Joy Hofmeister was endorsed today by three former state education officials, representing four recent Oklahoma governors. The three education leaders represent more than a century of experience as leaders in education, and have represented Democrat and Republican administrations.
The three include former Democrat State Superintendent Sandy Garrett, who was education secretary to both Governors Henry Bellmon and David Walters, Secretary Phyllis Hudecki, who served Governor Mary Fallin and former Secretary Floyd Coppedge who served Governor Frank Keating.
“I’m honored today to be endorsed by three experienced leaders who are among the most accomplished education experts in Oklahoma today. I believe their endorsement is about picking the right state superintendent to move education forward with a positive plan to accomplish our goals,” Hofmeister said.
Garrett, who was the first woman and longest serving state superintendent in Oklahoma history, served Republican Governor Henry Bellmon and then Democrat Governor David Walters. She was elected as the state superintendent in 1990 and garnered more votes than any other Democrat on the ticket.
“I’m supporting Joy Hofmeister because education should not be a partisan issue,” said Garrett. “We need a state superintendent who can successfully implement reform and advocate for education. That person is Joy Hofmeister. Joy has dedicated her life to education, and I have no question that she is passionate in her commitment. What sets her apart is that Joy Hofmeister can be effective.
“Joy will be a superintendent for teachers. I believe teachers need an advocate at this critical time in our state’s history as we are witnessing an exodus of educators from the profession.
“We also need a leader who can collaborate at the state Capitol to achieve our goals. Joy has demonstrated an ability to build coalitions, and that is desperately needed if we are to put a renewed focus on education in Oklahoma. Our next state superintendent has to be effective,” Garrett said.
Former Education Secretary Phyllis Hudecki said when Hofmeister served on the state Board of Education, “she studied the issues, gathered input from stakeholders and voted her conscience, even when she had to stand alone.
“She was fearless in doing so, but only after she collaborated with practitioners and stakeholders to understand the real impact of her vote. That is leadership. Joy’s broad scope of experience gives her an understanding of education policy, which is important as we move forward,” said Dr. Hudecki, who served as education secretary for Governor Mary Fallin.
Dr. Floyd Coppedge, education secretary for Governor Frank Keating, said, “I am supporting Joy Hofmeister because I believe she has the skills needed to get the job done. She has the professional, relational and academic experience necessary to lead the state to a standard of excellence that we can all be proud of.
“We share a vision of seeing a cooperative, working relationship between the state Department of Education and educators across the state. The State Department should be a service agency, not a monitoring agency, and I believe Joy is the candidate to achieve this goal,” said Coppedge.
Get to know Dr. John Cox and what he stands for.
Hudecki and Coppedge are shills for the State Chamber, just like Mary Fallin. Sandy must be getting senile. She knows Hoffmeister has no administrative experience in public education. Joy is quite charming but she does not know how to navigate around the politics of the Okla. legislature let alone the state school superintendents and teachers. She is cut from the same cloth as Baressi.
Hofmeister could not get a job in a public school in Oklahoma. She does not currently hold an Oklahoma license therefore couldn’t even get a teaching job much less ANY type of administrative job in a public school. I’m not sure how running a tutoring business in Tulsa makes her qualified to be a state superintendent. I keep hearing she is a “life long educator” but she has not taught in Oklahoma ever and taught in Texas for a year or so 20 years ago…. It’s almost like having a dentist being state superintendent!! Wake up people! Do some investigating before you check a box Tuesday!
It is an insult to educators to say that Joy is qualified to be the state supertindent. She is not qualified.