Building an HR Professional Network

While it’s natural to look to national and state organizations to build your professional network, Ohio is also home to regional human resources (HR) groups that meet throughout the year. These groups are open to anyone who has responsibilities for recruiting, hiring, developing, or retaining staff in schools, whether HR is your sole focus or one aspect of your role. These groups operate as grassroots professional learning communities with conversations driven by district members. Steve Rogaski, Treasurer of the Northeast Ohio Association of School Personnel Administrators group, described the meetings as being characterized by a true spirit of sharing. He noted that people working in HR can feel isolated and these meetings provide a space for school district employees to learn together and share resources with each other.

The cost to join a group is free for some regions, while others charge a small annual fee to cover the cost of food provided during the meetings. Meetings often feature guest speakers such as attorneys, regional trainers, or representatives from the Ohio Department of Education sharing information on current events or topics chosen by members. While COVID-19 prompted a shift to virtual meetings, it also highlighted the importance of being connected to a professional network. According to Marion Stout, who leads the Greater Dayton Area Personnel Directors Group, they met more frequently as a result of all the changes due to COVID-19. Members felt it was even more important to have a group to turn to as they worked through how to cope with new requirements, especially with licensure.

For more information on Ohio’s regional HR networks, reach out to the contact person listed on the accompanying website:

PK-12 HR professionals may also benefit from joining the following state and national organizations:

Ohio Association of School Personnel Administrators (OASPA)- As an organization, OASPA strives to foster the staffing of school systems with the highest qualified individuals available, assist in the development and utilization of sound school personnel/human resources administration practices, and advance the cause of public education generally. Upcoming OASPA events include:

  • August 26, 2022: Bootcamp for New HR Administrators, Dublin, OH

  • September 22-23, 2022: OASPA Fall Conference, Dublin, OH

Association of School Personnel Administrators (AASPA)- Our mission is to provide every member with services, resources, and information vital to successful school human resource practices in the interest of students.

  • October 10-13, 2022: AASPA Annual Conference, Orlando, FL

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