Podcasts about Tulsa Public Schools

Join us as welcome Margaritte Arthrell-Knezek, the visionary founder and principal and Amber Gates, Instructional Leader for the Under the Canopy School. We explore their inspiring journey from running an after-school program to launching an innovative charter school under Tulsa Public Schools. Discover how Under the Canopy has transformed from a dream into a reality. Margaritte shares insights into the enrollment process and the excitement of offering spots to eager families, while Amber emphasizing the school's unique nature-based, Public Waldorf approach that integrates academic learning with holistic human development.We continue the conversation by discussing the challenges and strategies of opening a new charter school. Learn about the school's creative use of an old school building and the aesthetic upgrades required for its transformation. We highlight community engagement efforts that extend beyond the Red Fork neighborhood, involving collaborations with local events and partnerships to increase the school's visibility. Discover how marketing efforts target preschools and homeschool communities to draw interest, while the school's funding model is compared to traditional public schools, highlighting the unique financial landscape charter schools navigate.Finally, immerse yourself in the innovative educational approaches that set Under the Canopy apart. The school's Waldorf-inspired curriculum includes practical skills like woodworking, cooking, and knitting, along with unique specials such as nature and garden classes. Don't miss this chance to connect with a school that's redefining education by nurturing students' connections to nature and fostering a comprehensive learning experience.Check them out online at https://www.underthecanopy.org/ and if you are interested in enrolling your child, the next window ends at the end of May.

Behind every line item in a budget, there's a story worth telling and a responsibility worth upholding. That is where State Auditor Cindy Byrd comes in. Cindy was the first woman to ever hold the position in Oklahoma and won the state auditor role with the most votes for a state official in Oklahoma in history. Cindy talks about what she does and how she got to where she is in a male dominated field. She also talks about the recent audit for Tulsa Public Schools.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and former House Democratic Leader Emily Virgin about Attorney General Gentner Drummond criticizing State Superintendent Ryan Walters over an opinion request, the State Board of Education voting in favor of new controversial social studies standards and a scathing audit against Tulsa Public Schools.The trio also discusses a ruling in a challenge to Governor Stitt's return-to-work order for state employees and the U.S. Secretary of Transportation touring the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City.

Tulsa Public Schools receives a scathing report from the state auditor.A legislative panel kills a measure to fund the state's 988 suicide hotline.A nonprofit is plugging wells in an eastern Oklahoma wildlife refuge.You can find the KOSU Daily wherever you get your podcasts, you can also subscribe, rate us and leave a comment.You can keep up to date on all the latest news throughout the day at KOSU.org and make sure to follow us on Facebook, Blue Sky and Instagram at KOSU Radio.This is The KOSU Daily, Oklahoma news, every weekday.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and former Democratic State House Speaker Steve Lewis about Governor Stitt firing three members of the State Board of Education and nominating three replacements and an audit of the Tulsa Public School District.The trio also discusses legislative leaders pulling back on Governor Stitt's tax cut plan and Operation Guardian to identify, arrest and deport illegal immigrants gets underway.

Today I am joined by an independent investigator from the substack "V1SUT" who will go by the alias "Mary" to protect her identity and help her continue her ongoing work uncovering corruption across the stte.  We will be discussing the sudden removal of three boad members on the Oklahoma State Board of Education. There are lots of rumor and speculation as to why this happened. Ironically, on the same day, a major announcement was made by Oklahoma state auditor, Cindy Byrd, regarding Tulsa Public Schools. Was the school board shake up related? Was it a distraction? Is there an unexpected alignment between Stitt and Drummond? Are Ryan Walters and Stitt now at odd?  What exactly is going on?  Join us for our converstation as lay out the puzzle pieces.  Follow the great work of Mary at https://v1sut.substack.com  

In this episode, Kevin Stoller chats with Dr. Aspasia Angelou, a superintendent in Arizona. She highlights her role as a superintendent and the various initiatives she is leading in her school district. Dr. Angelou shares her background, growing up with Greek immigrant parents, and discusses how her early experiences shaped her drive to pursue education. She talks about her journey navigating educational challenges with limited family support. She also elaborates on the unique challenges of leading a unified school district without a high school and the legislative and logistical hurdles she faced in Arizona. She explains how she tackled these issues, including passing bonds for school funding and creating new high school facilities. Dr. Angelou discusses her approach to integrating innovative programs in her district, such as coding for young students, diverse extracurriculars like archery and agriculture, and designing a new high school from scratch with community input. Takeaways: There is always a way if you are determined enough. It's important to find a balance between honoring tradition and looking for innovation. It is critical for kids to understand technology, but it is also important that they have social experiences and play-based learning early.   About Dr. Angelou: Dr. Aspasia Angelou is the daughter of immigrant parents and a native of Seattle, Washington, where she graduated from the University of Washington. She moved to Texas as an educator and teacher trainer in advanced placement, and then to Oklahoma as a school administrator for 8 years. Dr. Angelou served the students, teachers, and community of Tulsa Public Schools as director of high school design in 2019, leading 4 schools through a redesign project. She is passionate about creating equitable learning environments, opportunities, and outcomes for all students. Her entire career has been committed to serving in Title I urban schools. She was named Oklahoma High School Principal of the Year in 2017 for the academic gains made by her students during her tenure in Oklahoma City. Despite challenges, they made great gains are recognized as a Model Professional Learning Community School by Solution Tree.   Connect with Dr. Angelou: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-aspasia-angelou-25667099/ X: https://x.com/aspasiaangelou   Nadaburg USD #81: Website: https://www.nadaburgsd.org/leadership       Episode 215 of the Better Learning Podcast Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast and Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture. Learn more about creating better learning environments at www.Kay-Twelve.com.     For more information on our partners: Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) - https://www.a4le.org/ Education Leaders' Organization - https://www.ed-leaders.org/ Second Class Foundation - https://secondclassfoundation.org/ EDmarket - https://www.edmarket.org/ Catapult @ Penn GSE - https://catapult.gse.upenn.edu/ Want to be a Guest Speaker? Request on our website

The new program at Tulsa Public Schools offers girls the opportunity to get scholarships to colleges and learn valuable team lessons.

The Bumgarner family has deep roots in Tulsa that began in 1903 when John's grandfather, A.A.Bumgarner, came to Tulsa and established a grocery store at 15 East 2nd Street.A.A. was successful in business and established a family tradition of community service through his work as a board member for Tulsa Public Schools. The cornerstone of the old Central High School building at 6th & Cincinnati bears his name as chairman of the building committee.In 1987, John Bumgarner was a senior executive with the Williams Companies when he successfully acquired the 320 South Boston and Kennedy buildings thus joining his grandfather in connecting the Bumgarner name to historically significant properties of Tulsa's oil boom era.His ownership of 320 and Kennedy opened an unexpected opportunity in 2011 when John and Chris submitted a winning bid for ownership of the Mid-Continent Tower in a competitive, court-administered auction with several bidders.John talks about his family history, his days with the Getty and Skelly oil companies, the Williams Companies, and how his career led to the ownership of iconic downtown Tulsa properties on the Voices of Oklahoma podcast and website VoicesOfOklahoma.com.

Join our host, Matthew Gleason, as he sits down with Paul Davis, Executive Director of our nonprofit partner, City Year Tulsa, to celebrate a decade of educational transformation in partnership with Tulsa Public Schools. In this episode, you'll dive deep into the powerful work being done in Tulsa's neighborhoods. Discover how City Year Tulsa AmeriCorps members are making a real difference, transforming the educational landscape and empowering students to reach their fullest potential. Paul shares inspiring stories and insights on how this innovative program has impacted countless lives. Tune in for an engaging conversation and join us in celebrating the incredible achievements of City Year Tulsa over the past ten years! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tauw/message

After Oklahoma voters decisively passed State Question 802 in 2020, mandating expansion of Oklahoma's Medicaid coverage to low-income citizens similar to the Affordable Care Act, Governor Kevin Stitt has worked to privatize the joint federal and state run healthcare program. As SoonerCare transitions to SoonerSelect, on April 1, 2024, the program will be operated by three private companies; Aetna Better Health of Oklahoma, Humana Healthy Horizons, and Oklahoma Complete Health. As of March 10th, the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, or OCHA, began auto-assigning members who had not selected their new plans. Shonda Little speaks with Jared Deck, State Representative for House District 44 in Norman and JeKia Harrison, President of the Young Democrats of Oklahoma, and a lifelong resident of northeast Oklahoma City to learn more about this transition and the concerns held by some about this change.In a groundbreaking achievement Traci Manuel, who both attended and taught at Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa, has etched her name into Oklahoma history books, becoming the first African American educator to claim the prestigious title of Teacher of the Year. Anthony Cherry speaks with her and Milton Dean III. Dean has been in education for 16 years with Tulsa Public Schools. He currently serves at Street School, a nonprofit, alternative, therapeutic based school. Before that he spent four years at the Juvenile Detention Center, also known as the Tulsa County Family Center for Juvenile Justice to share more about Manuel's remarkable journey, from her teaching career to her statewide advocacy for a more inclusive and effective education system. Rebecca Marks Jimerson, the Commemorative Chair and Special Projects Chair of the Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Society, has a decade-long commitment to honoring Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy. Recently in Tulsa Jimerson produced a powerful partnership with the Jewish Federation of Tulsa, Circle Cinema, the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office, and the National Association of Black Journalists which shed light on the intertwined histories of Black people and Jewish people through a documentary entitled Shared Legacies: The African American-Jewish Civil Rights Alliance, directed by Jewish filmmaker, Dr. Shari Rogers of Detroit. Through her film she provides verbal accounts of how Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement were able to move forward with some of this momentum helped by support of allies of the interfaith community even coming together with Dr. King in the marches for equality. This included footage of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel and other rabbis who were seen close to the front of several marches with Dr. King. This collaboration serves as a call to contemporary social justice movements to unite and continue Dr. King's vision of equality. Francia Allen attended the screening and speaks with Jimerson, Brae Riley, a board member and Chair of the Social Justice Sub-Committee of the Jewish Federation of Tulsa, and Ryan Thomas, the lead film programmer at Circle Cinema to expand on this powerful cooperation. To connect with the Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Society visit mlktulsa.com, circlecinema.org for Circle Cinema, and the Jewish Federation of Tulsa at jewishtulsa.org. This story is part of a series exploring the relationship between the Black American community and the Jewish community in Tulsa. The series is sponsored by the Frank Family Foundation as a part of Tri-City Collective's Acknowledge Oklahoma or A-OK project. As the number of Holocaust survivors dwindles, the Tulsa Council for Holocaust Education is hosting the 26th Annual Yom HaShoah: An...

