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.

It was a busy week in legislative news, as the state board of education approved Superintendent Joy Hofmeister's proposed budget that would include a $5,000 raise for teachers and $66 million in additional funds for school districts for counselors and support staff. Ivy Riggs joins the show to break it all down.

We are also joined by Vicki Behenna, candidate for Oklahoma County District Attorney. Behenna was on the team of lawyers to help convict Timothy McVeigh and has been the head of the Oklahoma Innocence Project for the last eight years. She shares her lifelong love of Oklahoma public education and the importance of a community meeting all children's needs at an early stage.

Veteran, teacher, and State Rep. Logan Phillips (R-Mounds) was not re-elected after his district was gerrymandered, but that doesn’t mean his advocacy for public education is done. He discusses the importance of federal funding in Oklahoma, broadband access, and his revealing new data-driven study just released on the dangers vouchers pose to Oklahoma communities by siphoning precious resources from our public schools.

Chair of the Oklahoma Parent Legislative Action Committee, Misty Bradley, discusses how her upbringing in rural Oklahoma gave her a lifelong appreciation for public schools and how becoming a mother encouraged her to get involved. Visit okplac.org for more information.

We are also joined by former history teacher and current OEA election guru Tyler Outlaw on not just making sure you are registered to vote, but sharing information on how to vote and which candidates are best for public schools within your sphere of influence. Poll after poll continues to show educators are one of the most trusted members of their community and your voice has power.

For Labor Day Weekend, Fried Okra is excited to be joined by Oklahoma Labor Commissioner Leslie Osborne, who was captivating speaking about educators as a workforce and what Oklahoma must do to fix a critical labor shortage. (Spoiler alert: Pay educators more and treat them with more respect!)

Legislative expert Ivy Riggs returns to the pod to discuss the fallout from last Tuesday's primary runoff results, what it means for public education, and why our advocacy for pro-public education candidates must grow louder.

We also bring back friend of Fried Okra, Andy Moore, CEO of Let's Fix This OK, to talk through Oklahoma's abysmal numbers in voter participation, what we can do to get more people to the polls, and the opportunity it creates moving forward into the general election.

Dr. April Grace joins the podcast to share why she's running for state superintendent, her solutions to the issues facing public education, and how disheartening it can be when people tear away at the fiber of what it means to be an educator.

In our last episode for this legislative session, we recap the wild season at the Capitol, where #oklaed stands going into next year, and a look-ahead to the imperative June primaries.

We also speak with Jason Harris from the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center about opportunities for educators to visit museums this summer to discover field trip and curriculum opportunities.

Fried Okra will be on a short hiatus, but no worries, Okrazies, we will be back for next school year. Have a great summer!

In a year with huge numbers available for the state budget, it was disappointing to see the lack of urgency to support public education in resources, pay, and respect. We wrap up how so many missed the bigger picture and the few who attempted to address real issues like the teacher shortage.