A social studies teacher, a Tulsa Tech board member and a Sand Springs councilman are running for state office.
All candidates agree that public education funding must be a priority in the state, and they propose changes that could benefit teachers and students.
"The best and the brightest teachers are not staying in Oklahoma," said John Waldron, "We have to give them incentive so we have the best teachers in the classroom."
Waldron has been teaching at Booker T. Washington High School for 17 years. He's running for Senate District 39, which covers parts of Tulsa County including midtown.
"We have some districts that are looking at four day weeks, and so we have spent our entire history in public education being a stalwart in our communities and we're going back and that's not ok," said Monroe Nichols, a board member at Tulsa Tech Center.
Nichols is also part of Impact Tulsa, which provides resources for teachers and students throughout Tulsa. He's running to be a state representative in District 72, which covers parts of north Tulsa and Owasso.
"I will make sure and advocate that we go away with these unnecessary high stakes tests that cost taxpayers millions of dollars," said Brian Jackson, a Sand Springs councilman.
Jackson has been part of the Junior Achievement organization, which helps students with work readiness and financial literacy. He's a senate candidate for District 37, which includes coverage of Sand Springs.
The three candidates filed their paperwork at the state capitol on Wednesday. The last day to file for candidacy is Friday, April 15.
