The 2023 OCEA Election is quickly approaching. The voting will happen on Wednesday, March 29, 2o23, at each school site. Please see your site-based association representative for more details about voting. You can learn more about the positions on our OCEA Elections page.
President of OCEA (3-year term)
Vote for 1
Executive Board Seat for High School (1-year term)
FEA Governance Board Seat (3-year term)
Vote for 1
NEA RA Local Seat (2-year term)
Vote for up to 4
NEA RA State Seat (1-year term)
Dylan Reinsel
Bio:
- Father
- Husband of a 1st grade teacher
- Association Representative for St. Cloud High School
- Former Chair of the Bargaining Sub-Committee for Evaluations
- Former member of the OCEA Elections Committee
- Member of the OCEA Membership Committee
- Bargaining Leadership Team Consultant
- FEA Delegate for the 2021 FEA Delegate Assembly
- Advocated for Osceola educators in Tallahassee
- Speaker at the Florida Senate Appropriations Committee
- Speaker at the SDOC School Board Meetings
- US History Teacher at St. Cloud High School
Position Running for: President
Why do you want to run for this position?
I am so honored to be a part of OCEA and I am humbled by the possibility of having the opportunity to lead it. When I am teaching my US History students or when I am listening to how my wife’s day went teaching her first graders, I am reminded constantly that what we do is difficult; but so valuable. During my time serving OCEA in many capacities over the last several years I have found that my passion is advocating for our teachers and support professionals. I want you to be able to do what you do best, and that takes proper compensation and a positive work environment. In order to deliver both of those things we will need a bold, clear vision for the future, and creative minds to navigate these challenging times. As your President, I will wake up each day ready to fight for you! I encourage you to vote on March 29th, and I would appreciate your support!
Janet Moody
Position Running for: President
Why do you want to run for this position?
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter…. For evil to succeed, all it needs is for good men to do nothing.” MLK
Since beginning my educational career in 1992 I have always understood the role of the union was to empower. Colleagues across Osceola will attest that I have been vocal as a site-based representative for current and potential members. I have used my heart to listen, my experience to remain balanced, and my voice to promote fairness on curriculum committees, evaluation committees, and the insurance committee. In my current role as the Chief Negotiator for the Instructional Bargaining Team I have led a team to challenge past practice and have been tenacious enough to identify funding sources which, in turn, can be used to improve the lives of all employees. Despite the past two contracts being the best in over in 15 years, there is much work remaining. For this reason, I am seeking votes for President of OCEA.
I have enjoyed many years within the classroom advocating for students, but I truly believe the time has arrived for those gifts to be utilized representing educators in a larger capacity as President. My vision for the organization includes using the full power of OCEA to return respect to teacher and paraprofessional by prioritizing working conditions, benefits, and salary of educators in every conversation. Through more effective communication membership will increase to protect our organization. Because education matters, I will not remain silent.
Greg Gahris
Bio: I have been a member of OCEA since I moved to Osceola to teach in 2006. I have been elected by my peers 15 of those years to be their building’s AR. I have served on almost all the committees for years, not months. I have served as your treasurer for the past 5 years. I am single with no children and will devote myself fully to increasing and serving our membership.
Position Running for: President
Why do you want to run for this position?
I believe that the future is full of promise if the next President of our association understands the complexity of the job. Since I have served the leadership of the organization for years, and I am ready to begin a successful transition from the day I am elected. We face some of the largest and most complex issues that are poised to destroy our local association.
My first goal is to achieve the anticipated 60% density for our unit as proposed by our Governor. This will give our teams added power at the bargaining table. We must also be prepared to transition the payment of dues away from payroll deduction.
Next, we must make our members and AR’s fully supported. They are key to successfully recruiting new membership, supporting current members, and improving conditions their worksites. They deserve the best service. I am also committed to increasing minority and ESP representation across our local.
I hope you will search YouTube and watch my informative videos. Search Greg Gahris because 250 words is not enough! Thanks for your consideration.
Greg Gahris
Bio: I have been a member of OCEA since I moved here to teach from Ohio in 2006. I have worked on the FEA/NEA Representative Assembly Leadership team for the past 3 years and have established relationships statewide with leaders and am recognized as a pragmatic yet sociable. I teach 7th grade Early U.S. History and Reading Remediation for 8th grade. I work at Saint Cloud Middle now but have previously been assigned at Horizon, Bellalago, and Discovery. I’m single, live in Saint Cloud and the pet parent to 2 dogs.
Position Running for: FEA Governance Board.
Why do you want to run for this position?
I have proudly served as a delegate to the Representative assembly for the past 7 years. In that time, I have made professional connections across Florida. I was elected 4 years ago by the entire state delegation to be on the Resolutions Committee. I was recognized statewide and represent Osceola with pride. I am known for my sense of humor, passion, drive for equality, and conservative fiscal judgement. I served as proxy for Apryle Jackson on numerous occasions to the Governance Board and am well aware of how it functions at the political aspects of the position.
One of the most concerning issues facing the governance board is the division that has been growing in the past several years. I hope to be a bridge and help each side see the opposing sides view. We need to stop the infighting and positioning and focus the organization on the work to defeat those outside that seek to destroy our union.
Amanda Jacobs
Bio: I have been teaching for 15 years. Thirteen of them in Osceola County. I enjoy reading, writing, listening to music and coaching the many sports, I have become involved in. I have five cats and a loving, supporting husband. And we absolutely love to travel.
Positions Running for: FEA Governance Board NEA Delegate Representative Assembly
Why do you want to run for these position(s)?
