Central's annual Power Up! conference returns this year - We are heading to a new location but offering the same exciting professional development opportunities for all of Central's educators and support professionals. Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 24th (don't worry - it is a bye week for the Buckeyes) and come to the Innovative Learning Center in Hilliard (5323 Cemetery Road, Hilliard, Ohio 43026). This free event is open to all Central members and will offer a variety of sessions with a plethora of topics to fit anyone's curiosity.
Agenda
Registration: 9:00 am
Opening Remarks: 9:20 am
Session One: 9:30 am – 10:40 am
(Student Discipline) – Workplace Safety and Student Disruption – This session explores safety issues in today’s educational workplace in relation to disruptive and violent student conduct. Discussion of practical approaches for educators.
(Election 2026) – Campaign 2026 Update (Part I) – Update on OEA’s Campaign 2026 program and how members can help mobilize the pro-public education and labor votes, heading into Election Day. While in the session, members will be asked to complete a series of voter education tactics, using their social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
(Wellness) – Am I OK? Cultivating Calm in the Chaos? – This session offers a space to reflect on the emotional toll of that expectation and provides tools to navigate it. Participants will explore common stressors and triggers, complete a self-assessment of their emotional regulation practices, and engage in breath-work, mindfulness, and self-reflection activities. Attendees will leave with practical strategies to maintain professionalism and support student success, even in the midst of chaos.
(Communication) – Strengthening Communication Within your Locals – Looking to improve communication and keep members in the loop? This session will provide ways to strengthen communication techniques within the local and your membership, as well as ways to avoid ineffective practices.
(Leadership) – Emerging Voices – This session introduces a program that offers a pathway of support for those leaders in your association that are ready to move on to the next level. The goal is to develop a team of potential leaders to fill your bench and expand current capacity.
Session Two: 10:50 am – 12:00 pm
(Student Discipline) – Member Privacy and Public Records – This session outlines privacy considerations for employees in the public-school setting. Includes an overview of legal issues.
(Election 2026) – Get Out the Vote – Help support the election of pro-public education candidates by working to get out the vote. This session will center around working on getting members more educated about endorsed candidates, including a postcard writing session.
(Wellness) – Avoiding Burnout: Building Healthy Habits – In this session, we will explore the data behind the “Burnout” of our educators and education support professionals. We will discuss how small, yet intentional, changes in daily routines and subtle shifts in mindset can lead to increased self-compassion, positive school environments, and better outcomes for students.
(Communication) – How to use Social Media and Digital Communication to strengthen your local – Using social media appropriately has always been a challenge for many locals. This session will provide you with tools and resources to maximize your effectiveness in using social media and strengthening your digital communication within your local association.
(Leadership) – ESP Roundtable – Led by Joie Moore and Cheryl Williams, ESP members will learn more about the ESP Bill of Rights while addressing the diverse needs of membership and share solutions to potential problems while identifying potential concerns before they grow into problems.
Lunch: 12:00 pm – 12:45 pm
Session Three: 12:45 pm – 1:55 pm
(Student Discipline) – Workplace Safety and Student Disruption – A repeat from the first session, this session explores safety issues in today’s educational workplace in relation to disruptive and violent student conduct. Discussion of practical approaches for educators.
(Election 2026) – Campaign 2026 Update (Part II) – Continuing from the first session, review OEA’s Campaign 2026 program and how members can help mobilize the pro-public education and labor votes, heading into Election Day. While in the session, members will be asked to complete a series of voter education tactics, using their social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
(Wellness) – Can We Talk? Moving Beyond the Call-Out – Educators and ESP members are on the front lines of dialogue—whether in classrooms, staff meetings, or community spaces. This session offers practical tools to move beyond reactive “calling out” toward intentional “calling in” and empowering “calling on.” Participants will learn how to shift from confrontation to connection by building trust, addressing bias, and fostering equity.
(Communication) – Strengthening Communication Within your Locals – A repeat from the first session, this session looks to improve communication and keep members in the loop. This session will provide ways to strengthen communication techniques within the local and your membership, as well as ways to avoid ineffective practices.
(Leadership) – Emerging Voices – A repeat from the first session, this session introduces a program that offers a pathway of support for those leaders in your association that are ready to move on to the next level. The goal is to develop a team of potential leaders to fill your bench and expand current capacity.
Stay to the End Drawing and Closing Remarks: 1:55 pm – 2:00 pm
CEUs will be awarded for attending this conference and it is open to all members at no cost. We will be hosting a social function after the conference located near the school.
To register
Log in to your Central account (or create an account if you don't have one)
Scroll to the "Power Up! Conference" event and click "Going". Wait a short moment for it to register. That's it.
