Candidates file for state superintendent
Four candidates have filed so far this week for the Oklahoma State Superintendent, a position that has been held by Superintendent Sandy Garrett for two decades.
Candidate Janet Barresi, 58, is the lone republican in the race with one day left of filing.
Democratic candidate Jerry Combrink, 69, retired as superintendent of Boswell School in 2003.
Also filing as a Democrat was state Sen. Susan Paddack, 57, of Ada.
A fourth candidate filed as an independent – Richard E. Cooper, 51, of Ada.
There is still one day remaining in the filing process for state elections as the last forms are accepted at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
OK’s Race to the Top turns some heads
Last time Oklahoma applied for millions in federal funds for the Race to the Top competition, no one outside the state said much about the application. After all, the state was one of 41 applicants vying for education reform funding.
Perhaps no one was surprised then when Oklahoma finished in 34th place in the first round of applications.
This time around, however, Oklahoma’s sweeping education reform legislation – that is aligns well with the Race to the Top standards, is receiving some national attention.
Today Education Week mentioned Oklahoma’s reforms and even quoted Kathy Taylor who headed the application process for the governor’s office.
Education Week reported:
“A disappointing 34th place finish for Oklahoma, however, didn’t prompt retreat. The state came back with a series of legislative changes that align with Obama administration positions: It raised the cap on charter schools, gave districts more power to fix low-performing schools, tied teacher evaluations to student performance, and made it possible to dismiss a teacher rated as “ineffective” two years in a row. And the state won statewide union support, too.”
