As I promised -- if Tulsa-area school board candidates will send me their contact information and something about their candidacy, I'll post it, in advance of next Tuesday's school board elections. Here's the first and only candidate who's taken me up on the offer so far.
Dr. Jim Baker is the incumbent member of the Tulsa Technology Center Board of Education for Office 7.
First, here is Dr. Baker's contact information: Phone number 918-299-3491, e-mail is jim.baker@att.net
You'll find his bio after the jump.
I received the information from Jonathan Goodwin, someone I met when I was helping to make get-out-the-vote effort at Tulsa County Republican HQ. Jonathan is now working with Dr. Baker's campaign, and he tells me that Baker, a two-term incumbent, is the conservative candidate in the race. He pointed out that Baker's opponent, Bud Sanders, ran in 2002 as a Democrat in State House district 68 against Chris Benge, the Republican incumbent. In that race, Sanders supported a general tax increase and was endorsed by the unions and the Tulsa Whirled.
The following was submitted by Dr. Baker's campaign:
Dr. Jim Baker manages a dual role in education as both a long-time successful vocational-technical teacher and the Zone 7 member of the Tulsa Technology Board since 1988. During his time as a classroom teacher, Dr. Baker received five local and state teachers of the year awards, including “Oklahoma Vocational Teacher of the Year.” Dr. Baker’s background in education serves him well as a board member by providing the perspective as a practitioner in formulating policy-making decisions.Not only has Dr. Baker served in all executive positions of the Board, but he has also gained a reputation as a guardian of the taxpayers’ money. Dr. Baker played a key role in developing a financial plan resulting in the saving of 10 million taxpayer dollars in the building of Riverside Campus. He also led an effort that led to the reduction of the cost per program of 42% and an increase of 45% in modern innovative technical programs. Because of these efforts, Baker was named to the Oklahoma State Boards Association “All State School Board,” a select group of five board members from more than 3,500 members across the state.
Dr. Baker holds an earned doctorate in Occupation and Adult Education from Oklahoma State University. He lives in Jenks with his wife Paula, who is a counselor at the Jenks Alternative School. He has two grown daughters, Lauren who is a special education teacher at Catoosa Public Schools and Melisa who works at Oyster River Junior High in Durham, New Hampshire, while attending Graduate School at the University of New Hampshire.
As a visionary, Dr. Jim Baker plays a key role in Tulsa Technology Center’s next stage in delivering services to the Tulsa community.Dr. Baker’s successful tenure in his first two terms on the Tulsa Technology Center Board of Education has only set the stage for the TTC 10-year master plan. Dr. Baker plays a key role in working with the facilities committee in developing a plan that will bring Tulsa Technology Center to new heights in CareerTech education. The plan includes: building a new high tech automotive service training facility at the Southeast campus near Bixby, a state-of-the-art medical training center on the Memorial campus, and a new campus in Owasso. Because of the 10 million dollar savings on the Riverside campus and the reduction of program costs by 42%, the 10-year master plan will be accomplished without any increases in taxes.
OK, the rest of you candidates -- send me something!
