Recently retired OCLRE Executive Director Deborah DeHaan was presented with OCLRE's highest award, the Founders' Award, during the Law and Citizenship Conference. Pictured from left to right are OCLRE Board Secretary Thomas Friedman, DeHaan, OCLRE Board President Marion Smithberger, and OCLRE board members Richard Dove and Daniel Hilson.

Recently retired OCLRE Executive Director Deborah DeHaan was presented with OCLRE's highest award, the Founders' Award, during the Law and Citizenship Conference. Pictured from left to right are OCLRE Board Secretary Thomas Friedman, DeHaan, OCLRE Board President Marion Smithberger, and OCLRE board members Richard Dove and Daniel Hilson.

Ohio teachers wanting to learn more about civic education gathered on September 23 and 24 at the Law and Citizenship Conference in Columbus.

The two-day conference, sponsored by the Ohio Center for Law-Related Education (OCLRE), allowed more than 100 Ohio educators to learn about civics, government, and the judicial system. The group later broke out into sessions focusing on technology, educational uses of social media, political parties, and social studies literacy.

“For 22 years, OCLRE’s annual conference has continued to enhance teachers’ understanding of the judicial system and in turn their students,” said Lisa Eschleman, OCLRE executive director. “It’s what drives us to sponsor the Law and Citizenship Conference each year – engaging teachers and students about democracy and civic duty.”

Ohio Supreme Court Justice Robert R. Cupp delivered the keynote speech on the Ohio Constitution. Other keynote speakers included Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted, Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern, and Ohio Republican Party Executive Director Matt Borges. 

The conference kicks off Ohio’s mock trial season. Ohio’s High School Mock Trial is the second largest in the nation, behind only California, in number of teams participating.