Teri Wiechart, OWLA Parliamentarian & Bylaws Chair
Retired, Delphos Jefferson High School
To fulfill OWLA’s mission, “Every Ohio student will be proficient in a second language, which is essential to a world-class education,” the Executive Board has been quietly doing important work behind the scenes — strengthening the governance structures that keep our organization running smoothly and serving educators across Ohio. We have been focusing on providing strong, useful professional development and other initiatives so that teachers in Ohio are better equipped to fulfill the mission.
Not all of this work is flashy, but it’s foundational. It ensures that OWLA can make decisions consistently and fairly, protect the organization’s mission and resources, and build trust with members through transparency. A strong governance framework means OWLA can spend less time navigating ambiguity and more time advocating for world language education.
Each year, the Board meets in the summer for a two-day retreat. Most of the time is spent planning how we will reach our membership, how we can provide meaningful help to teachers, and how we will entice more teachers to join our mission. Committee chairs work together to design programs and initiatives to help Ohio teachers.
At this year’s retreat, we planned a year’s worth of professional development, both in person and online. Next up is the Fall Workshop, Saturday, October 24, 2026, at Buckeye Valley High School. More information can be found here. We also made plans regarding a spring workshop and annual meeting, as well as the annual conference to be held in fall 2027.
OWLA’s governance refresh includes several key updates. We established clear, measurable expectations to help board members understand their responsibilities and give the organization a fair, consistent way to support leadership growth.
You’ll see smoother processes, clearer communication, and a more consistent experience across all OWLA activities — from elections to conferences to committee work. Strong governance isn’t just internal housekeeping; it’s a commitment to serving you better.
We invite each of our members to consider being a part of OWLA’s leadership team. Volunteer to run for an office or serve on a committee. We are always looking for new perspectives and ideas. Contact any board member to get involved. It’s your organization!
