Tulsa World
State Superintendent Janet Barresi’s campaign fired back Friday after two education groups urged Oklahomans on Thursday to support a “no confidence” petition drive against her.
“The fact that those guarding their own kingdoms are against the state’s leading reform advocate is not a surprise,” Barresi’s campaign manager Robyn Matthews said in a statement. “This same group literally turned their backs on Janet when she first went to speak to them before the 2010 elections.
“They are upset that Janet has exposed how they could give teachers a $2,000 increase in pay by just reprioritizing a small percentage of administrative overhead,” she said. “The truth is, the people have no confidence in this education establishment that has run over parents and bowed to the liberal trade unions.”
Steven Crawford, executive director of the Cooperative Council for Oklahoma School Administration, and Ryan Owens, executive director of the United Suburban Schools Association, issued a joint press statement Thursday criticizing Barresi’s leadership of state schools.
“We are not surprised that parents would start this petition of no confidence in the state superintendent. During her tenure, Janet Costello Barresi has limited the voices of parents, teachers and local communities in education matters,” they said.
As of Thursday, the “No On Barresi” petition had about 10,200 signatures. View the online petition at noonbarresi.com.