In Tulsa, there are about 450 after-school programs at risk of shrinking to just 75 once ESSER funds are gone.One of those programs is an after-school gardening club at Tulsa Public Schools' Eugene Field Elementary. There, each participant gets a garden box to plan, decorate, plant and harvest from throughout the school year.Schools across the country may be on the brink of making tough calls once these "pennies from heaven" run out.

Tulsa Mayor GT Bynum joins the KRMG Morning News with Dan Potter about his tour with State Superintendent Ryan Walters, the City moving closer to having a low-barrier homeless shelter last week, and morale at the Tulsa Police Department.

No district in Oklahoma is under the State Board of Education's microscope quite like Tulsa Public Schools. StateImpact's Beth Wallis and OPMX's Max Bryan have this update on how TPS' state-mandated improvement plan is going so far and the work that lies ahead.

The new TPS Superintendent Dr. Ebony Johnson joins the KRMG Morning News to discuss her ongoing conversations with State Superintendent Ryan Walters, improvements in the district, and more.

In this week's episode, Ginnie Graham and Barry Friedman close the curtain on 2023, discussing the achievements and failures of the state and federal governments. How will this lead into the 2024 presidential election? What will be the focus for Oklahoma's legislature and other leaders next session? Related content: Sixteen file for Oklahoma's 2024 presidential primary U.S. Sen. Mullin hawks 'Anytime' T-shirts after argument with Teamsters president A look at what Oklahoma lawmakers didn't pass this year Teacher pay raises, private school tax credits: What to know about Oklahoma's education plan Coverage of State Superintendent Ryan Walters Ginnie Graham: Suggestions on how to influence arguments for Tulsa Public Schools to keep local control Gov. Stitt: Give Tulsa Superintendent Ebony Johnson a chance 100 teacher vacancies at Tulsa Public Schools despite up to $6,000 signing bonuses Eliminating state income tax faces same challenges it did more than two decades ago Click here to submit a letter to the editor Note: Barry Friedman is an essayist, political columnist, petroleum geology reporter and comedian living in Tulsa. In addition to “Funny You Should Mention It,” “Road Comic,” “Four Days and a Year Later” and “The Joke Was On Me,” his first novel, “Jacob Fishman's Marriages,” a book about the worst love story ever, was published by Balkan Press in February. His sites are barrysfriedman.com and friedmanoftheplains.com. Contact us Editorial Editor Ginnie Graham: Email | Twitter | Follow her stories Subscribe to this podcast at: Apple | Google | SpotifySupport the show: https://tulsaworld.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Rights Attorney Ryan Kiesel about opening statements starting on a legal challenge to HB1775, the so-called Critical Race Theory Ban, the state Tax Commission starting to collect applications for a controversial private school tax credit and the State Board of Education takes aim once again at Tulsa Public Schools.The trio also discusses new rules proposed by State Superintendent Ryan Walters to tie a school district's accreditation to test scores and the leader of the State Senate unveiling a plan to make the budget process more transparent.

Tulsa Mayor G T Bynum says the street department is ready for winter weather. He talked about his confidence in Tulsa Public Schools meeting goals set by the state Superintendent.

The State Board of Education takes on Tulsa Public Schools.Oklahoma moves forward with another execution.The sounds of New Orleans are coming to OKC's Scissortail Park this weekend.You can find the KOSU Daily wherever you get your podcasts, you can also subscribe, rate us and leave a comment.You can keep up to date on all the latest news throughout the day at KOSU.org and make sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at KOSU Radio.This is The KOSU Daily, Oklahoma news, every weekday.

Leigh B. Goodson has served as president and chief executive officer of Tulsa Community College since July 2014. Under her leadership, the college launched and met the College's $20 million campaign, developed Oklahoma's first “early college high school program,” and gained TCC acceptance into the Aspen Institute Unlocking Opportunity: The Post-Graduation Success and Equity Network. Dr. Goodson is a key contributing member of the Tulsa Higher Education Consortium, a collaborative partnership with local universities. Dr. Goodson earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Education Research and Evaluation from Oklahoma State University, a Master of Science in Organizational Communication from Fort Hays State University in Hays, KS, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from OSU. She is a graduate of Leadership Oklahoma class XXIII and Leadership Tulsa Class 35 and completed an Aspen Presidential Fellowship in 2016. In 2020, The Journal Record recognized Goodson as Oklahoma's Most Admired CEO in the public category and inducted her into the Circle of Excellence for being honored three times as a 50 Making a Difference honoree at its annual Woman of the Year event. In addition, Dr. Goodson received the Leadership Oklahoma 2023 Distinguished Graduate Award. She is an active member of her community, and currently serves on the boards of AACC, Tulsa Area United Way, Oklahoma Business Roundtable, Jobs for the Future Policy Trust, CCCSE National Advisory Board and Tulsa Regional Chamber. She is a sought after local and national guest speaker on various topics including leadership development and community college student success. Goodson has invested herself and her career in education, having served previously as a university faculty member, university administrator and school board member for Tulsa Public Schools. Her priority and passion is student success.  

Community volunteer Nancy McDonald's service to Tulsa has touched the very soul of the state of Oklahoma. A graduate of the University of Nebraska, Nancy began her career as a medical technologist. While her children were growing up in Tulsa, her interests turned to education and youth development. She was very active as a PTA volunteer and became a leader in the voluntary integration of Tulsa Public Schools. She helped recruit students and parents to Burroughs Elementary, the beginning of voluntary integration, which led to the integration program at Carver Middle School and Booker T. Washington High School. Nancy was on the board of the Magic Empire Girl Scout Council, when in 1977, three young girl scouts were raped and murdered at Camp Scott. Gene Leroy Hart the chief suspect was acquitted. Years later, DNA testing was conducted, but the samples were too old to prove conclusive. In this interview she talks about the aftermath of the murders and how it affected the parents of the children, the members of the Council and the policy changes put in place as a result of this horrendous crime. When her own daughter revealed she was gay, Nancy founded the Tulsa chapter of PFLAG-Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays and went on to serve on the national board. This interview spotlights just a few of the many areas of our community Nancy has served. She has received many honors for her work. We thank the founding underwriters for their support of VoicesofOklahoma.com

The State Board of Education gets a progress report from Tulsa Public Schools.A tire plant in southern Oklahoma plans to close its doors.Post 9/11 veterans can get help at a new care facility in OKC.You can find the KOSU Daily wherever you get your podcasts, you can also subscribe, rate us and leave a comment.You can keep up to date on all the latest news throughout the day at KOSU.org and make sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at KOSU Radio.This is The KOSU Daily, Oklahoma news, every weekday.

Dr. Ebony Johnson has served Tulsa Public Schools as a teacher, a principal, an administrator, and Chief Learning Officer in a career spanning nearly a quarter century.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Rights Attorney Ryan Kiesel about State Superintendent Ryan Walters testifying before Congress about the Chinese Government's involvement in U.S. education, the State House Speaker saying there were no plans to open an impeachment investigation into Superintendent Walters and Tulsa Public Schools gets a new leader and a new attorney.The trio also discusses the special election in Edmond's House District 39 and an interim study on ranked-choice voting.

Your friends at Fried Okra return after an eventful summer and back-to-school season that saw OEA visit over 150 school districts. Legislative expert Ivy Riggs is back to break down the chaos created by the state superintendent with the accreditation of Tulsa Public Schools, the chaos created by the state superintendent targeting a librarian and the subsequent bomb threats, the chaos created by the state superintendent and PragerU, etc.

CrossRoads

Darren discussed these topics:Donald Trump entered a not guilty plea Thursday in court in Atlanta.Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) froze again during a press conference in Covington, Kentucky Wednesday.Rudy Giuliani has to pay up for defaming two Georgia election workers after refusing to provide documents during discovery.The White House said that Russian president Vladimir Putin traded letters with North Korea dictator Kim Jong Un asking him to provide Russia with munitions to use for the Ukraine war in exchange for food.A Biden administration proposal would allow more workers to receive overtime pay.And the National Labor Relations Board ruled that a company that interferes in union elections must now automatically recognize and bargain with the union.Hammer Time: Oklahoma State Superintendent of Schools Ryan Walters (R) demanded the resignation of Tulsa Public Schools superintendent Deborah Gist in exchange for the state not taking over the district. Walters claims to work on behalf of school children, but the evidence proves otherwise.Hammer Time: Ottawa County, Michigan Administrator John Gibbs (R) has taken over the social media and communication accounts of the county's department of public health after their health officer publicly complained about steep budget cuts the county board has proposed.

