Robert Franklin and James Taylor, two Republican candidates, are competing for the Oklahoma state superintendent nomination, with the winner advancing to face Democrat Janetta Marshall in November.

Parental Involvement and Teacher Support

Taylor, a history and government teacher at Little Axe High School and a pastor, emphasized the importance of parental involvement in education. He stated, ‘No parents should be treated as an obstacle or a pain, or a special interest group just because they asked a simple question: What are you teaching my child?’ Taylor proposed creating a parental advisory board to empower parents.

Franklin, a Hall of Fame educator with over 40 years of experience, focused on the need for collaborative leadership and reducing political distractions in schools. He emphasized the importance of supporting teachers, proposing competitive pay, professional development, and recruiting high school students into the teaching profession through tuition waivers and internships.

Discipline and Classroom Management

Taylor highlighted the importance of classroom management and discipline, suggesting that first-year teachers should be paired with experienced mentors. He stated, ‘The discipline is paramount. We have got to make sure that our teachers, when the teachers are dealing with discipline issues in their classroom, they have to have the support of the administration.’

As the Aug. 25 runoff approaches, both candidates continue to outline their priorities for leading Oklahoma’s public education system.

Original reporting: Oklahoma City News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.