State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister hugs kindergarten teacher Hailey Couch, who was surprised with the $25,000 Milken Educator Award at Madison Elementary in Norman. To watch her reaction, click here. To see more photos from the Milken Family Foundation, click here. 

New Budget Reflects Needs of Children, Schools

Dear Teachers,

Many of you are familiar with Malala Yousafzai, the wise Pakistani girl who was shot in 2012 by the Taliban for insisting that girls have an inherent right to an education. She tells us, “There are many problems, but I think there is a solution to all these problems; it's just one, and it's education.”

Oklahoma faces many challenges, but it is also home to thousands of teachers who are fierce champions for children.

When thousands of you took to the State Capitol last spring to advocate for your students and share stories of your classrooms, your message was loud and clear – a one-time pay increase was not enough to appropriately fund public education. 

Last month, I proposed a 2019-20 budget request of $3.35 billion for common education – an increase of more than $440.6 million over the current year. The State Board of Education approved that proposal, and in February it will go to a Legislature with more than 50 new members, many of whom ran on a platform that focused on public education. 

With this level of funding, we can reduce class sizes and boost critical funding for instruction after years of severe cuts that have negatively impacted every classroom in the state and fueled a severe teacher shortage. This budget represents a strategic investment in students and teachers. Increasing instructional dollars is Oklahoma’s next significant step forward.

We must not lose momentum; we must continue to fight for kids. I am honored to be serving a second term as your state superintendent, and I look forward to continuing to stand with you as we bring a brighter future to Oklahoma.

With respect and gratitude,

Joy Hofmeister, State Superintendent of Public Instruction

OSDE Requests New Funds to Lower Class Sizes

How to Create a Safe Learning Environment for All

From the OSDE Office of Special Education Services

Creating a safe learning environment is critical for preventing behavioral disruptions and difficulties in your classroom. Three major components can help you achieve this goal: classroom structure, teaching behavior and effective classroom management strategies. Asking a few simple questions of yourself and your students can foster a safe, trusting classroom environment.

Questions for students: Give your students an opportunity to express any concerns or difficulties they would like you to know.

1. What are some ways I deal with frustration and/or anger?
2. When I am frustrated, what is one thing I can do to self-regulate?
3. What is the one class I am having the most difficulty in?
4. What is one thing I wish teachers knew when my frustration level is high?
5. What could my teachers do to help me have a successful year?

Questions for teachers: Use these as a self-reflection activity.

1. Is there a certain time during the day when behavior problems increase in my classroom?
2. Have I set clear expectations for my classroom?
3. Do my students understand what I expect from them daily?
4. Do I have too much idle time in my class?
5. Do I need to rearrange my classroom? Do I have too much clutter? Too many visuals? Are the materials in the class easily accessible?

For more tips and handouts from OSDE’s special education experts, click here.

Hidden Camera Shows Ease of Student Mentoring

A new video available to educators shows how easy it is for students to forge meaningful connections with professionals. Employing a “fly on the wall” approach with a hidden camera, the OSDE video features students from Macomb, Oklahoma City and Shawnee asking for help from four professionals – an accountant, a graphic designer, a financial officer and an engineer.

Mentorship, the video shows, occurs quickly and naturally.

To watch the five-minute video, click here. It will be featured on the Oklahoma Edge platform, an online learning community OSDE plans to launch early next year funded by a $2 million New Skills for Youth grant. Also in the works is a career-readiness website that offers multiple connection points for students, families, educators and business leaders. To learn more about the Oklahoma Edge online learning community, click here.

Get Free Resources, Nominate Fellow Teachers

PRESIDENTIAL AWARDS: Nominate a deserving secondary teacher in your district to win $10,000 and the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Anyone – including principals, teachers, parents, students, business leaders or members of the general public – may nominate exceptional mathematics or science teachers in grades 7-12. The deadline is March 1. Teachers may also apply directly. For more information, click here.

FREE PD: OSDE is presenting free professional learning workshops in December in Oklahoma City and Broken Arrow that are aligned to the Oklahoma Academic Standards. These workshops are perfect for educators looking to identify a new Professional Learning Focus or deepen their expertise. To register for a workshop, click here.

SCIENCEFEST: Fourth- and fifth-graders statewide are invited to participate in this hands-on annual event May 2 at State Fair Park in Oklahoma City. Stations use basic geology, biology, physical sciences, health and environmental sciences to demonstrate how science impacts everyday life. Space is limited to 3,500. To register and for more information, click here.

Oklahoma Teacher of the Year Donna Gradel took this photo of the three-year-olds' inaugural program at Wilson Elementary in Miami as part of her 77-county tour of Oklahoma schools. #yearoftheteacherOK

Take Advantage of Grants from Education Foundations

by Donna Gradel, 2018 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year

Teachers always need funding for classroom projects and professional development. Fortunately, our state has over 220 educational foundations, ranking it among the top in the nation per capita. Their goals? To provide teachers and students enrichment opportunities through grants and scholarships.

Teachers, I encourage you to take advantage of these funding opportunities. A major purpose of foundations like these is to enable teachers to be innovative. The impact on your classrooms can be dramatic.

Local foundations: I have been fortunate to be the recipient of several of these grants from my local Broken Arrow Foundation for much-needed supplies that have given my students access to innovative projects involving drones, solar trees and sustainable watering systems, to name a few. For a list of school foundations in Oklahoma, click here.

News From Across the State