CEA - Key Persons
Amy Mondillo has been an elementary teacher in Columbus City Schools for over 20 years. She was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and then moved to Columbus, Ohio when she was young. Amy attended The Ohio State University where she obtained her undergraduate and Masters' Degree. Go Bucks!
Job Titles:
- Member of the Constitution & Bylaws Committee
Brittany Herb had a very unconventional approach to leadership in CEA. In 2016, she was in her eighth year teaching and decided to complete the Teacher Leadership Institute (TLI) program offered through NEA. While participating in this course, she realized a harsh reality: new teachers were leaving the profession at record numbers. With the support of CEA, she was able to create a committee to help retain new educators in our district called Columbus Early Career Educators (CECE). They can be found around Columbus the last Friday of every month to offer an opportunity for educators to collaborate with other educators in years 0-10 of experience, open to all CEA members.
Throughout Brittany's career, CEA has consistently acted in her best interest. They have supported her with disgruntled administrators on multiple occasions, as well as, in creating CECE. Brittany has marched at the State House, supported those speaking against SB 5, and spoke to city council about the importance of social emotional learning in CCS, especially after the Pandemic. Brittany is passionate about being an educator in Columbus and is eager to create change in our broken system. She serves as our Elections Chair and has taught at Johnson Park, Sherwood, Woodward Park, Ecole Kenwood, Monroe, Buckeye, CCPSG, and Starling (she was staff reduced 4 times) but most recently she will be one of our negotiated SEL positions at Highland and Sullivant. She welcomes your questions about NEA, OEA, and CEA elections.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Elections Committee
Carla Davis isn't one to sit on the sidelines. When the staff and administrator in her building were increasingly at odds, she stepped in. She ran for CEA Faculty Representative and won. Then she got to work, drawing in the ABC and her colleagues and team building. Now, the staff and the principal at Forest Park ES work better together. Davis, a Math CCIT at Forest Park ES, continued her CEA service as FR for another year and as alternate for four subsequent years. When she saw that teaching rights were threatened, Davis joined the fight that defeated Senate Bill 5, working the phone bank and canvassing. She helped register people to vote and promoted pro-education candidates, starting with Obama in 2008.Last year, the 17-year teaching veteran, whose two children attend Columbus City Schools, ran for district governor and now represents District 2. Her husband, Randy-a union member himself for many years, through his job at AT&T-is behind her all the way. Davis says she finds power in solidarity. "When we would go to the District LA, I would meet a lot of people. I like talking to people and seeing what's working and what we could change in our building."It's also about the contract. "I came from a non-union state, Mississippi. Everything the administrators told us to do, we did," she said. She often talks with colleagues about the importance of knowing their rights. "A lot of times you have the contract, but you don't really look at it," she said. Davis encourages fellow CEA members to look in the contract book and become familiar with the hard-won rights they must protect. "Know what's grievable," she said.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Constitution & Bylaws Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Elections Committee
Cindy Love is currently a staff consultant for the Columbus Education Association (CEA), the union representing more than 4,000 Columbus City Schools educators.
