As the week winded down, Governor Kevin Stitt named four new people to sit on the Oklahoma State Board of Education. Jennifer Monies, Brian Bobek, Estela Hernandez and Kurt Bollenbach were appointed to the Board on Friday. Stitt retained William “Bill” Flanagan on the board. He named Carlisha Williams Bradley to the board on April 1.
“Each of our new board members is a qualified leader who is passionate about education in our state,” said Stitt. “They will bring strong representation from across Oklahoma in order to help invest in and guide the direction of our public school system. I look forward to working with the entire board as we move toward Top Ten status in education.”
Monies is the Senior Director of Public Affairs for Saxum, has worked as a political journalist and served in the House Speaker’s Office and the Senate President Pro Tempore’s Office.
Brian Bobek is an account manager for BP Lubricants. He also is the head of local outreach to Capitol Hill High School in Oklahoma City and created a free ACT prep night for the students.
Estela Hernandez is in the construction and real estate business. She’s served as the Vice Chair of the Oklahoma Republican Party, Vice President of Engagement for the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, and sat on the Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women.
Kurt Bollenbach is an oil and gas operator for Teocalli Exploration. He’s an attorney and served as a U.S. Army Judge Advocate General.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister enjoyed working with the outgoing members of the Board, but looks forward to the fresh faces.
“General Lee Baxter, Cathy Franks, Bill Price and Bob Ross have served on the State Board with distinction, passion and genuine commitment to Oklahoma’s schoolchildren. I will miss working with each one, and I thank them for their service on the board,” Hofmeister said.
“At the same time, I am excited by the appointments announced today by Governor Stitt. I already have had the honor of working with Estela Hernandez and Jennifer Monies; I know both to be tireless and exceptional advocates for strong public education. I look forward to getting to know Brian Bobek and Kurt Bollenbach. We all have hard work ahead of us, but there is reason for great optimism.”
