In particular, Josh wants to improve elementary education in rural Oklahoma. “I watched my mother, as Cottonwood Schools Superintendent for 18 years, turn a struggling K-8 program completely around by tapping into the strengths of passionate teachers using good curriculum combined with unified discipline standards. In 2006 they were one of only 30 schools in the nation to be a Blue Ribbon School of America. Giving public schools flexibility and the best tools possible will fuel ingenuity and enable their students to excel in ways the government couldn’t dream of.”
As a state we are focusing on drop out rates in high school but I am convinced that we are treating a symptom and not the disease. The drop out rate is just a symptom while the disease is the fact that many students are passed on without mastering basic skills (i.e. reading). They feel horrible about themselves in later school years as a result and this subpar feeling combined with frustration leads to drop out. We are passing on some students without giving them a strong foundation. We are letting federal standards run the board. The state needs to also focus on how to catch holes in the formative stages. A Harvard study shows that the achievement gap can be bridged by focusing on the earliest ages of the student experience. We have got to give Oklahoma students the best foundation possible. Oklahoma can lead the nation and make NCLB standards obsolete by giving passionate teachers the best curriculum/tools possible without growing government.
ONSOLIDATION POSITION
Brecheen said he strongly opposes forced school consolidation, citing studies showing top ten college graduates often come from small rural schools. “If forced school consolidation was in place, then great programs like Cottonwood School would not have the opportunity to thrive and try innovative methods as they have. More local control and more school choice for competition purposes are conservative positions”, said Brecheen. He believes if consolidation is to occur it needs to be locally driven and not state mandated. “Shutting down certain schools in rural areas will not save as much money as some contend. Shutting down one school to build on to another to accommodate increased number of students doesn’t make much sense. Many times consolidation occurs because it is locally driven if there is a low quality of education occurring and inefficient use of state resources. The school I grew up in consolidated with my graduating high school of Coalgate, however, the decision was not forced by the state.
HOW TO SOLVE TEACHER PENSION ISSUE
Oklahoma lawmakers must vote to take their pensions and place within the teacher’s retirement system until it becomes solvent. Currently, Oklahoma lawmakers are guaranteed a full retirement after only 8 years in office (multiplier of 4 effect on elected years served) while the fate of teacher retirement is unanswered. With lawmakers given a multiplier effect of 4 and teachers only receiving a multiplier effect of 2, one must ask the question “are they really fighting for the teacher or for themselves?” This is amazing!!! It is easy for a politician to act like they are a friend of the educator who is facing state cuts while not exposing these series of facts. We don’t need another politician telling us “I’m fighting for you” while the only true fight waged is for re-election due to elite benefits. Oklahomans are tired of the fighting, and want servant leaders who lead by example. It’s time to give lawmakers more incentive to fix the shortfalls within Oklahoma’s teacher retirement system. Josh has committed to not accept lawmaker retirement but only teacher retirement, if elected. Josh will also run legislation (until passed) requiring every lawmaker to place their retirement inside of the teacher retirement system in order to give incentive to make the system solvent.
Brecheen said he strongly opposes forced school consolidation, citing studies showing top ten college graduates often come from small rural schools.