Bobbie Gray-Elliott
Bobbie Gray-Elliot was the District 4 representative on the Tulsa Public Schools Board of Education in Oklahoma. Gray-Elliot was initially appointed to the chamber in 1998 and sought re-election in the general election on February 11, 2014. She was defeated by Shawna Keller in a runoff election on April 1, 2014.[1]
Biography
Gray-Elliott has lived in East Tulsa for 30 years. She has served as a member of TMAPC (Tulsa Metropolitan Area Planning Commission), as an active member on the Tulsa Education Task Force, Tulsa Education Oversight Committee, Project Get Together Board of Directors, Vision 2000, Riverside Task Force, District 17 Planning Chair (East Tulsa), HomeOwnership Tulsa, East Tulsa Coalition Task Force, President of Eastland Acres Neighborhood Association, President of the Mingo Valley Neighborhood Association and served as a Surrogate/Parent Advocate for TPS. Gray-Elliot is a realtor and has stayed actively involved in the Greater Tulsa Association of Realtors. She has been an associate with Keller Williams Realty in Tulsa for 19 years. Gray-Elliot married David Elliott in 2013, after her husband of 35 years, Richard Gray, passed away in 2009. She has four children and 10 grandchildren.[1][2]
Elections
2014
- See also: Tulsa Public Schools elections (2014)
Gray-Elliott challenged newcomers Shawna Keller and William D. Bickerstaff for the District 4 seat in the general election on February 11, 2014. She was defearted Shawna Keller in a runoff election on April 1, 2014.
Election results
Runoff election
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan |  Shawna Keller |
65% | 1,046 | |
| Nonpartisan | Bobbie Gray-Elliott Incumbent | 35% | 562 | |
| Total Votes | 1,608 | |||
| Source: Oklahoma State Election Board, "Municipal/Annual School Runoff Election — April 1, 2014," April 9, 2014 | ||||
General election
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Shawna Keller |
49.8% | 220 | |
| Nonpartisan | Bobbie Gray-Elliot | 36% | 159 | |
| Nonpartisan | William D. Bickerstaff | 14.3% | 63 | |
| Total Votes | 442 | |||
| Source: Oklahoma State Election Board, "Annual School Election — February 11, 2014," accessed April 9, 2014 | ||||
Funding
Gray-Elliot did not report any campaign contributions or expenditures to the Oklahoma Ethics Commission.[3]
Endorsements
Gary-Elliot did not receive any official endorsements for her campaign.
Campaign themes
2014
Gray-Elliott's campaign website listed the following campaign themes for 2014:
Funding
|
"Since FY 2008, Oklahoma has had the largest drop in spending per student in the country-a reduction of 22.8%. As the district is growing, the grand total revenue loss based on the 2013 WADM was -$18,644,407. 42% of the General Fund Revenue comes from State Appropriations. Our Per Pupil Expenditures (PPE) are $1660 lower than the regional average. Increasing funding to meet just these regional averages would allow TPS to hire 1400 new teachers to support the needs of our classrooms. Legislatures need to understand the complexity of the Urban school environment(s). Funding must increase to optimize classroom effectiveness in all areas." |
School safety
|
"Although Tulsa Public Schools is a leader in securing our facilities with coded entries, video camera's and visible security officers, it still is one of the District top Priorities. We must continue to work towards Safe in Place and imminent danger strategies for our students and teachers. " |
Education
|
"Although Tulsa Public Schools is a leader in securing our facilities with coded entries, video camera's and visible security officers, it still is one of the District top Priorities. We must continue to work towards Safe in Place and imminent danger strategies for our students and teachers. " |
Dropouts and attendance
|
"We need to continue to get our arms around those students who become so disillusioned during their late middle to early high school journey that they feel that only alternative for them is to dropout. Better resources need to be made available to provide encouragement and assistance to stay in school. Attendance matters. Although many students who do not come to school is at an average of 10%, many do not come because their parents do not see the importance if attending on a regular basis. We need to continue to reach out. " |
Diversity
|
"TPS has culminated approximately 26 different language speaking cultures in our schools. East Tulsa schools sit with an average of a 57% Hispanic population with Mong increasing to 9%. We need to continue to embrace these cultures and find resources to educate all students across all language barriers. " |
Teachers
|
"Teachers are and always will be one of the most valued resources in our schools. Should we allow them to continue to be the lowest paid in the the nation and yet reconized nationally for their outstanding performance? There has been no salary increase from the state since 2008 for teachers. The fight must continue for at least a middle class wage to keep our best and brightest here and attract qualified teachers to our classrooms." |
Overcrowding
|
"Over half of the ten schools are at or above capacity in the East Central Feeder Pattern. Immediate adjustments need to be addressed, especially with the imminent concern for potential 3rd grade retention with the pass/fail reading test this year. We need alleviate classroom overcrowding and improve quality teaching environments." |
Note: The above quote is from the candidate's website, which may include some typographical or spelling errors.
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term "Bobbie + Gray-Elliott + Tulsa + Public + Schools"
See also
External links
Footnotes
| 2014 Tulsa Public Schools Elections | |
| Tulsa County, Oklahoma | |
| Election date: | February 11, 2014 |
| Candidates: | District 4: • Incumbent, Bobbie Gray-Elliott • Shawna Keller • William D. Bickerstaff District 7: • Suzanne Schreiber • Gene Beach |
| Important information: | What was at stake? • Key deadlines • Additional elections on the ballot |
