Tulsa School Board Office 5: Kelsey Royce questionnaire response

1. Educational philosophy: Modern, faddish, technology-driven approaches to instruction are failing to deliver the promised educational results. An increasing number of families are opting for a traditional approach to learning known as the classical trivium -- grammar, logic, and rhetoric -- described in Dorothy Sayers' essay, "The Lost Tools of Learning." In elementary years, known as the grammar stage, the classical approach emphasizes memorization of facts and methods, which gives children a sense of mastery and accomplishment and provides a solid foundation for subsequent learning. This type of curriculum is used in traditional public schools (e.g., Chicago Public Schools), in public charter schools (e.g., Great Hearts in Arizona and Texas), in private schools, and by homeschool families. As a school board member, would you support introducing a classical curriculum in schools where modern methods are failing? Do you believe the School Board has the authority and responsibility to direct the curriculum and educational philosophy of TPS, or do you believe the board should always defer to the Superintendent on those issues?

What I am is anti-gimmick. Lately, we have seen pilot programs tied to grants or paid for with donor dollars proliferating in our classrooms - programs unproven in their efficacy and being tested on our children. Fads in education come and go. This lack of consistency at TPS is a problem and we do need to get back to basics.

Board members are not just stewards of public education - sometimes it is necessary for an intervention. More important than taxpayer money is a child's time. There are important developmental windows in the education that close and are harder to open again when inappropriate curriculum is utilized.

2. Patriotism: For earlier generations, patriotism was a common theme of public education, uniting students without respect to race, class, religion, or ethnic heritage. Should TPS seek to encourage a sense of pride and gratitude in American history and a special love of country? Do you personally consider the existence of the United States of America as a blessing to be celebrated or a tragedy to be mourned?

The story of America is our story for a more perfect union as we strive every day to do better. I do believe in celebrating our democratic ideals; to hold them true, history must be a part of public education. I would also add that public schools must teach history so that in our striving for this more perfect union, we don't repeat the mistakes of our predecessors. Look no further than the history of Indian Country to understand that our history is complex and as rife with tragedy as opportunity.

We must also reintroduce a comprehensive civics curriculum to engage and educate our children so that they may honor their responsibility to carry forward our striving to create a more perfect union.

3. Oklahoma history and the Land Run: Re-enactments of the 1889 Land Run every April are a fun tradition to help elementary students connect with the history of our state. But activists have claimed, contrary to the historical record, that the Land Run was an act of genocide, and have persuaded Oklahoma City Public Schools to ban re-enactments of the event that created Oklahoma City itself. Do you support or oppose holding 1889 Land Run re-enactments in Tulsa schools?

Previously mentioned, look no further than the history of Indian Country to know that our history is complex and that many voices comprise it. To honor this history, our history, the full story must be told - otherwise we cheat our children. The Land Run can't be taught in a vacuum - the full story must be told - it is a great one and not a simple one.

While Land Run reenactments could be seen as school tradition, we must not engage in celebration if, in doing so, a full understanding of our history is lost on our children. If we hide our history, we are cheating our kids. Comprehensive history means including such events as the Trail of Tears and the effects of the Dawes Act.

4. Music in schools: Numerous studies establish the developmental and behavioral benefits of singing and making music in early childhood. Do you support or oppose making music a standard part of elementary education?

Music should be a standard part of public elementary education across our district. Some of our culture's most influential figures are graduates from Tulsa Public Schools - take TPS grad Leon Russell, one of the originators of the Tulsa Sound as an example. Just think of how many musical geniuses we've lost by allowing music programs to be cut!

Music plays a role in teaching our children how to think not what to think. We must strengthen our music programs and support our music teachers by listening to their needs and must make meeting these needs a priority. I will never vote to cut Music and the Arts in our schools.

5. Protecting female spaces: Superintendent Gist has decreed that transgender students "have the right to use restrooms, locker rooms, and other facilities that are consistent with their gender identity." But girls and young women across the country have expressed a preference for female-only spaces and feel vulnerable if forced to share private spaces with males. Gender self-identification opens the door for males to feign transgender identity to gain access to private female spaces. Female athletes are being pushed out of opportunities for victories and scholarships by stronger and faster males who claim to be transgender. How would you change TPS policy to protect female-only spaces and female athletic opportunity?

For the protection of our children, the privacy of every student must be protected. Whether this in the locker room or database, the privacy of all of our kids must be respected.

6. Foundations: The George Kaiser Family Foundation has been a generous donor to many initiatives around Tulsa, but many citizens are concerned that GKFF's generosity has come with strings attached, not only for non-profit beneficiaries, but for government entities as well. GKFF-affiliated donors are often found on the campaign disclosure forms of candidates for local office. Should the Tulsa School Board always defer to the wishes of GKFF and other generous benefactors? Are there any situations where the school board have refused a request of GKFF or other foundations or refused a grant?

This is a topic that I'm hearing parents bring up more and more. This is something I am concerned about as well. No single person or entity should have more influence on the policies set by our Board of Education than do constituents. The Board of Education is where the integrity of our democratically elected representatives hold the administration accountable. I do not know of any instance where the school board has refused a request of GKFF or other foundations or refused to pass a grant. All programs should rise or sink on their own merits. The loudest voice in the room should not drown out the voices of our children.

7. Federal grants: Federal grants also come with strings attached. Would you support a review of all TPS federal grants to determine whether the benefit of the grant is greater than the cost of compliance and loss of control?

As with any grant or funding that comes with stipulations, it is the duty of the Board to understand what is being agreed to and the benefits must weighed against the costs of implementation every time.

However, taking the situation facing our Indian Education Department as an example, it is because Title VI and JOM (Johnson O'Malley) are federally funded, that they are not subject to the District's manufactured $20M shortfall. This department's funding is protected by Federal stipulations and, as a result, revealed our district administration to have been less than honest in recommending cuts.

8. Oversight and accountability: As a member of the Tulsa School Board, you would be part of the Legislative Branch of school government, with a duty to act as a check and balance on the Executive Branch: Superintendent Gist and her administration. What recent actions or policies of the Superintendent and her administration have received strong pushback from the School Board? On what sorts of issues would you, as a School Board member, seek to exercise oversight of the TPS administration?

The greatest pushback has come from the recent school closures. No details were provided as to where the exact savings would come from. A glossy PowerPoint presentation is no substitute for a comprehensive report. The administration began implementing the proposed closures before a vote of the governing authority had been made and parents notified before a final decision was enacted. Instead of being accountable, this administration views the Board's authority as a formality which is completely disrespectful to the citizens.

We're not getting our money's worth from the current admin.

Feel free to add any information that you'd like to pass along to the voters:

My grandmother attended Barnard Elementary and stayed connected with her kindergarten classmates until she passed away. I'm the 3rd generation in my family to graduate from Tulsa Public Schools and my twin daughters are our family's 4th generation currently attending TPS. I draw inspiration from my late grandfather, Jack Story, who taught me the power of ideas, the importance of hard work, and the value of a strong team. A small group of Tulsans and my grandfather were able to take a long-shot idea and turn it into a reality. That long-shot dream - the Port of Catoosa - something that makes Tulsa better.

My grandfather inspires me every day as I do my part to make Tulsa better. With the lessons he taught me, I know that good ideas, perseverance, and team work, great things will happen again at Tulsa Public Schools.