The Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools created this video for their annual campaign. They go to many schools and interview all kinds of people – students, volunteers, teachers, administrators. I saw several faces I recognized from spending a week at John Marshall High School. One of those was Ashley Bahtahou. (You can see her at about 1:35 into the video.) I didn’t interview her, but I saw her so many times throughout the week. She’s one of those students who is involved in everything, and you can tell that she’s respected and admired by other students. She was phenomenal during track practice. She was fast, sure, but she was so encouraging of her other teammates. She’s a neat kid.

What she said in the video was so striking to me because it’s the same thing I’ve heard over and over from students and teachers throughout the district: our reputation doesn’t reflect reality. Set aside the reputation and whether you think it’s deserved. To me, the saddest thing is that those kids all know what the city thinks of them. They know what the community says about Oklahoma City Public Schools. Children shouldn’t feel like the world around them expects them to fail. They should feel like everyone expects them to succeed.

The students in Claudette Justice’s English class hurried to summarize the beauty and vastness of nature in 17 syllables before the bell rang. Justice had already taught them how to address a letter, and the second half of her class was dedicated to haiku poetry. A girl counted syllables as she talked to herself: “I love su-shi.” She paused. “Hmm. But I don’t.”

When you plant a seed

and water it and it grows,

then pops out a tree.

Rivers beautiful.

Need to use to stay alive.

Forever be my love.

Birds chirping a song

they sing and hum all day long.

Soaring in the sky.

The tree shape I drew

from a little drop of paint

looks like a dancer.

Hear my heart beating.

I’ll stay with you forever,

keeping a promise.

The dog was singing.

He sang a song I once knew

so I sang along.

Bark bark yes it’s me

Owner please give me a treat

Yum yum delicious

The green leaves are gone

missing all the memories.

Autumn, please don’t come.

Students milled around the breakfast tables, eating particularly slowly. One boy claimed he was eating breakfast late because he slept in.

“Do I need to call your mom?” Carlson asked him. He smiled when he knew he was caught. “What’s your number?” Carlson said. “I’ll call and wake you up.”

And one more …

Carlson came out of her office to find a boy slouching in a chair next to the copier.

“OK, I just heard the bell ring,” she said. “Where are you supposed to be?”

“I’m getting my transcript so I can go to college,” he said with a grin.

Carlson laughs. “OK,” she admits, “that’s allowed.”

OKLAHOMA CITY (April 19, 2012) – The Oklahoma State Department of Education today announced it has launched a new site on iTunes U, “OSDE on iTunes U,” as part of its effort to expand digital learning and professional development resources for students, parents, educators and school administrators across the state.

“Our new iTunes U site is another innovative step in our goal to deliver anytime, anywhere learning,” said State Superintendent Janet Barresi. “We’re leveraging digital media and taking advantage of innovative free technology resources like iTunes U to meet the needs of students, educators, parents and citizens. I’m pleased we’ll be able to offer this additional resource via the powerful tool that is iTunes U to help reach beyond the walls of the traditional classroom.”

The launch of the OSDE site on iTunes U coincides with a Digital Learning Summit being held Thursday and Friday in Oklahoma City with legislative leaders, state policymakers and a broad array of stakeholders from across the state. The OSDE site on iTunes U will continue to grow and currently offers key professional development resources for school leaders preparing for new academic standards, podcasts of Superintendent Barresi’s regular video message, a workshop on Teacher and Leader Effectiveness, and more.

iTunes U is a dedicated area within iTunes that gives users public access to hundreds of thousands of free lectures, videos, books, podcasts, and courses from learning institutions all over the world. And with the iTunes U app users can download content directly onto their iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.

- Candice Pride: Power Play the Old Way to a Healthier Lifestyle ($573.08)

- Susan Bumgarner: Let’s Find Out About Everything! ($399.56)

- Cindy Riedl: Kindle a Fire for 21st Century Learning! ($601.40)

- Elizabeth Ejtehadi: Math Manipulatives Create Math Masters! ($468.45)

- Linda Baker: Kindle a Fire for 21st Century Math Students!! ($1,161.61)

- Gregory Eskridge: Teaching with Technology ($469.60)

- Deborah Brashier: Picture Our Possibilities ($287.48)

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.

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

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.