Oklahoma Citizens for Education

05/05/2026

Day 2 of Teacher Appreciation Week! Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Today we showed up with a whole lot of tacos, a big pot of our famous OCE queso, and even bigger appreciation for the incredible staff at Millwood High School

As we served tacos and nachos, we had the opportunity to connect with educators, school workers, and staff members who show up every single day for Oklahoma students. What stood out most was the energy in the building. The passion, positivity, and commitment these educators carry with them. These are the kinds of people who truly make a difference.

One of the best parts of this week is not just getting to serve schools, but getting to connect with the people inside them. We heard stories, learned about the amazing things happening at Millwood, shared resources, and most importantly, made sure these educators felt appreciated and seen.

If you haven’t already, take a moment to thank a teacher or school worker this week. This is their week, and they deserve every bit of appreciation we can give.

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week, y’all!

05/04/2026

Hi y‘all! It’s our favorite time of the year!

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!

We kicked off a week of celebration at Putnam City West alongside The Advocate Group at EPIQUE Realty, community volunteers, and our griddles serving up some well deserved appreciation to an incredible staff.

On this May the 4th (be with you)… may the appreciation be felt.

This week (and every week), we’re reminded that our teachers and school workers are the ones pouring into the future of our state and our country… our students. They deserve not just recognition, but real, ongoing support.

Hats off to the amazing team at Putnam City West. What a wonderful group of people. It was truly an honor to serve you, and we look forward to seeing you again.

Millwood High School … are you ready for Taco Tuesday? Just wait until you try our famous OCE queso.

Let’s keep showing up for the people who power learning.

04/19/2026

To say we are proud is an understatement.

Seeing moments like this with local businesses stepping up, students being celebrated, and communities coming together is exactly what this is all about.

A huge thank you to Blue Daisy Flowers & Gifts in Elmore City for creating a space to showcase these incredible bookmark designs and for inviting our winners in to celebrate. What a special moment.

Let’s give another round of applause to these talented students and to the many Oklahomans working behind the scenes to make initiatives like this possible.

This is how we lift up education. Together.

Go check out one of the many locations across Oklahoma to pick up your very own bookmark!
Or click the link below to have one shipped directly to you: https://www.okcitizensedu.org/get-involved -u

Congratulations Sara Johnson, Leah Cornforth, and Addi Loriss for your winning bookmark entries. Stop by Blue Daisy and pickup a few for your own enjoyment.

04/11/2026

Two new stores dropped bookmarks yesterday.

We’ve had nearly 2,500 bookmarks make their way across the state! Some even outside of Oklahoma.

Let’s keep it going.

Newest locations:
Harps Food Stores - Stilwell, OK
419 N Second St
Stilwell, OK 74960

Simple Simon's Pizza of Washington, OK
202 N Main St
Washington, OK 73093

Appreciate these businesses helping get student designed bookmarks into the hands of Oklahomans.

04/09/2026

Tulsa, get your bookmarks today!

Huge thank you to Gardner's Used Books & Music, Inc. for helping put our bookmarks into the hands of Tulsans.

And these promotional photos… 😂 They understood the assignment!

We love seeing local shops and great people jump in and help share something meaningful across their community.

If you’re in Tulsa, swing by Gardner’s, grab a bookmark, and show them some love.

4421 S Mingo Rd, Tulsa, OK 74146

Check the comments for a link to get your own.

04/08/2026

Our bookmarks are making their way into the hands of Oklahomans thanks to businesses and people like those at Magnolia Soap and Bath Oklahoma City in OKC.

We’re grateful for shops that are willing to open their doors and help share something meaningful with their community.

If you’re in the area, stop by Magnolia Soap and grab one for yourself.

2740 NW 140th St, OKC, OK 73134

Check the comments for a link to get your own.

04/06/2026

GO SEE Best of Books.

Seriously! What a great shop. Incredible selection, great people, and just one of those places you could spend hours in.

And now… you can grab your very own Oklahoma student designed bookmarks while you’re there.

It doesn’t get much better than that.

1313 E Danforth Rd, Edmond, OK

04/06/2026

⭐️Teacher Spotlight⭐️

Some classrooms teach content.
Some classrooms build confidence.

Mr. Wier is doing both.

As a theatre and speech teacher, he’s giving students something incredibly powerful… a place to find their voice, think on their feet, and grow in confidence both on and off the stage.

He shared that his favorite part of teaching is the “light bulb” moment— when everything clicks for a student. And in his world, those moments don’t just happen at a desk… they happen under lights, on stage, and in front of their peers.

His work goes beyond performance. It’s about communication, courage, and helping students step into who they are.

We’re proud to recognize Mr. Wier as one of our Teachers of the Month.

Read his full spotlight here:
https://www.okcitizensedu.org/post/helping-students-find-their-voice-teacher-spotlight-mr-wier

Know an incredible Oklahoma teacher who deserves recognition?

Nominate them on our website! Link in the comments.

Let’s continue lifting up the educators who are helping students find their voice.

Some classrooms are built around desks.Others are built around courage.For Mr. Wier, a high school theatre and speech teacher, the classroom is a space where students learn far more than content; they learn how to express themselves, communicate clearly, and step into confidence.“I have always wan...

04/04/2026

Today, Oklahoma Citizens for Education had the honor of kicking off ACT Prep Saturday at Douglass High School.

Nearly 30 students showed up ready, and they were met with a room full of support.

We set the tone early by filling the room with posters, prizes, and positivity. Because the first step toward student success is creating a warm and welcoming environment.

As students arrived, they were greeted with a hearty breakfast, because food is fuel for learning.

From there, we started with icebreaker games. We played Raise It Up, Strategy Showdown, Math Move or Freeze, and Grammar Slammer. Easy to play, confidence boosting, and built to increase knowledge.

As students participated, we handed out raffle tickets, snacks, and Easter eggs filled with fun surprises. Incentives increase participation, and increased participation helps drive better outcomes.

After the games, we moved into practice exam materials and broke into small groups for high dosage tutoring. Students received in depth, one-on-one support designed to prepare them for success.

One of the biggest highlights of the day was learning from the one and only Dr. Davis, who so effortlessly broke down how to write a persuasive essay with organized structure, strong thinking, and authentic perspective. She really did give us the tea, as the students would say.

We closed out the day with smiles, laughter, and prizes, and were reminded of what community looks like, people coming together for a shared cause. In that moment, we knew those students walked away feeling the support they deserve.

This was our second year at Douglass, and it is safe to say the excellence inside those walls is something truly special.

Thank you, Douglass, for having us. We look forward to seeing you again soon.