Tulsa Public Schools is keeping its accreditation.The current heat wave is impacting Oklahoma's drought.Lawton is getting a new refinery.You can find the KOSU Daily wherever you get your podcasts, you can also subscribe, rate us and leave a comment.You can keep up to date on all the latest news throughout the day at KOSU.org and make sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at KOSU Radio.This is The KOSU Daily, Oklahoma news, every weekday. Mentioned in this episode:Stitcher Notice (kill 8/29)

Rep. John Waldron represents Tulsa's District 77 in the Oklahoma House. Previously, he worked as a social studies and history teacher at Booker T. Washington High School. He joins Ginnie Graham to reflect on Tulsa Public Schools under Superintendent Deborah Gist, and if the Oklahoma State Board of Education's criticism of TPS under her leadership is warranted. How can Oklahomans and the state legislature proceed after the most recent meeting? Related Rep. John Waldron: Will you stand up against the rotten state of affairs being foisted on Oklahoma's public schools? More school bomb threats keep investigators busy, parents worried TPS students, community rally to support district during accreditation vote: 'Nobody is talking to us' Oklahoma State Board of Education to require foreign funding reports from schools TPS board unanimously approves separation agreement with Gist Local leaders react to TPS leadership change Embezzlement case at TPS highlighted in Walters' state takeover threats. What happened? Lawmakers weigh in on Ryan Walters' TPS remarks From the Tulsa World archives: Coverage of State Superintendent Ryan Walters Click here to submit a letter to the editor Contact us Editorial Editor Ginnie Graham: Email | Twitter | Follow her stories Subscribe to this podcast at: Apple | Google | SpotifySupport the show: https://tulsaworld.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's West Coast Cookbook & Speakeasy Podcast for our especially special Daily Special, Metro Shrimp & Grits Thursdays, is now available on the Spreaker Player!Starting off in the Bistro Cafe, the Secret Service had such a blind spot for the Oath Keepers ahead of January 6, they deleted all their texts with them from during the insurrection.Then, on the rest of the menu, wildfires raging near the California-Oregon border killed at least one person and destroyed over a dozen homes; the superintendent of Tulsa Public Schools in Oklahoma is stepping aside in an attempt to avert a takeover of the district by the state superintendent who accused the schools of taking funding from “Communist China;” and, the Justice Department announced charges against hundreds of COVID-19 fraudsters of the theft of more than $830 million in emergency aid.After the break, we move to the Chef's Table where the Taliban is preventing scores of Afghan women from studying abroad; and Nicaragua's government declared the Jesuit religious order illegal and ordered the confiscation of all its property.All that and more, on West Coast Cookbook & Speakeasy with Chef de Cuisine Justice Putnam.Bon Appétit!The Netroots Radio Live Player​Keep Your Resistance Radio Beaming 24/7/365!“Everyone in this good city enjoys the full right to pursue his own inclinations in all reasonable and, unreasonable ways.”-- The Daily Picayune,New Orleans, March 5, 1851

Next Thursday, the State Board of Education will consider changing the accreditation status of the state's largest school district, Tulsa Public Schools. This comes after over a year of remarks from State Superintendent Ryan Walters targeting the district. StateImpact's Beth Wallis and Public Radio Tulsa's Max Bryan break down what's behind the battle for TPS.

Welcome to a brand new episode of our podcast! In this episode, we discuss the current accreditation crisis facing Tulsa Public Schools (TPS) with Ana Barros, a seventh-grade geography teacher at Tulsa School of Arts and Sciences and an active leader of the Protect TPS movement.Key points discussed in this episode include:- An in-depth look at the complex issues surrounding the accreditation of Tulsa Public Schools (0:00:15). Anna explains the different levels of accreditation, the potential implications of losing it, and how the accreditation status of a school is not directly connected to the quality of education provided.- Ways you can support TPS and help protect its future (0:12:04). This includes writing emails to legislators, signing the Protect TPS petition, and attending a student-led town hall.- The significance of local leaders, business leaders, and elected officials in shaping the future of Tulsa's school district (0:19:53). We also explore the consequences of a state takeover of a school district and discuss the power of the Protect TPS movement.- Anna shares her experiences teaching seventh-grade geography and the unique challenges it presents (0:27:06). We also delve into the developmental stages of preteens and how it affects their learning.- A deep dive into the profound impact of language and the role of names in shaping our worldviews (0:31:21). We discuss the confusion of spelling and pronouncing countries in different languages and the implications of colonizers giving countries their names.- A light-hearted discussion about the recent McDonald's ice cream crisis and the fascinating history behind the location of state capitals (0:41:16).Remember to follow Protect TPS on Instagram or visit www.protecttps.com for more information on how you can support Tulsa Public Schools. Be sure to attend the student-led town hall on Saturday and reach out to state board members before the state board meeting on August 24th.Stay tuned for more enlightening and engaging episodes!

Host Blayklee Freed talks with Features Editor Tim Landes to discuss his multiple interviews with local educators. Plus, career-ready programs have been building students' skills and preparing them for a robust future.Weathering the storms: TPS Superintendent Deborah Gist on fighting for her students and the future of public educationSkills to build on: How 4 local high schools prepare students for careers after graduationCity on stage: There's a wealth of talent in this year's performing arts guideIn session: A look at summer programming at Tulsa Dream Center locationsCoffee with: Rebecka Peterson, National Teacher of the Year

Parents Defending Education's new report, “Little Red Classrooms,” offers some worrisome information about China's reach in U.S. K-12 schools through so-called Confucius Classrooms.The report notes that Parents Defending Education “uncovered contracts that show Confucius Classrooms, or other Chinese government-backed programming, are still in operation” in a number of schools throughout the U.S., including Tulsa Public Schools in Oklahoma. “On July 11, 2022, the Tulsa Public Schools board of education approved entering into an agreement with the Confucius Classroom Coordination Offices, which [operate] out of the International Leadership of Texas Global nonprofit,” the report says. “The Chinese International Education Foundation would cover the cost of the program. Carver Middle School offers students a ‘Confucius Connection' through its ‘Global Awareness' programming.”Ryan Walters, Oklahoma state superintendent of public instruction, says, “What we did is, we — immediately upon finding this out — we have required the district to turn over any contracts, any curriculum, anything that's been handed out through this course.”“So, we are actively compiling that from the district right now to do a deep dive into, ‘Hey, what was the Chinese government trying to get in this classroom? What were the teachers discussing in these classes?'” Walters says, adding:So that's what we've required of the district right now. So, we are going to be looking for that information to have a better understanding of what was being funneled into these classrooms.Walters joins today's episode of “The Daily Signal Podcast” to discuss the Parents Defending Education report, whether he has spoken with any teachers, parents, or students at Tulsa's Carver Middle School, and Tulsa Public Schools' response to his Twitter video, “China will not be allowed in Oklahoma schools.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Friday, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters staged a news conference in Tulsa, outside the Education Service Center. He's angry that the Tulsa School Board President reprimanded board member E'lena Ashley for praying during a public graduation ceremony.

Rep. Monroe Nichols, D-Tulsa of House District 72, is chairman of the Oklahoma Black Legislative Caucus. He speaks with Ginnie Graham about HB 1397, which would direct the Oklahoma State Department of Education to develop or make available a curriculum that reflects upon the civil rights movement between 1954 and 1968 and includes the principles Martin Luther King Jr. taught concerning nonviolence, bigotry and Jim Crow laws. Rep. Nichols said the Oklahoma Black Legislative Caucus was not consulted about HB 1397, and critics said the measure goes against HB 1775, a law passed in 2021 that prohibits teaching that one race or sex is inherently superior to another and that anyone, by virtue of race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously. Related content: Civil rights bill draws ire of Black state senators From May 2021: Gov. Stitt signs controversial bill that limits in-school instruction on race, gender and history From June 2022: Tulsa Public Schools violated state law on race, gender, history, State Education Department says Podcast episode from August 2022 with Rep. John Waldron: House Bill 1775 is a dumb law but we're dealing with it From September 2022: State pushes back in HB 1775 lawsuit over race, gender instruction Click here to submit a letter to the editor Contact us Editorial Editor Ginnie Graham: Email | Twitter | Follow her stories Subscribe to this podcast at: Apple | Google | Spotify  Support the show: https://tulsaworld.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's the week before session and all of Oklahoma is abuzz with discussion about newly elected State Superintendent Ryan Walter's budget request (and his comments about wanting to divide Tulsa Public Schools into multiple districts), so we invited education policy expert Ellen Pogemiller from OEA to join us to discuss what they're watching this year. Links discussed: You can register to attend the 2023 State of the State Address with Let's Fix This on our Community Calendar on our websiteThe State of the State Address can be attended in person or virtual and will start at 12pm. Let us know if you're attending or watching.Leslie Osborn the Oklahoma Labor Commissioner, published a column in the Tulsa WorldBen Felder from the Oklahoman recently published an article discussing the ‘grassroots' movement for Oklahoma school vouchers

The Strong Tomorrows program provides guidance, support, and information for expectant and parenting students at Tulsa Public Schools. Our program incorporates a dual-generational approach by providing case management services and partnering with high-quality childcare programs like Educare and Community Action Project to support parenting students in staying on track to graduate. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/marquess-dennis/support

America’s most attractive audio engineer and her host open without apology, perform without excuse and then exit stage right. A gun buy back illustrates the line separating bureaucrats from entrepreneurs, a Tulsa Public Schools teacher illustrates reason # 1,999 to … Continue reading → The post Sgt. Pepper's first appeared on Conservative Talk - The Weekly Worldview.

TPS Superintendent Dr. Deborah Gist joins the KRMG Morning News with Dan Potter to discuss what the district has been doing in the wake of a deadly shooting at the McLain High School Homecoming football game.

