Two file for Rep. Sue Tibbs seat
Two candidates have filed for the seat left vacant by Rep. Sue Tibbs who died after a long battle with cancer of the weekend.
Many lawmakers at the Capitol were preparing to take the afternoon off Wednesday and attend Tibbs’ funeral in Broken Arrow.
Shawna Keller, 31, a Democrat from Tulsa, filed for the seat.
Rob Reck, 58, a music teacher from Broken Arrow, filed for the seat. He said he lives around the corner from Tibbs and was encouraged to run for political office by Tibbs at a block party in September.
“I need to be available to my district,” Reck, 58, said. “When we send a lot of these people to Oklahoma City, it’s like they stop listening to their community. It’s simple, but I’m going to let my community tell me what to concentrate on.”
He said as a teacher education will be a top priority.
75 candidates file for seats in the first hour
In the first hour of candidate filing 75 people filed for office Wednesday morning. Of those 56 were state legislative incumbents.
Corporation Commissioner Patrice Douglass, the former mayor of Edmond, filed for the office she was appointed to earlier this year, and U.S. Rep. Tom Cole filed for reelection in District 4.
Justin Wood, 22, filed for House District 26, the seat that will be left vacant by the current Speaker of the House Kris Steele, R-Shawnee, when he is term limited later this year.
“I want to make sure every decision we make – from energy to DHS – and everything in between, that we think of our children,” Wood said after he had filed. “They are the future so we need to make sure they’re taken care of.”
Wood said Steele encouraged him to run for office.
“We’ve been working on this a long time,” he said.
UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 04
Republican
00027 W Tom Cole, 62, 104 Briarwood, Moore, OK 73160
CORPORATION COMMISSIONER (SHORT TERM)
Republican
00036 W Patrice Douglas, 49, 1712 Crossbow, Edmond, OK 73034 Y
STATE SENATOR, DISTRICT 1
Democrat
00053 W Charles Wyrick, 52, 58500 E 155 Rd, Fairland, OK 74343
STATE SENATOR, DISTRICT 5
Democrat
00025 W Jerry Ellis, 65, 745 E Lucas, Valliant, OK 74764
STATE SENATOR, DISTRICT 7
Democrat
00002 W J. Paul Lane, 60, 34 River Oaks, McAlester, OK 74501
STATE SENATOR, DISTRICT 9
Democrat
00017 W Earl Garrison, 70, 3806 Clubview Dr, Muskogee, OK 74403
STATE SENATOR, DISTRICT 11
Democrat
00004 W Jabar Shumate, 36, 1617 N 23rd W Ave, Tulsa, OK 74127
STATE SENATOR, DISTRICT 15
Republican
00007 W Bob Neidhart, 69, 4100 Queensbury Court, Norman, OK 73072
00011 W Jack Beller, 66, 4423 Ridgeline Dr, Norman, OK 73072
STATE SENATOR, DISTRICT 17
Republican
00023 W Ron Sharp, 59, 1835 North Oklahoma Ave, Shawnee, OK 74804
STATE SENATOR, DISTRICT 21
Republican
00058 W Jim Halligan, 75, 6321 Coventry Drive, Stillwater, OK 74074
STATE SENATOR, DISTRICT 31
Republican
00015 W Don Barrington, 64, 4506 NE Highlander Circle, Lawton, OK 73507
STATE SENATOR, DISTRICT 35
Republican
00022 W Gary Stanislawski, 52, 2992 E 78th St, Tulsa, OK
STATE SENATOR, DISTRICT 39
Republican
00013 W Brian A. Crain, 50, 5305 E 31 St, Tulsa, OK 74135
STATE SENATOR, DISTRICT 43
Republican
00043 W Ron Magar, 48, 32147 Whippoorwill Dr, Norman, OK
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 1
Democrat
00012 W Curtis McDaniel, 60, 25-1-25, Smithville, OK
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 3
Democrat
00016 W James H Lockhart, 37, 21653 Hwy 270, Heavener, OK
00020 W Traci Barnes, 47, 101 Woodrow, Poteau, OK 74953
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 4
Democrat
00038 W Mike Brown, 55, 24950 S Manard Rd, Fort Gibson, OK
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 5
Republican
00005 W Douglas G. Cox, 59, 59877 E 333 Rd, Grove, OK 74344
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 6
Democrat
00041 W Chuck Hoskin, 60, 339 N Adair St, Vinita, OK
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 7
Democrat
00021 W Larry Glenn, 64, 1916 H NW, Miami, OK 74354
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 8
Democrat
00026 W Ben Sherrer, 43, 123 N Hayden, Chouteau, OK 74337
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 11
Republican
00032 W Earl Sears, 59, 1721 Cherokee Pl, Bartlesville, OK 74003
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 13
Democrat
00049 W Jerry McPeak, 65, 1 mile E, 1 mile S of Warner, Warner, OK
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 14
Republican
00008 W Arthur Hulbert, 40, 1409 Saddlebrooke, Fort Gibson, OK 74434
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 15
