Sand Springs High Schoolers Say Rally Was 'Empowering'

Crowds of teachers at the capital led to quite a commute for some traveling to the education rally from Green Country. A trip that would normally take an hour and a half was about three for many local school districts.

Teachers from Charles Page High School had nine large busses in Oklahoma City on Monday. And they weren't just full of teachers; parents, grandparents, students and some children as young as three all made the trip.

But no matter how long the trip the group was going to get there no matter what, to spread their concern about funding, class size and teacher pay.

3/31/2014 Related Story: Tulsa Teachers Message At Education Rally, 'Kids First'

The school buses wrapped their way up the driveway towards Charles Page High School Monday afternoon. For those on board, their almost eight-hour long day spent pushing for better funding for Oklahoma schools, had come to an end.

Sand Springs Superintendent, Lloyd Snow, said, "We got there a little late but we made a difference. We made it into the capitol, but not all made it because it was so packed."

Snow said they endured the traffic, like everyone else. A look here from above shows buses backed up for what seems like miles. But, the group also had a bit of a delay after helping some fellow travelers.

"When we stopped, Tahlequah had several busses broke down," Snow said. "We had just enough seating on each bus to squeeze them in."

Because Green Country educators and parents were determined Monday, even little ones made it through the day.

"It was much more than teachers, there were students. My children and parents came and grandparents were all over the place. It was a great day for Oklahoma," said Rusty Gunn, a Sand Springs board member.

Snow said, "There's more we can do, and should do. It's a matter of priorities and is children a priority or not in Oklahoma?"

A word that was heard over and over, especially from the high school students that went to Oklahoma City, empowering.