Dr. Chris Orban

Ohio School Board District 6

About Dr. Chris Orban

Learn more about Dr. Chris Orban

Dr. Chris Orban is a professor in the Department of Physics at Ohio State University and a candidate for the State Board of Education representing District 6, which spans counties including Pickaway, Fairfield, Hocking, Perry, Muskingum, and much of Franklin County, including downtown Columbus. He is running for this position because he believes he can contribute meaningfully to policies that enhance STEM literacy for students and support teachers working toward that goal.

Since 2017, Dr. Orban has served on several committees with the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, providing expertise in science, mathematics, and computer science. He has also worked extensively at Metro Early College High School in Columbus, engaging in curriculum development, conducting education research, and leading an after-school coding club. In 2023, he began leading professional development sessions for physical science teachers within Columbus City Schools.

One of Dr. Orban’s proudest accomplishments is collaborating with the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce to design a new high school math course called “Discrete Math,” which is now offered in more than forty schools across Ohio. The course incorporates significant computer science content, and many of the teachers implementing it are in less affluent and rural areas that otherwise would not offer computer science instruction. With companies building chip factories and data centers in Ohio, Dr. Orban is excited to be part of an initiative that creates a pathway to well-paying, middle-class jobs.

If elected to the State Board of Education, Dr. Orban will continue to champion forward-thinking programs like this. His advocacy will include regular testimony at the statehouse, and as a professor, he will engage with higher education colleagues to address challenges such as teacher shortages in K-12 education. He also plans to stay receptive to concerns raised by the Ohio Education Association and the many statewide teacher organizations that are vital to the state’s education system.

“I would be very honored to have your vote on Tuesday, November 5 for the office of State Board of Education member in District 6.”

Rating Dr. Chris Orban

Rank-and-file OEA members from legislative districts and surrounding school districts screened and endorsed candidates based on their positions and voting records on the following issues:

Support for fully funding the Fair School Funding Plan to ensure students and educators have the resources they need and to alleviate dependency on local property tax levies
Stopping book bans, infringing on educators’ academic freedom, censorship, and ensuring the ability of students to receive an inclusive, historically accurate, and truthful education
Decreasing standardized testing
Shifting away from the State of Ohio’s report cards being based on testing outcomes
Stopping state takeovers of school districts due to low standardized test scores
Preservation of educators’ pensions to ensure a safe, secure retirement so Ohio can attract and retain the educators of tomorrow
Opposition to privatizing educational services to ensure education positions remain good union jobs
Support for unions and collective bargaining to ensure educators receive fair contracts and have a voice in the workplace
Opposition to vouchers and voucher expansion, and support for charter and private school accountability

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Registration Deadline:

Monday, October 7, 2024 – Deadline to register to vote and update registrations in advance of the general election. Boards of Election will be open until 9:00 PM for individuals to drop off registrations or register online at the link below before the deadline:

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