Ohio Governor Mike DeWine Week in Review
For the week ending February 13, 2026
Monday, February 9, 2026
 Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, First Lady Fran DeWine, and Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Assistant Director Lance Himes visited Northeastern Elementary School in Clark County, another school district participating in OhioSEE. Governor DeWine announced the official launch of OhioSEE, a new children’s eyesight program, last month.
“Today really is the perfect example showcasing why OhioSEE is so important,” said Governor DeWine. “Fran and I started the morning reading with kindergarten classes, and we then had the opportunity to see firsthand how OhioSEE is working in the school. For kids to be able to learn to read, they must first be able to see clearly, and OhioSEE is ensuring students are getting the vision care they need.”
 While at Northeastern Elementary School, First Lady Fran DeWine visited a kindergarten class to read a Dolly Parton Imagination Library book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library of Ohio mails children one high-quality, age-appropriate book each month until their 5th birthday, at no cost to their family. More than 415,000 Ohio children are currently participating in the program. That’s 62% of the state's eligible children.
Lt. Governor Jim Tressel kicked off the Team Tressel Fitness Challenge in Northeast Ohio at Scranton Elementary in Cleveland. He encouraged students to stay energized and push themselves to reach for gold.
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Governor DeWine announced that the Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY) has received $14.7 million in federal grants to support access to early care and education services. The Preschool Development Grant - Birth to Five comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families.
The grant funding will strengthen Ohio’s early childhood system by upgrading technology, building a research and impact hub, and supporting early care and education providers through curriculum development, professional learning, and business support resources.
“Early learning helps set children up for success in school and in life,” said Governor DeWine. “This funding will help Ohio better support families and make sure young children have access to quality care and learning opportunities during their most important years.”
Tuesday, February 10, 2026
Lt. Governor Tressel had a great visit to Donnell Middle School in Findlay, Ohio. Students have been all in on the Team Tressel Fitness Challenge and have been going hard since the start.
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 Governor DeWine, First Lady Fran DeWine, and Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Assistant Director Lance Himes continued a statewide tour today to discuss OhioSEE, a new children’s eyesight program.
While visiting Robinwood Lane Elementary School in Boardman, Governor DeWine met with children who have benefited from comprehensive vision services offered by the OhioSEE program.
“OhioSEE is one of the most important things we are doing for the future of our kids,” said Governor DeWine. “We are making an impact on students at a time when being able to see clearly is absolutely critical to learning. We are bringing services right to the school so every child that needs care is guaranteed to receive it.”
 While in the Youngstown area, Governor DeWine also toured Classic Optical Laboratories, which manufactures and produces more than 1.5 million eyeglasses annually. Classic Optical partners with both Vision to Learn and Western Ohio Health Partners, two of the OhioSEE vendors, to provide eyeglasses for children’s vision services.
Lt. Governor Tressel visited Defiance Middle School for the Team Tressel Fitness Challenge, which focuses on moving more, sleeping better, and fueling our bodies to be at our best.
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Lt. Governor Tressel is proud of the students at Bath Middle School in Lima for their hard work doing the Team Tressel Fitness Challenge. Students are setting healthy habits that can last them a lifetime.
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Wednesday, February 11, 2026
 Ohio continues to lead the nation in modernizing emergency response with the selection of nine public safety agencies to participate in the Ohio Statewide Drone First Responder (DFR) Pilot Program, a first-of-its-kind initiative designed to expand rapid aerial response capabilities across communities of all sizes.
The program, led by the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and DriveOhio, with program management support from SkyfireAI, reflects Ohio’s commitment to equipping first responders with innovative tools that improve situational awareness, enhance officer and responder safety, and reduce emergency response times.
The following agencies have been selected to participate in the pilot program:
- City of Springfield Police/Fire/EMS
- Athens Police Department
- Lima Police Department
- Toledo Police Department
- Violet Township Fire/EMS
- Austintown Fire Department
- City of Hamilton Police/Fire/EMS
- Amherst Police Department
- Kelleys Island Fire/EMS
Together, these agencies represent a diverse cross-section of Ohio, spanning urban centers, suburban communities, and rural jurisdictions — reinforcing the program’s goal of ensuring access to advanced emergency response capabilities statewide. Many of the selected agencies have also committed to sharing drone resources with neighboring jurisdictions, further expanding the impact of this program.
“Ohio is committed to giving our first responders the tools they need to protect lives and serve their communities safely and effectively,” said Governor DeWine. “This statewide Drone First Responder pilot reflects Ohio’s leadership in innovation, our strong partnership with local agencies, and our focus on using technology responsibly to support public safety across the state.”
