Oklahoma Teachers Union Leader Katherine Bishop Resigns for Family Time

Oklahoma City: So, Katherine Bishop, the head of the Oklahoma Education Association, has decided to step down. She’s been in charge since 2021 and is now looking to spend more time with her family.

The OEA announced her resignation on Monday, and it’s a big change for the organization. Cari Elledge, who’s been the vice president, will take over. Bishop has been a dedicated educator for years, working as a special education teacher and instructional coach in Putnam City Public Schools for over two decades.

In her farewell, Bishop expressed her love for teaching and advocacy, saying she’d do it all over again if given the chance. Elledge, who has been with OEA since 2021, was a fifth-grade teacher in Norman Public Schools for 15 years.

The OEA has around 30,000 members, including retired educators and students. It’s part of the National Education Association, which is the largest teachers union in the country. The board has also picked Zach Grimm, a Spanish teacher from Moore Public Schools, to be the new vice president-elect. He’s been representing Oklahoma on the NEA Board since 2020.