It's been a little over a year since the last U.S. troops left Afghanistan. Ginnie Graham and Bob Doucette discuss the aftermath of the withdrawal; student loan forgiveness; Tulsa Public Schools' unfair political targeting; and Ryan Walters calling for a Norman teacher having her credentials revoked. Related content Bob Doucette: We're owed a full explanation of what happened in Afghanistan One year after Afghanistan evacuations, local services help Tulsa refugees build new lives Editorial: Senate does veterans wrong by stalling toxic burn pit legislation $150k grant, other funding to help Afghan refugees in Tulsa with transportation Editorial: Don't forget refugees as victims of war They fled Afghanistan for their lives. Now, two refugee brothers, 13 children, have a home, new hope in Tulsa Biden's first year furiously denounced by Oklahoma's political leaders D.C. Digest: Inhofe wants more Afghanistan hearings Oklahoma's high-ranking count of Afghan refugees a 'testament' to state's heart, official says Rep. Mullin resurfaces, says he's OK and 'helping get Americans out of Afghanistan' State lawmakers who served in Afghanistan have mixed feelings about troop withdrawal Watch Now: Oklahoma Gov. Stitt responds to President Biden's address on Afghanistan 2 Oklahoma congressmen clash with White House over student loan forgiveness Student loan crisis awaits new generation despite Biden plan City Council puts homeless ordinances on hold, establishes working group to examine issue Editorial: TPS needs champions to defend against unfair political targeting Watch Now: State Board of Education denies HB 1775 accreditation challenges from TPS, Mustang Ryan Walters calls to revoke certification of Norman teacher who resigned over HB 1775 Ginnie Graham: Banning books all the rage in conservative circles Contact us Editorial Editor Ginnie Graham: Email | Twitter | Follow her stories Editorial Writer Bob Doucette: Email | Twitter | Follow his stories Click here to submit a letter to the editor (Note: endorsement letters will not be published from Saturday-Tuesday ahead of Nov. 8's general election)Support the show: https://tulsaworld.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oklahoma students are back in school, where kids and teens often get the nutrition and energy they need to learn and stay active from meals and snacks served in the cafeteria. In fact, school nutrition is crucial for the health and well-being of Oklahoma kids both during and outside of school hours. With school in session and Child Obesity Awareness Month arriving in September, Episode 30 of the TSET Better Health Podcast will focus on school and child nutrition with Jennifer Weber, executive director of child nutrition at the Oklahoma State Department of Education; Heather Steele and Sheila Russell with Tulsa Public Schools' Child Nutrition, and Valarie Carter, a classically trained chef, food writer and mom who shares her knowledge on Shape Your Future Healthy Kitchen segments on KJRH in Tulsa.

The Discovery Lab is now on track to welcome 300,000 visitors by the end of this year.

Hey Identifier, https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/07/30/crt-oklahoma-tulsa-schools-shame-white/ #shamewhitepeople #crt #blackkids The Oklahoma State Board of Education voted this week to downgrade the accreditation of Tulsa Public Schools after a teacher reportedly complained that the school district's training materials “shame white people.” The board voted 4-2 to lower the status of Tulsa Public Schools to “accredited with warning” on Thursday after the State Department of Education determined an implicit bias training for teachers in August 2021 violated House Bill 1775. The law, which restricts discussions of race and sex in public schools, is widely seen as targeting critical race theory. The state investigation began after a complaint from a teacher who has not been publicly identified, according to the Oklahoman. The board also demoted another district, Mustang Public Schools near Oklahoma City, to “accredited with warning” after it self-reported that a teacher had violated House Bill 1775 by using an exercise that made students uncomfortable on account of their race or sex. Leave us a Voice Mail or Support https://anchor.fm/the-identity-booth/message https://anchor.fm/the-identity-booth/support Sub to the channel here https://www.twitch.tv/theidentitybooth Donate https://streamlabs.com/projecteto/tip The Goal: Try to Identify with you as you try to Identify with me. Find Heero here: https://linktr.ee/the_identity_Booth outro Hey Baby (Produced By Melv) Take Care --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-identity-booth/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-identity-booth/support

On July 28, the Oklahoma State Board of Education dropped Tulsa Public Schools and Mustang Public Schools to accredited with warning over HB 1775 violations, a law restricting the teaching of certain race and gender topics. At the same time, districts in the state are facing a teacher shortage as these jobs have become less attractive to candidates. Co-hosts Nuria Martinez-Keel and Dale Denwalt discuss. 

On July 28, the Oklahoma State Board of Education dropped Tulsa Public Schools and Mustang Public Schools to accredited with warning over HB 1775 violations, a law restricting the teaching of certain race and gender topics. At the same time, districts in the state are facing a teacher shortage as these jobs have become less attractive to candidates. Co-hosts Nuria Martinez-Keel and Dale Denwalt discuss. 

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Rights Attorney Ryan Kiesel about calls from five Republican female lawmakers for Labor Commissioner candidate Sean Roberts to drop out of the race after accusations from his ex-wife of abuse and mistreatment, the ACLU of Oklahoma citing the downgrade of the Tulsa Public Schools accreditation in its opposition to House Bill 1775 and the Stitt Administration leveling a lawsuit of the Florida company in charge of handling COVID-19 education money following a scathing audit from the federal government. The trio also discusses a new poll finding Governor Stitt's approval rating has slipped 12 points since January and Attorney General John O'Connor refusing to hear new evidence in the case of death row inmate Richard Glossip which could have an impact on executions in the state of Oklahoma.

Listen up Oklahoma! Stitt 's getting deep around here! He's accusing Tulsa Public Schools of stealing money! No proof..............yet.......at all? I've got the one on one!I also have the very latest on Donna Trump and the Oklahoma leaders who put him above the country!Kanye West has a new name: Yea!!!! Well, Yea is trying to re-connect with his old sugar mama Kim, but she's not biting! Dumb Ass Steven Seagal is in UKRAINE!!!!! I've got the scoop!

Is Oklahoma still a punchline? In a bonus podcast episode this week, Ginnie Graham interviews author Barry Friedman about how outsiders view our state, beyond the musical and college football, and how we can change the narrative. Note: Barry Friedman is an essayist, political columnist, petroleum geology reporter and comedian living in Tulsa. In addition to “Funny You Should Mention It,” “Road Comic,” “Four Days and a Year Later” and “The Joke Was On Me,” his first novel, “Jacob Fishman's Marriages,” a book about the worst love story ever, was published by Balkan Press in February. His sites are barrysfriedman.com and friedmanoftheplains.com. Related content: Tulsa Public Schools accused of having books with 'inappropriate sexual material' Kansas abortion vote gives hope to Oklahoma reproductive rights supporters Oklahoma again ranks poorly for child well-being, annual report says Supporters of SQ 820 turn in 164,000 signatures in effort to legalize recreational marijuana in Oklahoma Audio from TPS implicit bias training was a voice reading presentation slides verbatim State laws on abortion, transgender issues have companies balking on coming to Oklahoma, development official says An innovative TU is essential to Tulsa's future, President Brad Carson says Panasonic picks Kansas over Oklahoma for $4B EV battery facility Contact us Editorial Editor Ginnie Graham: Email | Twitter | Follow her stories Click here to submit a letter to the editorSupport the show: https://tulsaworld.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week's podcast, Ginnie Graham and Bob Doucette discuss the targeting of Tulsa Public Schools by state officials and the majority of the Oklahoma State School Board. The accreditation vote is a warning to other districts, as one state board member even said “we need to send a message.” Related content: Watch Now: Tulsa Public Schools accredited with a warning over HB1775 violation Column: State leaders exploiting differences, targeting TPS for personal gain Editorial: State school board used as pawn in a political anti-public education game Tulsa Public Schools accused of having books with 'inappropriate sexual material' Hofmeister: Walters blocked unrelated early childhood contract due to TPS audit Editorial: Evidence of Oklahoma's teacher, staff crisis found everywhere Area schools scrambling to fill vacancies in summer's waning days Voucher bill expected to make a comeback Editorial: Senate does veterans wrong by stalling toxic burn pit legislation Bill to aid veterans exposed to toxic burn pits goes to Biden Ginnie Graham: Grab 'em by the ballot box Editorial: Oklahoma congressional delegation wrong on votes against birth control, same-sex marriage D.C. Digest: Oklahoma delegation wants more for defense, less for domestic spending NFL appeals 6-game suspension for Browns' Deshaun Watson Kansas abortion vote gives hope to Oklahoma reproductive rights supporters ICYMI: 'Reservation Dogs' actors strut red carpet in Tulsa ahead of today's season two premiere Contact us Editorial Editor Ginnie Graham: Email | Twitter | Follow her stories Editorial Writer Bob Doucette: Email | Twitter | Follow his stories Click here to submit a letter to the editorSupport the show: https://tulsaworld.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

West Coast Cookbook & Speakeasy is Now Open! 8am-9am PT/ 11am-Noon ET for our especially special Daily Specials, Smothered Benedict Wednesdays!Starting off in the Bistro Cafe, an ex-Trump White House lawyer says Congress should disqualify Trump from ever running for office.Then, on the rest of the menu, Joe Manchin's change of heart could revive the US solar industry; the Oklahoma State Board of Education downgraded the accreditation of Tulsa Public Schools after a teacher complained that the school district's training materials “shame white people;” and, a special prosecutor has determined a Virginia police officer should not face charges after he pepper-sprayed, struck and handcuffed a Black US Army lieutenant during a 2020 traffic stop.After the break, we move to the Chef's Table where the arrest of a prominent Guatemalan journalist has drawn widespread condemnation; and, the fact it was England's women's team that won a major soccer championship, and not the men's that ended fifty-six years of pain, made it all the sweeter for many fans.All that and more, on West Coast Cookbook & Speakeasy with Chef de Cuisine Justice Putnam.Bon Appétit!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"To those of us who believe that all of life is sacred every crumb of bread and sip of wine is a Eucharist, a remembrance, a call to awareness of holiness right where we are. I want all of the holiness of the Eucharist to spill out beyond church walls, out of the hands of priests and into the regular streets and sidewalks, into the hands of regular, grubby people like you and me, onto our tables, in our kitchens and dining rooms and backyards.” -- Shauna Niequist "Bread and Wine: A Love Letter to Life Around the Table with Recipes"~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Show Notes & Links: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/8/3/2114213/-West-Coast-Cookbook-amp-Speakeasy-Daily-Special-Smothered-Benedict-Wednesdays

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Rights Attorney Ryan Kiesel about Oklahoma falling behind in online registration for new voters in the states, Education Secretary Ryan Walters releasing funding to Tulsa Public Schools for early childhood education and federal auditors want Oklahoma to return COVID funding money they say was misspent by the Stitt Administration. The trio also discusses a call by the State Chamber to return to supply side economics to include cutting taxes and three Oklahoma City Republican lawmakers are pushing an initiative petition to freeze property taxes for all seniors.

