Executive Officers

Roy Bishop
President

As President of the Oklahoma Education Association, Roy Bishop knows exactly what his purpose is as the organization’s leader – to advocate relentlessly for OEA members, children and public education.

He knows that representing teachers and support professionals is an honor and a privilege that he takes seriously.

President Bishop takes members’ messages to many venues that include the State Capitol, the nation’s Capitol, the National Education Association, the Oklahoma Education Coalition and before the media.

In order to communicate the importance of public education to all Oklahomans, Bishop maintains a heavy speaking schedule, addressing groups such as educators, OEA members, and civic and business leaders.

His commitment to members’ priorities goes into his work helping develop policy, strategy and plans at OEA. Ultimately, member input leads to a number of positives for Oklahoma education including opportunities for student success, teacher compensation, improved working conditions, more effective local associations, and greater professional development opportunities.

Bishop developed his passion for members’ needs in the trenches. He taught history and world geography in Stillwater for 13 years. He was a local president, building representative and committee chair in the Stillwater EA. He also served on the OEA Board of Directors and on the NEA’s Resolutions Committee.

Besides working in Stillwater, Roy worked in the Oklahoma City School district. He has seen declining student enrollment force job elimination, including his own. He understands the ups and downs that teachers face each day.

Bishop served six years as OEA vice president, chairing key committees such as budget, convention and the Insurance Task Force. He has also served as president of the Oklahoma Commission on Educational Administration (OCEA) and is OEA’s liaison to the Oklahoma Retired Educators’ Association.

Each month Bishop distills his many experiences and encounters with members into columns for the OEA web site and The Education Focus.

The many challenges Bishop faces are done so with the heart of a classroom teacher as he continues to try to make a positive difference in people’s lives.

Becky Felts
Vice President

Oklahoma Education Association Vice President Becky Felts wears many hats while juggling the numerous tasks of her office.

Accessibility to members is among Felts’ highest priorities. At every opportunity, she visits school sites and works with classroom teachers on critical issues. She drives countless miles to attend building, local and zone meetings across the state. Every group of Oklahoma public school employees is important to Felts, no matter how large or how small. She is always available to members, whether in person, by phone or email.

Felts’ rich background includes 27 years of teaching in the Tahlequah area, two years as a commissioner on the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation, plus six years on the National Education Association Board of Directors. She has first-hand knowledge of student achievement and quality teaching issues.

Currently, Felts serves as chairperson of the OEA Convention Committee and the OEA Budget Committee. Being a good steward of Association dollars, Felts’ charge is to ensure that OEA provides programs and services to members that are of high value and benefit.

In addition to her duties with members, Felts can be found speaking to groups outside of education, lobbying state-elected officials and legislators, and providing interviews to news media outlets on a wide range of education topics.

Ultimately, members’ needs drive Felts’ time and schedule. She recognizes and is committed to the dedicated and hardworking school employees of Oklahoma.

OEA Board of Directors

Oklahoma’s NEA Directors

OEA Delegate Assembly

OEA Committees

Lela Odom has spent her entire professional life working for the Oklahoma Education Association. Whether as a dedicated member or in a variety of positions on the OEA staff, she brings a wealth of experience to the position of executive director.

Odom was born and raised in Oklahoma City. After graduating from Southeast High School, she obtained a bachelor’s degree in elementary education in 1971 from Central State University (now known as University of Central Oklahoma).

After graduating from CSU, she taught second and third grades at Kelly Elementary in Moore. Odom was a very active OEA member, serving as building rep and in various leadership positions in the Moore ACT, including president.

Odom joined the OEA staff in November 1977 as a UniServ director, working with local Associations in Oklahoma, Cleveland, Garvin, Grady and McLain Counties. In 1987, she was promoted to UniServ manager. As a manager, she supervised all areas of OEA services except Legislative and Political Organizing.

Lela was widowed in September 2004 when her husband Bob passed away after a short illness. She has close family ties to her sister, Linda Scott, who is an eighth grade math teacher at Brink Junior High in Moore; her niece, Jennifer White, who is a second grade teacher at Harvest Hills in Putnam City; and her nephew, Derrick Scott, who runs an insurance business in Tulsa and is married to a former teacher.

Setting OEA's direction in promoting quality teaching and learning while protecting the rights and enhancing quality conditions of employment for public education employees will be the challenge of OEA's Leadership Team.

Oklahoma Education Association
PO Box 18485
Oklahoma City, OK  73154
Office 405.528.7785
Office 800.522.8091

Roy Bishop, President
rbishop@okea.org

Becky Felts, Vice President
bfelts@okea.org

Lela Odom, Executive Director
lodom@okea.org

Lorraine Newton, Administrative Assistant
lnewton@okea.org

Janice Trent, Administrative Assistant
jtrent@okea.org