Shaping Tomorrow's Priorities
Oklahoma Center for Education Policy, University of Oklahoma
October 29, 2025 || Omni Hotel, OKC
The Oklahoma Education Policy Conference will convene on October 29, 2025, at the Omni Hotel in Oklahoma City. This event will bring together policymakers, school leaders, educators, and parent groups from across the state to explore key issues shaping education in Oklahoma.
The conference will feature panels on teacher recruitment, early literacy, artificial intelligence, workforce development, school choice, and other central policy issues. The conference aims to foster dialogue among panelists and attendees. Each one-hour session has 30 minutes reserved for audience Q&A and engagement.
Lunch is provided and there is no cost to attend. Please register as soon as possible as space is limited.
9 a.m.
Lindel Fields, Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Location: Oklahoma Station Room
9:05 a.m.
Rhonda Baker, Director of Education, Greater Oklahoma City Chamber
David Vinson, Superintendent, Warner Public Schools
Curt Adams, Professor, University of Oklahoma
Cecilia Robinson-Woods, Superintendent, Millwood Public Schools
Daniel Hamlin, Professor, University of Oklahoma (Moderator)
Location: Oklahoma Station Room
10:15 a.m.
Brent Bushey, CEO, Fuel OKC
Philip Abode, Executive Director, Crossover Preparatory Academy
Amy Davis, Founder, EmpowerED Solutions
Jonathan Small, President, OCPA (Moderator)
Location: Pinon Room
Dana Ezell, Chief Human Resource Officer, Jenks Public Schools
Ronny Johns, Representative, Oklahoma House of Representatives
Ed Harris, Professor Emeritus, Oklahoma State University
Brandon Tatum, Executive Director, Regional University System of Oklahoma (Moderator)
Location: Oklahoma Station Room
Megan Oftedal, Executive Director, Oklahoma Educational Quality and Accountability
Jeff Seymour, President/CEO, OKC Innovation District
Robert Franklin, Professor, University of Oklahoma
Melissa Abdo, Director of Civic Engagement, University of Tulsa (Moderator)
Location: Mistletoe Room
11:30 a.m.
The Honorable Kevin Stitt, Governor of Oklahoma
Kymyona Burk, Senior Policy Fellow, ExcelinEd
Kymyona Burk is a Senior Policy Fellow at ExcelinEd where she works to assist state leaders with K-3 reading policies. Dr. Burk most recently served in Mississippi as the Executive Director for the Jackson Public School District’s Office of Teaching and Learning. She was also the State Literacy Director at the Mississippi Department of Education where she led the implementation of Mississippi’s Literacy-Based Promotion Act.
Location: Oklahoma Station Room
12:45 p.m.
Brian Ruttman, Superintendent, Moore Norman Technology Center
Courtney Warmington, State Regent, Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
Pete Selden, Vice President for Workforce Development, Tulsa Community College
Laura Latta, Executive Director, Tulsa Higher Education Consortium (Moderator)
Location: Pinon Room
Toni Hasenbeck, Representative, Oklahoma House of Representatives
Laura Hendrix, Executive Director, Oklahoma Parents for Student Achievement
Claudia Smith, Director of Federal Programs, Sand Springs Public Schools
April Grace, Executive Director, Oklahoma Public School Resource Center (Moderator)
Location: Oklahoma Station Room
Kathy Curry, Professor, Oklahoma State University
Renee Venegas, State and District Partnerships, Khan Academy
Dudley Darrow, Superintendent, Enid Public Schools
Erika Wright, President, Oklahoma Rural Schools Coalition (Moderator)
Location: Mistletoe Room
2 p.m.
Joy Hofmeister, Former Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction & Executive Advisor 1050 Forward
Carri Elledge, President, Oklahoma Education Association
Kyle Hilbert, Speaker of the House, Oklahoma House of Representatives
Daniel Hamlin, Professor, University of Oklahoma (Moderator)
Location: Oklahoma Station Room
