The state’s largest-ever teacher pay raise has boosted morale in school districts across the state but has had little immediate effect on Oklahoma’s severe teacher shortage, according to a new survey from the Oklahoma State School Boards Association. Oklahoma schools are starting another year with nearly 500 teaching vacancies despite a heavy reliance on emergency […]
Statement from OSSBA Executive Director Shawn Hime on the end of the veto referendum effort: For months, uncertainty has cast a shadow over the bold, bipartisan legislative action that led to the state’s largest-ever teacher pay raise and a significant increase in support for public education. Finally, Oklahoma’s teachers can be assured they will receive the pay raise they have […]
Today’s decision is a victory for Oklahoma children, and I deeply appreciate the state Supreme Court for its swift action. The financial uncertainty has hindered teacher retention and recruitment efforts during a critical hiring season. Amid an historic teacher shortage, I’m grateful school districts can now move forward with finalizing budgets, fully implement the new certified staff salary schedule and guarantee […]
Statement from OSSBA Executive Director Shawn Hime on Teacher Walkout: “All the important moments of the last few weeks have been about Oklahoma’s children. Today, they are the victors. The classrooms that are key to their future have been in crisis, and Oklahomans stepped up and declared that our children deserve better. This is a […]
Today, the Senate’s passage of more revenue puts schools in their strongest financial position in more than a decade. The revenue bills approved the last two weeks generate half a billion dollars in new funding for schools. Legislators clearly heard the voices of Oklahoma’s teachers, parents and education advocates who said that continued investment in children, […]
OSSBA Executive Director Shawn Hime Applauds Teacher Pay Raise Passage “This is an incredible moment for Oklahoma teachers and students. I’m so grateful to the senators who voted yes tonight, to the many legislators who chose children and compromise over politics and public education’s tireless advocates. But my biggest appreciation is for Oklahoma’s teachers, who […]
Statement from OSSBA Executive Director Shawn Hime on Education Funding and Teacher Pay Raise Plan: I applaud state representatives for taking an important first step toward a long-term funding plan for public schools that includes competitive teacher pay. Our teachers, students and schools need this. This plan addresses the most immediate crisis in our […]
Statement from OSSBA Executive Director Shawn Hime regarding education funding and teacher pay: “Our hope is legislators will unite and act swiftly on a plan that will encourage Oklahoma’s hard-working teachers and keep them in the classroom. Every day that passes without a solution for long-term education funding and competitive teacher pay exacerbates an already […]
Statement from Shawn Hime, executive director of the Oklahoma State School Boards Association, on HB1033xx vote Today’s disappointing vote rolled out the welcome mat for Texas, Kansas and Arkansas to lure away even more of Oklahoma’s talented teachers. Some lawmakers continue to play partisan politics while students and teachers continue to suffer. That’s unacceptable; they’ve suffered enough. […]
Five Oklahoma school board members have been named to the Oklahoma State School Boards Association’s 2018 All-State School Board for their outstanding service on their local school boards and to the state. A sixth board member was selected as the OSSBA Distinguished Service Award honoree. The winners are: Les Pettitt, a member of the Bethany […]