Edmond Santa Fe student Bri Johnson joins the podcast to explain the importance of caring for everyone in your community, especially those who can't care for themselves. Then Dr. Kathy Dodd, Chief Innovation Officer and Deputy Superintendent of Federal Programs for the Oklahoma State Department of Education, has a conversation with Carrie and Katherine about how the SDE is helping keep educators' focus in the classroom in a time of COVID.
Oct 01, 2021•34 min
Governor Stitt recently requested an audit of the entire State Department of Education that raised some eyebrows. OEA legislative and political expert Ellen Pogemiller to break down what it all means and the potential political motivations behind it. Fried Okra then has a great conversation with Amy Curran, executive director of Generational Citizen Oklahoma, about her role in presenting for an interim study to the legislature and the foundational nature of civics education for our democracy.
Sep 24, 2021•33 min
Ellen Pogemiller returns to Fried Okra only to be teased for nerding out on interim studies and how they can actually affect change in the minds of lawmakers. Then Heather Cody from OEA's Teaching and Learning Center joins the pod to highlight an exciting new free professional development series — Knowledge is Power.
Sep 17, 2021•19 min
Friend of the pod and OEA legislative expert, Ellen Pogemiller, returns to discuss the deteriorating educator shortage, the consequences it has on our students, and what the state of Oklahoma can do to begin valuing education as it should. We also speak with newly elected NEA Director for the OEA, Zach Grimm, about his journey becoming a Spanish teacher, life as the president of The Education Association of Moore, winning a statewide election among members, and the importance of representing Okl...
Sep 10, 2021•28 min
This week, the OEA Board of Directors voted to stand in solidarity with another professional labor organization, the Oklahoma State Medical Association (OSMA), in their lawsuit against SB 658. Elected local school boards have a constitutional right to do what is best for their communities. Our Labor Day episode continues by introducing Cari Elledge, OEA's newly elected vice president and a 5th grade teacher from Norman. She chronicles her journey from growing up in a union household to an educat...
Sep 03, 2021•29 min
Sarah Green, executive director of the Oklahoma Teachers' Retirement System, breaks down a crucial component in the lives of professional educators, both new and experienced. We also talk with Heidi Russell, executive director of the Coalition of Oklahoma Breastfeeding Advocates (COBA), on the impacts of SB 121 and why it is so important to support working mothers in our schools with safe, clean lactation rooms.
Aug 27, 2021•45 min
State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister returns to Fried Okra to discuss another hectic back-to-school period, the responsibilities we have to protect our schools, and new opportunities for student teachers across Oklahoma.
Aug 20, 2021•27 min
One of the two pediatric infectious disease experts in the state of Oklahoma, and friend of the pod, Dr. Donna Tyungu of OU Health, returns to shed light on where things stand with COVID, the Delta variant, and the best ways to keep our children safe as school returns.
Aug 13, 2021•42 min
Fried Okra returns with new OEA President Katherine Bishop, in her first podcast as co-host, to speak with legislative guru Ivy Riggs on interim studies at the Capitol related to education. We also hear from teachers, Rowdy Washburn and Amber Taylor, who chair OEA's Democratic and Republican caucuses respectively, on the importance of educators coming together and fighting for what's best in the classroom, regardless of political affiliation.
Aug 06, 2021•22 min
After serving her full two terms as OEA president, Alicia Priest reflects on an incredibly eventful six years that included a state-wide walkout and a pandemic. On her final Fried Okra, she looks back on her journey from Yukon Public Schools educator to being elected OEA's 97th president and her hopes for the future of a state hopefully finding its focus on public education.
Jul 02, 2021•48 min
Following a short discussion with legislative guru Amanda Ewing on the status of education funding for next year and the interim studies being pursued by the legislature this summer, Fried Okra is joined by three members of said legislature who are former history teachers. State Senator J.J. Dossett and State Representatives John Waldron and Jacob Rosecrants talk about their time in the classroom teaching history and the special perspective it gives them at the Capitol.
