Oklahoma's Public Education:
The Foundation of the State's Future

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The Founders

• 
  Stan Lybarger
  President & CEO
  BOK Financial Corporation
  Bank of Oklahoma, N.A.
  Bio
• 
  Luke Corbett
  Former Chairman & CEO
  Kerr-McGee Corporation
  

Founders

In 2000 OBEC Co-Founders Stan Lybarger, President & CEO of BOK Financial Corporation, and Luke Corbett, former Chairman & CEO of Kerr-McGee Corporation, recognized the need for more involvement in education by the business community. They garnered commitment from seventeen of the state's largest businesses and the three largest chambers of commerce to support and fund OBEC.

Agenda

From 2000-2006, OBEC's Education Policy Board, composed of representatives from the business and education communities, met to research and analyze education policy, establish the OBEC education agenda, and begin executing that agenda. Since 2006, OBEC continues to bring local, state, and national leaders together to assist with agenda development, implementation, and partnership-building.

Board of Directors

Under the leadership of Stan Lybarger, Chairman, and Hans Helmerich, Secretary-Treasurer, the executive board guides the policy and work of OBEC.

Why is business interested in education?

Work Force

• Predominantly Oklahoma graduates
• Globally competitive
• More highly educated attracts quality jobs and capital

Economy

• Education quality and attainment significantly impact the economy.
• Companies' success is directly linked to the economic health of the communities they serve, e.g., in personal income levels and trends.
• Higher learning means higher earning, about 80% more for a college degree than a high school degree.
• Lower income levels mean a smaller tax base, thus less money for services or investment in infrastructure.

Quality of Life

Statistics demonstrate that better-educated populations show more civic and social involvement and lower incidence of social problems, e.g., voter turnout, prison incarceration, burglary rates, etc.