By Daniela Julio-Cano, FOX23.com News Staff
TULSA, Okla. — Democratic candidate for Oklahoma state superintendent Dr. Jennettie Marshall is outlining her education plan, with a focus on students, teachers, families and communities.
Marshall presented her plan Thursday, describing three core values: data-driven decision-making, quality learning standards, and building stronger relationships between schools, families and the state.
“Every Oklahoma child deserves a strong education. Every educator deserves strong support. Every family deserves to be heard,” Marshall said.
Marshall’s plan includes six pillars: academic excellence; school transformation and accountability; student success and well-being; educator and workforce excellence; operational excellence, transparency and partnership; and strengthening rural education.
Teacher support was a major part of Marshall’s plan.
“Teachers are not the problem. Teachers are part of the solution,” Marshall said. “We will respect their work. Reduce unnecessary burdens. Support their growth and give them a meaningful voice.”
Leanne Jimenez, a former teacher and president of the Tulsa Classroom Teachers Association, said teachers are facing challenges inside the classroom that can make it harder to focus on instruction.
“I think the biggest challenge right now is larger class sizes and behavior issues that are not finding adequate support,” Jimenez said.
Jimenez said those issues can affect the other students in the classroom.
“If I have a classroom of 25 to 30 students and two of them are acting up, I have to divert my attention to those two,” Jimenez said. “And that means 23 other students aren’t getting instruction.”
Jimenez said supporting teachers also means treating them as professionals.
“If I could change one thing, teachers are respected as professionals,” Jimenez said.
She said teachers have college degrees and training but can still face situations where they feel micromanaged or that their professional expertise is not trusted.
Jimenez also said students may need support beyond what happens inside the classroom.
“Smaller class sizes are the beginning, but also the wraparound support for our students and for our teachers, if I am being honest,” Jimenez said.
She pointed to mental health support, nutrition, housing, and other circumstances that can affect a student’s ability to learn.
Marshall’s plan includes a student success and well-being pillar, as well as educator and workforce excellence.
Marshall also outlined her approach to using data in schools.
“Our first core value is data driven decision making,” Marshall said. “That does not mean more tests. It means using the information schools already have more wisely and sooner.”
She said schools should identify problems earlier, set clear goals, and determine whether a plan is working.
“We will use honest information to identify the problem. Set a clear goal. Check whether the plan is working,” Marshall said.
Marshall also announced plans for monthly regional “Zones of Continuity of Care.”
She said the zones would give communities a direct line to the state when they are dealing with problems such as transportation, attendance, or reading.
Under the proposal, a problem would be identified, a service lead would be assigned, partners would be brought in, a deadline would be set, and progress would be checked.
Marshall said unresolved barriers could then be escalated to state officials.
Her plan also calls for quality learning standards, including reading, writing, math, science, and social studies.
Marshall said the overall approach is designed to focus the state education department on helping schools address problems before they become crises.
“Better results for children. Not more paperwork for schools,” Marshall said.
The general election for Oklahoma State Superintendent is Nov. 3. Marshall is running against Republican nominee Robert Franklin.