Jun 25, 2021•46 min
After a quick recap on the legislative session from Ivy Riggs, we are joined by Rep. Monroe Nichols of Tulsa to discuss the centennial of the Tulsa Race Massacre and how Oklahoma can lead by reconciling with our history, telling those stories, and addressing the inequities caused that we still face today.
Jun 18, 2021•34 min
Friend of the pod (and public education) Joy Hofmeister returns to Fried Okra to discuss what is on the horizon for education in Oklahoma, including a needed increase in the number of counselors across the state, continued distress in the teaching pipeline, summer learning programs, and the constant concern that all children in this state are still getting meals. engage.ok.gov
Jun 11, 2021•38 min
The Oklahoma Education Association is a member-driven organization. There are no million benefactors calling the shots at the top. Instead, it is a collection of educators coming together to do what is best for public education in Oklahoma. When choosing their leaders, each OEA member has the same power as the next. One person, one vote. Alicia Priest has served as the OEA president for the past six years, serving two three-year terms. Reaching her term limit, OEA members elected a new president...
Jun 04, 2021•44 min
The Oklahoma Legislature wrapped up their 2021 legislative session this week, so that means our guru on all things happening at the Capitol, Amanda Ewing, returns for a final update and review of the myriad of impacts on education. Fried Okra also speaks with the executive director of the Council of American-Islamic Relations Oklahoma, Adam Soltani, who discusses the challenges our Muslim students face in school and the importance of fighting for the rights of all. You can find more information ...
May 28, 2021•42 min
Friend of Fried Okra, Amanda Ewing, helps share a final look at the budget, what it means for education, and the profound disappointment in our state expanding voucher schemes that do not benefit the vast majority of Oklahoma families who attend public schools. May is Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month and Oklahoma is fortunate to have bipartisan AAPI representation in the legislature. State Representatives Cyndi Munson and Daniel Pae join the pod for a great discussion on AAPI Herit...
May 21, 2021•25 min
Governor Stitt and other state leaders announced a proposed budget deal on Thursday that includes over $3 billion in education funding, a state record. However, the resurrection of vouchers defeated earlier this session and shoe-horning that bad policy into a budget deal is an issue. Ellen Pogemiller and friend of the show, Paul Shinn, senior policy analyst at the Oklahoma Policy Institute, return to provide an in-depth look at what yesterday's proposed budget deal means for education -- the goo...
May 14, 2021•41 min
While we do not see the conversations behind closed doors, many state leaders have publicly proclaimed that education should see an increase in the next budget. Amanda Ewing returns to let us know how optimistic we should be and if there's reason to ask the question: "What's the catch?" Fried Okra is ecstatic to welcome Quraysh Ali Lansana, author of Opal's Greenwood Oasis and Oklahoma native, to discuss why he wrote the book and the importance for the lessons of Black Wallstreet, Greenwood, and...
May 07, 2021•46 min
OEA's legislative director, Amanda Ewing, returns to the pod to provide insight on the education bills that have made it to the governor's desk, both signed and vetoed. She also breaks down the budget outlook for education and why the process is so frustrating for Oklahomans looking for transparency. Fried Okra also has a great conversation with Dr. John Cox, President of the Organization of Rural Elementary Schools in Oklahoma, and Superintendent of Peggs Elementary School, about some of the se...
Apr 30, 2021•32 min
SB 634, a bill designed to attack the collective voices of educators, was not heard during deadline week! Ellen Pogemiller returns to thank all those who advocated to their legislators and provide an update on the status of other education bills. Fried Okra then has an important conversation with Zach Grimm, chair of the OEA LGBT Caucus, and Tessa White, vice president of PFLAG OKC, about some of the hateful rhetoric and discriminatory bills floating around the Capitol this session and how that ...
Apr 23, 2021•32 min
OEA legislative expert Ivy Riggs returns to Fried Okra after another active week at the Capitol. She explains why there is some good news for our support professionals with SB 807 before sorting through the bog of bad bills burgeoning through the legislature. We also celebrate National Librarian's Day by speaking with Ashleigh Dauterman, chair of the Oklahoma School Librarian's Division of the Oklahoma Library Association, about the continued importance of librarians in the modern world of media...
