Educators Ask For COVID-19 Vaccine Priority In Joint Statement
Tulsa Public schools and the educator’s association sent out a news release asking the state to prioritize Tulsa public teachers for the COVID-19 vaccine.
The statement asks for the prioritization for educators and team members to get the vaccine.
Right now, only teachers and staff over 65 are eligible for the vaccine.
“We’re not seeking to prioritize our team members who have other health risks above other Oklahomans, but rather to allow us that when vaccinations are available that we are able to start to vaccinate those members of our team who have health risks, and at the same time are serving every single day on the front lines, said Dr. Deborah Gist, Tulsa Public Schools Superintendent.
Tulsa Public Schools
With the district a frequent target of criticism from Gov. Kevin Stitt for not offering in-person instruction due to high local rates of COVID-19 infection, representatives from Tulsa Public Schools administration, faculty and support staff issued a joint statement Thursday calling for educators to be placed higher in the state s vaccine priority structure. 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, reads the statement, issued jointly by TPS Superintendent Dr. Deborah Gist, Tulsa Classroom Teachers Association President Shawna Mott-Wright, and American Federation of Teachers Local 6049 President Nancy Leonard.
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.”
Educators Ask For COVID-19 Vaccine Priority In Joint Statement
Tulsa Public schools and the educator’s association sent out a news release asking the state to prioritize Tulsa public teachers for the COVID-19 vaccine.
The statement asks for the prioritization for educators and team members to get the vaccine.
Right now, only teachers and staff over 65 are eligible for the vaccine.
“We’re not seeking to prioritize our team members who have other health risks above other Oklahomans, but rather to allow us that when vaccinations are available that we are able to start to vaccinate those members of our team who have health risks, and at the same time are serving every single day on the front lines, said Dr. Deborah Gist, Tulsa Public Schools Superintendent.
Tulsa Classroom Teachers Union Pushes For Work-From-Home Option
Working from the classroom or home should be an option for teachers, according to the Tulsa Classroom Teachers Union.
TPS leaders said their teachers work the best from their classrooms, even though those classrooms are empty right now because students are learning from home. The teacher s union said some teachers prefer to choose.
Shawna Mott-Wright is the President of Tulsa Classroom Teachers Association and said with COVID-19 numbers rising, both in the district and across the state, many teachers said they want to work from home. If I can give them my best from my home, why then do you cause unnecessary anxiety by forcing me to teach from somewhere else? Mott-Wright said.