Updated: 10:15 PM CST Mar 2, 2021 KOCO Staff Standardized testing was put on the backburner last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.This year, Oklahoma students will put pencil to paper once again.“It’s particularly important this year as we’re really setting a new baseline for where our students are and where we’re going to grow from this point in the future years,” State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister said.The call to continue with testing despite the challenges of the pandemic comes from the federal level. Hofmeister said the spring assessments evaluate all students, including those from underserved communities or those in special circumstances.But the topic of testing comes with some criticism.“Here it is, coming in at the end of the year when we’re finally able to sustain some in-person learning,” said Shawna Mott-Wright, president of the Tulsa Classroom Teachers Association. “That’s not diagnostic. That’s not going to make sense
Tulsa Public Schools
With the district a frequent target of criticism from Gov. Kevin Stitt for not offering in-person instruction due to high local rates of COVID-19 infection, representatives from Tulsa Public Schools administration, faculty and support staff issued a joint statement Thursday calling for educators to be placed higher in the state s vaccine priority structure. All across the country, states have prioritized teachers and other school team members for the COVID-19 vaccine. We simply believe Oklahoma should do the same, which is why we continue to advocate for teachers, and our team, to be a higher priority in our state, reads the statement, issued jointly by TPS Superintendent Dr. Deborah Gist, Tulsa Classroom Teachers Association President Shawna Mott-Wright, and American Federation of Teachers Local 6049 President Nancy Leonard.
Educators Call For Vaccine Priority In Joint Letter To State Leaders
Several local educator groups and officials are calling on the state of Oklahoma to give them COVID-19 vaccination priority since they have been working on the front lines of the pandemic, just like many others.
In a joint letter released by Tulsa Public Schools Superintendent Deborah Gist, Tulsa Classroom Teachers Association President Shawna Mott-Wright, and American Federation of Teachers 6049 President Nancy Leonard said that prioritizing educators and other school team members for COVID-19 vaccination is necessary.
“All across the country, states have prioritized teachers and other school team members for the COVID-19 vaccine. We simply believe Oklahoma should do the same, which is why we continue to advocate for teachers, and our team, to be a higher priority in our state.”
Tulsa Classroom Teachers Union Pushes For Work-From-Home Option
Working from the classroom or home should be an option for teachers, according to the Tulsa Classroom Teachers Union.
TPS leaders said their teachers work the best from their classrooms, even though those classrooms are empty right now because students are learning from home. The teacher s union said some teachers prefer to choose.
Shawna Mott-Wright is the President of Tulsa Classroom Teachers Association and said with COVID-19 numbers rising, both in the district and across the state, many teachers said they want to work from home. If I can give them my best from my home, why then do you cause unnecessary anxiety by forcing me to teach from somewhere else? Mott-Wright said.