 32 min