After serving her full two terms as OEA president, Alicia Priest reflects on an incredibly eventful six years that included a state-wide walkout and a pandemic. On her final Fried Okra, she looks back on her journey from Yukon Public Schools educator to being elected OEA's 97th president and her hopes for the future of a state hopefully finding its focus on public education.

Following a short discussion with legislative guru Amanda Ewing on the status of education funding for next year and the interim studies being pursued by the legislature this summer, Fried Okra is joined by three members of said legislature who are former history teachers. State Senator J.J. Dossett and State Representatives John Waldron and Jacob Rosecrants talk about their time in the classroom teaching history and the special perspective it gives them at the Capitol.

After a quick recap on the legislative session from Ivy Riggs, we are joined by Rep. Monroe Nichols of Tulsa to discuss the centennial of the Tulsa Race Massacre and how Oklahoma can lead by reconciling with our history, telling those stories, and addressing the inequities caused that we still face today.

Friend of the pod (and public education) Joy Hofmeister returns to Fried Okra to discuss what is on the horizon for education in Oklahoma, including a needed increase in the number of counselors across the state, continued distress in the teaching pipeline, summer learning programs, and the constant concern that all children in this state are still getting meals.

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The Oklahoma Education Association is a member-driven organization. There are no million benefactors calling the shots at the top. Instead, it is a collection of educators coming together to do what is best for public education in Oklahoma. When choosing their leaders, each OEA member has the same power as the next. One person, one vote.

Alicia Priest has served as the OEA president for the past six years, serving two three-year terms. Reaching her term limit, OEA members elected a new president last May, Katherine Bishop, a Putnam City elementary special ed educator, building rep, and current OEA vice president.

The Oklahoma Legislature wrapped up their 2021 legislative session this week, so that means our guru on all things happening at the Capitol, Amanda Ewing, returns for a final update and review of the myriad of impacts on education.

Fried Okra also speaks with the executive director of the Council of American-Islamic Relations Oklahoma, Adam Soltani, who discusses the challenges our Muslim students face in school and the importance of fighting for the rights of all. You can find more information and resources at cairoklahoma.com.

Friend of Fried Okra, Amanda Ewing, helps share a final look at the budget, what it means for education, and the profound disappointment in our state expanding voucher schemes that do not benefit the vast majority of Oklahoma families who attend public schools.

May is Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month and Oklahoma is fortunate to have bipartisan AAPI representation in the legislature. State Representatives Cyndi Munson and Daniel Pae join the pod for a great discussion on AAPI Heritage Month, representation in leadership, standing together against hate, and the importance of teaching history holistically.

Governor Stitt and other state leaders announced a proposed budget deal on Thursday that includes over $3 billion in education funding, a state record. However, the resurrection of vouchers defeated earlier this session and shoe-horning that bad policy into a budget deal is an issue.

Ellen Pogemiller and friend of the show, Paul Shinn, senior policy analyst at the Oklahoma Policy Institute, return to provide an in-depth look at what yesterday's proposed budget deal means for education -- the good, the bad, and the indifferent.

While we do not see the conversations behind closed doors, many state leaders have publicly proclaimed that education should see an increase in the next budget. Amanda Ewing returns to let us know how optimistic we should be and if there's reason to ask the question: "What's the catch?"

Fried Okra is ecstatic to welcome Quraysh Ali Lansana, author of Opal's Greenwood Oasis and Oklahoma native, to discuss why he wrote the book and the importance for the lessons of Black Wallstreet, Greenwood, and the Tulsa Race Massacre to be taught and passed on.

OEA's legislative director, Amanda Ewing, returns to the pod to provide insight on the education bills that have made it to the governor's desk, both signed and vetoed. She also breaks down the budget outlook for education and why the process is so frustrating for Oklahomans looking for transparency.

Fried Okra also has a great conversation with Dr. John Cox, President of the Organization of Rural Elementary Schools in Oklahoma, and Superintendent of Peggs Elementary School, about some of the serious issues facing our rural schools that have only become exacerbated this past year.