TULSA- TPS welcomed students and teachers back to class Tuesday, one teacher who's been vocal throughout the walkout discussed why she decided to go back.
They say passing periods are like swimming upstream at Edison, but Ms. Tatum's math class knows they have work to do.
“I thought it was cool at first kind of because I get to be out of school, but then I realized I need to go to school to get my education and be ready for the testing," said sixth grade student Jada Lyons.
They've lost nine days to prepare for tomorrow's state testing, now Ms. Tatum is tasked with sharpening them up.
“Awful, awful it feels awful," said sixth grade Edison math teacher Kellie Tatum.
In fact, this moment was on her mind when the OEA called off the walkout.
"I could've been in my classroom these last nine days preparing my kids for state testing," she told 2 Works for You in a live interview.
“Their needs come before my own feelings of frustration or anger about the end of the walkout," she said Tuesday.
She feels it should've lasted at least another week, but it's those hands in the air that ultimately brought her back.
“Some stuff when I was studying I didn’t know the answers and I could probably go ask her, but she wasn’t there for me so I couldn’t really ask her," said Lyons.
Principal Vinyard is confident students will still perform well on their tests.
“We’ve had plans and as the walkout has progressed we’ve been modifying those plans," said Edison Principal Clay Vinyard.
“They’re prepared well just not well enough for me," laughed Tatum.
Ms. Tatum said while she's not as frustrated as she was last week, she's not distracted from the fight at hand.
“If legislators said no to education they need to be voted out. Education is the most important part of our state.”
The fight she's ready to carry into election season.
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