Karen Leonard

The February 2026 Regular Meeting Agenda for the State Board of Education included several key items. The agenda covers the call to order, roll call, pledges, Superintendent's Remarks, and Departmental Updates from Deputy Superintendents. Significant discussion and possible action items involve Emergency (Provisional) Teacher Certification, convening into Executive Session, and addressing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law based on Administrative Law Judge recommendations, specifically concerning Ronald Sanders. Further agenda points include motions for mandatory revocation of teaching certificates for Essence Fields, Shawna Kathrein, Jordan Caldwell, and Anothony Deason, as well as a motion regarding dismissal proceedings for Forrest Mazey. The agenda also addresses litigation discussions and new business.

The key discussion topics for this meeting include the possible action on the minutes from the December 2025 meeting. The Board will discuss and potentially adopt, disapprove, or modify the proposed Oklahoma Academic Standards for Physical Education and Health. Significant time will be dedicated to discussing the adoption, disapproval, or modification of proposed permanent administrative rules across several chapters, including amendments and revocations related to Due Process, General Provisions, Student Assessment, Special Education, the Strong Readers Act, and the Oklahoma Math Achievement and Proficiency Act. The agenda also includes discussion and possible action on emergency (provisional) teacher certifications requested by school districts and a decision regarding the accreditation approval for Nature Field Creative Academy. Furthermore, the Board is scheduled to convene into Executive Session to discuss matters including applications to revoke teaching certificates for John Warrior and Daniel Dressler, a motion to dismiss and reinstate Kimberly Coody's certificate following a settlement, and Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law concerning Betty Jo Planta-Lewis.

The meeting addressed several administrative and departmental matters. Key discussions and possible actions included the approval of the minutes from the November 20, 2025, Regular Meeting, departmental updates, discussion regarding exceptions for emergency (provisional) teacher certifications, and consideration of Oklahoma Cost Accounting System (OCAS) penalty waiver requests. The Board transitioned into and returned from Executive Session to discuss sensitive matters. Furthermore, the Board addressed applications to revoke teacher certificates, issuing emergency suspensions for certain individuals and denying a request for dismissal of an application to revoke. Finally, the Board voted on accepting Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law concerning revocation hearings, opting to dismiss certain applications under a condition of one year probation.

This Consolidated State Plan, also referred to as the Oklahoma ESSA Plan, outlines the long-term strategic direction for Oklahoma's education system, reflecting the OSDE's 8-Year Strategic Plan, 'Oklahoma Edge'. The plan focuses on four key pillars: Academic Success, Exceptional Educators and Schools, Engaged Communities, and Internal Capacity. It sets ambitious goals for 2032, including achieving top 20 national rankings in NAEP scores, a 50% reduction in post-high school remediation, a top 10 state graduation rate, 100% Individual Career Academic Plan development, 75% early childhood reading readiness, and a 95% reduction in emergency-certified teachers, all aimed at preparing students for college, career, and life.

The meeting addressed administrative items, including the approval of the minutes for the November 20, 2025, regular meeting and the adoption of the proposed regular meeting dates for 2026. Departmental updates were provided by Deputy Superintendents of Instruction and Operations. Key actions involved the approval of requests for exceptions to teacher certification regulations (Emergency/Provisional Teacher Certification), approval of exemptions from library media certification requirements for the 2025-2026 school year, and approval of library-media services exemptions for the same period. The Board also approved a petition for a four-day school week waiver and a statutory waiver for flexibility in using allocated textbook funds. Further discussions and actions included the disapproval of issuing accreditation warnings to certain schools, approval for accreditation of specified private schools, and approval of suggested literacy and math screeners. The Board convened into and returned from Executive Session to discuss sensitive matters. Additionally, the appointment of Dr. Hembree as Executive Secretary was approved, emergency suspensions of teaching certificates were ordered, and a settlement agreement concerning a revocation application was accepted. The Board also discussed pending litigation matters and approved the Teacher Certification Production Report for November 2025.