Category Archives: Local

Firefighters Vs. Police Officers for Charity

By David Arnett

Oklahoma firefighters take on Oklahoma police officers in the Ninth Annual Smoke & Guns Charity MMA and Boxing Event presented by QuikTrip on Saturday, April 27, 2024 at BOK Center. In this one-night only event, Tulsa’s best will go toe-to-toe in the ring to benefit the Oklahoma Firefighters Burn Camp and Special Olympics of Oklahoma. Tickets go on sale Thursday, January 4 at 10AM and will be available online at www.bokcenter.com.

The Oklahoma Firefighters Burn Camp benefits children that suffer major burns and other traumatic injuries that cause dis-figuration and disabilities. In the United States, there are several camps just for the purpose of helping these children cope with their injuries. Special Olympics of Oklahoma provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

Continue reading →

Acclaimed Civil Rights Doc @ Circle Cinema

By David Arnett

Circle Cinema is partnering with the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Society, Jewish Federation of Tulsa, and Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office for a special presentation of the documentary “Shared Legacies: The African American-Jewish Civil Rights Alliance” on Thursday January 11. The event begins with a light reception at 6pm followed by the film at 7pm with discussion from partner organization experts about how to continue the collaborative push for social justice today. Tickets are just $6 each and on sale now at CircleCinema.org.

Continue reading →

Anguish Over Education and TPS

By Mike Mazzei

There’s a host of anguish by both conservatives and liberals over education lately—and specifically, Tulsa Public Schools (TPS). Even if heated debate surrounds the discussion, I love that the state’s school performance is receiving attention. 

The most important investment that can be made for our kids and grandkids is the investment in a great education. In fact, the only way to achieve growth and prosperity for Oklahomans is to properly prepare the next generation for high quality jobs with education. 

The commitment of taxpayers should not be in question. Look at TPS: for the current budget year, total appropriated funds are expected to be $755,367,103. That’s approximately $25,179 per student! For that huge investment, the results are simply tragic—according to Public School Review, only 8% of TPS students are proficient in math, and only 12% are proficient in reading.

Continue reading →

Dr. Johnson’s Bold, Clear, Data-driven Goals

By Susan Phillips, Education Editor

During the December 21 State Department of Education (OSDE) meeting Tulsa Public Schools (TPS) Superintendent Dr. Ebony Johnson laid out comprehensive plans to reach the three academic goals established during the November meeting. The plans included:

  • “refreshing” (increasing) several of TPS Board goals that are part of the 2022-2027 Strategic Plan
  • focusing on about 6,200 students grade four through eight
  • reassigning school principals to match school needs
  • freeing up office staff to go into the schools to cover classes during the English Language Arts (ELA) time periods freeing up the classroom teacher to focus on teaching ELA
  • reading tutoring: the Christmas Break tutoring has already successfully started with 323 TPS students having enrolled across five sites for eight days of three-hour sessions
  • implementing assessment culture: communicate expectation by setting goals (student and teacher), motivate teachers who in turn motivate students, include parents
Continue reading →

Superintendent Dr. Ebony Johnson

By Susan Phillips, Education Editor

Dr. Ebony Johnson became the first black woman to be elected permanent Superintendent of Tulsa Public Schools (TPS) shortly after 11 pm December 11, 2023. Her election was the highly anticipated result of this regularly scheduled school board meeting.  A record-breaking crowd, having waited one and one-half hours for the executive session to conclude, cheered and took photos to commemorate the occasion. Dr. Johnson’s tenure as Superintendent of TPS starts immediately and runs through June 30, 2026. 

The board vote was four in favor, two against and one abstention. Board members E’Lena Ashley and Dr. Jennettie Marshall voted no, and Dr. Jerry Griffin abstained.

The following day board member Dr. Jerry Griffin tendered his resignation effective January 2, 2024. He said that the timing is not related to the board’s decision, but rather to his career decision.  He is preparing to launch a national tour to promote his vision of educational reform based on a book he has written.

Over the next several days various stakeholders weighed in. State Superintendent of Education Ryan Walters labeled the board a “rubber stamp” and said it is “barreling toward drastic action”. Tulsa Mayor Bynum said that he agrees with Superintendent Walters pushing TPS for academic excellence, but disagrees with how he has gone about pursuing it. Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt recommended that everyone should calm down and give Dr. Johnson the benefit of the doubt and the chance to see if she can change TPS’s academic outcomes.

Dr. Ebony Johnson, Tulsa Public Schools Superintendent
Continue reading →