In this week's podcast, Ginnie Graham and Bob Doucette talk about recent Tulsa Public Schools board meetings; the Jan. 6 hearings; the recent hot weather; and how Oklahoma lost Panasonic to Kansas. Was it just about offering more money, or are our state's anti-laws deterring businesses from coming?   Related content: Panasonic picks Kansas over Oklahoma for $4B EV battery facility State laws on abortion, transgender issues have companies balking on coming to Oklahoma, development official says Jan. 6 hearings: What we've learned, and what's next See the latest local weather forecasts and features fro Tulsa World meteorologist Kirsten Lang at tulsaworld.com/weather. Editorial: Apologies need to be on the TPS agenda from three board members Editorial: Three TPS board members choose personal grudges, politics over students Ginnie Graham: Don't let the public school bullies win TPS board reverses course, approves routine items 17 former Tulsa school board members issue public call for return to focus on students Board stalemate on routine business leaves TPS in limbo Board member calls for superintendent's resignation after contentious TPS meeting with walkout TPS school board audience divided by party, colors during LGBTQ support comments Contact us Editorial Editor Ginnie Graham: Email | Twitter | Follow her stories Editorial Writer Bob Doucette: Email | Twitter | Follow his stories Click here to submit a letter to the editorSupport the show: https://tulsaworld.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tulsa Superintendent Dr. Deborah Gist joins the KRMG Morning News with Dan Potter after Gov. Kevin Stitt announced on Facebook and Twitter on Thursday afternoon that he has requested a special audit of Tulsa Public Schools.

Mark welcomes Oklahoma Secretary of Education Ryan Walters to discuss CRT in Public Education, including an announcement of a violation of Oklahoma's anti-CRT bill by Tulsa Public Schools, the Roe decision, and what he will do as State Superintendent of Public Instruction, if elected. Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/UnWokable Follow on Twitter: @AcsAgainstCRT (UnWokable Podcast) Facebook: @UnWokablePodcast Substack: UnWokable.substack.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unwokable/support

Superintendent Dr. Deborah Gist talks about safety and security at Tulsa Public Schools, and how the community is involved. Gist also shares what she wants to see happen statewide.

Superintendent Dr. Deborah Gist explains the policies and procedures in place to keep students and staff safe during emergencies like a possible mass shooting.

Summer is supposed to be less busy, but Mick Wilson is staying plenty busy this summer with all that is going on with Tulsa Public Schools. He's been the Tulsa Public Schools AD for almost a year, he joins Barry Lewis on the OK Preps Extra podcast to discuss facilities improvements at Rogers, Hale and Booker T. Washington, student transfers, what he learned from Gil Cloud and how he manages to walk eight miles a day.  Related Mick Wilson named new TPS director of athletics As prep QB changes feel like free agency, a glimpse at how this season might look Bill Haisten: Already with Power 5 offers, freshman QB Jackson Presley enrolls at Jenks Contact us High School Sports Editor Barry Lewis: Email | Twitter | Follow his stories Regional Digital Editor Patrick Prince: Email | Twitter | Follow his stories All-World Awards tickets Join us Aug. 2 as we honor the best in area high school sports at the annual All-World Awards banquet, presented by Bill Knight Automotive. Get your tickets here. Cast your vote for the area's best fans, cheer squad, band, dance team and mascot. Winners will be announced at the All-World Awards banquet, presented by Bill Knight Automotive, on Aug. 2. Vote here. Support the show: https://tulsaworld.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We have an awesome time with our friend, Anthony Archie, discussing a lot of great subjects like deconstructing as a Christian with the intention of staying Christian, how we are supporting our POC community in the church, Will Smith, and the One America Movement non-profit he is a part of.  Anthony Archie is an entrepreneur, faith leader, and former public school educator in Tulsa, OK. After graduating from Oral Roberts University Anthony began leading groups of students on local and national service trips as the youth pastor of Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian Church. In the wake of Oklahoma's 2017 Education Crisis Anthony launched the Oklahoma Toffee Company - a specialty candy company that grants requests for teacher supplies across Oklahoma. Anthony has also served in Tulsa Public Schools as an educator and coach at Robertson Elementary, Monroe Demonstration Academy, and Edison Preparatory School. Anthony currently serves on the staff of the One America Movement, a national nonprofit organization that equips faith communities to overcome toxic polarization. He lives in Tulsa with his wife Chelsea and children Naomi, Anthony III, and Evelyn. Follow him on Instagram @AnthonyArchie --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thechristianandathiest/support

The special session on redistricting kicks off at the State Capitol. Tulsa Public Schools plans to end its mask mandate. A pay raise is coming for Cherokee Tribal workers. You can find the KOSU Daily wherever you get your podcasts, you can also subscribe, rate us and leave a comment. You can keep up to date on all the latest news throughout the day at KOSU.org and make sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at KOSU Radio. This is The KOSU Daily, Oklahoma news, every weekday.

From the nonprofit Tulsa Area United Way, this is the weekly Live United podcasts. Our guest is Darius Kirk, who serves as executive director of KIPP Tulsa Public Charter Schools, which is a proud Tulsa Area United Way partner agency. So together with families and communities, KIPP Tulsa identifies Tulsa Public Schools students who are least likely to earn a college degree, and then provides the college preparatory education and support required to earn one. And so that means offering reading and math intervention and homework support. It also means extracurricular activities, including athletics, robotics and, of course, the renowned KIPP Tulsa Drum Line. In addition, KIPP is providing robust support for social, emotional learning and an identity-affirming and culturally relevant learning environment for the more than 90% of students who identify as Black or Latinx. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/tauw/message

Host: Earlier this month Oklahoma School for the Deaf unveiled a fresh logo featuring their new Bison mascot. StateImpact's Robby Korth reports the Bison name flips a new page in the storied history of Oklahoma's school for deaf students. NEWSPAPER CLIPPING PAGE FLIP RK: John Reinenger is thumbing through a book of old newspaper clippings. The pages are from his days as a student at Oklahoma School for the Deaf here in Sulphur, a school that competed under the name Indians in his time. He's speaking here through an interpreter. REINENGER (through interpreter): It brings back a lot of memories. Definitely nostalgic. So yeah. I feel very, very closely connected to OSD. It's like my second home, really. (11) RK: The Midwest City man has a son here. His parents met here. He is a 2000 graduate. But there was one thing his mother Sylvia told him not to do at school. REINENGER: My mother told me never to dress like in costume as an Indian, like any kind of Indian costumes. (06) RK: John and his mother are both citizens of the Muscogee Nation. And people did dress up in costume regularly at football games and pep rallies.  REINENGER: I mean, I didn't honestly really think much about it. And then as life went on and I've gotten older, then I've looked at it and realized, Ooh. [air sucking grimace] Yikes. OK. (08) RK: There's been a community-wide realization here as well. The Indians mascot was officially retired this year and replaced with the Bison. Superintendent Chris Dvorak. DVORAK: It really kind of came to a head where there were some serious conversations within the administration that had links to alumni. And we just got the sense that the time is now, you know, we can we really need to have a serious conversation. The writing is on the wall. (18) RK: So he tasked OSD alum and director of student life Trudy Mitchell with creating a task force and leading the charge toward a new mascot. She spoke to StateImpact through an interpreter. MITCHELL: The change is needed. I'm excited that it's going to be something new, it's going to be a new vision for our school. (08) RK: Mitchell met and spoke with dozens of alumni about the potential for change. It wasn't well received at first, but she says, after several discussions many in the community have come around to the idea.  MITCHELL: Oh we had lots of options. We had painted horse, a T. Rex, a Tasmanian Devil. There was an eagle.  RK: But more than two-thirds ended up voting for Bison. Oklahoma School for the Deaf was hardly alone in its use of an Indigenous-themed mascot in Oklahoma. A StateImpact review of school nicknames found at least 75 public school districts - almost 15 percent - use Indigenous themed mascots. Corey Bunch, Education Services executive director for Cherokee Nation, says that can be hurtful. BUNCH: The chants from opposing teams and the slogans that kind of are associated with the mascots and the imagery they can quickly get carried away. And they just don't represent Native people.  (14) RK: The movement to change offensive names is gaining momentum in western states. Laws in Washington and Colorado passed this year are compelling schools to stop using Indigenous-themed mascots. Such a bill has not even been introduced in Oklahoma - the state with the highest proportion of Native Americans in the lower 48.  BUNCH: Certainly, Cherokee Nation nor other tribal nations are out twisting anybody's arm, telling them that they ought to change their mascots. But when we are asked we are certainly happy to participate. (13) RK: Individual districts are considering changes. Tulsa Union recently announced it would change its nickname. Tulsa Public Schools is looking at changing mascots at some sites as well. Bunch served as an advisory member for the review boards at both districts. And he says he always wants to advocate for Native students. BUNCH: We don't want them to be ashamed for any reason to just be the people that...

Join us for our Summer Snow Cone Social on Sunday, August 1! Before We Gear Up for Back to School, Join Us for Our Summer Snow Cone Social! The Wolek Group is excited for you to come by Josh's Sno Shack at Brookside Collective Park on Sunday, August 1 between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.   Reserve Your Free Snowcone!   We love our clients and we love Tulsa! To give back, we're collecting school supplies for The Pencil Box. Learn more about how this organization gives back to Tulsa Public Schools on their website. See below for full details and The Pencil Box's Wish List! We will donate $500 to The Pencil Box by way of The Wolek Group's non-profit Keys to the City, which is funded by allowing us to help so many families! Thank you for your continued support!

Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes.  The saying goes if you can’t beat them, join them, but for the Chamber it was if you can’t beat them, recruit them to come here to ensure you get the big wins down the road. My guest on this episode is Arthur Jackson, who is fairly new to Tulsa having moved here from Austin a few months ago to become the new senior vice president of economic development for Tulsa Regional Chamber.  Jackson came to Tulsa having most recently served as senior director of economic development for the Austin Chamber of Commerce, where he helped recruit Elon Musk and his Tesla cyber truck factory to the Lone Star State, beating out Tulsa.  Shortly after arriving to the 918, Jackson was named a 2021 Economic Development 40 Under 40 Award recipient by Development Counsellors International (DCI) and Jorgenson Consulting. The award recognizes rising stars in the economic development industry. Mike Neal, president and CEO of the Tulsa Regional Chamber had this to say about Jackson: “Arthur has had great success as an economic development professional, and we at the Chamber are elated to see him receive this well-deserved recognition. It’s an honor to work alongside some of the best and brightest talent in the economic development profession, and Arthur has already shown himself to be a tremendous leader for our organization and for furthering northeast Oklahoma’s economic prosperity.” As you’ll hear in this conversation recorded over Zoom on May 18, Jackson has hit the ground running. We discuss how he’s settled into his new role and started working to recruit businesses to open shop in a Tulsa metro that recently surpassed 1 million residents.  He discusses the emerging sectors and how we’re doing with our foundational economic drivers in energy. We also discuss how he’s working with the tribes and what it means for the city from an economic development standpoint as all eyes are on Tulsa as we commemorate the centennial of the Tulsa Race Massacre.  I’m excited to see all that he accomplishes for our city in the coming years.  Following my conversation with Jackson, I’ll share a new single from Omaley B that will be featured on the new compilation album: 1921... The Black Wall Street Project. More on that later.  OK, let’s get this going.  This is Tulsa Talks with Arthur Jackson.  This past weekend, Tulsa musician Omaley B performed on the main stage at Black Wall Street Legacy Festival and instantly brought everyone to their feet as soon as he started performing “Kerosene” from the upcoming 1921...The Black Wall Street Music Project. The single includes rapper Steph Simon. On May 31-June 1, 1921, 35 city blocks in the Greenwood District were burned to the ground.  According to a recent press release announcing the album and single:  Omaleyb uses this lesson to fuel the passions of young people to achieve despite this dark stain on Tulsa and America's history. When he sings "My citys on fire!" it's less of a look backwards, than a look forward firing up the next generation. He declares "the proof is in the youth" -and he should know, given his recent crowning as "Teacher of the Month" by Tulsa Public Schools. The album is slated to drop this summer. It will also feature 3-time Grammy nominee Taylor Hanson, singer Branjae, Spoken Word poets Kode Ransom,  Jerica Wortham, and Sterling Matthews. It will also spotlight Dane Arnold from Dane & The Soup, Tulsa hip hop pioneers Dangerous Rob and Playya 1000, newcomer JANNAH, 80 year old jazz master Washington Rucker, and a posthumous premiere by bassist Wayman Tisdale. I can’t wait to hear the whole album.  And with that here is Omaley B with “Kerosene.” 

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Rights Attorney Ryan Kiesel about a move by Epic Virtual Charter School to increase transparency of its funding ahead of a termination hearing, Tulsa Public Schools enters legal action against the State Board of Education in its move to put more money into charter school and the State Republican Party elects controversial former lawmaker John Bennett as its chair. The trio also discusses a warning from the NCAA about the organization pulling sports events if lawmakers follow through on a bill to ban transgender athletes from certain woman's teams and new bills could help reduce skyrocketing utility costs from February's winter storms. Support this podcast

It's #MeatAllWeek in Oklahoma and so we're talking about education instead. Rep. Cyndi Munsons joins the show to discuss #EverythingEd—from the OSDE's settlement with the charter schools to the Governor's staff attacked Tulsa Public Schools to attempts to break the "Oklahoma's Promise" program. If you'd like to reach out to members of the OK House Higher Ed & Career Tech Committee, here you go: https://www.okhouse.gov/Committees/CommitteeMembers.aspx?CommID=431&SubCommID=0 Support this podcast

Dr. Keith Ballard’s education career started in Coweta, Oklahoma in 1972. Two years later Keith moved to Oologah, Oklahoma where he was a teacher, administrative assistant, assistant high school principal, assistant superintendent, and became superintendent in 1986. He joined Claremore Public Schools as superintendent in 1992 and then became the executive director of the Oklahoma State School Boards Association in 2000, where he served for eight years. He has served as an adjunct professor of school law for Southern Nazarene University and Oral Roberts University.Ballard retired from Tulsa Public Schools after seven years as superintendent. He spearheaded Project Schoolhouse, which addressed changing student populations and school building utilization.As of 2021, he was back in the classroom serving as a professor in educational leadership at the University of Oklahoma.Dr. Ballard’s many honors include induction into the Oklahoma Education Hall of Fame.Superintendent of Schools – Oologah, Claremore and Tulsa Public Schools; Executive Director, OK State School Boards Association; University Professor – ORU, SNU, and OU; President, OK Association of School Administration; President, United Suburban Schools Association. Thirty-nine years in education.https://www.voicesofoklahoma.com/interview/ballard-keith/

Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes. 2020 was a doozy of a year. In our January issue we recognize the efforts of many Tulsans in many sectors, who did important and great work. Those are just the representatives for all of you, so thank you. Last summer, Tulsans re-elected G.T. Bynum to lead the City and its residents for a second term. He too is one of our Tulsans of the Year. About six months ago he appeared on Tulsa Talks to discuss how 2019’s historic flooding had prepared him for his COVID-19 response. He and I chatted again on Dec. 21 via Zoom. This time the mayor reflects on the second half of the year, including his thoughts on his re-election victory and the politicizing of masks. He looks back at his first term and also discusses what he hopes to achieve over the next four years. That work includes responding to demands for criminal justice reform and policing. Bynum discusses the steps he’s taking to make improvements, including the new partnership with Family and Children Service’s that provides police officers the opportunity to take people dealing with mental health issues to the CrisisCare Center.Following that conversation, City Editor Morgan Phillips shares her interview with Tulsa Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Deborah Gist. Since March, students have spent most the year distance learning or on extended breaks. As part of our Tulsan of the Year coverage, Morgan wrote about the tireless efforts of parents, teachers and school officials throughout 2020.One of those people is Gist. Since we didn’t get to share everything she had to say about the year in the magazine article, we wanted to share the full conversation with you here.She talks about how the evolution of findings in science and data has impacted the school district’s decisions throughout the year. The superintendent shares what has impressed her about TPS teachers and talks about the need for substitute teachers to ensure classes continue when students return to classrooms this month. She also reflects on the passionate positions of those on all sides of all the issues and more in this important conversation. Following that interview, we close with new music from Tulsa’s own Freak Juice. You’ll definitely want to listen to “Hole in the Wall.” More on that later. OK let’s get this going. This is Tulsa Talks **********In our January issue, writer Julie Watson has this to say about Freak Juice’s new album “They Call Us Juice,” which includes the song “Hole in the Wall” you’ll soon hear: "This funky, R&B infused album released Nov. 13 by guitarist and composer Tori Ruffin rocks as hard as it grooves. Ruffin, who has toured and recorded with names like Prince and Morris Day, doesn’t shy away from hard topics, including politics (“Hypocrite”) and the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre (“Dirty Little Secret”), wrapping his message in some seriously great musicianship." For more updates about the band visit facebook.com/freakjuice

Francine Johnson Candidate for Board of Education Tulsa Public Schools Dist 2. Dial 646 716-5525 and press the 1 button to talk on the air. KBOB 89.9 Fm,kbko899.com livestream.

In honor of the Great American Smokeout, a national holiday to encourage tobacco cessation for one day, James and Cate explore the current state of youth vaping with advocates and professionals alike. Hear conversations with Rescue founder Jeff Jordan and Tulsa Public Schools physical education coordinator Jen Sanders about the myths, facts, figures and advice for youth vaping. Paola Klein of the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline describes the tools and strategies that allows OTH to be so successful. Later, TSET Executive Director Julie Bisbee joins in to celebrate the 20th anniversary of TSET’s creation and youth vaping has made TSET’s mission more important than ever.

Monday the 31st will bring the first day of classes for Tulsa Public Schools, and given the current pandemic, this is certainly going to be a very different school year. All TPS students, for starters, will be participating in either of two distinct programs: Distance Learning or Virtual Academy. How do these differ? And what should TPS parents be expecting -- and/or planning for -- as the new school year begins? Our guest on StudioTulsa is the Chief Operations Officer for TPS, Jorge Robles, who formerly worked with Denver Public Schools, and who's been with TPS since 2018.

Former University of Tulsa men's basketball player Jason Parker reminisces about his career and life after hoops. Jason is currently in his second year as the athletic director at Muskogee Public Schools.-Love and passion for Tulsa-Life during a pandemic-Choosing to play at TU-Success on the Hurricane hardwood-Hoop dreams-Decision to attend law school-A son of educators-Admiration for brother Juwan-Career path as an AD-Author and podcast host-Other hobbies-Racial injustice-Induction into the Tulsa Public Schools' Hall of Fame

This week I sit down with the Executive Director of Athletics for Tulsa Public Schools to take a hard look at what the upcoming school year may entail.

This week's episode is all about health, as our first guests are Corey Lively, CEO of the Elk City Hospital, and also friend of the pod, LeeAnne Power Jimenez, science and STEAM academic director for Tulsa Public Schools. They break down State Question 802 and why it is important for Oklahomans to vote YES on June 30. Fried Okra then has the pleasure of being joined by nurses Beverly Burk (Jenks Public Schools) and Tammy Kain (Mustang Public Schools), of the School Nurse Organization of Oklahoma, who examine the data OEA collected from its member survey on returning to schools safely.

