OASA

Dr. Pam Deering, CCOSA/OASA Executive Director

Derald Glover, OASA Assistant Executive Director

What a difference a year makes! At this time last year, we were dealing with a new thing called COVID-19, this year we are dealing with some of the most challenging legislative issues we have ever faced. OASA members have always been the gatekeepers to minimize the effects of negative legislation. We stand in the gap for all kids, but especially those who may be negatively impacted by decisions made at the state or federal level.

Our effectiveness lies in our unity as an organization of professional school leaders. When we speak as “one voice” we impact decisions. FY21 is proving how important our professional organization is to our members. OASA Touch Base zoom meetings, weekly legislative briefings, and timely legislative alerts are just a few ways OASA has stepped up to provide communication and up to the minute information to its members. What a challenging year it has been!

Besides providing a constant flow of important communications, OASA staff and board have focused on key legislation around school budgets, open transfers, tax protests, voucher and scholarship expansion, unfunded mandates, and charter schools. We have also sought to expand and grow our membership. Currently 93% of Oklahoma school superintendents are members of OASA. That percentage is truly a sign of strength and unity of purpose which may be more important now than ever.

The federal ESSER funds are a great shot in the arm to struggling schools, but the rules surrounding the funds is complicated and confusing. CCOSA’s Federal Program Consultant, Kathy Dunn, has provided current and accurate guidance on ESSER to central office administrators. The consortiums of federal program, Indian education, and student information personnel that she leads is filling a communication void that has existed for years. These meetings have been heavily attended and it is anticipated that many of these staff will join and make OASA even stronger in size and influence.

If school leaders don’t provide quality programs and solutions, someone else will do it for us. OASA’s “Quality School Frameworks” use both research and our own members’ expertise to provide truly professional solutions for school leaders. If you haven’t checked them out already go to our CCOSA website and look through the Blended Learning Framework, Professional Budget Framework, and the Energy Efficiency Framework.

OASA is committed to assisting schools with strategies to maximize the ESSER funds to truly transform education in Oklahoma. Once again, we plan to use the expertise of our members and sound research as a guide for our schools.

OASA leaders have led schools through the most challenging year ever experienced in public schools. This should be recognized and celebrated! We plan to do just that at our CCOSA summer conference.

We will celebrate our OASA Administrator of the Year as well as our Central Office Administrator of the Year and Lifetime Achievement winners. We hope you will join us. OASA is your professional organization, and our strength is through engaged members. Stay active, stay engaged, and remember to ride with the OASA brand!