Democrat
00044 W Ed Cannaday, 71, Rt 2, Box 4220, Porum, OK
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 16
Democrat
00018 W Jerry Shoemake, 69, 15160 North 310 Road, Morris, OK 74445
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 17
Democrat
00003 W Brian Renegar, 61, 1414 Country Club Road, McAlester, OK
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 18
Democrat
00006 W Donald A Condit, 55, 1109 Easy Street, McAlester, OK 74501
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 23
Republican
00051 W Rob Reck, 58, 10715 E 27 St, Tulsa, OK 74129
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 26
Republican
00055 W Justin Freeland Wood, 22, 2213 N Ione Ave, Shawnee, OK 74804
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 27
Republican
00033 W Josh Cockroft, 23, 411 South Broadway Street, Tecumseh, OK
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 30
Republican
00045 W Mark E McCullough, 44, 4125 Dogwood Pl, Sapulpa, OK 74066
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 33
Republican
00019 W Lee R. Denney, 58, 834 E Sixth St, Cushing, OK 74023
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 43
Republican
00048 W Colby Schwartz, 38, 12228 SW 7 Circle, Yukon, OK
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 44
Democrat
00047 W Emily Virgin, 25, 1403 Lindale Ave, Norman, OK 73069
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 50
Republican
00057 W Dennis Johnson, 58, 3512 Spencer Road, Duncan, OK 73533
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 52
Republican
00010 W Charles Larry Ortega, 56, 4 Mayflower St, Altus, OK 73521
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 55
Republican
00031 W Todd Russ, 51, 1634 Crestview Dr, Cordell, OK
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 57
Republican
00059 W Harold Wright, 64, 10132 State Highway 54N, Weatherford, OK 7309
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 59
Republican
00054 W Mike Sanders, 36, 1100 S Main Street, Kingfisher, OK
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 64
Republican
00052 W Ann Coody, 74, 104 S State Hwy 65, Lawton, OK 73501
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 66
Republican
00046 W Jadine Nollan, 53, 1220 N Renaissance Dr, Sand Springs, OK 74063
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 67
Republican
00024 W Pam Peterson, 56, 5126 E 106 St, Tulsa, OK
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 69
Republican
00040 W Fred Jordan, 38, 12123 South Birch Ave, Jenks, OK 74037
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 70
Republican
00035 W Ken Walker, 40, 4323 E 75 St, Tulsa, OK
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 71
Republican
00037 W Katie Henke, 31, 2300 Riverside Drive Unit 5E, Tulsa, OK 74114
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 7
Republican
00029 W David Derby, 35, 10703 E 99 Pl N, Owasso, OK
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 75
Republican
00050 W Dan Kirby, 53, 12208 E 38 Pl, Tulsa, OK 74146
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 76
Republican
00030 W David Brumbaugh, 51, 2505 W Toledo Ct, Broken Arrow, OK 74012
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 78
Democrat
00039 W Jeannie McDaniel, 63, 1416 S Marion Ave, Tulsa, OK 74112
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 80
Republican
00009 W Mike Ritze, 63, 18574 E 101 St S, Broken Arrow, OK 74011
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 83
Republican
00056 W Randy McDaniel, 44, 15513 Blue Mesa Drive, Edmond, OK 73013
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 84
Republican
00028 W Sally Kern, 65, 2713 N Sterling Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73127
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 85
Republican
00034 W David Dank, 73, 6705 Reed Drive, Oklahoma City, OK 73116
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 86
Democrat
00014 W Will Fourkiller, 40, Rt 3 Box 2410, Stilwell, OK 74960
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 91
Republican
00001 W Mike D. Reynolds, 61, 2609 SW 107 St, Oklahoma City, OK 73170
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 95
Republican
00060 W Charlie Joyner, 71, 3500 Bella Vista Dr, Midwest City, OK 73110
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 100
Republican
00042 W Elise Hall, 23, 8304 NW 69th St, Oklahoma City, OK 73132
Open seats draw candidates
Two Republican candidates have filed for Senate District 15, where Sen. Jonathan Nichols has reached his term limit.
