Oklahoma

Ryan Walters announces signing bonuses for rural Oklahoma teachers, despite past controversy

Published

2 months ago

June 11, 2024

Ryan Walters announces signing bonuses for rural Oklahoma teachers, despite past controversy

The Oklahoma State Department of Education announced it will offer another round of signing bonuses to attract teachers to rural schools. Meanwhile, the agency is reportedly negotiating a settlement agreement with two teachers it paid previous bonuses to in error.

State Superintendent Ryan Walters said on Monday his agency will offer signing bonuses of $15,000 to $25,000 to secondary math and science teachers who agree to work in a public school in rural Oklahoma for the next school year.

A similar signing bonus program from the agency lured more than 500 certified educators back to Oklahoma schools last year, but it stirred significant controversy and attracted scrutiny from lawmakers when a few teachers were later told to return the money they had been paid.

“I am thrilled to continue bringing in highly qualified teachers to Oklahoma classrooms,” Walters said in a statement. “Oklahoma is a great place to live and work, and we are making it easier than ever for teachers to come to our great state and have an enormous impact on our young people.”

Eligible teachers cannot have taught in an Oklahoma public school in the 2023-24 school year. They must have a teaching certification for secondary math or science and be hired to teach in a rural school for the 2024-25 year.

The agency provided a list of 384 schools that fit the definition of a rural locale, according to criteria from the National Center for Education Statistics. One school on the list no longer exists, Sovereign Community School.

The Education Department called the program the “most successful teacher recruitment effort in state history.”

The agency awarded bonuses last year to a handful of teachers who didn’t meet the criteria and, months later, demanded they repay. Walters informed the state Legislature his agency also had mistakenly underpaid other recipients.

Two of the teachers who were told to repay their bonuses, Kay Bojorquez and Kristina Stadelman, sued the department and Walters in Oklahoma County District Court, alleging breach of contract and defamation.

Their attorney, Mark Hammons, said they have reached a tentative settlement with the Education Department and intend to finalize it this week.

Both teachers were approved for the program and received bonuses of $50,000 in October and November. In January, they received letters from the agency, informing them they never actually qualified and owed the full $50,000 back.

More than $20,000 of each bonus was withheld for taxes, and Bojorquez, of Osage County, and Stadelman, of Oklahoma County, had spent the rest of the money before the Education Department demanded they return it, according to their lawsuit.

Walters said the errant bonuses were the result of the teachers putting “misinformation” in their applications. That statement was defamatory, Bojorquez and Stadelman said. The teachers asked a judge to order Walters to pay them at least $75,000 each for defamation.

The Education Department and Walters have since countersued the teachers, asking for the full bonuses to be returned plus the cost of attorney fees. The agency said Bojorquez and Stadelman, by applying for and accepting the bonuses, represented that they hadn’t taught in an Oklahoma public school the previous year when, in fact, they had.

The two teachers said they truthfully reported their work history. They contend the situation was caused by the agency’s “own alleged negligence or malfeasance in giving such approval.”

“It would be financially impossible for the plaintiff to repay the signing bonus,” their lawsuit states.

Oklahoma Voice is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oklahoma Voice maintains editorial independence.

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Oklahoma

TULLAHASSEE: One of Oklahoma's oldest black towns reopens community center

Published

3 hours ago

July 26, 2024

Press Room

TULLAHASSEE: One of Oklahoma's oldest black towns reopens community center

TULLAHASSEE, Okla. — The John Ford Community Center reopened in Tullahassee with a grand ceremony.

After 20 years, people in one of Oklahoma’s oldest black towns walked into the gym where they went to school. The John Ford Community Center reopened in Tullahassee with a grand ceremony.

John Ford Community Center reponed after two decades. Roz Williams says he went to elementary school there.
She said it was a blast from the past when she walked in.

“I can just remember the cheering of the crowd and everyone getting involved,” said Williams.

Tullahassee leaders said the reopening shows promise for one of Oklahoma’s oldest black towns. Williams said the new floors from the renovations could be just as bright as the town’s future.

“I think it’s possible for there to be a resurgence here. We can start with the community center, but I think it may draw more people back,” said Williams.

Town leaders said the space will be used for basketball tournaments and community events. They’ve been working since last year to raise money for renovations. Williams said the building’s name, John Ford, brings back memories.

“Doctor Ford, who was actually superintendent and principal when I attended here, just brought back a lot of memories of love.”
Even though Williams lives in Muskogee, she said she’ll be back for events.

“Oh, absolutely, because this is the foundation of the community right now,” said Williams.

To learn more about Tullahassee, click here.

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Oklahoma

What is Oklahoma State’s Toughest Road Game in 2024?

Published

10 hours ago

July 26, 2024

Press Room

What is Oklahoma State’s Toughest Road Game in 2024?

Oklahoma State has been one of the best home teams in the nation in recent years, but some road games have been a cause for concern.

Over the past three seasons, OSU has lost only two games at Boone Pickens Stadium, boasting multiple 10-win seasons and trips to the Big 12 Championship. Despite the team’s overall success, winning away from Stillwater has proved challenging at times for the Cowboys.

