Oklahoma voter participation is historically lackluster. We’re lucky if 65% of those registered turnout for the highest profile election – for president. The coronavirus pandemic has created even more hurdles for those who want to exercise their civic duty. In Observercast Episode 34: Let The People Vote, House Democratic Leader Emily Virgin joins us to […]

COVID-19 added serious stress to an already difficult season for Oklahoma’s colleges and universities, still scrambling to recover from a decade’s worth of Draconian budget cuts. Chancellor Glen Johnson joins us for today’s Observercast – Episode 33: Boomer Sooner Or Bust? – to discuss the state of higher education amid a pandemic and strapped budgets […]

As she begins her sixth school year as state superintendent, Joy Hofmeister’s challenges are no longer primarily academic standards and funding. She also is guiding Oklahoma’s 700,000 students and 43,000 teachers as they gather in-person or virtually [or a mix of both] for instruction during a deadly pandemic. In the fifth of our back-to-school series, […]

It’s a question often posed to aspiring teachers. Veteran educators, too. Why would you want to teach? In Observercast Episode 31, fourth-generation and National Board Certified Teacher Claudia Swisher and Oklahoma Aspiring Educators Association President Elizabeth Conner explain why they’re willing to work around modest pay, huge classes, helicopter parents, long hours, legislative mandates and, […]

When the State Board of Education punted on statewide school reopening standards, the hot potato was tossed to local superintendents and school boards. In Observercast Episode 30: One Gut-Wrenching Decision After Another, Mid-Del Superintendent Dr. Rick Cobb describes how he and his diverse district sought to balance teacher, student and staff safety and academic rigor […]