Having first entered the profession as a Spanish language teacher in 1992, Love served for many years as a consultant for the Columbus Schools Peer Assistance and Review (PAR) Program and a member of the district-level PAR Panel. She then served two terms on CEA's Board of Governors until she was appointed in 2018 to her current position. In addition to her duties as a staff consultant, Love serves as the union Co-Chair for the Health and Safety Committee and has taken an active lead in assisting members to identify health and safety related problems, evaluate health and safety work practices and procedures, improve communication about the complaint process, promote awareness and encourage compliance with health and safety practices and procedures.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Elections Committee
We are stronger together! That's a motto that Dr. Jada Jackson has known and believed in for her entire life. As the daughter of two union leaders, one of whose first day on the job in Ohio was spent on the picket line with the Communication Workers of America Local 4320 as they exercised their right to strike for better pay and working conditions for its members. Dr. Jackson understands that membership, solidarity and adherence to the contract are invaluable to having a strong union. This is why Dr. Jackson takes great pride in being a member of CEA since 1997. During her tenure, Jackson has served as a Faculty Representative and a Senior Faculty Representative before becoming District 7 Governor. In addition to her work with CEA, Jackson is also active with OEA, belonging to both the Doris L. Allen Minority Caucus and the Women's Caucus, along with representing OEA in the NEA Educator Diversity Collective, researching and analyzing trends for recruitment and retention of teachers of color.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Elections Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Constitution & Bylaws Committee
- Member of the Elections Committee
Job Titles:
- Teacher Leader Initiative
Job Titles:
- Member of the Elections Committee
Joe Decker grew up in Cincinnati as the child of a nurse and a teacher. Education, service, and the importance of social justice were concepts his parents modeled every day. Moving to Columbus with his wife Kristi, he supported his daughters as a volunteer when they began their education in Columbus Schools at Westgate Elementary, where Joe was PTA President, Chess Club coach, and a volunteer in the classroom. Wanting to do more, he earned his teacher's license and returned to Columbus City Schools as an instructor in 2014 at Mifflin Middle School. As a Social Studies teacher, Joe helps his students explore the responsibilities of citizenship in order for them to live the best possible lives as leaders of our community. Being part of a strong union is an essential part of showing that behavior to his students and protecting their interests. As teachers, we are defenders of their rights and of the workplace that our union created for us.
John Coneglio knows the power of CEA. In 2002, when his high school principal was unwilling to address a problem, he called upon all of his training as a Faculty Representative to address the situation. Knowing the contract and knowing that his union would back him made a huge difference. Coneglio, also felt the power when he got involved with our anti-SB5 campaign. He was an OEA "Top 250" signature gatherer and helped get the issue on the ballot. John also worked the phone banks and joined demonstrators at the Ohio Statehouse-and his zeal to represent you did not stop there. John recognizes the difficulties his colleagues face as legislators tinker with education policy in our state-and as CCS struggles to regain the trust of taxpayers. High school teachers, in particular, have unique stresses and responsibilities. "In 2013, I had two opportunities to lobby at the Statehouse on behalf of teachers and students," Coneglio said. "I think it is important to promote the concerns of high school teachers." Coneglio has been an OEA delegate since 2002 and an NEA delegate since 2008. He was elected President of CEA in the spring of 2018. He lives in Clinton Township with his wife, Michelle, a kindergarten teacher at Clinton ES, their two daughters and "our dog who recently ate my camera." He loves backpacking, camping and watching the Buckeyes and the Cleveland Browns. He also served as a Clinton Township Trustee.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Constitution & Bylaws Committee
- Local Coach
Job Titles:
- Member of the Elections Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Constitution & Bylaws Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Elections Committee
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Constitution & Bylaws Committee
- Vice President
In 2001, Phil Hayes "put his name in the hat" for a faculty representative position at Brookhaven High School. It wasn't long before a few meetings during the month turned into a full-time occupation. Hayes emerged from Room 18 - his social studies classroom for 14 years - to serve as a committee chair, a member of the bargaining team, and a delegate to the NEA and OEA assemblies. He also put his computer skills to work as CEA's electronic outreach coordinator. Today, the central Ohio native, Brookhaven's Teacher of the Year for 2001-2002, is getting ready to serve hi second term as CEA vice president, and he's thrilled to be a leader of the state's most progressive teachers' association. Hayes was the first classroom teacher to testify against Senate Bill 5, and he has strong memories of those days not so long ago. "When it came time to go to the hearing room, all of the witnesses were put in an elevator from the first floor of the statehouse to the second floor," he said. "We had to cross the rotunda, filled to the brim with SB 5 opponents on a skywalk. When we started to walk across, they knew we were there to testify against the bill. They began to cheer. It was the most humbling and exhilarating moment I've ever had - a firsthand example of the power of unions. We are not to be trifled with." Hayes says his most important task is a simple and important one: "To represent the members to the best of my ability and to support the president of the CEA."
