OEA’s 2022 Organizing Conference theme of “Better Together: Organizing Through Advocacy” carries a double meaning. Not only does it emphasize the importance of collective action, but indicates the return of the conference as an in-person event.
The conference is set for Feb. 25-26 at the Embassy Suites in Northwest Oklahoma City. Those who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 may attend in-person. A virtual option will be offered for the unvaccinated or those who would feel safer attending the conference online.
We have also added a new component to the conference for early career educators – those OEA members with 7 years of experience or fewer. Find more information below on the Early Career Link.
Better Together - Organizing Through Advocacy
Feb. 25-26, 2022
Agenda
Virtual attendees will be part of the general sessions and two breakouts, which are marked below.
Friday, Feb. 25
6 p.m. – Registration
7 p.m. – Opening Session
- Welcome
- Singo
- 2nd Annual Lip Sync Battle (FCPE Fundraiser)
Saturday, Feb. 26
7:30 a.m. – Registration
8:00 a.m. – Caucuses
- Hispanic Caucus (Oklahoma Room)
- Democratic Caucus (Salon ABC)
- Peace and Justice Caucus (Salon FGH)
- LGBTQ Caucus (Hospitality Room)
- American Indian Caucus (Salon ABC)
- Black Caucus (Salon FGH)
9:00 a.m. – Opening Session, Katherine Bishop Presiding
- Cari Elledge, Vice President, guest speaker introducation
- Guest Speaker – Author Ted Dintersmith, “What School Could Be”
9:55 a.m. – Breakout Session I
- Beyond Self-Care – Improving teacher well-being and effectiveness in working with traumatized students is critical right now. In contrast to self-care strategies that require the individual to engage in a restorative practice after work, this model proposes micro-interventions done throughout the day. Presenter: Amanda Mitten, LPC Virtual Session Breakout #1
- Building and Strengthening Relationships with Community Partners – Community relationships and partnerships can serve as a resource for meeting education challenges and supporting public education. This session will feature a panel of community organization leaders who can give insight into how to build and strengthen relationships with community partners to garner support for public education. Presenters: Clark Frailey, Pastors for Oklahoma Kids; Dr. Savanah Stumph, Oklahoma Parent Legislative Council; Tristy Fyer, Bixby Board of Education; Jane McCaslin York, Oklahoma PTA President-Elect
- Community Schools Model – Community Schools embody how education should function in a healthy democracy – they’re public schools that provide services and support which fit each neighborhood’s needs, created and run by the people who know our children best – families, educators, community organizations, local governments, and the students themselves – all working together. This session will provide you with information on what community schools are and how they can improve our communities. Presenters: Kathy Dodd, Deputy Superintendent of Federal Programs/Chief Innovation Officer, State Department of Education; Kulsum Siddiqui, Union Public Schools District Liaison for Community Schools
- Building Relationships for Collective Bargaining – Collective bargaining gives educators a voice. Relationships aren’t built just at the bargaining table. This session, presented by OEA Advocates, will give locals ideas on how to develop and maintain good working relationships with district administrators and school board members between bargaining sessions. Presenters: John Doern, FMCS
11:20 a.m. – Lunch
- Local Awards, Zach Grimm, NEA Director for Oklahoma
12:20 p.m. – Breakout Session II
Breakouts sessions repeat:
- Beyond Self-Care
- Building and Strengthening Relationships with Community Partners
- Community Schools Model Virtual Session Breakout #2
- Building Relationships for Collective Bargaining
1:45 p.m. – General Session, Cari Elledge presiding
- Katherine Bishop, Introduction of guest speaker
- Guest Speaker: Juliana Urtubey, National Teacher of the Year
- Legislative Update, Ivy Riggs, Associate Executive Director, Legislative and Political Organizing
3:00 p.m. – Giveaways, Adjournament
Keynote Speakers
A Special Networking Event for Early Career Teachers and ESPs
New to the organizing conference in 2022, Early Career Link is a special networking event for early educators is being made possible by a grant for the National Education Association. The first 40 Organizing Conference registrants who indicate they have 7 years or fewer in education – teachers or support professionals – will receive
- Complimentary registration for the OEA Organizing Conference,
- 2 free, double-occupancy nights at Embassy Suites NW OKC for the evenings of February 25 and 26, and
- Training and social opportunities with other early career educators on the evening of February 26.
(When registering, please mark “Pay at the door” when checking out to make sure you receive complimentary registration.)
EC:Link Agenda
3:30-5:00 PM – True Colors Training
5:00-7:00 PM – EC:Link Happy Hour
Beginning at 7:00 PM – EC:Link Social Hour
(This event is for OEA members only. Membership will be checked to confirm.)
Seeking Lip Sync Teams!
We’re looking for 10 teams from local affiliates, OEA Caucuses, or just a bunch of association friends to enter the 2nd Annual Lip Sync battle.
Here’s how:
- Recruit your team, or go solo
- Pick a song
- Practice (or not)
- Fill out the entry from
- Suprise everyone with your unbelievable talent on Friday, Feb. 25.
For the winner, there will be a trophy and a year’s worth of bragging rights at stake.
COVID-19 Health and Safety Protocols
In an effort to make this conference as safe as possible, we have established the following protocals:
- Proof of COVID-19 vaccination will be required for in-person attendance (vaccine record card or a picture of the card is acceptable).
- Masks are required in common spaces, but optional when seated in meeting rooms.
- Masks and sanitization stations will be available.