Jack Beller, a medical doctor from Norman, said he would like to add a physician and small business owner to the ranks of politicians.
“There are a lot of medical issues that have come up for vote and I want to make sure the right decision is made,” Beller said after he had filed for office.
Unless a candidate withdraws or is contested, Beller will face Republican Bob Neidhart in the June primary for the seat.
Neidhart, an insurance agent from Norman, also filed for office early Wednesday morning.
U.S. Rep. Tom Cole files
U.S. Rep. Tom Cole filed this morning for District 4. Cole, a Republican, was first elected to the seat in 2002 and is seeking reelection. Democrats had promised challengers this year for the four Congressional seats that have Republican incumbents.
There have been 54 candidates file for office since 8 a.m.
Also filing early this morning was Rep. Jabar Shumate who is filing for Senate District 11 after reaching his term limit in the House.
Shumate, a Democrat from Tulsa, said he wanted to continue the work of Sen. Judy Eason-McIntyre.
“We worked real hard to improve the schools in our district, improve economic development and health care,” Shumate said. “I feel real good about what I’ve done in the house and I would like to continue that in the Senate.”
Great Expectations model schools
We weren’t able to fit the entire list of schools who were named Great Expectations model schools in the paper today, so I’m posting the honored schools here for everyone to see the 71 dedicated sites.
Great Expectations is an Oklahoma-based professional development program that instructs teachers how to manage classrooms so students get the most out of instruction time. It’s a program that Oklahoma City Public Schools has adopted as part of a district-wide plan to reform elementary schools.
Here’s the complete list of districts and schools. Congrats everyone!
Great Expectations Model Schools
Oklahoma City Public Schools
Nichols Hills Elementary
John Adams Elementary
Monroe Elementary
Sequoyah Elementary
Van Buren Elementary
Altus Schools
Washington Elementary
Ardmore Schools
Lincoln Elementary
Will Rogers Elementary
Broken Arrow Schools
Country Lane PK-3
Country Lane 4-5
Liberty Elementary
Lynn Wood
Cache Schools
Cache Middle School
Cache Primary School
Cashion Schools
Cashion Elementary
Chisholm Trail Heritage Center
Chickasha Schools
Southwest Elementary
Choctaw Nicoma Park Schools
Indian Meridian Elementary
L.W. Westfall Elementary
Claremore Schools
Roosa Elementary
Coweta Schools
Heritage Intermediate Grade Center
Mission Intermediate Grade Center
Deer Creek Public Schools
Grove Valley Elementary
Edmond Public Schools
Washington Irving Elementary
West Field Elementary
El Reno Public Schools
Roblyer Middle
Rose Witcher Elementary
Enid Schools
Hayes Elementary
Grove Schools
Grove Elementary
Healdton Schools
Healdton Elementary
Holdenville Schools
Ethel Reed Elementary
Hydro-Eakly Schools
Hydro-Eakly Elementary
Idabel Schools
Idabel Southeast
Kansas Schools
Chetopa Elementary
Chetopa Junior High School
Lawton Schools
Hugh Bish Elementary
MacArthur Middle
Whittier Elementary
Woodland Hills Elementary
Lone Grove Schools
Lone Grove Intermediate
Lone Grove Primary
Mustang Public Schools
Creek Elementary
Trails Elementary
Noble Schools
Katherine I Daily Elementary
Oak Hall Episcopal School
Owasso Schools
Bailey Elementary
Barnes Elementary
Mills Elementary
Pauls Valley
Jackson Elementary
Jefferson Early Learning Center
Pioneer Schools
Pioneer Elementary K-8
Plainview Schools
Plainview Primary
Ponca City
Roosevelt Elementary
Ponca City Christian Academy – private
Pryor Schools
Jefferson Elementary
Putnam City Public Schools
Dennis Elementary
Sapulpa Schools
Sapulpa Freedom Elementary
Sapulpa Woodlawn Elementary
Sand Springs Schools
Limestone Technology Academy
Stratford Schools
Stratford Elementary
Stillwater Public Schools
Richmond Elementary
Tahlequah Schools
Cherokee Elementary
Greenwood Elementary
Sequoyah Elementary
Texas Schools
Spring McNabb Elementary
Spring Northgate Crossing Elementary
Turner Schools
Turner Elementary
Wetumka Schools
Wetumka Elementary
Wilson Schools
Wilson Elementary and Early Childhood Center
Yukon Public Schools
Central Elementary
Skyview Elementary
$10,000 Oklahoma scholarship open for nominees
It’s time for teachers and administrators to think hard about what lucky senior they’d like to nominate for the John W. and Mary D. Nichols Oklahoma Heritage Scholarship, $10,000 for the Oklahoma college or university of the student’s choice.