Apr 16, 2021•35 min
With so many education bills gaining traction that received no support from the education community, including a clear attack on the voice of educators with SB 634, Fried Okra asks legislative guru Ivy Riggs to shed a light on why this is happening and the motivations behind placing a singular target on a woman-dominated profession that has a track-record of holding Oklahoma lawmakers accountable in their commitment to public education. Alicia and Carrie then have a fascinating conversation with...
Apr 09, 2021•44 min
In such a tumultuous time at the Capitol, Ivy Riggs returns to the podcast to provide all the context and information you need to understand what is going on with education bills, such as the destructive SB 634, and what you can do to help. Jennifer Seal, former AP US history and elementary music teacher, current Putnam City Foundation executive director, and chair of the Forces on Education Committee at OEA, discusses the "forces on ed" that are reigning down upon public education in this curre...
Apr 02, 2021•40 min
Thursday, the State Board of Education surprisingly settled a four-year-old lawsuit that could give all charter schools, including EPIC, access to millions of dollars in local school property taxes. OEA general counsel Richard Wilkinson makes a special appearance on Fried Okra to provide an extremely informative break down on those actions, what the legal ramifications may be, and what you can do to help. LPO guru Ellen Pogemiller also returns to provide updates on the multiple bills working the...
Mar 26, 2021•34 min
It was deadline week at the Capitol, so our legislative guru Amanda Ewing returns to break down where things currently stand this session. Believe it or not, she comes bearing some good news. Oklahoma History Center's Director of Education, Sarah Dumas, also joins the pod to discuss all they have to offer for Women's History Month. We highlight hands on items, curriculum, multimedia, and other digital resources for educators to use in their classroom. https://www.okhistory.org/historycenter/reso...
Mar 12, 2021•37 min
While SB 634 passed through the Senate and on to the House by a vote of 25-21, it was much closer than many thought possible and had strong bipartisan opposition. OEA legislative guru, Amanda Ewing, returns to explain why this is a direct result of your advocacy and how it will affect the bill's perception as it moves through the legislative process. We also break down HB 2701, another terrible voucher bill, and where it stands currently in the state's lower house. Please visit okea.org/2021sess...
Mar 05, 2021•39 min
With the events of the last week at the Capitol, it's hard not to feel like public education is currently under attack. OEA legislative guru, Amanda Ewing, returns to break down one of the toughest weeks in recent sessions and educates you on what you can do to help fight some troubling bills. Erika Wright of the Oklahoma Rural Schools Coalition also joins the podcast to discuss how many of these bills, especially vouchers and tax credits, do nothing to help 52 of the 77 counties in Oklahoma who...
Feb 27, 2021•43 min
OEA's director of legislative and political organizing, Amanda Ewing, returns to provide updates on HB2078 ("ghost students") and HB1982/HB2651 (vouchers) that could negatively affect education moving through the legislature. Then the pod has a great discussion with Monica Whiteley of the Oklahoma Parent Legislative Action Committee (PLAC) about "Public Schools Week" next week and what we can all do to show our support for public education.
Feb 19, 2021•44 min
Legislative and political organizer, Ellen Pogemiller, returns to discuss the details from this week's announcement all educators would be eligible to receive the vaccine on February 22. She also breaks down the current state of education bills moving through the legislature, including Rep. Rosecrants play-based learning bill. Cooperative Council for Oklahoma School Administration executive director, Dr. Pam Deering, provides diagnosis on how the funding formula for education actually works and ...
Feb 12, 2021•31 min
As the legislative session gets underway, one of OEA's Capitol gurus, Ivy Riggs, joins the pod to break down Governor Stitt's State of the State from earlier this week and look ahead to what we can expect from lawmakers this session. Pastors for Oklahoma Kids executive director and friend of Fried Okra, Pastor Clark Frailey, returns to speak about his recent op-ed in the Daily Oklahoman, how vouchers hurt our rural communities, and why it is imperative to maintain a separation of church and stat...
Feb 05, 2021•49 min
