Members of Ohio's State Board of Education (SBOE) reelected Laura Kohler and Charlotte McGuire as president and vice president at the board's first meeting of the new year Monday morning. This will be the duo's second term as board leaders.

Kohler, an at-large member first appointed by former Gov. John Kasich, is a real estate agent who previously served on and led local boards of education in Worthington City and New Albany-Plain Local schools. Kohler won 13-5 over Hamilton County's Jenny Kilgore, who said the board's focus should be "razor sharp on a good, solid education for K through 12."

"From my perspective, that's patriotism, history, math, science. Good solid education, good solid foundation upon which our students can then mature and base good citizenship decisions upon," she continued.

Board member Meryl Johnson, who nominated Kohler, noted her commitment to racial equity as SBOE president and said Kohler is a "problem solver" who listens to many points of view.

"With Laura as president, equity has become a value, much more than a priority that could change at any time," Johnson said.

Board member John Hagan spoke on behalf of Kilgore, saying that "the emphasis of this board has taken off in a variety of directions that don't really have a lot to do with the third-grade guarantee and children learning math etc. We have spent probably two-thirds of our time in our meetings talking about social issues. I would like to see a move in this board towards educating children."

New board member and former state legislator Diana Fessler also spoke on behalf of Kilgore, saying she thought an elected member, accountable to citizens, should hold the president's seat.

Those who voted for Kilgore other than Hagan and Fessler included board members Kirsten Hill, Kilgore's nominator, Brendan Shea, and Kilgore herself. All others voted for Kohler.

While speaking to members about her nomination, Kohler noted the board has embraced "Each Child, Our Future," the state's strategic plan for education, and said she would continue to advocate for the plan as president. Additionally, Kohler said she thinks the board is "extremely well-positioned to become a much more significant partner and influencer to those who are actually developing education policy in our state," and said she would like to add a legislation and finance committee to the board to better connect with lawmakers.

During the nomination processes, Fessler also nominated McGuire for president of the board and at-large member Mark Lamoncha for vice president, but both McGuire and Lamoncha quickly withdrew themselves from consideration.

No others competed for the role of vice president, and McGuire, who was nominated by at-large member Martha Manchester, was elected unanimously.

"Having grown up in a segregated school system, having grown up in the Jim Crow South, having grown up being the colored girl who could only go to the zoo on Tuesday, my parents told me education was the key to my freedom and success; so I am here today because of education. It's very important, and I ran on a platform as a voice for our children's success. Whether you are appointed or elected, we represent every child in the state of Ohio. That's why I pursue unity of purpose, among board members and with our partners," McGuire told members.

Members of the 2021 SBOE are the following:

Elected Members

- Diana Fessler

- Jenny Kilgore

- Antoinette Miranda

- John Hagan

- Brendan Shea

- Kirsten Hill

- Christina Collins

- Michelle Newman

- Meryl Johnson

- Charlotte McGuire

At-Large Members

- Eric Poklar

- Martha Manchester

- Steve Dackin

- Mark Lamoncha

- Mike Toal

- John Timothy Miller

- Laura Kohler