The scholarship is awarded to a student each year who demonstrates a passion and knowledge of Oklahoma history and geography, outstanding academic achievement, leadership and citizenship.
The award is paid in $2,500 increments over four years to an in-state institution. Nominations cannot be made by a student’s family.
Find the application and more information here for the 2011 scholarship and submit nominations by March 4, 2011.
Barresi “education leader to watch”
Oklahoma’s newest state superintendent of schools, who takes the oath of office on Monday, was named one of the top school chiefs to watch in 2011 by The Christian Science Monitor.
Janet Barresi, who founded two charter schools in her spare time as a dentist, became the first Republican ever elected to the office. She replaces Sandy Garrett, a democrat who held the office for 20 years.
The article by Stacy Teicher Khadaroo put Barresi behind Jason Glass in Iowa, the new Republican director of the state’s education department, who plans to reform the teacher pay, and New Jersey’s Democratic education commissioner Christopher Cerf.
“Her agenda includes increasing the rigor of the state curriculum to ensure that students are ready for both college and careers. Ms. Barresi also wants to revise testing requirements,” Khadaroo wrote about Barresi.
Tulsa contracts for new teacher evaluations
Ever wonder how much the new teacher evaluation system under Senate Bill 2033 will cost to implement by the 2013-2014 school year?
According to today’s Tulsa World, it cost the state’s second largest school district $605,000 to implement a new evaluation system that evaluates teacher and leader effectiveness based on student growth data.
The “value-added” evaluations were part of the legislation passed under the state’s Race to the Top application, but Tulsa Public Schools has had a head start on the project and will serve as somewhat of a pilot for how the program works.
Oklahoma did not receive any funding to implement the new evaluation system from the Race to the Top competition.
Teachers and administrators are evaluated under the new system once a year. Half of their score is based on qualitative factors, such as the principal’s observations of how a teacher interacts with the class. The other half of the evaluation is based on quantitative data such as student’s increasing or decreasing scores on standardized tests, or class grades.
The Tulsa School Board approved two contracts on Monday to get the pilot off the ground. The first was for $205,000 for the actual data analysis and the third was for $450,500 to a different company that will teach employees how to use the data in evaluations, according to the Tulsa World.
OK virtual school enrollment at 2,593
The State Education Department tracked a new statistic this year in its annual release of student enrollment numbers – the number of kids in virtual schools.
Virtual schools are growing across the nation offering students access to teachers, courses, text books and other students online.
According to the data released for the 2010-2011 school year, Oklahoma had 2,593 students enrolled in virtual schools where the student didn’t attend a physical school but received all of their course work and instruction online from a distance.
Another 1,863 students took virtual classes online, but in a school setting.
White Oak Public Schools had the most virtual students with 973 kids enrolled in the K12 program offered by the small rural district in north east Oklahoma.
Hanna public schools was next with 348 students enrolled in off campus programs, and Oklahoma City came in third with 236 students.
But Oklahoma City ranked first for on campus virtual programs with 337 students enrolled.
Tulsa Public Schools had 280 students enrolled in virtual online courses and Shawnee Public Schools in Pottawatomie County had 204 students on campus taking virtual courses.
School zone for new elementary needs to be drawn
The construction of Oklahoma City’s newest elementary school is on schedule to be finished in time for the fall class of 2011.
Cesar Chavez Elementary School, located at 600 SE Grand, will be a massive kindergarten through 8th-grade school built to house 775 students in a new $12.8 million facility.
Once the building passes inspection, the only thing remaining is determining what children will attend the new school.
The school board will have a preliminary discussion about the attendance boundaries tonight.
Oklahoma City Public Schools last dealt with redistricting when it divided the old John Marshall High School into two districts for the new John Marshall High School the new Oklahoma Centennial High School.
School Board Member Lyn Watson said the district will likely have to consider redistricting on a larger scale in the coming years as schools struggle with overcrowding in the south and lagging enrollments in the east.
Cesar Chavez will relieveCapitol Hill Elementary School that is bursting at the seams with over 1,000 students, and it will also take students from other nearby elementary schools depending on how the boundaries are drawn.
