About Us

Our Mission Statement | Contact Us | Join OKAGE | OKAGE Staff | OKAGE Steering Committee | Links to Other Social Studies Organizations Our Mission Statement The Oklahoma Alliance for Geographic Education (OKAGE), headquartered at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, is an organization for geography educators in Oklahoma. OKAGE is a division of the Consortium of Oklahoma Geographers, Inc. (COG), and is affiliated with the National Geographic Society and its national network of state geographic alliances and national geography organizations. OKAGE conducts collaborative projects with programs and organizations that support and enhance geographic education in Oklahoma. OKAGE is funded by state appropriations through contracts with the Oklahoma State Department of Education to provide workshops and teaching materials for K-12 teachers of geography in Oklahoma. Additional funding through grants allows OKAGE to provide support for preK-16 geographic education in Oklahoma as well. OKAGE operates under the guidance of the Steering Committee, whose members represent comprehensive universities, regional universities, community colleges and K-12 educators. OKAGE has four primary purposes: To enhance, promote and encourage preK-16 geography instruction in the state To meet the professional needs of geography educators through various programs and activities To develop and maintain a communication network among geography educators and others interested in geography To provide leadership in and support for the national network of geographic alliances and other professional organizations OKAGE conducts in-service and pre-service workshops and collaborates with a number of interdisciplinary organizations to provide outreach programs in geographic education. OKAGE also offers summer institutes and workshops to teachers of all disciplines and grades for professional development and graduate credit. A vital part of our organization, OKAGE Teacher Consultants present at state, regional and national conferences, and work with OKAGE to develop curriculum materials for use in the classroom that incorporate and support the Priority Academic Student Skills (PASS), Oklahoma’s state curriculum standards. The OKAGE Newsletter is published twice a year and reaches a readership of nearly 5000. Top Contact Us OKAGE University of Oklahoma 100 E. Boyd, SEC 442 Norman, OK 73019-1018 Voice: +1 405 325 5832 Toll-free: +1 800 522 0772 Ext. 5832 Fax: +1 405 325 8781 Top Join the Oklahoma Alliance for Geographic Education » The Oklahoma Alliance for Geographic Education has a cadre of trained teacher consultants. On your registration form, indicate whether you are an OKAGE teacher consultant. We welcome all local educators interested in geography education. Join us by selecting the "Join Now" link above. Teacher Consultant: A Teacher Consultant is a teacher who has completed the following minimum requirements : Active member of OKAGE Completed a minimum of three OKAGE-sponsored workshops or institutes (one week-long institute required) for a minimum of eleven days of solid geographic content (in class or field experience), or the approved equivalent Demonstrated quality instructional methods documented by: one presentation before OKAGE TCs for their constructive criticism of content and methodology, one public presentation involving solid geographic content for an audience of not fewer than six participants, and a minimum of one well-written original geographic lesson on file at OKAGE aligned with both the state Priority Academic Student Skills (PASS) and the National Geography Standards created and/or presented at an OKAGE workshop Top OKAGE Staff Coordinator: Gary Gress, Ph. D. Dr. Gress is a historical geographer with experience teaching at the university and secondary school levels. Having a foot in both higher education (the University of Oklahoma) and the Norman Public Schools is beneficial in the development of future educational and outreach activities, as well as applied research in geography. Program Director: Eugene Earsom Eugene joined OKAGE after 20 years as a high school classroom teacher and seven years as social studies director at the Oklahoma State Department of Education. He serves on several boards and commissions, including the Oklahoma Council for the Social Studies, Oklahoma Council on Economic Education, Oklahoma Institute for Teaching East Asia, Christian Church Commission, and Friends of Libraries in Oklahoma. Operations Manager: Jackie Downing Jackie is originally from Duncan, Oklahoma and joined the OKAGE staff in August 2008. She has more than 20 years experience assisting taxpayers with the public accounting law and preparing of financial statements. Jackie also has experience with Medicare billing compliance and other financial matters. Communications & Development Specialist: Brooke Barnett Brooke has ten years of experience working in fundraising, public relations, and marketing. She has more than six years of work history with OKAGE and currently oversees the publications, publicity and grant writing for the alliance. Office Assistant: Nicolas Bebout Originally from Durant, Nicolas is a junior at the University of Oklahoma majoring in advertising. Nicolas provides clerical assistance, helps with workshop preparation, and many other tasks in the office. Nicolas joined the OKAGE staff in January 2007. Top OKAGE Steering Committee Brad Bays Chair; Comprehensive University Representative Glenda Sullivan Vice Chair; Southwest Teacher Consultant Representative Robert Newcomer COG President Kelly Curtright Oklahoma State Department of Education Stephen J. Stadler Oklahoma State Geographer Andover A. Tarhule Comprehensive University Representative Allen Finchum Comprehensive University Representative Chuck Ziehr Regional University Representative Jimmie White Community College Representative Lyndal Caddell Southeast Teacher Consultant Representative Paula Haight Northeast Teacher Consultant Representative Vacant South Central Teacher Consultant Representative Mark Stahl Central Teacher Consultant Representative Glenda Sullivan Southwest Teacher Consultant Representative Jeanie Sisson Northwest Teacher Consultant Representative Denise Rhodes Teacher Consultant At Large Gary Gress OKAGE Coordinator Eugene Earsom OKAGE Program Director Vacant Instructional Leadership Institute Representative Brad Bays Oklahoma Geographic Bee Coordinator Jackie Downing OKAGE Operations Manager Brooke Barnett OKAGE Communications and Development Specialist Top Links to Other Social Studies Organizations National Geographic Society Oklahoma State Department of Education National Council for Geographic Education Oklahoma Council for the Social Studies Oklahoma Council on Economic Education National Council for the Social Studies National Council for History Education Association of American Geographers Law-Related Education Top About Resources on Our Site: All of the documents available on our website are in PDF format. The software required to read PDF documents is free and available to download: Adobe Acrobat Reader