OEA Educators and Clergy Conference

The 2nd annual Educators and Clergy Conference was held earlier this spring and more than 100 people -- teachers, administrators and clergy -- attended. The Conference topic was how schools and churches can work together to battle the dropout problem.

Some faith-based organizations have programs for kids while other groups and schools are looking for help and direction in this area. The speakers shared successes and challenges of their programs and also heard from representatives from the First Amendment Center about how programs can legally assist schools.

Speakers pictured above are of OEA Vice-President Becky Felts, Reverend George Young, Tulsa Schools Superintendent Keith Ballard, Charles Haynes, Senior Scholar at the First Amendment Center, Patrick McPherson of Lawton, Howard Hendricks the Director of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, Richard Klinge of Catholic Charities, Julie Roberson of St. Luke's Methodist Church and Officer Wayland Cubit of the Oklahoma City Police.

OEA Educators and Clergy Conference

On Tuesday and Wednesday, educators and clergy from across Oklahoma met in Norman at the OEA's Educators and Clergy conference to discuss the role of faith based groups in public education.

Topics of discussion included:
*Why should people of faith get involved with public schools?
*Working with challenges facing ethnic minority communities.
*Why we can't leave out faith in closing achievement gaps?
*Ethics: First Amendment Issues
*Being pro-active around religion's role in public education.

It was a tremendous gathering of a wide variety of educators, faith based leaders and administrators making a difference for great public schools.

You don't have to take my word about the success of the conference. Find out what others are saying: Oklahoman stories 1, 2, 3, 4, Oklahoman Podcast, Pastor Todd Littleton 1, 2