By Emma Murphy | Reporter
“There’s a lot of talk about recruiting teachers. The real problem is keeping teachers. Everything we can do to help those teachers be successful in this program is super exciting.” - Lindel Fields of retaining Oklahoma teachers
Tammy Cramer’s dock is now on dry land as lake levels have dropped at Cedar Lake near Hinton, Okla., Wednesday, July 15, 2026. (Photo by Nate Billings/For Oklahoma Voice)
By Barbara Hoberock
Dozens of angry property owners on Tuesday filled a state agency board room demanding the removal of dams that they said are draining their way of life.
Wearing stickers that read “Got Water? We Don’t” and “Save Cedar Lake. Vote No!,” residents accused the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, which is tasked with policing water issues, of doing nothing to help them after they said a neighboring property owner dammed streams feeding the lake they live on without obtaining proper permitting. They filed a complaint months ago seeking assistance.
Residents of the Cedar Lake community, located about 45 miles west of Oklahoma City, said the dams have caused the water in Cedar Lake to drop dramatically, leaving once-floating boat docks sitting on dry land and has contributed to their drinking wells going dry. They also warned they posed a hazard should they fail.
Former state Superintendent Ryan Walters speaks during a meeting of the Oklahoma State Board of Education on Sept. 25 in Oklahoma City. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice)
By Nuria Martinez-Keel
Taxpayers will cover $132,000 in lawsuit settlements owed to two fired Oklahoma State Department of Education employees who sued former state Superintendent Ryan Walters and his senior adviser.
Warner Elementary teacher Pam White directs a student to complete a math problem on the whiteboard in her fourth-grade math classroom on Dec. 10 in Warner. Fewer fully certified teachers, like White, are entering Oklahoma public schools today. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice)
By Nuria Martinez-Keel
State leaders say they’re still pursuing solutions to reverse a yearslong decline in traditionally trained teachers entering the classroom, all while emergency certified educators continue to fill essential teaching roles.
ICYMI
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