How might partnerships with families, community organizations, and city officials create more equitable learning opportunities for English learners? Why is it so important for schools to understand the varied experiences of remote learning for students and their families? How can we leverage this opportunity to offer more relevant and flexible professional learning opportunities for teachers? We discuss these questions and more in our conversation with Laura Grisso, Executive Director of Language and Cultural Services at Tulsa Public Schools in Oklahoma. In her current position, she works with the local schools and community leaders to support the growing population of diverse students and families around the city, including English learners, immigrant and refugee students, multilingual students and Native American students. In Tulsa Public Schools, Grisso led the implementation of the first one-way dual language classes in the state of Oklahoma. In November 2013, she was inducted into the Oklahoma Bilingual Education Hall of Fame. Grisso has also served as the National Liaison and Vice-President of the Oklahoma Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages association and locally with the Coalition of Hispanic Organizations (COHO) and the Greater Tulsa Hispanic Affairs Commission education committee. Grisso is passionate about social justice and working collaboratively to ensure educational equity for diverse student groups. She is grounded in her belief that all students bring unique talents and perspectives to the learning experience. She prioritizes language and culture and believes those are the keys to the core of self and must be valued in the learning community. For more information and free resources to help engage English learners and their families from wherever they are, visit the Ellevation Distance Learning Website here. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/highest-aspirations/message

Aaron Bolzle is Executive Director of Tulsa Remote (www.tulsaremote.com) a unique talent recruitment initiative of George Kaiser Family Foundation which has seen nearly 20,000 applications from over 150 countries and all 50 states since its inception. A Tulsa native, Aaron attended Tulsa Public Schools and graduated with honors from the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston. After graduation, Aaron worked in digital marketing and production for Universal Music Group in NYC during one of the most transformative times in the digital music revolution. He then spent eight years in California working for Apple at iTunes where he eventually became head of global catalog for the iTunes Movies Store. Nearly 15 years after leaving his hometown, Aaron returned to Tulsa in 2017 with a desire to make a positive impact in the city he was born. A year after returning, he launched Tulsa Remote. You will learn: Why is Tulsa great for remote workersHow the project makes sure people will love to live in TulsaIs $10.000 the reason why people move to Tulsa? The results of the first years of the projectHow small cities can attract high skilled remote workers.

Wife, Mom, Social Worker, and now Author, Sanya Whittaker Gragg has always had a passion for working with and inspiring kids. She holds degrees from the University of Memphis, Georgia State University, and the University of Southern California. She has worn many hats including 10 years in marketing/PR and athletics; working for NIKE, the Detroit Pistons and the University of Michigan Athletics Department. Sanya also worked as an assistant to best selling author, E.Lynn Harris. Her community work has included serving on the board for a homeless shelter for families, and advocating in the courts for foster children as a CASA. This prompted her to pursue her M.S.W, leading her to work for Tulsa Public Schools as a school based therapist and social worker Over the years, Sanya has also taken breaks in her career to be at home full time supporting her children with their many activities, as well as supporting her husband with his demanding job as an athletic director. Raising two black sons (now young adults) prompted her to write her debut book, “Momma, Did You Hear the News?” It is centered around ten year old Avery who is in a panic over the shooting of another unarmed black man. It was featured in Essence, the Huffington Post and several other national outlets. Her follow up book, "Daddy, Did You Hear the News?" addresses bullying which she often witnessed working with young children. Both books encourage readers to “memorize the 5” as she uses catchy chants to help remember what to do when faced with these challenging situations. A to the L to the I-V-E... come home ALIVE...that is the KEY! B to the U to the L-L-Y...when they go low...then we go HIGH!

Tune in and ask questions about TPS. Dial 646 716-5525 and press the 1 button to talk on the air

Our guests are Chong-Hao Fu , CEO of Leading Educators and  Tulsa Schools Deputy Chief of Academics  Danielle Nevis

Our guests are Chong-Hao Fu , CEO of Leading Educators and  Tulsa Schools Deputy Chief of Academics  Danielle Nevis

Dr. Bruce Howell’s career as an educator began in a one room country school in Southwest Iowa when he was 18 years old. Over the next forty-two years he was a teacher, coach, Superintendent of Tulsa Public Schools twice, and Dean of the College of Education at the University of Tulsa.During his first term at TPS from 1973-1976, he played a role in desegregation and developed magnet programs. During his second term, 1990-1993, he led in the passage of bond issues, decentralized administration for more site-based management, and established both the Mayo Demonstration School and Eisenhower International School.In 1969 Bruce heard Tulsa Tribune publisher/editor and historian, Jenkin Lloyd Jones, make a history presentation that he never forgot. And so, upon retiring as an educator, he took up the role of historian for Northeast Oklahoma. His books include: 1806: Settling the Cherokee Nation, Pathfinders: 19th Century Pioneers of Cherokee Territory, and Cherokee Echoes: Tales of Northeastern Oklahoma.

All of us who care about education — district staff, community leaders, principals, teachers (and the people who love them) — know that schools face huge challenges. And we know how frustrating it feels when strategic plans and best efforts don't produce better results. In this episode, real school and district leaders share details on how Tulsa Public Schools helped principals redesign their schools with teachers' professional development and team time in mind. 

All of us who care about education — district staff, community leaders, principals, teachers (and the people who love them) — know that schools face huge challenges. And we know how frustrating it feels when strategic plans and best efforts don't produce better results. In this episode, real school and district leaders share details on how Tulsa Public Schools redesigned the school planning process to grow principals' capacity for making more creative and strategic decisions around staffing, scheduling, and budgeting.

All of us who care about education — district staff, community leaders, principals, teachers (and the people who love them) — know that schools face huge challenges. And we know how frustrating it feels when strategic plans and best efforts don't produce better results. In this episode, real school and district leaders share details on how central office teams in Tulsa Public Schools used feedback to improve the way they supported schools — shifting from compliance managers to strategic partners. 

Dr Errick Greene has been superintendent of the Jackson Public School district for less than a year. He previously served as the Chief of Schools of Tulsa Public Schools in Oklahoma. Dr. Greene has a doctoral degree in Educational and Organizational Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania; two master’s degrees in Education — one from Trinity University and another from Howard University; and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Howard University. JPS recently released their strategic plan for improving the grades they receive as a district and working to improve the quality of education provided to what Dr. Greene calls their “scholars.” He spoke with Jackson Free Press Editor-in-Chief Donna Ladd. JPS: https://www.jackson.k12.ms.us/ JPS Superintendent page: https://www.jackson.k12.ms.us/domain/1252 Photo courtesy Jackson Public Schools

Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber.On this episode, a conversation with Dr. Deborah Gist, superintendent of Tulsa Public Schools. We all heard about the teacher salary increases, but where are they on teacher hiring (11:20)? State funding for education remains among the lowest in the nation, so what needs to change (12:50)? Dr. Gist looks back at her 30-year career (18:00) that started, like many other Oklahoma teaching grads, in a Texas classroom. She discusses what's happening in the classroom (24:20) and how low funding hinders the students education. She also discusses why people with no kids or children who have grown up should be paying attention to what's happening with TPS (32:45).All that and much more.Following that conversation, I check in with friend of the podcast, Jerry Wofford, to talk music (42:30). Jerry is the education and public programs manager for the Woody Guthrie Center, so he discussed all the cool stuff happening there this fall, like the new Arlo Guthrie exhibit.Weston Horn and the Hush just released their new album “Vol. 2 Don’t Give Up” and they’re sharing with you the title track from that album (52:40)

Welcome to the third season of Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. Our season premiere features a conversation with Dr. Leigh Goodson, president and CEO of Tulsa Community College.We begin the discussion by talking about TCC’s 50th anniversary, which is also featured in the August issue of TulsaPeople. She talks about the school as it is today, what it means to her to be the first female president of the school (4:10), a bit about her background and then checking in on the Tulsa Achieves program (10:48).We pause that conversation about midway through to check in with our city editor, Morgan Phillips, who recently spent time on the Broken Arrow High School football field to find out “What the What” it takes to begin defending the 6A state football championship (15:20). That’s right, Morgan went through summer conditioning with the boys. Following Morgan’s story, we resume the conversation with Dr. Goodson (19:49). It begins with a discussion about the classroom and technology followed by what the student body looks like today (22:00). Goodson talks about TCC’s partnership with the Southern California Center for Urban Education to create an equity scorecard (23:42) then discusses being an Aspen Fellow and what that means for her five-year plan for TCC and who they measure themselves against (28:12). She shares her thoughts on the national conversation regarding student loans (33:12), discusses why college is still an important pathway for success (35:45) and why a local high school student should continue education at TCC (38:05). We conclude the season premiere with the new song “No Dress Rehearsal” (42:18) from the Brad James Band. Their new album “Brad James Band Live at Fellowship Hall” is being released by Horton Records on Aug. 9. More on Goodson:Goodson was named the fourth president and chief executive officer of Tulsa Community College in May 2014.A Tulsa native, Goodson has worked in higher education most of her professional career. Goodson previously served in numerous roles at Oklahoma State University.Goodson has strong ties to education, having served previously as a university faculty member, university administrator and school board member for Tulsa Public Schools. She is passionate about student success.She serves on the board of directors for the YMCA of Greater Tulsa and the Oklahoma Innovation Institute. She is a graduate of Leadership Oklahoma class XXIII and Leadership Tulsa Class 35. She serves as chair of the Education Task Force for the Tulsa Regional Chamber One Voice initiative as well as on its Board of Directors. She has a special interest in creating a pipeline for students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math).Goodson is an Aspen Presidential Fellow and under her leadership, TCC was selected as one of 30 institutions nationwide to participate in the AACC Pathways Project. Goodson earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Education Research and Evaluation from OSU, a Master of Science in Organizational Communication from Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kan., and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from OSU.Goodson, her husband, Mark, and two children live in Tulsa.

