Yard Signs, Volunteers & Financial Support

You’ve been asking for them, and now we have them – yard signs! Now that the campaign is kicking into high gear, we need your help more than ever. Placing one of my signs in your yard or in front of your business is much appreciated as we work to increase my name ID and spread my message of education reform. However, we can also use more volunteers and, of course, your financial support is always welcome.

The past few weeks have been very busy and included some very exciting news. First, Harding Charter Preparatory High School (one of the two public charter schools I helped launch) has again been named one of the best schools in the nation by Newsweek.

Last year, Harding was ranked 193rd out of the 1600 top high schools in the country. This year, we surged to 68th best in the nation. That achievement occurred with a student population where 77 percent of kids come from low-income homes and receive free or reduced lunches. And, unlike some private schools or magnet schools, our success was not due to cherry picking students. Anyone living in the Oklahoma City school district can attend Harding; there is no test required for admittance.

Harding’s success is due to high expectations and solid teaching strategies. I want to take the lessons learned at Harding over the past seven years and apply them to all Oklahoma schools. Those who claim Oklahoma children cannot outperform students in other states are wrong and our experience at Harding proves it.

I have also been endorsed by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, a leader in education reform in that state. I greatly admire Gov. Bush’s work and success in improving Florida’s education system and believe the fact that our campaign has now received national attention from prominent reform advocates shows we are on the right track.

While I am excited about the progress of the campaign, we cannot afford to be complacent. We need your help and active support more than ever. For those who think we can simply sit back and coast to the primary, I have just two words: Alvin Greene. Greene recently became the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in South Carolina in spite of the fact that he had done no campaigning, was completely unknown, and his opponent had spent money on advertising.

To become State Superintendent, I know I have to earn your vote in both the primary and general election, and I am actively working to win this race.

But I definitely need your help. To get a sign, donate or join the campaign as a volunteer, go to http://www.janetbarresi.com/join

Together, we can win this race and improve the lives of all Oklahoma children. Thank you for your support.