Standing Committee members and charges 2020-21
The OEA has 16 Standing committees and one Ad Hoc committee. Standing Committees are established by the Delegate Assembly. They are: Affiliate Relations, Budget, Collective Bargaining, Communications, Constitution, Credentials, Education Support Professional, Elections, Forces on Education, Human and Civil Rights, Instruction and Professional Development, Legal and Corporate, Legislative, Resolutions, Member Benefits and Standing Rules.
The Ad Hoc Committee on Trauma and Violence in Education was created in response to a new business item passed at the 2019 Delegate Assembly.
All committees are appointed by the president with the approval of the Board of Directors. The OEA takes all reasonable and legally permissible steps to achieve on its appointed committees ethnic-minority representation that is at least proportional to the ethnic-minority membership.
Ad Hoc committees may be established by the president with approval of the Board of Directors.
Committee Members
Chair: Krista Farris, Shawnee, SE-A
Board Liaison: Vicki Vaughan, Putnam City, OC-B
Darla Tresner, Bartlesville, NE-B
Claire Clark, Stillwater, NW-B
Debra Wood, Edmond, OC-C
Tera Cagle, Norman, SW-B
Kyle Woods, Marlow, SW-C
Darla Ryan, Retired
Staff Liaison: Stacy Bullard, Associate Executive Director
Committee Charges
- Recommend strategies to increase OEA membership in all categories.
- Review and evaluate OEA’s strategies to strengthen local associations and develop strong leaders, and recommend changes if necessary.
- Monitor zone alignment to assure one person – one vote for state board of directors.
- Provide input to staff regarding potential content for the Organizing Conference.
- Address where your committee can help create organizing strategies around affiliate relations issues.
- Address how your committee is working to include New and Early Career members throughout your work.
09-21
Committee Members
Chair: Katherine Bishop, OEA Vice President
Board Liaison: Zach Murray, Ponca City, NW-B
Chuck Pack, Tahlequah, NE-C
Mark Webb, Mustang, NW-C
Lorna Williams, Edmond, OC-C
Alan Montgomery, Henryetta, SE-B
Matthew Trosper, Tulsa, TM-B
Elizabeth Shadid, University of Central Oklahoma, OAEA
Staff Liaison: Carolyn Crowder, Interim Executive Director
Committee Charges
- Provide opportunity for member input on the budget.
- Study the immediate and long-range financial needs of the Association.
- Review the Budget to make sure that it is reflective of our Association Goals.
- Review budget proposals, policies, and mandates of the Association.
- Prepare the annual budget for submission to the OEA Board of Directors.
- Review the annual audit of the Association.
- Address how your committee is working to include New and Early Career members throughout your work.
09-21
Committee Members
Chair: Lori Burris, Mid-Del, OC-D
Board Liaison: Zach Grimm, Moore, OC-A
Patsy Wilhelm, Grove, NE-A
Rhachelle Haynes, McAlester, SE-C
Erin Place, Waynoka, NW-A
Alexa Hudak, Norman, SW-B
Patricia Mott, Tulsa, TM-B
Staff Liaison: Melissa Kaltenbaugh, Advocacy Specialist
Committee Charges
- Monitor developments in collective bargaining with particular attention to bargaining successes and problems of OEA affiliate organizations.
- Provide input to staff regarding potential content for OEA Organizing Conference and other major bargaining program events.
- Make recommendations to the Legislative Committee regarding legislation relevant to issues that impact Collective Bargaining.
- Promote, review nominations and recommend to the Board of Directors an individual and/or a group for the OEA Collective Bargaining Award.
- Develop a strategy to activate all recognized bargaining locals.
- Research and develop an annual report about the top issues facing districts in collective bargaining including sample contract language.
- Recommend strategies to increase salary and benefits of education employees. May work in conjunction with ESP and Legislative committees for this charge.
- Address where your committee can help create organizing strategies around collective bargaining issues.
- Address how your committee is working to include New and Early Career members throughout your work.
- Investigate Collective Bargaining information (literature, tool kits, pamphlets, websites…) that are provided by NEA and recommend strategies to communicate the availability of these items to our members.
