After many expected SB 1647 to be heard on the Senate floor this week, the Senators left for the weekend without holding a vote on the massive voucher bill. This delay is almost entirely due to the advocacy of you, OEA members, our partners in the Oklahoma Education Coalition, and all the community members who have used their voices to stand up for public schools. Ivy Riggs reminds us, though, that just because it doesn't have the votes now, doesn't mean it won't in the future. So stay vigilant.

We are also thrilled to speak with Brittany Hayes, policy director of the Healthy Minds Initiative. Hayes was originally a public school teacher in Oklahoma before noticing "a lot of the issues I was facing were at the policy level." Through their research, Healthy Minds help bring mental health services and systems to the forefront with legislators and communities.