Jena Nelson for Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction

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The Network for Public Education Action is proud to endorse Jena Nelson for Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Jena is an English teacher at Classen SAS Middle School. Her classroom excellence was recognized when she was named the 2020 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year. She has been a public educator for 16 years and knows what it takes to bring quality education to the children of Oklahoma. Jena is excited to bring her years of classroom leadership to the ballot this November and she believes Oklahoma voters will respond to her message of hope and unity. 

“In the coming weeks and months, let’s start a conversation with Oklahoma’s parents, teachers and students about how we will protect and strengthen public education. Let’s keep our public dollars in public schools. Let’s send a message that our kids are not for sale.”

Jena believes that public dollars need to stay in Oklahoma public schools and that taking more money out of the already chronically underfunded Oklahoma public schools will do tremendous harm. 

One of Jena’s top priorities is to protect Oklahoma rural schools. Jena feels that public schools can revitalize rural communities and that children who live in rural areas deserve 21st century schools, where they can get the skills they need to thrive. Jena will work diligently to get broadband internet to every rural school and community.

Jena understands that teacher flight out of Oklahoma classrooms must be stopped. “Oklahoma is experiencing an unprecedented loss of educators,” she said, “not just to better paying states, but also to other professions.” Her top priority will be ending and reversing teacher flight by paying teachers like professionals, reducing the clutter of endless new mandates, and letting Oklahoma educators do what they do best: teach children. 

NPE Action urges Oklahoma public education supporters to get out the vote for Jena Nelson in the general election on November 8th.


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