- Compile a list of what has been bargained in districts about COVID issues and ideas of best practice language that could be bargained or put in district policy as it relates to issues brought to the forefront due to the pandemic
09-21
Committee Members
Chair: Cari Elledge, Norman, SW-B
Board Liaison: Joan Gabelmann, Lawton, SW-A
Judy Cells, Bartlesville, NE-B
Teranne Williams, Putnam City, OC-B
Amber Spradlin, Choctaw-Nicoma Park, OC-D
Trina Waller, Shawnee, SE-A
Priscilla Griggs, Tulsa, TM-B
Victoria Vargas-Huston, Jenks, TM-E
Staff Liaison: Doug Folks, Communications Specialist
Committee Charges
- Recommend strategies to enhance the public image of OEA and public education.
- Promote the Marshall Gregory Awards and the Golden Apple Awards to increase the number of entries by local associations.
- Promote and review nominations and recommend to the Board of Directors recipients for the Communications Awards.
- Review OEA policies on communications and recommend appropriate changes.
- Review education websites, blogs and social media. Compile a list of reputable, helpful sources for OEA use.
- Research communication platforms that would benefit communications between members and from member to student (i.e. helpful in lesson planning, newsletter writing, online note taking…)
- Develop strategy to highlight Read Across America including helpful websites and activities that can be communicated to members.
- Investigate communications initiatives from NEA and state affiliates and make recommendations.
- Address where your committee can help create organizing strategies around communications issues.
- Address how your committee is working to include New and Early Career members throughout your work.
09-21
Committee Members
Chair: Lynn Stockley, Retired
Board Liaison: Sharon Reese, Shawnee, SE-A
Angelia Franke, Nowata, NE-A
Victor Gonzalez, Stillwater, NW-B
Melissa Lau, Piedmont, NW-C
Judith Kula, Choctaw-Nicoma Park, OC-D
Terrie Keck, Marlow, SW-C
Staff Liaison: Heath Merchen, Associate General Counsel
Committee Charges
- Review the Constitution and Bylaws and recommend appropriate amendments to the Board of Directors for Delegate Assembly action.
- Receive and review suggested amendments submitted by members, check for conflicts with Association policies and/or other constitutional provisions, and make appropriate recommendations to the Board of Directors.
- Prepare amendments as directed by the Board of Directors.
09-21
Committee Members
Chair: Deborah Schovanec, Edmond, OC-C
Board Liaison: Kelly Craig, Mid-Del, OC-D
Sue Lamb, Claremore, NE-B
Jeanne Swinney, Shawnee, SE-A
Jill Sandberg, Sand Springs, TM-D
Jenny Prather, Mustang, Retired
Staff Liaison: Stacy Bullard, Associate Executive Director
Committee Charges
- Supervise the accreditation of delegates and alternates to the Delegate Assembly.
- Supervise the seating of delegates and members at the Delegate Assembly.
- Perform other appropriate duties as specified in the Standing Rules or assigned by the President.
- Research how other state affiliates encourage diverse (years of service, ethnic minority, gender…) attendance at their state Delegate/Representative assemblies. Report to the OEA Board of Directors.
09-21
Committee Members
Chair: Teri Gray, Retired
Board Liaison: Michael Horn, Jenks, TM-E
Mandi Jordan, Tahlequah, NE-C
Michelle Redus, Guthrie, NW-B
Terri Story, Yukon, NW-C
Brenda Wilcox, Seminole, SE-A
Adrienne Hall, Norman, SW-B
Staff Liaison: Carolyn Crowder, Interim Executive Director
Committee Charges
- Conduct all elections of the Association. (Prepare ballots, supervise voting, act as judge of the elections, and perform other appropriate duties.)
- Study the elections procedures and, if needed, bring recommendations to the Board of Directors to correct any problems in the current system.
- Determine the number of NEA-RA Delegates for each zone based on membership figures as of January 15.
- Discuss and recommend strategies to increase member participation in online voting.
- Review the July-October statewide filing period and make recommendations.
09-21
Committee Members
Chair: Wilma Bunting, Moore, OC-A
Board Liaison: Wilma Dudley, Chickasha, SW-C
Julie Butler, Okemah, SE-B
Margaret Brown, Mustang, NW-C
Candis Ryczkowski, Mustang, NW-C
Jeff McVicker, Edmond, OC-C
Frank Brazwell, Union, TM-D
Staff Liaison: Annetta Hein, Advocacy Specialist
Committee Charges
- Recommend strategies to increase ESP membership by gathering trend data on current ESP membership. Create a strategic plan specific to ESP needs including a target membership goal.
