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February 16, 2010

Barresi on the ballot

David Laughlin

For those who do not know who Janet Baressi is, it’s a good time to learn. Baressi is running for State School Superintendent. Who she is, is not nearly as important as what she stands for and what she wants to do to improve the educational system of Oklahoma.

One may think an extensive career in education is necessary for the position. Baressi thinks otherwise. Not to be mistaken, her resume is extensive, she earned a degree in education and a Masters degree in speech pathology. She worked in the Harrah and Norman school districts as a speech pathologist.

Baressi changed gears, in 1984, she earned a DDS degree and opened a family and restorative dental practice. This apparent hiatus appears to be a departure from valuable experience but it wasn’t. Baressi said, “With dentistry, I learned entrepreneurship and business skills that I feel are beneficial.”

Baressi has been instrumental in the development of two charter school in Oklahoma. Baressi said charter school offer full transparency and full accountability, characteristics Baressi feels are necessary to all arenas of the educational hierarchy. Baressi said, “I learned what can happen without restrictions.”

Baressi said both schools teach all pre-advanced placement, or advanced placement courses. Each school offers seven languages for students to choose from. Even though she played an important role in the development of two charter schools, she doesn’t believe every school districts needs charter schools.

On her first day in office, Baressi plans to conduct an agency wide audit and she plans to look at more rigorous standards for students.

“We have what are called minimum education standards, they are meant to be the floor, but we are using them as the ceiling in our schools,” Baressi said. “Right now, we are stressing teaching and not learning. We need to teach our children to be intellectually curious.”

One of the ways Barresi wants to improve education is to integrate technology into the learning process. Baressi said, “We need to blow open the walls on education.”

Baressi believes in local control of schools.

“I believe a community knows best on how to educate their children,” Baressi said. “The state department shouldn’t act as a bureaucracy, but an outreach for the local schools.”

Baressi is against school consolidation. Baressi said, “In every state that has consolidated schools, their test results haven’t improved.”

Improved curriculum is important to Baressi. She believes a work-ready curriculum needs to be equivalent to college-ready curriculum. Baressi said, “We need to place an emphasis on thinking.”

The Primary election is July 27, and the general election is Nov. 2.

The rigors of a statewide campaign can be mentally and physically taxing for anyone, but for Janet Barresi, it’s an opportunity to preach her gospel, the good news of reform.



— David Laughlin is a reporter for The Duncan Banner. He can be reached at 580-255-5354, Ext. 144, or via e-mail at david.laughlin@duncanbanner.com.

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