Educators Call For Vaccine Priority In Joint Letter To State Leaders

Several local educator groups and officials are calling on the state of Oklahoma to give them COVID-19 vaccination priority since they have been working on the front lines of the pandemic, just like many others.

In a joint letter released by Tulsa Public Schools Superintendent Deborah Gist, Tulsa Classroom Teachers Association President Shawna Mott-Wright, and American Federation of Teachers 6049 President Nancy Leonard said that prioritizing educators and other school team members for COVID-19 vaccination is necessary.

“All across the country, states have prioritized teachers and other school team members for the COVID-19 vaccine. We simply believe Oklahoma should do the same, which is why we continue to advocate for teachers, and our team, to be a higher priority in our state.”

The letter specifies that at the very least, their special education staff should be vaccinated as soon as possible since they work around many children who are at high risk of contracting the virus.

“At minimum, this should include our special education teachers and paraprofessionals who work with our students with special needs who are typically not able to wear masks, which places them at greater risk.”

Those educators say they have been doing their part and so have the children, but it’s time to vaccinate teachers and get kids back in school safely.

“Our students, teachers, parents, and community deserve better. Oklahoma deserves better. Our children are watching and waiting.”

There has not been any official response from the state level regarding the letter.