- Review and make recommendations to increase the integration of education support concerns into Association policies and recommend workshops of interest to ESP members for inclusion in Association trainings.
- Provide input to staff regarding potential content for the Organizing Conference.
- Plan for increased awareness about the OEA ESP Award. Review nominations and recommend to the Board of Directors a recipient for the OEA ESP award.
- Promote the importance of and encourage ESP participation in all levels of the Association, including governance, workshops, programs and activities.
- Monitor, research and report on the privatization of support professional positions in local Oklahoma districts.
- Recommend strategies to increase salaries and benefits for support professionals. Work in conjunction with the Collective Bargaining and Legislative Committees for this charge.
- Address where your committee can help create organizing strategies around ESP issues.
- Address how your committee is working to include New and Early Career members throughout your work.
- Compile a list of issues that are relative to job needs that have arisen due to the pandemic. List possible solutions to those issues and how the OEA can help address those issues.
- Work with the Legislative Committee to create a legislative strategy that will add Education Support Employees to the protected and paid employees list during a declared health emergency.
09-21
Committee Members
Chair: Jennifer Seal, Putnam City Schools Foundation, OC-B
Board Liaison: Chelsea Foo, Edmond, OC-D
Derek Voth, Pryor, NE-A
Katie Lack, Mountain View-Gotebo, NW-A
Nadine Gallagher, Crooked Oak, OC-A
Candice Boesch, Piedmont, NW-C
Staff Liaison: Rhonda Harlow, Advocacy Specialist
Committee Charges
- Identify groups and individuals that oppose public education and/or the goals of the Oklahoma Education Association and recommend strategies to the Board of Directors for effectively combating such opposition. Develop a list of said groups with description of their activity with links providing resources.
- Promote and review nominations and recommend to the Board of Directors a recipient for the OEA Advocate for Academic Freedom Award.
- Research, monitor, and report on the effects of charter schools, vouchers/education savings plans/tuition scholarships, virtual schools, and other privatization issues that threaten Oklahoma public schools.
- Research and report on the impact of privatization, reform movement, and antiunion messages that impact the teacher shortage in OK.
- Make recommendations to the Legislative Committee regarding legislation relevant to the research completed by the Forces on Education Committee.
- Identify strategies to recruit and retain educators in Oklahoma.
- Address where your committee can help create organizing strategies around issues discussed in the Forces on Education Committee.
- Address how your committee is working to include New and Early Career members throughout your work.
09-21
Committee Members
Chair: Linda English, Retired
Board Liaison: Mattie Smith-Broom, Sapulpa, TM-C
Sharica Cole, Muskogee, NE-C
Renee Ross, Watonga, NW-C
Aaron Baker, Putnam City, OC-B
Brittany Arnold, Norman, SW-B
Debbie Hogue-Downing, Tulsa, TM-B
Kelli Roberts, Tulsa, TM-B
Staff Liaison: Joe DuVall, Communications Specialist
Committee Charges
- Utilizing the information from the ethnic minority rosters and other data, recommend strategies to increase the number of minority educators. Report to the OEA Board of Directors about the usefulness of the ethnic minority roster and how local leaders could utilize such information.
- Recommend strategies to increase member awareness of human and civil rights – emphasizing the rights of students and school employees.
- Recommend strategies to increase the participation of minority members at all levels of the Association.
- Promote and review nominations and recommend to the Board of Directors the recipients of the Human and Civil Rights Awards.
- Review the plan and recommend strategies to assist OEA in meeting its 3-1 (g) goal at NEA-RA.
- Recommend strategies to expand minority recruitment of students into the education professions.
- Recommend strategies to encourage people/locals to nominate potential recipients for OEA and NEA H&CR awards.
- Provide input to staff regarding potential content for the Organizing Conference and other OEA events.
- Assist the President in responding to Human and Civil Rights issues that affect our members and their students.
- Create a document of materials that teach/report on best practices regarding Human and Civil Rights issues in the classroom.
- Address where your committee can help create organizing strategies around human and civil rights issues. Including advising OEA to march in pertinent events with registration deadlines and rationale on getting involved.
