OEA

Fried Okra kicks off the new year with Oklahoma's newest teacher of the year, Tulsa Union's Rebecka Peterson. Rebecka shares her inspiring story as an immigrant who lived all over the globe to being a beacon of hope as a math teacher for her students in Tulsa by finding the good in each day.

She will travel to all 77 counties in Oklahoma interviewing teachers who are making a difference and sharing their stories to offer words of encouragement for teachers, students and their communities. Nominate yourself or a teacher at sde.ok.gov/teachersofok.

In our last episode of 2022, we speak with two members of the OEA Trauma Cadre, which was created to provide free strategies-rich, trauma-informed presentations to Oklahoma educators. While many Oklahoma educators have attended professional development on the theory of trauma exposure and how it impacts children, OEA’s cadre presentations focus on in-the moment and curricular strategies. Emerging scientific findings and theory are also discussed but are linked to practical strategies.

All eight cadre members are Oklahoma educators with varied certifications and advanced degrees who are exemplary educators in their subject areas and school districts and deeply familiar with Oklahoma student demographics. We spoke to two members of the cadre, Amy Castro Braun (principal of Sky Ranch Elementary in Moore) and Cheryl Card (Nicoma Park Intermediate school counselor), about this exciting new opportunity for Oklahoma educators. You can sign up to attend a training, request the cadre come to your school, or find out more information at okea.org/trauma.

Recently, the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled that Senate Bill 658, a bill that prohibited local school boards from instituting a mask policy unless the governor declared a state of emergency, was unconstitutional and impermissible. 

The decision was a win for local control of public schools and one that may not have happened without the voices of two Stillwater parents, including an OEA member. Stillwater Education Association President Jenny Bobo and her husband Preston joined Fried Okra to talk about their experience standing up for their daughter and the rights of parents, educators, and school boards to have control over their own communities.

While the vast majority of OEA Fund for Children and Public Education endorsed candidates prevailed, there were devastating results at the top of the ballot.

Ivy Riggs reflects on how educators are feeling and what it all means for the future of public education in Oklahoma.

On the last Fried Okra before an extremely close and consequential 2022 general election, we encourage you to not only vote, but engage everyone in your sphere of influence to get out and vote. We also speak with candidate for Oklahoma Senate District 2, Jennifer Esau.

A proven advocate for Oklahoma students and teachers, Jennifer Esau has been an educator at Claremore Public Schools for more than 20 years. She is currently a special education teacher at Will Rogers Junior High, and was previously at Claremont Elementary, and Westside Elementary. ​Jennifer serves on the board of directors for OEA representing Northeast Oklahoma. She is currently President of Claremore Classroom Teachers Association (CCTA) and has served in leadership roles with the organization for the past 10 years. Esau would​ ​make​ ​providing​ ​adequate​ ​funding​ ​for​ ​public​ ​education​ ​her​ ​top​ ​priority because​ ​"it​ ​is​ ​the​ ​cornerstone​ ​of​ ​our​ ​communities."

2020 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year, candidate for State Superintendent, and friend of Fried Okra, Jena Nelson, returns to the podcast. She discusses how an educator at her school (1996 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year, Stephen Smallwood) changed her life and motivated the 17-year educator to fulfill the legacy of her mentor by continuing to give every child a chance at something better. 

She also shares the stories of families across Oklahoma concerned about vouchers and the uncertain future for public schools, especially in rural communities, if her opponent were to win.

Oklahoma Parent Teacher Association President Lori Wathen joins the pod to discuss the support parents across the state have for their educators, regardless of the narratives some may push, and the important GOTV efforts the PTA is doing to encourage parents to vote for pro-public education candidates.

OEA Vice President Cari Elledge also stops by to break down the OEA's member-driven budget process and how crucial it is for their input to be heard. If you are an OEA member, be on the lookout for an email/text with a link to the budget survey over the next week.

Gabrielle Jacobi joined the Oklahoma Policy Institute as its Child Well-Being Policy Analyst / KIDS COUNT Coordinator in March 2021 after more than two years as a Program Coordinator at the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness. KIDS COUNT provides legislators, public officials and child advocates with reliable data, policy recommendations and tools to advance policies that benefit children. Gabrielle breaks down the newest release of data and where Oklahoma ranks.

Fried Okra also brings back Tyler Outlaw for some insight on another week of education-related interim studies on four-day school weeks, athletic transfer rules, and sex education in the classroom.

State Superintendent, Gubernatorial Candidate, and friend of Fried Okra, Joy Hofmeister, returns to highlight the Dolly Parton Imagination Library initiative in Oklahoma, why she prioritized pay raises for educators in the education budget sent to the legislature, and her vision of a future where Oklahoman fully invests in public education.

We are also joined again by Tyler Outlaw, who breaks down some education-related interim studies -- including an exciting community schools program.

A recent report showed positive gains across Oklahoma in state testing, as we continue to climb out of the pandemic. Deputy Superintendent of Assessment, Accountability, Data Systems, and Research at the State Department of Education, Dr. Bryan Koerner, breaks down the numbers and the positive outcomes from the perseverance and hard work of the state's students and educators. Parents and school leaders can access assessment guidance, tools, and support resources for understanding these results at sde.ok.gov/assessment-guidance.

Ivy Riggs also returns to provide an update on the legislative special sessions, the beginning of interim studies (including community schools), and why the recent polling for governor and state superintendent is both hopeful and motivation to get more involved.