May's OSBA Forum's guest will be State Board of Education President, Paul Larue.
Join us as we discuss the current issues in public education.
Paul LaRue was appointed to the State Board of Education as a member at-large by Gov. Mike DeWine in August 2020. He was reappointed for a term beginning in January 2023, and his current term will end in December 2026.
Paul grew up on the family farm in rural southeastern Fairfield County. He attended The Ohio State University, earning a B.S. in Social Studies Education. While at Ohio State, Paul was elected undergraduate student body president. He later earned his master’s degree in History Education from Xavier University.
In 1985, Paul entered the classroom as a high school social studies teacher at Washington Court House High School where he remained until his retirement. Paul was the varsity wrestling coach, leading his team to two southeast division II sectional wrestling titles.
Paul has been the recipient of numerous state and national teaching awards, including American Legion Ohio Educator of the Year, Veterans of Foreign Wars Ohio Teacher of the Year, and Ohio Daughters of the American Revolution American History Teacher of the Year. Nationally recognized, Paul received Time Warner’s National Teacher Award, the History Channel’s First Place “Innovation in History Education,” and the African American Civil War Memorial Teacher of the Year.
Since retiring, Paul has continued to work with social studies teachers and create educational content for the Ohio World War I Centennial, The Black History Bulletin, and the National Park Service. He also currently serves on the editorial board of the Black History Bulletin. Paul and his wife Kathleen live in Washington Court House.