- Address how your committee is working to include New and Early Career members throughout your work.
- Review OEA governing documents for ethnic and/or minority bias. Recommend changes.
- Review the NEA Resolutions on racial and social justice and our current resolutions on racial and social justice. Work with the resolutions committee to suggest changes.
- Review any item(s) that were sent through the process set up due to the Virtual Delegate Assembly and make recommendations on the item(s).
09-21
Committee Members
Chair: Amy Castro Braun, Moore, OC-A
Board Liaison: Heather Boyle, Bartlesville, NE-B
Michelle Koehn, Putnam City, OC-B
Nina Coerver, University of Central Oklahoma, OC-C
Tiffany Johnson, Shawnee, SE-A
Catherine Hopper, Poteau, SE-C
Kama Wilson, Sand Springs, TM-D
Torie Johnson, Cameron University, OAEA
Staff Liaison: Laura Miller, Teaching & Learning Specialist
Committee Charges
- Research and create a report on the use of the Professional Development (PD) trainings available to members.
- Promote and review nominations and recommend to the Board of Directors the recipients of the IPD Awards.
- Review legislative mandates and SDE rule changes and other influences that may cause a need for PD. Make recommendations for the areas where OEA will offer training in regard to PD. Research and monitor the implementation Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and IDEA.
- Develop a TLE virtual PD training to be used by local affiliates.
- Make recommendations to the Legislative committee regarding legislation relevant to the IPD committee research and discussion.
- Address where your committee can help create organizing strategies around instruction and professional development.
- Review recommendations for Professional Development as informed via the New Ed Campaign. Address how your committee is working to include New and Early Career members throughout your work.
09-21
Committee Members
Chair: Todd Richards, Comanche, SW-C
Board Liaison: Shawna Mott-Wright, Tulsa, TM-B
Denise Rhodes, Quapaw, NE-A
Eric Winkle, Putnam City, OC-B
Kandee Almgren, Alva, NW-A
Christle Wells, Henryetta, SE-B
Pamela Martin, Anadarko, SW-A
Jessica Jernegan, Bixby, TM-E
Breana Baker, East Central University, OAEA
Polly Christian, Retired
Staff Liaison: Richard B. Wilkinson, OEA General Counsel
Committee Charges
- Review, consider and act upon requests for legal assistance in accordance with the Legal and Corporate Service Committee Guidelines.
- Review, authorize and monitor expenditures made in accordance with the Legal and Corporate Services Committee Guidelines under the Unified Legal Services Program (ULSP).
- Develop, when appropriate, legislative recommendations for submission to the Legislative Committee for the purpose of assuring committee input into the legislation that impacts member rights.
- Participate in those activities that will promote understanding of the rights of members and protection afforded members including, but not limited to, developing members’ understanding of employment rights, constitutional and civil rights.
- Periodically review the Legal and Corporate Services Division for the purpose of evaluating the general operation of the program and recommending alterations or additions that will assist the OEA in the delivery of quality legal services at a reasonable cost to the Association and the member.
- Periodically review the guidelines for the Personal Legal Services Program (PLSP) and make recommendations for changes in the guidelines to the Board of Directors.
- Review recommendations on non-funding of an application under the Personal Legal Services Program at the request of the Executive Director.
09-21
Committee Members
Chair: Lawrence Lane, Checotah, SE-B
Board Liaison: Jennie Scott, Enid, NW-A
Jennifer Esau, Claremore, NE-B
Heather Davis, Bartlesville, NE-B
Rachel Brown, Yukon, NW-C
Stephanie Bailey, Mid-Del, OC-D
Patti Green, Ardmore, SW-C
Betty Collins, Union, TM-D
Yesenie Cano, Oklahoma Panhandle State University, OAEA
Staff Liaison: Amanda Ewing, Associate Executive Director
Committee Charges
- Recommend to the Board of Directors the annual legislative agenda.
- Review and respond to legislative recommendations that come from other OEA Standing Committees.
- Correlate OEA and NEA legislative goals.
- Study and recommend positions on state questions.
- Recommend to the Board of Directors and the Delegate Assembly the annual OEA Legislative Goals.
- Make recommendations on how OEA can support a living wage and advocate and support legislation that raises the minimum wage for all workers to ease the effects of poverty on our students, their families, and our communities.