The students at Maysville Elementary in Zanesville showed great focus during the Team Tressel Fitness Challenge visit with Lt. Governor Tressel.
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 Governor and First Lady DeWine attended the America 250-Ohio "Ohio Goes to the Movies" kickoff, featuring a screening of "Frankenstein" (1910), produced by Milan native and renowned inventor Thomas A. Edison's film company. While there, they enjoyed seeing Beverly D'Angelo, who is originally from Upper Arlington and well known for her role as Ellen Griswold in the National Lampoon Vacation films.
Thursday, February 12, 2026
Governor DeWine, Lt. Governor Tressel, and Ohio Department of Education and Workforce Director Stephen D. Dackin announced Ohio's 2026 Business-Education Leader Awards for Excellent Business Advisory Councils.
All Ohio school districts and educational service centers have a Business Advisory Council: a group of local school, business, and community leaders who work together to ensure that students’ educational opportunities align with local and state workforce needs, while also providing students with valuable work-based learning opportunities.
The annual Business-Education Leader Awards honor Business Advisory Councils that stand out for their efforts to create and sustain career-connected learning opportunities for students.
“We are proud to celebrate the Business Advisory Councils that are making a real impact preparing students for the opportunities waiting for them beyond graduation,” said Governor DeWine. “Aligning education with the needs of our communities is essential to Ohio’s future. That’s why we continue to support increased access to career and technical education, while also emphasizing career-connected learning opportunities in every Ohio classroom. When our students gain the skills they need to succeed in today’s workforce, we empower them to reach their full potential.”
“Our Business Advisory Councils are another example of how our state creates opportunity through collaboration,” said Lt. Governor Tressel. “Our new WorkOhio program is built on a similar foundation. It’s all about bringing together experts who know the jobs and industries that are in demand. Our most effective Business Advisory Councils are the ones that work as a team to expose students to all the opportunities available to them so they can pursue a future that excites them in one of our state’s top career paths.”
Lt. Governor Tressel visited Beechwood Elementary in Whitehall to get students excited for the second round of the Team Tressel Fitness Challenge.
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The Ohio Department of Development and the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation announced the opening of a new internship round for Ohio students and businesses looking to make an impact in technology fields.
The High School Tech Internship Program offers Ohio employers wage reimbursement for hosting high school interns in tech-related roles, helping businesses establish a recruitment pipeline while providing students with valuable work experience at an early age.
“By helping employers create technology-based internship opportunities for Ohio’s youth, this program gives businesses the opportunity to work with and nurture emerging talent while also giving young people hands-on experience as they prepare to enter the workforce,” said Governor DeWine.
“In Ohio, we believe the best workforce strategy starts early and with opportunity,” said Lt. Governor Tressel. “When a young person can step into a new role and see how their skills make a difference, it builds confidence and clarity about their future. Programs like this give students meaningful exposure to the workplace and high-demand industries, helping them make informed decisions about their career pathways.”
 Governor DeWine and Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY) Director Kara Wente announced funding support for six child wellness campuses across Ohio. The campuses will provide short-term, therapeutic care for children and youth with complex needs, helping keep them closer to their families, schools, and communities.
“These campuses will address a critical gap in care,” said Governor DeWine. “Too often, children with complex needs are placed far from home simply because the right services aren’t available nearby. The new and expanded child wellness campuses will provide a local, community-based option focused on safety, assessment, healing, and stability.”
In partnership with the Ohio General Assembly, Governor DeWine directed $20 million from Ohio’s operating budget to support the creation of four new child wellness campuses and the expansion of two existing campuses. Together, the funded campuses will expand Ohio’s capacity to serve children and youth with complex needs in settings designed specifically for stabilization and healing.
Friday, February 13, 2026
Lt. Governor Tressel met with students from Berkshire Elementary in Burton who were rocking the gym with excitement during the Team Tressel Fitness Challenge assembly.
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A violent crime reduction operation led in partnership between the Dayton Police Department (DPD) and Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) on February 12, 2026, resulted in nine felony arrests, the confiscation of three illegally possessed firearms, and the recovery of a stolen vehicle.
The multi-agency operation was conducted as part of Governor DeWine's Violent Crime Reduction Initiative, which partners state, local, and federal law enforcement agencies on strategic and data-driven operations to identify and arrest repeat offenders responsible for the majority of violent crime in their communities.
"These statewide violent crime reduction operations have proven beneficial in getting drugs, illegally possessed guns, and violent offenders off the streets,” said Governor DeWine. “The State of Ohio remains fully committed to supporting local agencies as they work to hold repeat offenders accountable for their crimes.”
MEDIA CONTACT:
Dan Tierney: 614-644-0957
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