"Teacher Caucus" is Set for November.

Primaries and run-offs are over, and we know who our legislative candidates will be for November. There are still a considerable number of teacher-and-family candidates running for office, and now is the time to find a candidate in your districts you can support.

Remember, my list comes with no endorsements. That's why I include websites (when I can find them)...it's YOUR job as voter to vet your candidates, to meet them, ask your questions of them. Listen to them. And push on YOUR issues. Not my job...yours.

A close reading of a candiate's website can quickly give you information about issues and stances. That should be your first step in researching your candidates. Then, see if they have a social media presence...Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat. Follow or like their pages and watch what they say and how they say it. Engage them online and watch the results.

I'm hoping you'll find someone you can work for, volunteer for, donate to. And vote for.


In House run off races, HD saw two teachers vying for the vote. Rhonda Baker defeated Chad Slane.

In HD 67, Tom McCloud, husband of a teacher, was defeated in his race. I recently connected with Mr. McCloud, and have been impressed with his research on vouchers, and his calm, logical, spirited opposition. This is the magazine he publishes. Read his voucher article, starting on page 19. His conservative friends are not happy with his stance, but I actually learned a thing or two following a couple of conversations. He is not lured into emotional diatribe; he sticks to the research. He's someone I want to know better. We have an ally here.

The list of House candidates who are educators or family members are:

HD	Name	Website	Party	Educator
2	Tom Sites	http://www.tomstitesforok.com/	R	Adjunct
3	Troy Dyer		D	Yes
4	Matt Meredith	http://www.mattmeredithok.com/	D	SchBd
12	Darla Milligan	http://www.darlamilligan.com/	D	Yes
13	Wayne Herriman		D	Daughter
14	Lee Ann Langston	http://www.leeannlangston.com/	D	Yes
20	(Gregory) Matt Failing	http://mattfailing.com/	D	Former
25	David Weir	http://votedavidweir.com/	D	Yes
29	Macy Gleason	http://www.macygleason.com/	D	Parents
33	Caryl Talley	https://vote4talley.com/#/contribute/home	D	Yes
42	Liz George	http://lizforoklahoma.com/	D	Higher Ed
43	Mike Bounds	http://www.mikeboundsforoklahoma.com/	D	Spouse
46	Jacob Rosecrants	http://jacobrosecrants.com/	D	Yes
49	Michelle Bray	http://www.michellebraydistrict49.com/	D	Yes
50	Melissa Tilley	http://melissatilley.org/	D	Yes
60	Chad Slane	http://www.slanefor60.com/	R	Yes
60	Rhonda Baker	http://www.rhondabakerforok.com/	R	Yes
64	Jacobi Crowley	http://jacobicrowley.com/	D	Yes
65	Rick Gilleland	http://www.rickforrepok.com/about-rick.html	D	Spouse
67	Tom McCloud	http://www.mccloud4oklahoma.com/home	R	Spouse
72	Monroe Nichols	http://www.monroeforoklahoma.com/	D	Yes
75	Karen Gaddis	http://www.karengaddis.com/	D	Yes
76	Glenda Puett	http://www.glendapuett.com/	D	Yes
80	Tom Bates	http://bates4ok80.wix.com/2016	D	Yes
82	David Dickerson	http://www.dickersonforok.com/	I	Yes
83	Jason Stone	http://stonefor83.weebly.com/	D	Higher Ed
84	Tammy West	http://www.tammywesthouse84.com/#home	R	SchBd
93	Mickey Dollens	http://mickeydollens.com/	D	Yes
95	James Cook	http://www.jamescookforok.com/	D	Higher Ed
100	Jeremy Miller	http://www.jmillerhd100.com/	D	Yes
100	Donald Wentroth	http://www.donwentroth.com/	D	Yes
101	Cheryl M-Hessman	http://www.cherylmooneyhamhessman.com/	D	Yes

In Senate run offs, Chris Kidd, a former educator, defeated Toni Hasenbeck, a teacher. In a hard-fought race for SD 25, Lisa Kramer, school board member, and certified public acountant, lost with the help of dark money from a pro-voucher group that specifically targeted her for defeat. The Oklahoma Federation for Children PAC crowed in a news release about the victory of their candidate, who supports vouchers. Speaking for myself, this was a bitter defeat. Kramer would have brought such credibility, as a school board member, and as an accountant, to the Senate.  Rick Cobb wrote here about what was at stake in this race.

I will remind readers that Jennifer Carter, former Chief of Staff to Janet Barresi, former Superintendent of schools, is now running Oklahoma Federation for Children. I think we need to know who our public schools enemies are. OFC is our enemy.