- Address where your committee can help create organizing strategies around legislative issues.
- Work with the ESP Committee to create a legislative strategy that will add Education Support Employees to the protected and paid employees list during a declared health emergency.
- Address how your committee is working to include New and Early Career members throughout your work.
09-21
Committee Members
Chair: Debora Dickinson, Moore, OC-A
Board Liaison: Sherri Callahan, Vinita, NE-A
Angela Cochran, Putnam City, OC-B
Cathy Sabo, Mustang, NW-C
Jayci Harris, Byng, SE-A
Katherine Maloney, Tulsa, TM-B
Kylie Irvin, Northeastern State University, OAEA
Staff Liaison: Jeff Savage, Organizing Specialist
Program Administrator: Stacy Bullard, Associate Executive Director
Committee Charges
- Oversee all Association endorsements of products and services.
- Re-evaluate the currently endorsed products or services where necessary and recommend changes to the Board of Directors.
- Evaluate and recommend new products or services for endorsement by the Board of Directors.
- Review current materials promoting Member Benefits.
- Monitor the relationship between NEA and OEA Member Benefits.
- Address where your committee can help create organizing strategies around the Members Benefits programs.
- Address how your committee is working to include New and Early Career members throughout your work.
- Develop a communications strategy to improve knowledge and usage of Member Benefits. (How can we get the word out about our Member Benefits?)
09-21
Committee Members
Chair: Sharon Hill-Wooten, Idabel, SE-C
Board Liaison: LeeAnne Jimenez, Tulsa, TM-B
Blane Burge, Muskogee, NE-C
Chrystal Reis, Choctaw-Nicoma Park, OC-D
Laura Nicholas, Lawton, SW-A
Becki Munholland, Retired
Jodee Jacobsen, Tulsa, TM-B
Staff Liaison: Carnie Cullen, Organizing Specialist
Committee Charges
- Complete a comprehensive review of all OEA Resolutions-at least 1/3 per year to be completed in a 3-year period. Electronic meetings may be necessary to accomplish this task.
- Prepare and present to the Delegate Assembly proposed resolutions for adoption.
- Edit resolutions and amendments to resolutions submitted by members and present to the Board of Directors and to the Delegate Assembly with or without recommendations.
- Review any item(s) that Delegate Assembly referred to committee and make recommendations on the item(s).
- Work with H&CR committee to review current NEA resolutions and develop new resolutions on racial and social justice.
09-21
Committee Members
Co-Chair: Cheryl Dowell, Retired
Co-Chair: Glenda Mahaffey, Lawton, SW-A
Board Liaison: Dustin DeVore, Owasso, TM-C
Stephen Smallwood, Rattan, SE-C
Jerrie Goforth, Retired
Kim Morris, Mannford, TM-C
Danna Senkowski, Retired
Fred Aresco, Retired
Staff Liaison: Tim Melton, Associate General Counsel
Committee Charges
- Supervise the submission and processing of new business during the Delegate Assembly.
- Supervise and count roll call votes during the Delegate Assembly.
- Perform all other duties as specified in the Rules or requested by the President.
- Study the Standing Rules and make recommendations for changes where necessary.
09-21
Committee Members
Chair: Amber Taylor, Putnam City, OC-B
Board Liaison: Heather Boyle, Bartlesville, NE-B
Katherine Bishop, OEA Vice President
Jannie Matlock, Mustang ESP, NW-C
Melani Ford, Mid-Del, OC-D
Johnette Stites, Poteau, SE-C
LeaAnn Wyrick, Broken Bow, SE-C
Deji Dugger, Norman-PEN, SW-B
Lynnette Dixon, Tulsa Administrators, TM-B
Staff Liaison: Brian Johnson
Committee Charges
- Collect and share data on incidents of violence in our schools.
- Research and suggest policies (ie board policy, legislation, etc) based on best practices for dealing with violence in schools.
- Research and suggest policies based on best practices to help eradicate the school to prison pipeline.
- Research and report on best practices to meet the educational needs of students who have experienced trauma.
- Review training from other states to help develop appropriate Professional Development surrounding trauma and school violence.
- Research effects of secondary trauma on education professionals as recommended by the OEA President.
09-21