I have been an active member of the OCEA for the past 13 years, in the last four years being the building rep for Celebration High School and more recently being elected to represent you all as the High School Representative for the County. It has been my absolute, honor and pleasure to serve in that capacity. I would now like to move into a more hands on an active role within the OCEA by working with our budget. I believe that this role will enable me to help more members which is my goal. Also, being elected as the NEA Representative Delegate, will continue to help me learn and assist with our OCEA becoming stronger as a whole with more members than ever before.
Brian Kerekes
Brief Bio: I have been teaching high school math for 15 years, the last half of those in Osceola. I’ve served as an officer in Indian River’s Education Association when I lived there.
Position Running for: FEA Governance Board.
Why do you want to run for this position?
I’ve had the distinct honor of serving as an NEA director from 2016-2022. In that time I came to appreciate the relationships I’ve built with union leaders across the country. I would like an opportunity to continue that work and bring the best strategies from across Florida to Osceola County.
Felicia Smith
Not Provided
Ryans Calmont
Bio: My name is Ryans Calmont, I saw firsthand the power of hard work, commitment, dedication, and loyalty from my mother. She was a single parent who understood the value of education and the opportunity that it could provide. I was raised in Haiti and after coming to America I learned English at the age of twelve. I graduated high school in Brooklyn, New York, and attended college at the University of Central Florida. While in college I worked at an elementary school where I began to develop a love for teaching. Upon graduating I obtained a teaching position at a middle school as a self-contained EBD classroom teacher. Shortly after becoming a teacher, I became involved in my local union.
While becoming active with my local OCEA I looked for different ways to engage with my union. It was at this time I became active in the minority affairs committee. This led me to start my advocacy journey at the Women and Minorities Leadership Training. I was taught the importance of building relationships to become an effective leader. It is with this professional development; in relationships, building commitment, and focusing on advocacy work that I ignited my efforts within my local OCEA, FEA, and NEA.
Positions Running for: N
EA RA 2 years and High School Rep.
Why do you want to run for this position?
To be your voice at the state and national level and to continue to advocate for equity , and just school for our members and ALL of our students.
Karen Pruitt
Bio: I have been a member of OCEA for 25+ years. It is important that SDOC make it a priority to retain and respect teachers and ESPs.. OCEA’s goal should be to amplify your VOICE form the school level .
Experience (Current):
- Alternative Site Rep – Executive Board
- Associate Rep. (PATHS and oTech)
- Bargaining Leadership Team
- Membership Committee
- OCEA New Teacher Orientation Volunteer
- Winter Leadership Attendee
- Website Committee Chair
- Media Specialist FOCUS Group Committee Chair
- Executive Board and Associate Rep Summer Training Coordinator
Experience (Local/Past):
- Vice President
- High School Site Rep – Executive Board
- Constitution and Bylaws Committee Chair
- Election Chair & Co-Chair
- Bargaining Conference Attendee
- Membership Committee Chair
- PAC Chair
- FEA Summer Institute
Experience (FEA/NEA/AFT):
- FEA Winter Leadership Conference Attendee
- FEA Delegate Assembly Conference Attendee
- NEA Representative Assembly Conference Attendee
- Central Leadership, Southeastern Leadership
- AFT Quest & NCUEA Conference Attendee
Position Running for: NEA State Delegate
Why do you want to run for this position?
- To be a voice for Osceola County Teachers and ESPs.
- To foster an understanding that there is Strength in Numbers
- To engage, empower and support Osceola County Teachers.
- To support FEA’s advocacy to make our schools a priority in Tallahassee.
- To support NEA’s belief that individuals are strengthened through unity
Nicole Crawford
I am a science teacher at Tohopekaliga High School. I have been an Association Rep, FEA DA Delegate, and NEA RA Delegate. I have also been the treasurer in my previous local. I am passionate about representing OCEA and I am an active member of our union. I come from a union family, and I have been a member since I was in college as a student NEA Member.
Positions Running for:
Executive Board Seat for High School
NEA RA Local Seat
NEA RA State Seat
Why do I want to run for this position?
I am running for high school representative to be the OCEA voice for all high school teachers. I want to bring my union siblings’ needs to the executive board, district, and community. I want to continue to represent OCEA at the national level in the NEA RA Seat.
Grace Hayes
No information Provided
Heidi Patterson Goicoechea
No information Provided
Emily Gorentz
Brief Bio: I am currently the Instructional Vice President for OCEA. I love the opportunities I have to affect change within our organization, from writing our COLA petition to initiating professional development courses. I am deeply invested in ensuring our union is effective and inclusive for all Instructional and Support Professionals alike. My leadership work started with revitalizing OCEA’s chapter of Florida’s Young Remarkable Educators. I was inspired by how much passion exists within our district, and I became motivated to use that passion to create positive change. Our union is our best voice in the fight for improved wages and working conditions. I believe that with strategic leadership and planning, our union can help reduce the teacher and staff shortage and improve each employee’s experience in SDOC.
Position Running for: NEA RA Local Seat
Why do you want to run for this position:
The NEA RA is an convention which sets the policies and procedures that will guide the National Education Association for the upcoming year. It is there that union members from across the nation decide on language that will be used to fight back against harmful legislation and policies. Guiding these decisions is essential as it will greatly influence the advocacy work that we do at a local level. As I have become more involved with OCEA’s Political Action Committee and have spent time lobbying in Tallahassee with FEA, the importance of national messaging has become abundantly clear to me. As a union, we derive all of our power from having a united voice. As a teacher and highly involved OCEA member, I believe that I have a deep understanding of our needs and can advocate for policies and language that would benefit us locally and nationally. I have found great joy and success in helping OCEA over the past four years, and I believe I would be able to offer significant leadership at the national level as well.
Devin Thornton
No information Provided
La Shanna Ward
No information Provided