Coming off one of those 10-win campaigns, OSU is looking to compete for a Big 12 title and make the College Football Playoff for the first time. Of course, to achieve those goals, the Cowboys will need to play well away from home.

Winning on the road is typically not easy, but the Cowboys’ first matchup away from Stillwater is in Tulsa, so it will still feel a bit like a home game. Considering the Golden Hurricane’s struggles recently, the opponent will not do much to make the game interesting.

While the Cowboys will make a couple of trips to Texas next season to face Baylor and TCU, there are three road games that stand out as the most difficult.

3. BYU

A Friday night under the lights in Provo will be a challenge for OSU. After needing an 18-point comeback to win in double overtime against the Cougars in Stillwater last season, the Cowboys can’t afford to take this matchup lightly. With the Cowboys’ potential to come in as a top 15 team, it could be the rowdiest environment OSU faces all season.

2. Colorado

OSU will get an early kickoff on Black Friday in Boulder. With a short week after a potentially intense matchup with Texas Tech, the Cowboys could experience some hangover in this matchup.

While Colorado’s season could go a few different directions, if it enters the game with a bowl game still in reach, OSU could face a desperate team. Plus, OSU’s past three regular-season finales have all been one-possession games.

1. Kansas State

OSU will open conference play by hosting Utah, but the schedule does not let up after that, as the Cowboys will head to Kansas State a week later. Last season, OSU’s matchup against Kansas State sparked a five-game winning streak and helped turn the season around.

As both teams enter next season as Big 12 contenders, this is projected to be one of the most important conference matchups. Manhattan has also been a tough place for OSU to win, as the Cowboys lost 48-0 in their most recent trip in 2022.

READ MORE: Oklahoma State Set to Host 3-star In-State RB Kenny Golston

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Oklahoma

Why Vernon Turner’s journey to 2024 Paris Olympics ‘means a lot to everyone’ in Oklahoma

Published

17 hours ago

July 26, 2024

Press Room

Why Vernon Turner’s journey to 2024 Paris Olympics ‘means a lot to everyone’ in Oklahoma

When he leapt 7 feet and 6 inches into the air, breaking the NFHS high jump record as a senior at Yukon High School, Vernon Turner first began to think the Olympics could be in his future.

He had already earned an invitation to his first Olympic trials. But it rained. And while he executed perfect jumps during warmups, he had a poor showing and ultimately didn’t qualify.

Turner’s mother, Melonie Carpenter, knowing he was disappointed with how he performed, remembers the advice she offered at that moment.

“I’ve always told him,” Carpenter said, “‘Professionals are dedicated, and they put everything into whatever it is that they’re doing. And the ones that don’t put 100% in, or 150%, they don’t get to be in that little, small percentage.’”

When the Olympic flame is lit during the opening ceremony Friday, Turner will be the lone U.S. Olympian out of 592 athletes to represent Oklahoma. The former OU track and field standout who was born in Kansas City, Missouri, but raised in Yukon, is one of the youngest high jumpers in the field.

Turner’s family will make the over 4,800-mile journey to Paris to watch him live out his dreams. While excited, Carpenter said they’re nervous to travel outside the U.S. as they haven’t done so outside of cruises, and she’ll be on the edge of her seat watching her son compete.

More: 2024 Paris Olympics: A look at each competitor with Oklahoma ties

“I’m going to be a nervous wreck, I’ll tell you right now,” Carpenter said. “Vernon said he’s not nervous at all. He’s excited. So I’m glad to hear him say that.”

Turner was originally an avid basketball player who was dunking by his freshman year of high school before his coach forced him to go out for track and field.

Carpenter has seen firsthand how hard her son has worked to cement himself as one of the best in the world.

Turner’s work ethic was instilled in him by Carpenter, who worked night shifts mostly seven days a week throughout his childhood. Turner was forced to grow up fast and developed immense dedication for high jumping during his freshman year of high school.

Turner opened up to The Oklahoman earlier this month about the mental hurdles he faced after finishing dead last at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary. For the past year, he’s buckled down and focused on getting himself ready for the leading international sporting event.

“The mental game is tough,” Turner said. “Throughout my whole career, it’s been up and down. … Learning the mental part of it is so huge. You have to mature and just be able to focus on one thing. You can’t let moments be bigger than you.”

More: Mussatto: Imagining Thunder’s Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams on Team USA in 2028 Olympics

The past few weeks before heading abroad, Turner has been entrenched in final preparations and has worked with the Sooners’ vertical jumps coach Jerel Langley in Oklahoma.

“He’s really been working,” Carpenter said. “He’s been doing some different calisthenic things to get his ups going.”

Fans can follow Turner’s Olympic journey on the RIZZ app where he’ll be answering questions and giving updates along the way.

Turner’s family is anxious to get overseas to not only watch him compete on the world stage, but to watch him represent home.

“He’s amazing, he’s worked hard,” Carpenter said. “It means a lot to everyone in Yukon, people that have watched him since he was little because he started here in grade school, he’s been here his whole life. They’ve all kept up with him, it’s amazing.”