Today, the former Frederick Douglass High School building is overgrown with wildflowers, weeds and scrubby trees. A jumble of broken concrete marks the front entrance. But, having served as the segregated high school for the city’s black students from 1934 to 1955, the site was a “hub” of education and culture for the black community, […]
Emily Jerman
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Critics: Statehood ceremony perpetuates stereotypes
For 100 years, a mock wedding ceremony between Mr. Oklahoma Territory and Miss Indian Territory has been re-enacted. The ceremony is symbolic of Oklahoma entering the union as the 46th state on Nov. 16, 1907. In conjunction with an official centennial project, the latest re-enactment unfolds 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the historic Foreman Prairie House […]
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Capitol portrait honoring civil rights trailblazer unveiled
A long-envisioned effort to honor civil rights pioneer Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher with a portrait in the state Capitol rotunda finally came to fruition Tuesday. Oklahoma Arts Council Executive Director Betty Price; Bruce Fisher, son of the late Sipuel Fisher; and artist Mitsuno Reedy unveiled the oil piece during an 11 a.m. program in […]
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OKC Public Schools hires new deputy superintendent
Oklahoma City Public Schools will open next fall with a new deputy superintendent, the district announced Thursday. OKCPS named Memphis, Tenn., school administrator Brenda Cassellius to the position, in which she will head up “planning, development, assessment, and improvement of instruction and educational programs,” according to a release. ACCOMPLISHMENTS Cassellius has been serving […]
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OKC school system earns another clean audit
The Oklahoma City Public Schools district garnered a clean audit for the fourth year in a row, district officials announced Tuesday. The report refers to the 2005-2006 school year. According to the audit, performed by public accounting firm Cole & Reed, revenues for the school year were about $255 million, and the fund balance […]
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Yukon boy among national geography bee finalists
A Yukon eighth-grader joined the ranks of geography gurus this week, making it among the top 10 finalists in the National Geographic Bee in Washington, D.C. Lakeview Middle School student Tyler Bowen, 14, advanced to Wednesday’s final round of the annual bee after acing a preliminary contest Tuesday against 54 other state- and territory-level […]
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Norman boathouse teaches sailing to kids
Norman’s Lake Thunderbird BoatHouse quietly passed its fifth year last month. With the help of many partners, the nonprofit provides programs ranging from an annual fishing derby for disabled children to first-aid certification and a regatta for kids. But, perhaps most visibly, programming has taken the form of sailing classes, including those for children. “(We) […]
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Late civil rights activist is first black woman honored with rotunda portrait
After more than a decade of planning, Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher will join black and white male leaders and a handful of women honored in paint next month in the state Capitol rotunda. The late Chickasha native, who paved the way for desegregation in higher education in Oklahoma, will be the first black woman featured […]
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Garrett criticizes report flunking state education
State superintendent Sandy Garrett released a statement today in response to a recently publicized report criticizing Oklahoma’s education system, giving the state’s academic achievement an “F.” The U.S. Chamber of Commerce “Leaders and Laggards” report ranked Oklahoma 42nd out of all states and Washington, D.C. Garrett criticized it for using old data ” from 2003 […]
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OKC’s MAPS for Kids garners district recognition
MAPS for Kids efforts garnered Oklahoma City Public Schools an award in a nationwide contest this month. The district earned honorable mention honors in the American School Board Journal’s 2007 Magna Awards, which were presented in San Francisco Monday. The awards this year celebrated districts with programs that further community engagement and academic achievement through […]