About
On January 18, 2015, after blogging anonymously for nearly 33 months, I finally revealed my identity. As some of my biggest fans have noticed, since I began this blog, my writing has received a modicum of renown.
I am currently the superintendent of Mid-Del Public Schools, and I have worked in public education in Oklahoma since 1993. I am a third generation Oklahoman and second generation teacher. I believe in the importance of well-funded public schools in which teachers have the freedom to teach using their own professional judgment.
I began this blog in 2012 to stem the tide of the false narrative about failing public schools. While I don’t know everything about public education, I know enough to detect inconsistencies from the people and groups who would like to destroy it. With your help, I would like to give parents, teachers, administrators, board members, and any concerned Oklahoman a voice to set the record straight. If you have questions, complaints or suggestions, feel free to contact me via Twitter, Facebook, or email (okeducationtruths@cox.net).
In 2015, okeducationtruths won an EduBlog Award for Best Administrator Blog.
Updated: 2/21/16
okeducationtruths 
What’s this I hear about SDE deciding the cut scores on state testing in the summer….is it true they are going to decide what the passing score will be AFTER they have the scores in hand? I hope it’s not true….I would hate to imagine a scenario where, let’s say, a fictional superintendent who hates public education could make the test scores look bad to make her way of thinking look good.
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Yes. I believe standard setting, as it is called, is scheduled for July.
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Cut scores were decided in August 2013.
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My name is Collin Walke, and I am running for Oklahoma House District 87 (against Jason Nelson). I came across your blog while researching Rep. Nelson’s most recent attempt to curtail funding for public education. I simply wanted to say thank you for such a thoughtful and concise explanation and critique of his proposed bill.
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I think it is weird you work for the OSDE and write this blog but I also think you make thoughtful posts and care about OK’s children.
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I was going to email you, but couldn’t find an address, so posting here.
You might find a recent hire at the dept. interesting. Kim Richey’s husband has been put in as the asst. state supt. of accreditation. There wasn’t a job posting. He has no experience in education.
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And he’s the former executive director of CLEET. Hmm. I wonder what someone in law enforcement would be doing running school accreditation. Going after JB’s enemies perhaps?
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The only thing that will make our legislators break their ideology about education is to make a sign at the rally that says: We fired Barresi. We can fire you, too. I’m encouraging all teachers to do this. If enough of us have that sign at the rally, then hopefully it will get attention from the media, and therefore become a buzz word. Could you please write up a blog post about this? I’m not looking for fame at all. I just think this is a catch phrase that could strike fear into the hearts of the governing body.
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You need to run for public office.
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Thanks, but I don’t see that happening.
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It was my hope to go to college and become a teacher. Right now I am a waitress in a popular BBQ restaurant in NE Oklahoma so I have lots of customers who are teachers that frequent the restaurant. They have discouraged me from going into that field. I checked into the pay of an Oklahoma teacher as my family is full of teachers and apparently I make more money waiting tables 19 hours a week than I would if I got an education and put in endless hours as a teacher. This saddens me for our state. NO wonder we have so many teachers who are disheartened, lost their zeal and have forgotten why they became teachers. Our state has made it a thankless job. I pray our state will fix this problem and get their priorities straight once again.
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Please EMAIL me the article “Why we can’t let Walter win” at
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