Teachers React To OKCPS Return To Campus Decision

Oklahoma City Public Schools officials said teacher input influenced the decision to start a student return to campus in October.

Originally, the Oklahoma City Public School Board was discussing bringing students back to the classrooms next week.

“There was some discussion about trying to get pre-K and kindergarten kids back this month, the 21st or the 28th ,” OKCPS Superintendent Sean McDaniel said.

Intervention from the OKC chapter of the American Federation of Teachers encouraged the district to push back the return to campus.

“We’re going to pump the breaks on that after lots of good feedback from parents and families, from our teachers, from our union partners at the ATF,” McDaniel said.

Following that discussion with the AFT, the school board decided, earlier this week, to begin bringing students back in October.

The preliminary plan is to begin allowing pre-K and kindergarten students to campus on an A/B model, with other grades to eventually follow.

“I am thankful for all the teachers who reached out and spoke up and voiced their concerns and for the board members comments and questions,” AFT-OKC President Torie Shoecraft said.

Shoecraft said reaction from members has been mixed in anticipation of the start of this gradual return to in-person learning.

“There have definitely been mixed emotions for teachers regarding having students return to in person instruction, with some teachers who are ready to have their students back right this second, and others who felt the district’s proposal to return was premature,” Shoecraft said.