In typical Tahlequah fashion, longtime educator and advocate Becky Felts hopes to “leave the woodpile stacked a litter higher” than she found it.

Felts was recently elected as president of the Oklahoma Education Association, and will assume her position July 7 for a three-year term.

The Oklahoma Education Association has long been considered the voice of education in Oklahoma. Founded Oct. 19, 1889, as the Oklahoma Teachers Association, the group held its first meeting on Christmas Day of that year at the Guthrie First Methodist Church.

The OEA has a rich heritage of fighting and winning battles for public education. The association’s work with local and state governmental agencies, the legislature, and the governor is well-documented. And the OEA helped change the nation'’s teaching profession through the courts, as well.

Felts has been a member of the OEA since her college years at Northeastern State University.

“I joined as a student to help prepare for entering the teaching profession, and have remained active ever since,” said Felts. “When the Tahlequah Education Association elected me president, I became involved at the state and national levels, having served on numerous committees, the OEA and the National Education Association Board of Directors, and for the past six years, I’ve served as vice president of the OEA.”

Felts will be able to run for a second term as president before facing term-limit obligations, and plans to return home to Tahlequah after six years in office.

“With an office in Oklahoma City, and school visits all across the state, I only get home to Stick Ross Mountain five or six nights a month,” she said. “Driving into Tahlequah, my first stop is always Reasor’s or Walmart, where I can pick up the Daily Press and visit with people I know. Tahlequah is my foundation, and it means a great deal to me to stay connected.”

Felts taught in Cherokee County for 27 years, beginning in the late 1970s at Peggs.

“[I taught it all] from kindergarten through eighth grade,” she said. “After moving to Tahlequah Public Schools, I spent time at both Greenwood and Cherokee. For over a decade, I taught transitional first grade, developmentally preparing those young ones for 12 more years of successful learning. When I left the classroom, I was teaching fourth-grade math and science - a great age - and the perfect subjects for learning critical thinking skills and creativity. I miss science fairs, preparing bulletin boards and grading papers.”

In addition to her classroom experience, Felts spent many Sundays in Tahlequah teaching Sunday school, and even logged some summers as a camp counselor at Camp Egan, and as an adult sponsor on mission trips. She said it’s still a priority to attend early services at First United Methodist Church when she’s at home.

Felts believes her experience in this area could also serve her well as OEA president.

“A special OEA project close to my heart, and one I plan to continue, is our involvement in educator/clergy relationships,” said Felts. “Public schools and religious communities can work together. OEA trains groups of teachers and community faith leaders how to work together in schools to help students be successful learners. We support several projects on closing the achievement gaps, working with students of poverty, and lowering the school dropout rate.”

Felts has already formulated her agenda for her term in office.

“I tell folks around the state we have a saying back in Tahlequah about ‘leaving the woodpile stacked a little higher than you found it,’” she said. “My OEA vision is to have a great public school for every student. OEA is about advocating for great Oklahoma schools, building a stronger workforce to create higher-paying jobs, and a better Oklahoma economy.”

According to Felts, OEA is about teacher quality, improving school employees’ salaries, providing professional development, and supporting community and school partnerships.

“My goal is to make education a true legislative priority with investments and accountability for providing what schools need for teaching, and what students need for learning. During my term of office, I plan to stack the woodpile as high as I am able,” she said.