This episode is being recorded on May 30, 2019.  It is a special edition episode that is part history, part imaginal prayer, part generational healing, part reminder of the violence that man is capable when we veer too far away from the commandment to love the Lord your God with your whole heart, your whole soul, and your whole mind and to love your neighbor as yourself.  It is not meant to rationalize or explain away the horrible actions of white mobs, nor is it meant to diminish in anyway the haunting horrible effects their actions had on those days.  It is an event that occurred in my home city nearly 50 years before I was born and it’s aftermath haunts the residents of that city and of our nation to this day.  The purpose of this imaginal prayer exercise is recall that tragic and violent event and pray for healing of the city and nation it occurred in, for healing of the victims, for healing of the perpetrators and for healing of the racial tensions still festered and harbored below the surface by many in our country who are European American, African American, Latin American, and Native American.  On this date 98 years ago in 1921 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, one of the worst incidents of racial violence in the history of the United States was about to erupt.  On the morning of May 30, 1921, a young black man named Dick Rowland was riding in the elevator of the Drexel Building at Third and Main with a 17 year old white elevator attendant named Sarah Page.  The details of what occurred are not certain.  Sarah Page screamed and Dick Rowland was seen running from the elevator.  Police were called, Rowland was accused of assault.  Newspaper accounts spread news of the suspected assault of a white girl by a black man. The Tulsa Tribune — the evening newspaper int he city — printed an editorial to “Nab Negro for Attacking Girl on Elevator”. By the next day, May 31, Rowland was arrested and taken into custody.  Whites gathered around the courthouse which led to fears he’d be lynched.  Alarmed, some of the local black population gathered at the courthouse too, some armed.  Shots were fired.  12 people were killed.  The mobs dispersed — the black community members went back to the Greenwood District where most of the black community in Tulsa lived at the time.  The Greenwood District was a prosperous black business area.  Booker T. Washington dubbed it the “black Wall Street.” In the early hours of June 1, 1921 a white mob retaliated by invading the Greenwood District looting and burning the district destroying many of the businesses, homes, and buildings in the area.  The racial massacre lasted for over 16 hours and in the end some 40 city blocks of buildings and homes had been destroyed, the “official” death toll was reported to be 36 killed — now believed to be closer to 300 black people killed, 10,000 black citizens of Tulsa left homeless. No rioters were ever charged.  Dick Rowland was never charged for the incident in the elevator.   It was a dark moment in the city of Tulsa, and our country for that matter, that was rarely discussed or taught in the schools.  Growing up and being educated in the Tulsa Public Schools, what little was discussed about the worst racial violence in our country was described as a “race riot” with little details save for the description of the incident in the elevator and a high level discussion of what ensued.  Today, we know that it was described as a “race riot” because a riot was one of the few clauses in most insurance policies at the time where the insurance company did not have to pay on claims involving a riot.  None of the black owned businesses ever received compensation for any claims maid against their insurance during the incident. The light of truth shines today as we now know it was not a “race riot”, but thanks to historians and activists who have helped us identify it for what it was a “race massacre.” In recent years there has been much talk about reparations.  I don’t know how reparations could ever truly be made for the utter violence and destruction that occurred at the hands of angry white mobs.  I do know that God’s grace, God’s love, God’s light and truth heals. I thought an imaginal prayer exercise remembering those involved, those who witnessed it, the victims, the violent mobs, and all their descendants left to make sense of the violent massacre and destruction and loss was in order. This imaginal prayer exercise will be holding all of the above — living and deceased — in Divine Light and love with the intention of healing all involved and impacted by the events and seeking to eradicate in our imaginal prayer such racially violent energy and desires from taking hold of men again. 

What are your primary goals and objectives as a board member if elected? My primary goal as a board member is to give a voice to Tulsa Public Schools families. Many school board members currently have direct connections to organizations in power within Tulsa. I am not one of those people. I am an educational advocate, stay-at-home mom and former PTA president. Dial 646 716-5525 and press the 1 button to talk on the air. www.blogtalkradio.com/wfunk. Itunes Podcast. 

Booker T. Washington High School is a high school in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It was named after the African-American education pioneer Booker T. Washington. It is one of eleven high schools in the Tulsa Public Schools system. Homecoming this friday

Dr. Gist stops by the KRMG Morning News to talk about the new school year.

This episode, the Getting Smart team continues on their road trip, heading towards Tulsa, Oklahoma to chat with Dr. Deborah Gist.   Dr. Gist grew up in Tulsa, earning her bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education at the University of Oklahoma. After teaching in Texas and Florida — earning a couple of east coast masters degrees and a Ph.D. from Penn — she ran Serve DC; an extension of the D.C. mayor's office. She went on to lead the Office of the State Superintendent of Education in DC. Three years later, she became Chief in Rhode Island where she ran, what Tom called, “the most innovative and inclusive state planning process.”   Now back in Tulsa, Dr. Gist is serving as the school's Superintendent, where — despite some of the lowest funding in the country — she is leading an agenda to Create powerful learning experiences for all students; cultivate safe, supportive, and joyful school cultures; attract, develop, and retain a highly effective and empowered team; and incubate and implement innovative classroom, school, and district designs.   The Tulsa team is serious about dramatically improving the secondary school experience. Listen in to learn more about Dr. Gist's work at Tulsa Public Schools, the challenges they're working to overcome from being underfunded, the improvement strategies they're implementing, and how they are planning to redesign secondary learning entirely.   Key Takeaways: [:14] Some background on Dr. Gist's career and work with Tulsa. [2:54] Three years in as Tulsa's Superintendent, what does Dr. Gist see headed in the right direction? [4:33] About Tulsa's efforts to reimagine secondary learning entirely. [5:55] Overcoming the challenges of being underfunding through incredible resources. [7:03] About the great team they have in place at Tulsa. [8:08] One of Tulsa's biggest challenges from being underfunded — attracting and developing a teaching core. [10:52] Why schools joined the Summit Learning Network in Tulsa. [12:00] The other improvement strategies they're using across the city. [13:07] Why receiving support from the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation for the formative assessment project is important. [13:50] Collective impact — alive and well in Tulsa. [15:49] Tulsa's work and focus towards high school redesign.   Mentioned in This Episode: “Inclusive and Iterative Plan Drives Rhode Island Forward,” by Tom Vander Ark Serve DC Chiefs for Change Tulsa Public Schools Impact Tulsa XQ Super School Project Summit Learning Network Tulsa Teacher Corps   Want to Learn More? During the podcast, Dr. Gist mentions the formative assessment project sponsored by the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation. To learn more about that, check out: “S3:E14 What is Formative Assessment? Voices from the Field”. For another example of a great new school, listen to: “S3:E9 iLead: Student-Centered, Career Focused, Accelerated Learning”. To read more on Impact Tulsa, check out the blog featuring this podcast on GettingSmart.com.   Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe.   Is There Somebody You've Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You'd Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Jessica@GettingSmart.com, Tweet @Getting_Smart, or leave a review. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!  

Toneille Bent is a former Tulsa Public Schools educator. Born in Jamaica, and raised in the Tulsa area, Toneille came to a career in education after leaving the private sector. She taught Spanish at KIPP Tulsa College Preparatory Middle School, Monroe Demonstration Academy, and Tulsa Community College. She is dedicated to supporting students in underserved communities, and seeing education equity and access extended to all students. Dial 646 716-5525 and press the 1 button. www.blogtalkradio.com/wfunk

Recently, Tom Vander Ark and Mary Ryerse of the Getting Smart team were with teachers and administrators from the Austin, Dallas, and Tulsa School Districts, talking about formative assessment. These districts are all part of the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation sponsored initiative called “How I Know,” which aims to design meaningful, formative assessment practice. This is a multi-year project that will support teachers' development and implement formative assessment practices in the classroom.   In this podcast, Tom interviews the “How I Know” project team and asks them two main questions: What is formative assessment? And, what are your hopes for the project? You'll hear from over half a dozen project participants on each topic, including Michael & Susan Dell Foundation's Project Lead, Cheryl Niehaus; Project Lead, Danielle Neves; Executive Director of Teaching and Learning from the Tulsa Public Schools, and Dallas Teacher Residency Co-Founders, Robert Dehaas and Elizabeth Kastiel; Nancy G. of WestEd; first grade teacher, Stephanie Peppers from Tulsa; Administrative Supervisor of Academics, Katie A. from Austin, Texas; and Tracy Nájera from Education First.   Key Takeaways: [1:28] Tom asks Cheryl what formative assessment is and why it's important now. [3:28] Danielle's thoughts on formative assessment. [4:46] Formative assessment; broader than reading, writing, and problem-solving. [5:15] What formative assessment is to Elizabeth. [5:48] A variety of strategies; Robert's thoughts on formative assessment and the importance of teachers working with the students. [6:27] How Elizabeth views formative assessment from both the students' and teachers' perspectives. [6:37] Nancy speaks about the process of formative assessment and teachers' role in the process. [7:30] How Stephanie works with primary school students in regard to formative assessment. [8:11] The tools and strategies that formative assessment includes. [9:30] Katie speaks about the different forms formative assessment can come in. [10:14] Katie's thoughts on extended challenges, promoting deeper learning, and rethinking learning experiences. [12:14] What Danielle, Robert, and Elizabeth want from the initiative and their hopes for the next couple of years. [15:04] Further thoughts from Nancy, Stephanie, and Tracy on formative assessment. [16:14] How Stephanie sees the “How I Know” initiative helping in her classrooms in the future. [17:14] Hopes for the future for the school districts as a result of the initiative. [18:22] Why this initiative is so timely right now and how it complements other initiatives. [19:19] How formative assessment practice is critical to creating more personalized learning models. [20:19] What success will look like, if all goes as planned.   Mentioned in This Episode: Michael & Susan Dell Foundation Tulsa Public Schools Dallas Teacher Residency Education First   Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe.   Is There Somebody You've Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You'd Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Jessica@GettingSmart.com, Tweet @Getting_Smart, or leave a review. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list.

Young High School student from various Tulsa Public Schools doing radio their way. Dial 646 716-5525 and press the 1 button. www.blogtalkradio.com/wfunk.

In this installment, Gary Rudick, the former police chief of Tulsa Public Schools, discusses how first responders can use strategies from Tactical Communication. Chief Rudick shows us that understanding the hidden rules of different economic classes can keep police and other first responders safer and make them more effective on the job.

In this episode, we’re discussing love. June is always a popular wedding month across America, so let’s take a look at some unique Oklahoma love stories. Listeners will hear oral history interview excerpts from Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Vance Trimble and Tulsa Public Schools educator Chloe Brown. We’ll explore some of the neurobiology of mammalian monogamy and parental bonding in prairie voles with Cornell University’s Dr. Alex Ophir. Listeners will also enjoy love in the OSU Library with a special engagement story featuring OSU alums Anna McDougal and Matthew DeKoning. Amplified Oklahoma is a production of the Oklahoma Oral History Research Program at the Oklahoma State University Library. Show notes: http://library.okstate.edu/news/podcast/episode-2-love