of questions about the current legislative session and believes the most important thing is to get educators out to vote .
“ Since I recently joined the Oklahoma Education Association Board , I ’ ve been getting more questions about the upcoming election and wondering what OEA is doing about getting the pro-public education candidates elected ,” Miller said . “ Obviously , the way to sway an election is to get people to vote , but as we saw with the recent primary runoff election , people aren ’ t exercising their right to vote . In fact , OEA President Katherine Bishop told board members that Oklahoma ranks last in voter participation .”
Cole also believes elections are the key to advocating for education and believes the turnout has to be big in November .
“ Every election is important . This is the most important election teachers will have . It will be a determined factor if many will even stay in education ,” Cole said . “ I ’ ve had teachers from all over the state reach out to me . I ’ m hoping we know what has to be done in November and get people to the polls to vote for our students in public education .” As these two teachers try everything in their power to tell people about the importance of education , both agree there is a crisis that needs attention before things turn drastic .
That crisis , Cole said , has teachers leaving and unfilled teaching positions growing .
“ Right now in the states , we are on a precipice . We are in a crisis . An unprecedented numbers of teachers leaving have left unfulfilled teaching spots ,” Cole said . “ We don ’ t have enough people wanting to go to
REP . BRAD BOLES , R-MARLOW , STANDS BESIDE DERRICK MILLER , A DUNCAN MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER , IN MILLER ’ S JOURNALISM CLASSROOM DURING A PREVIOUS LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY TEAM EVENT . MILLER WORKS LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY EVENTS THAT BRING LEGISLATORS INTO SCHOOLS SO THEY CAN INTERACT WITH THE TEACHERS THEY REPRESENT AS WELL AS THE STUDENTS FROM THE AREA .
college to become educators . We don ’ t take care of our veterans , who have stayed through Covid . Teachers make many sacrifices for the students in our classrooms , and now some are saying the kids are not enough to make them stay . Teachers have been feeling attacked from many facets and groups . When people kept saying , ‘ If you don ’ t like then leave ,’ well they did . And they didn ’ t look back .”
Miller said House Bill 1775 — a bill that prevents schools from teaching certain theories , such as one race or sex as superior to the other — has caused two districts an accreditation status questioning and other teachers concern for their jobs . He said now is the time for people to hear them .
“ Last year was one of the hardest school years I have ever taught , if not the hardest . Burnout across the country was high , and many veteran teachers quit ,” Miller said . “ This year there are concerns about certain candidates who have made no secret of their intentions to take public funds form public schools in a move to privatize .
“ This year , we have seen books challenged and banned ,” Miller continued . “ We have seen teachers leave in droves . We have seen the true intentions of those in charge . Despite an early promise , the goal of some was never to make Oklahoma a top 10 state in education . The goal was to tear education down to the studs and rebuild it with private schools . I think the time has come for those who are propublic education to make their voices heard .”
For more information on Oklahoma Edvocates and what Miller and Cole dedicate their time to , find Oklahoma Edvocates on Facebook . DM
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