#oklaed

[trenchphotos1]

Tomorrow’s Election Day....

[trenchphotos1]

Day 6:  Teachers trekking from Tulsa to the capitol.  This was yesterday afternoon on their Chandler to Wellston leg of the journey.  FB followers: click the link for the three photos in this series.  

[trenchphotos1]

#oklahomateacherwalkout

[trenchphotos1]

#oklahomateacherwalkout Day 5.  This is a group of teachers I encountered today around the area of Reno and Klein close to downtown.  They are all from Moore and were walking to the capitol.  At this point they were still over 3.5 miles away.  (PS: I gotta tell ya, after I took this photo I felt a bit guilty grousing to myself about the lack of parking availability in the area.) 

[trenchphotos1]

We’re proud of you, teachers.  Thank you for the fight.  

[myscrappylife]

Happy of the day. It was an application / limited enrollment Theatre / Drama pd. I got accepted. :-) #lifeofaneditorteacher #oklaed #gratefulthankfulblessed #dramamama https://www.instagram.com/p/CrQqmB9Actx/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[passionatemusicteacher]

It’s Been One Year

It’s been one year since teachers exploded on the Oklahoma State Capitol building in a burst of energy and passion for getting the best possible funding for our students.  

One year since I bundled up for the cold weather with my daughters to load a bus to go the Capitol.

One year since Tent Cities popped up on the Capitol grounds as base camps for schools and districts.

One year since teachers joined our voices in the rotunda to shout “We’re Not Done!”.

One year since I carried and read signs and was so proud.

One year since news helicopters circled the Capitol.

One year since I took to the OklaEd stage to share my story.

One year since I shared that story with the PC School Board.

One year since we ate donated pizza and tacos every day at the Capitol.

One year since we waved signs and cheered to cars honking under the bridges at 23rd street.

One year since my feet hurt but my heart was full of hope.

One year since I fell down the stairs (ouch!).

One year since we met with fellow educators from around the state with a common purpose – our kids.

One year since we walked until we were tired, our feet were sore, we were sunburned and windburned.

But we knew we must walk on.

Today was a warm day with a cool breeze.  I met with about 15 other teachers at the OEA building to get the latest news for the day. Parking was easy and I had no trouble getting into the Capitol.  This is familiar now.  I am no longer intimidated just walking up to the front of the Capitol building.  I pass through the metal detectors easily because I know just what to bring with me now.  I smile and chat with legislative assistants because they recognize my face.  I am grateful that steps are being made to improve Education in the state of Oklahoma.

April 2nd, the one year anniversary of the teacher walk out,  is the 5th day this legislative session that I have visited the Capitol.  I have learned that there is about a 2 hour window in the morning when you might be able to find your legislators in the office.  If I can have a 10-20 minute conversation with one person, I consider it a successful day.  I have learned that you have to listen and listening is difficult.  Anyone can make their point sound like it makes sense – and sometimes it actually does.  Things change every day.  Opinions change, bills change, budgets change, schedules change, I have changed.  

This one year has taught me a lot of very important lessons. “We’re Not Done!” was an easy phrase to shout in the rotunda with thousands of other teachers, but it is much more difficult to continue to take the action that is still needed.  We are not done.  Right now, it looks like teachers will get another $1200 pay raise.   Hopefully, retired teachers will get a 4% Cost of Living Adjustment.  I have heard that the funding formula for education will probably end up getting somewhere between $30-$70 million added to it.  Even if all these things that look probable now actually happen, it is still just a step.  It will not fix education.  

One group that I was a part of calculated the funding needed to match education funding to where it was in 2008 (adjusted for inflation and growth) is nearly $2 Billion dollars. So, no, we are not done.  There are still many more steps to take.  We can’t stop now.  Even though we are tired, our feet are sore, we are sunburned and windburned, we must walk on.  We thought it was tough to walk out for 2 weeks?  It is even more difficult to keep teaching and continue the journey this year, next year, and to never stop.  For it is when we stop that progress stops.  

I have said this before, but it has been about a year since I did:  Show teachers how much you appreciate everything they do.  Give them a hug, school supplies, gift cards, whatever you can do to make them feel loved.  Contact your legislators and let them know how you feel about issues affecting education.  Stay informed about the issues and how they affect you, your family, and your community. Let your voice be heard at the polls. Appreciate teachers.  Contact your legislators.  Be informed. Vote.  Appreciate teachers.  Contact your legislators.  Be informed. Vote.  Appreciate teachers.  Contact your legislators.  Be informed. Vote.  Keep doing it.  Then do it again.  I will – again and again.  We’re not done.  

[darnedtoheck]

#Repost @drewforoklahoma with @get_repost ・・・ Education will be Drew's top priority, so it makes sense that it's the focus of his first ad. Watch and share - Drew is the public education candidate for governor! #oklaed #Drew4OK #OKGov #TakeBackOklahoma https://www.instagram.com/p/BnMfIfBnATl/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=q5o12hit1voe