![IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Junior Zalie Mann performs “I Love to Cry at Weddings,” an ensemble piece from the fall musical Sweet Charity, to prospective students during the Fine Arts Showcase on Wednesday, Nov. 8. The showcase is a compilation of performances and demonstrations from each fine arts strand offered at McCallum. This show is put on so that prospective students can see if they are interested in joining an academy or major.
Sweet Charity originally ran the weekends of Sept. 28 and Oct. 8, but made a comeback for the Fine Arts Showcase.
“[Being at the front in the spotlight] is my favorite part of the whole dance, so I was super happy to be on stage performing and smiling at the audience,” Mann said.
Mann performed in both the musical theatre performance and dance excerpt “Ethereal,” a contemporary piece choreographed by the new dance director Terrance Carson, in the showcase. With also being a dance ambassador, Mann got to talk about what MAC dance is, her experience and answer any questions the aspiring arts majors and their parents may have.
Caption by Maya Tackett.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/53321803427_47cd17fe70_o-1-1200x800.jpg)
![SPREADING THE JOY: Sophomore Chim Becker poses with sophomores Cozbi Sims and Lou Davidson while manning a table at the Hispanic Heritage treat day during lunch of Sept 28. Becker is a part of the students of color alliance, who put together the activity to raise money for their club.
“It [the stand] was really fun because McCallum has a lot of latino kids,” Becker said. “And I think it was nice that I could share the stuff that I usually just have at home with people who have never tried it before.”
Becker recognizes the importance of celebrating Hispanic heritage at Mac.
“I think its important to celebrate,” Becker said. “Because our culture is awesome and super cool, and everybody should be able to learn about other cultures of the world.”
Caption by JoJo Barnard.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/53221601352_4127a81c41_o-1200x675.jpg)
Duncan teachers continue involvement at State Capitol
Katelyn Young
Cathy Barker is a member of the Duncan Legislative Team. Team members go to the Capitol and meet with legislators about public education.
April 13, 2021
Duncan Public School teachers have gone to the Oklahoma State Capitol to persuade members of the House of Representatives and the Senate to support public education.
A couple of Duncan Middle School teachers Cathy Barker and Derrick Miller and Will Rogers Pre-K teacher Misty Blanton went to the Capitol last week. This week, Barker and Miller returned and sat during the Senate Education Committee.
“I’m a part of the Advocacy Team, which means we watch everything at the Capital, and if we see that there’s a bill that could be passed we try to go persuade them,” Barker said.
Baker said there’s a lot of support for private schools. It regularly takes money from public schools.
“I was not nervous to go to the capital,” Barker said. “Twenty-five years ago I was.”
Every year, the Senate and House create various education bills, and the Duncan Advocacy Team meets with legislators to discuss what is needed to benefit public education. Prior to going to the Capitol, the team members schedule meetings with local legislators, including Rep. Marcus McEntire, Rep. Brad Boles, Sen. Jessica Garvin and Sen. Chris Kidd.
Earlier this year, the Legislative Team, along with other Duncan teachers, met with legislators during the Legislative Breakfast that was hosted by the Association of Duncan Educators and the Duncan Legislative Team.
Barker, Miller and Blanton were in attendance last week when the Senate passed the change in the education funding formula. The change in the funding formula gives each district a look-back of the last two years enrollment instead of the last three years for the state to determine how much funding each school district will receive.
Following the change in the funding formula, Oklahoma State Superintendent Joy Hoffmeister released a statement expressing concern about the change.
“Children in rural Oklahoma deserve to have a high quality education, and HB 2078 potentially jeopardizes that,” Hoffmeister said. “This bill removes financial safeguards meant to protect all students from the impact of abrupt changes in the local economy. Kids will lose when schools are forced to make sudden cuts in essential services and opportunities which provide access to a well-rounded education.”
As the legislative session continues, members of the Duncan Legislative Team are still scheduled to return to the State Capitol. Baker and Miller will return to the Capitol on April 27.
This story was originally published on Demon Direct on April 8, 2021.
