Keith Baldridge recently sat down to share his thoughts and vision as he runs for the Okmulgee Public School Board, offering a glimpse into his motivations, experiences, and aspirations for the district. Baldridge brings with him decades of experience in community service, public speaking, and educational advocacy, rooted deeply in his upbringing and community involvement.
Born in Okmulgee but raised in southeast Colorado after his parents divorced, Baldridge returned to Oklahoma with a strong desire to serve the community he considers home.
Baldridge recounted his early experiences working with his father at Crosstown Church, highlighting the growth they achieved together.
“When my dad came there, it was just a really small church, and my family built it into something much bigger,” he said, explaining the foundation of his community- oriented mindset. Baldridge, a retired licensed minister, credits his father for instilling in him the value of public speaking and leadership.
One formative event for Baldridge was ‘Manna Day,’ created by his stepmother to address local economic hardships during a downturn in the oil market.
“People didn’t have money, but we had things and services,” Baldridge remembered, detailing how the initiative began modestly at the church parking lot and expanded significantly, even attracting families who walked miles to participate.
Baldridge’s advocacy in education grew through involvement with the Chamber of Commerce Education Committee, where he built relationships with influential figures such as former Senator David Boren and former Oklahoma House Speaker Glenn Johnson. He explained how leveraging these connections resulted in significant support for local educational events, notably recalling a memorable encounter: “We had a man there who couldn’t get state help, and I got Senator Boren and Speaker Johnson involved, and they said, ‘We’re going to get you the help you need.’” Addressing recent administrative turmoil within Okmulgee Public Schools, Baldridge acknowledged the departure of former Superintendent Clay Vinyard, who resigned amid disagreements with the school board.
Fact-checked reports confirm Vinyard’s resignation and the approximately $311,000 buyout cost to the district. “We can’t afford to make mistakes,” Baldridge stressed, referencing the financial implications of lost student enrollment and the district’s ongoing struggles with retaining administrators.
Baldridge strongly believes in fostering direct communication and relationships with educators. He shared a practical strategy for initiating his tenure on the school board: “The first thing I would want to do is keep my mouth shut for two meetings, then ask principals and teachers, ‘What can we do to help you?’” He expressed a genuine desire to regularly visit schools to offer support and better understand the needs of teachers and students alike.
He further emphasized the importance of reshaping the district’s reputation. Baldridge pointed out the community’s ongoing challenge with negative perceptions, often based on outdated experiences. “A lot of the image that Okmulgee suffers from is 30 years old,” he noted, stressing the need for the community to highlight current strengths rather than past issues.
Baldridge underscored the personal significance of education in his life, sharing his own journey from difficult beginnings to success: “I came from nowhere. My odds weren’t good, but I succeeded. If I can do it, anybody can.” His vision is clear: “We need to make Okmulgee schools the school of choice.”
Reflecting on the role he wishes to play on the school board, Baldridge concluded, “I want to give kids a place of comfort, a place of peace, a place to learn. If they want to stay in Okmulgee or go anywhere in the world, we should be able to provide that for them with every ounce of encouragement within us.”
