education

With a New TPS Bond Issue on the Ballot Soon, Dr. Keith Ballard Makes the Case for Its Passage

Rich Fisher — Wed, 08 May 2013 18:13:38 +0000

Voters within the Tulsa Public Schools district will go to the polls on May 14th to vote on a $38 million bond issue devoted to classroom technology as well as safety and security. Looking at facilities across the span of the district, we find that some schools have a student-to-computer ratio of 3:1, while in other schools that ratio is as high as 13:1. This bond will address those disparities, and will also provide funds for sprinkler systems within TPS's oldest schools as well as additional security at various entrances and exits. Our guest today is Dr.

Tough Talk --- and Hard Truths --- about America's Public Schools from Dr. Steve Perry

Rich Fisher — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 18:29:21 +0000

On StudioTulsa today, we speak by phone with Dr. Steve Perry, a passionate, down-to-earth, and plainspoken --- make that outspoken --- education-reform advocate who's best known as the founder and principal of Capital Preparatory Magnet School in Hartford, Connecticut. This school has sent one-hundred percent of its predominantly low-income, minority, first-generation high-school graduates to four-year colleges every year since its first class graduated in 2006. Dr.

A Chat with Ron Wheeler, the Longtime Leader of the Tulsa Youth Symphony

Rich Fisher — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 20:35:35 +0000

The Tulsa Youth Symphony, now comprised of more than 150 middle-school and high-school musicians from throughout Northeastern Oklahoma, will celebrate its 50th anniversary this year. For more than 40 of those years, our guest on ST has been at the helm of this outstanding local arts organization; in fact, just last month, Ron Wheeler --- who's been the CEO and conductor of the Tulsa Youth Symphony since 1972, and who's also a violinist with the Tulsa Symphony --- was given the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from the Oklahoma Music Educators Association.

A Conversation with Ray Vandiver, Executive Director of Tulsa Children's Museum

Rich Fisher — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 20:32:15 +0000

On this edition of ST, we speak with Dr. Ray Vandiver, the recently named (and very first) executive director of Tulsa Children's Museum (TCM). This facility has existed for the past few years as a "museum without walls" in our community, delivering performances and hands-on experiences to thousands of schoolchildren.

Oklahoma to Unveil A-F Grading Scale for Schools

Associated Press — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 11:58:32 +0000

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Oklahoma State Department of Education is releasing its new system to grade the state's schools.

State Superintendent Janet Barresi and other education leaders will release the new grading scale Monday afternoon at Crutcho Public Schools in Oklahoma City.

The system evaluates schools on an A-to-F grading scale.

The new system was approved by the Republican-controlled Legislature in 2011 as a way to provide easy-to-understand information to parents.

TU Only Oklahoma School On Best College List

University Relations — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 13:00:05 +0000

U.S. News & World Report's 2013 edition of Best Colleges has named The University of Tulsa as the 83rd best national research university.

This marks the 10th consecutive year that TU has been listed in the top 100 national universities --- TU is the only Oklahoma university to be included in the top 100. The publication's 2013 rankings, released on Sept. 12th, also show TU at 48th among the nation’s private doctoral universities.

State Education Board Hears Appeals Over Tests

Associated Press — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 16:19:51 +0000

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Oklahoma State Board of Education is hearing appeals over state-mandated End of Instruction tests.

The board is hearing appeals Friday from students who did not pass the required number of tests in order to receive their high school diploma.

Beginning this year, high school seniors are required to score proficient in four of seven subjects to receive their diploma.

"What Teachers Make" (Encore presentation.)

Rich Fisher — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 18:43:16 +0000

(Note: This program originally aired back in April.) We speak by phone with the noted performance poet, former middle-school teacher, and current teachers' advocate Taylor Mali. His new book --- "What Teachers Make: In Praise of the Greatest Job in the World" --- is based on a poem that he wrote several years ago, a spirited and encouraging defense of the teaching profession that has, by now, been seen and forwarded millions of times on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and elsewhere.

The University of Tulsa Welcomes Dr. Geoffrey Orsak as Its 18th President

Rich Fisher — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 22:06:46 +0000

On this edition of StudioTulsa, we are pleased to speak with Dr. Geoffrey Orsak, who begins his tenure as TU's 18th president. Dr. Orsak was formerly Dean of the Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering at Southern Methodist University (SMU). He earned his bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in electrical and computer engineering from Rice University, and he's widely seen as one of the nation's outstanding leaders in engineering research and education. In recently announcing Dr.

Tulsa Leaders Appalled at Flat Education Budget

Marshall Stewart — Tue, 22 May 2012 16:57:51 +0000

Legislative leaders and the governor’s budget deal does not include additional funding for education. School and city leaders in Tulsa say a flat budget will be devastating. Public school funding won’t increase under the budget agreement and Union Schools Superintendent Cathy Burden says it will mean cuts impacting the quality of education. She says while the district has lost millions in state funding since 2008, the number of students continues to grow.