Dean Dennis, ORTA Executive Board Chair, addressed the STRS Ohio Board on June 25, 2026. The National Retired Teachers Association was founded in 1947. The Ohio Retirement for Teachers Association, ORTA, was founded in 1949. Our organization is 77 years old. Both organizations were founded to advocate for retired teachers and ensure they had a voice at the state legislative and state board levels. At the state level, ORTA is well aware that Ohio’s legislators are either blind, deaf, or...

It’s disappointing that the Ohio Legislature wasn’t held to its own language more than a decade and a half ago. The only worse thing than making such a huge mistake that harms so many people is failing to address and correct it. Now is the time for us all to hold those in power accountable with our voice and vote.

If Ohio Legislators truly want to attract the best teachers, a healthy, well-thought-out pension system is essential. Legislators should never be afraid of the democratic process unless they have an agenda that requires circumventing it.