The list of educators and family running for Senate seats in November are:

SD	Name	Website	Party	Educator
1	Michael Bergstrom		R	Yes
3	Rhonda Cox	http://www.rhondacox.net/home.html	D	Yes
5	Stacy Ebert		D	Yes
9	Jack Reavis	http://jackreavis.com/index.html	D	Yes
9	D. Pemberton	http://www.pembertonforsenate.com/	R	Yes
13	Eric Hall	http://erichallforsenate.com/	D	Yes
13	Greg McCortney	http://www.gregmccortney.com/home	R	Spouse
15	Shawn Sheehan	http://www.sheehanforok.com/	I	Yes
19	Rhonda Harlow	http://www.harlow4oksenate.com/	D	Yes
19	Roland Pederson	http://www.rolandforsenate.com/	R	Yes
23	Lonnie Paxton	http://lonniepaxton.com/	R	Spouse
29	Robert Jobe	http://jobeforstatesenate29.com/	D	Yes
31	Chris Kidd	http://www.chriskiddforsenate.com/about.php	R	Former
37	Lloyd Snow	http://snow4ok.com/	D	Yes
39	John Waldron	http://www.waldron4ok.com/	D	Yes
41	Kevin McDonald	http://www.mcdonaldforok.com/	D	Yes
43	Leah Pollan	http://www.leahpollan.com/	D	Parents
43	Paul Scott	http://www.scott4oksenate.com/	R	Spouse
47	Judy Hopper	http://www.judymullenhopper.com/	D	Yes

We're Not in Kansas, But...

We in #oklaed are embroiled in a heated election cycle that has seen educators and family members step up and run for office. We’ve seen some great candidates lose their primaries…we’ve seen some hold on and force run-off elections. We also see many candidates, education-friendly candidates, work toward the November general elections.

This new venture into the political arena has not been without controversy and strife. We advocates for public education have been mocked in news conferences and in print for the audacity of using our citizens’ voice to call for change. We sometimes feel like we’re alone in our efforts.

But we’re NOT. Kansas is also suffering under a Governor who seems intent on following Grover Norquist’s edict and drown state government in a bathtub. His legislature seems more than willing to help. I have an online teacher friend in KS, a fellow National Board Certified Teacher, a passionate educator and eclectic reader. Marsha Ratzel is a creative, innovative middle school science and math teacher, always looking for ways to incorporate technology and literature into her classroom. Marsha and I have never met face to face, but we stay in touch on several social media platforms. I love seeing pictures of her and her cute dog, and her new grandbaby gives us even more ways to bond. Marsha is a friend whose observations and insights I value. She pushes my thinking, and often offers clarity to my impulsiveness. I’ve watched and commiserated with Marsha about the destructive politics that are hurting public schools in both our states.  We both agree our roles as Grandmothers adds urgency to our advocacy work for schools and students.

Oklahoma had modest success in our primary elections – some wins, some run-offs. But I believe all candidates sat up and took notice of the issues we’ve been supporting.

Our success is nothing like what happened in Kansas last week.

Kansas’s primary election results were stunning. Ten incumbents were defeated (Three in Oklahoma didn’t make it though their primaries), including the Senate Majority Leader.  A US Congressman also lost his primary reelection bid. Analysis points to economic woes and support for public schools as reasons for the ‘revolt’.

On election day my friend Marsha proudly posted her selfie with her ‘I voted’ sticker. Then she posted her insights about her involvement in the election.  I pushed and asked questions, and she reflected, as a good National Board Certified Teacher will, and gave me gold.

I’m sharing Marsha’s strategies here, hoping we can find what works for us here in OK…what each of us would feel comfortable doing between now and November.  I’m going to share her words and strategies…with commentary.

“I looked hard for candidates that mirrored my K12 education vision.

“I looked for candidates that want to govern and that means something different than running a political campaign. Governing means, to my mind, listening and finding ways to compromise for the benefit of those you govern.

“I looked to defeat incumbents and candidates who were arrogant and who didn't line up with how I think KS kids deserve to be educated with adequate funding.

“I hope I worked hard to make sure all people knew when to vote, how to vote and where to vote.”

Marsha did what I hope we all are doing – she studied and researched. She took actions and words into consideration.  She chose the issues that were important to her. She used all the information she had, and she made choices.

Then what did she do?

“I asked friends to just give me 5 minutes and if they didn't want to hear me speak about it again....I was OK with that. No one thought I was a raving lunatic or unreasonable.

“I ask them to take action if they agreed. Some put signs in their front yards and that was it. Some thought they could speak to 1 or 2 other people. Some believed they could push others to just vote.

“It's the whole pebble in the water thing....if anyone can just start a ripple at their local level and influence a very small number of people to participate, I believe we will create a more representative democracy. And that is something we should all work hard to preserve and extend. “

She reached out and talked to friends. She engaged them in conversation. She shared her story and her concerns.

“I do think you have to be willing to tolerate/embrace people that you don't agree with..”

I so appreciate Marsha’s words and her approach. I’m reminded of  Tip O’Neill’s line: “All politics is local.” Marsha’s strategy was local. She spoke to friends and neighbors, people with whom she has relationships. She shared her concerns and she asked for their help.

We in OK still have two more elections to face. We can do what KS did. We can send a message that our students’ education is a priority for us, and we will find candidates who are ready to fund public education adequately.

Marsha again: “it was something I came to because I could look myself in the mirror and know I tried. Regardless of the ballot box results.

“I finally figured out that I win whenever I participate. But it is so much sweeter when the election aligns with my hopes.”

We’re not in Kansas. But we can do this too.  We need to do what Marsha did…research, look at issues. Engage friends and neighbors in conversation, ask for support, and then vote. Bring someone to the polls with you. Vote #oklaed.

I’m ready to elect education-friendly candidates. Are you?