Job Titles:
- Member of the Elections Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Elections Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Elections Committee
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Staff Consultant
Teri Mullins won't soon forget the battle to save union rights and bring Senate Bill 5 down. "I don't think I have ever witnessed a time when people came together and were so vocal about the rights of teachers and students and other labor unions," she said. "Being inside the Statehouse the day most people got locked out, then going outside to be with my building colleagues-the entire experience, although a hard battle, evoked a sense of pride in my profession and my union that still gives me goose bumps." Mullins taught special education for 13 years, all at Wedgewood MS. She advised the STEM Club the past two years. She attended Columbus City Schools as well, including Duxberry Park ES, Franklin MS and East HS. When asked what drew her to union service, she prefers to stay positive about the disagreements that often trigger CEA representation. "Let's just say that I wanted to make sure that everyone had help having their voices heard." Teri found ways to get involved. She was an OEA delegate and an alternate building FR. She ran for District 6 Governor in 2008 and won. She then served on the bargaining team and the Reform Panel. We are pleased to have Teri on board as a CEA Staff Consultant. Her vast experience will serve the membership well.
Tom Busher was a business teacher at Southeast Career Center where he instructed an accounting program for juniors and seniors. A retired member of the Association, Tom has served as Faculty Representative, ABC member and past member of the Ohio Business Teachers Association (OBTA). Tom oversees the revenue and expenditures of all CEA accounts, budgeting and is the CEA financial representative with Capital District, CEA Foundation and numerous financial organizations that conduct business with CEA.
Traci Arway is all about making sure no one gets left behind. As a district Special Education Coordinator, she has seen how easy it is to lose sight of the umbrella of Association protection. "We are teachers on special assignment," she said. "Sometimes we're in that go between role between teachers and administrators." When she was housed at Livingston Avenue ES, Arway saw professionals moving between buildings and struggling to build cohesive strength and certainty of their protection as CEA members. Sometimes coordinators were asked to overstep contract boundaries, and they were not sure how to say, "No." "For instance, we cannot be put into positions to evaluate and report on teachers," said Arway. That's why Arway decided to get more involved. First, she served as a Faculty Representative of the newly-formed Special Coordinator unit. Now, as she enters her 16th year with the Columbus City Schools, she is beginning her term as District 9 Governor. Her aim is to continue the work she started. "Being in the role of coordinator and being in District 9 is unique," she said. "Being governor helps me advocate for all the specialists involved in the IEP process. It helps me advocate for those people I work with every day. My goal is to continue to push the special education needs forward and continue to advocate for our profession and make sure we have a strong voice at the table." Arway has taught at Livingston ES and Clearbrook MS. She comes from a union background. Her mother is a retired teacher and former OEA member. Her father, employed by the Ohio Lottery Commission, belongs to OSEA. "I'm also a political junkie," she said. "Being involved in CEA keeps me in the forefront." Arway and her husband, Kevin, a retired Whetstone High School teacher, live in northwest Columbus with their three children.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Constitution & Bylaws Committee
Victoria "Vicki" Evans has been an active CEA member since 1998. She volunteered as an alternate faculty rep. when Arts Impact MS, merged with her first school, Everett MS. She attended all meetings, taking studious notes and gathered information to report back to her staff. The next year she ran for faculty rep. and has been advocating and advising for CEA members ever since. She is a Multiple Disabilities teacher. Her program has been at Indianola Informal for the last 12 years. There she has served as Senior/Faculty Representative until she took on position as District 1 Governor. She has been a member of several CEA bargaining teams. Last year she served as a member of the core team that fought for our first strike in over 50 years. She loves her union and is always ready to put up a fight. She is an active member of Columbus Education Justice Coalition, DLAMC, OEA Women's Caucus, NEA Environment and Climate Caucus as well as member of NEA Black Caucus. She recently served as a member of Communications Committee at her first NEA convention.