Campaign Action
Teachers are showing us the way in Oklahoma! Already some of the lowest paid in the nation, Oklahoma teachers hadn’t had a raise in nine years before they went on a nine-day strike in April. Many of these teachers are forced to work two or three jobs just to make ends meet. The very conservative Oklahoma legislature was forced to take action and teachers and their aides statewide got a much-needed raise. Nevertheless, with crumbling buildings and 20-year-old textbooks, Oklahoma’s teachers are far from done in their quest to bring basic education and teacher salaries up to reasonable standards. Nearly 100 of those educators decided to run in 2018 primaries as both Democrats and Republicans and it had a huge impact, especially in the districts with legislators who voted against even the tiniest of raises for teachers. They were the biggest targets for educators—and it paid off.
From the Associated Press:
"Our voices were heard tonight," said Sherrie Conley, an assistant principal at an Oklahoma City elementary school who ended up in a Republican runoff with incumbent Rep. Bobby Cleveland.
Of the 10 "no" voters in the House who were running for re-election, two were defeated outright on Tuesday night — Reps. Chuck Strohm of Jenks and Scott McEachin of Tulsa. Seven others ended up in an Aug. 28 primary runoff against fellow Republicans.
Four other Republican incumbents also were defeated on Tuesday, including one who lost to a seventh-grade English teacher from Elgin.
That means 13 pro-education teachers could become new Oklahoma state representatives in one year alone! Will teachers nationwide take this lesson from Oklahoma? It’s hard to ask any more of these public servants, but this is how we collectively take back our conservative-dominated state legislatures to put pro-education candidates at the top. Providing excellent public education shouldn’t be a partisan issue: it is in all of our best interest to see future generations succeed.
Thanks for running, Oklahoma teachers! We are proud of you all!