The Nov. 2 races for state schools superintendent and attorney general offer Oklahomans four good candidates. In the race for state treasurer, one candidate clearly stands out.

Read more: NewsOK

Instead of telling voters her stance on 744, Paddack repeats 13-year old disproven claim

OKLAHOMA CITY (October 19, 2010) Susan Paddack today acknowledged she is losing her race to Janet Barresi when she launched a negative attack ad that has no basis in reality. The ad claims the successful schools founded by Janet Barresi only admit children from “elite” families. That claim is clearly false. Such actions are illegal and would violate the charter for the two schools.

“I am saddened that Susan Paddack has decided it is more important to spread falsehoods than to tell people where she stands on important issues like SQ 744,” said Jennifer Carter, Barresi’s campaign manager.

“It’s important to note that the articles cited by Susan Paddack actually prove her claims to be false. In the December 2, 1997 Daily Oklahoman article cited by Paddack’s advertisement, it clearly states ‘Parents for a New Middle School’s plan calls for a random lottery system to choose students from six feeder core-knowledge elementary schools.’ Either Susan Paddack did not even read the back-up materials for her advertising, or she is intentionally trying to mislead voters,” Carter said.

“The truth is, the two schools Janet founded have given thousands of children opportunities they would not have experienced in traditional schools. And these children come from all backgrounds,” Carter continued. “Obviously, Janet has done a great job building these schools or there would not be so many children, and their parents, wanting to be a part of them. Because both schools are so successful and demand is high, when there are more applicants than seats, the schools are filled by a lottery process that treats all applicants equally. A family’s economic status is not considered one iota.”

At Harding Charter Prep, more than three-quarters of the students receive free or reduced lunches – hardly the elitism Paddack claims. A greater percentage of students at Harding receive federal assistance than is the case for the school where Paddack chose to send her own children (According to government figures, 60.8% of Ada public school students receive free or reduced lunches).

“I’m appalled that Susan Paddack would broadcast such inaccuracies,” stated Tracy McDaniel, Principal and Founder of KIPP Academy, the state’s leading inner-city charter school. “If not for the actions of Janet Barresi, our school with a minority population of 90% could not exist in this state. I am glad she stood up then to the charges of elitism, and I’m glad she is standing up now. It does not matter the background, parents just want what’s best for their children, and political gamesmanship like that of Susan Paddack is what stands in the way of real reform.”

“I guess I should be flattered to be called ‘elite’,” stated Kinzee Rylant, a graduate of Harding Charter Prep who is featured in Barresi’s latest advertisement. “Anyone who knows my twin-sister and I lived in the homes of generous friends through much of high school would be shocked that Susan Paddack now characterizes us as being from an elite family.”

“The fact that parents and children from all backgrounds are clamoring to attend schools started by Janet Barresi is a sign of success — something Paddack fails to recognize. Janet Barresi wants to improve our traditional public schools so that interest in charter schools will wane. As Janet often says, her best day will be when the last charter school closes due to lack of interest because parents will prefer their local schools,” Carter concluded.

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“Janet shares our conservative values and will be a great leader for our schools”

U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe endorsed Janet Barresi for the post of State Schools Superintendent today.

“Janet Barresi is an education reformer who will help reinvigorate our state’s school system,” Inhofe stated. “Janet shares my commitment to local control of schools, increased parental involvement, and a commitment to student achievement.”

“To receive the support of a leading conservative like Jim Inhofe highlights the growing momentum of this campaign,” Barresi commented. “Since I first renewed my involvement in education by working to create a better school for my twin sons, I have spent the last 14 years as an active participant in education policy in Oklahoma. I have led the fight for the option of creating public charter schools and served on the Governor’s Achieving Classroom Excellence Task Force, and was involved in other efforts to increase standards and improve the system. I am humbled that Jim Inhofe sees this commitment and is willing to put his name on the line for me.”

Barresi started as a speech pathologist in the Norman and Harrah public schools. Later, at the same time she was running a successful dental practice, Barresi led a group of 125 concerned parents to launch what was then known as Independence Enterprise School. A few years later, Barresi help found Harding Charter Preparatory High School, which was recently recognized by Newsweek as the 68th best high school in America.

“Oklahoma should be proud of Janet Barresi,” Inhofe stated. “Janet believes like we do – that through hard work, high expectations and a commitment to the values that built this nation, every student can succeed. The proof rests in the two great schools she helped launch. An Oklahoma school like Harding Charter Prep is a great example of her work in our state’s education. Even though more than three-quarters of the school’s student population is near the poverty line, they have been successful in inspiring greatness among the students and test scores are exceptionally high.”

OKLAHOMA CITY (August 23, 2010) – Janet Barresi, Republican nominee for State Superintendent of Public Instruction, today announced the formation of her advisory committee on agriculture education.

“As a strong advocate of local control, I believe schools should have the ability to develop academic strategies targeted to local students. The needs of children in the core of Oklahoma City are different than the needs of students in Keyes,” Barresi said. “As a result, I am a strong supporter of agriculture education courses that introduce students to higher-level math and science content, as well as language arts, in a way that is more meaningful to many young people in rural communities.”

Barresi’s advisory committee on education includes several lawmakers who have been strong advocates for rural Oklahoma and have extensive backgrounds in agriculture education.

The advisory committee includes

• State Rep. Dale DeWitt (R-Braman), who served as an Agriculture Education Instructor at Helena-Goltry Schools and Braman Schools for 29 years;
• State Rep. Don Armes (R-Faxon), a former agriculture educator who chairs the House Agriculture & Rural Development Committee;
• State Sen. Ron Justice (R-Chickasha), a retired O.S.U. County Extension Agent who serves as chair of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Development Committee; and
• State Sen. Mike Schulz (R-Altus), a farmer and former field representative for the Oklahoma Farm Bureau.

“Having spent most of my life in agriculture education, I know how important it is that these important programs receive support from the highest levels of state government,” DeWitt said. “I am confident Janet Barresi will be a State Superintendent who supports agriculture education and rural communities.”

“Too many people think they’ve been to rural Oklahoma when they travel up and down I-35,” Armes said. “Janet Barresi knows there’s a lot more to this state than what you can see from the interstate, and I know she will work to improve every Oklahoma school – both rural and urban.”

“If we want our way of life to survive, we have to provide rural students with a quality education,” Justice said. “I believe Janet Barresi is the one candidate in this race who will actively work to make that goal a reality, and she has my strong support.”

“To make a living in farming and ranching without knowledge of high-level math and science is like trying to fish without bait,” Schulz said. “The education needs of rural students are greater than ever, and I believe Janet Barresi will actively work to help kids in rural Oklahoma achieve their dreams.”

Barresi said she would rely on the four lawmakers’ expertise, as well as the input of teachers, when dealing with rural education issues

“I greatly appreciate the support of Representatives DeWitt and Armes and Senators Justice and Schulz. No one can question their commitment to rural schools and growing Oklahoma’s agriculture economy. Their insights are both invaluable and greatly appreciated,” Barresi said. “They know, as I do, that children in rural Oklahoma must have a quality education to ultimately survive in today’s global marketplace. To overcome the challenges of marketplace fluctuations and master constantly evolving technologies impacting crop production and livestock development, tomorrow’s farmers and ranchers must have a solid foundation in math and science today. As State Superintendent, I am committed to providing every child a top-notch education, no matter where that child lives or what profession he or she wishes to pursue as an adult.”

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