Letter to the Editor: Please vote for April Grace for State Superintendent

Dear Editor, I am writing to implore your readers to Vote for April Grace for State Superintendent on Tuesday, August 23.

As an educator in a rural community, I see this as a crucial election for rural districts and towns across our state. April’s opponent is working toward increasing the diversion of public tax dollars to private schools. This would decimate our rural schools.

Can you imagine even less funding in our local schools than we are currently operating with?

April has the experience to lead our public schools. April’s opponent has 8 years of teaching experience. April has 33 years of experience in urban, suburban, and rural areas.

Her experience includes being a teacher, principal, and superintendent.

In 2020, April’s peers selected her as the Oklahoma Superintendent of the Year.

April is successful in her collaboration with fellow administrators, teachers, parents, and students, which is crucial to the duties of the State Superintendent. If you currently have students (children, grandchildren, close friends,...) in public schools, you know the struggle districts are facing to find qualified teachers when they have vacancies to fill.

April has ideas to attract and retain teachers and works with the administration to find innovative ways that will work for each district’s situation.

April’s opponent is proposing a teacher retention incentive that will target only a few teachers in each district and will cost the school thousands of dollars, taking those dollars away from your students’ classrooms.

I ask that you please get to your polling place next week on Tuesday, August 23 and vote for April Grace.

She is the best Republican candidate for the position of State Superintendent and by far the best choice for our rural schools.

Mindy Tripp 4th Grade Teacher Blackwell, OK