When I started my teaching career, my focus and dedication was directed solely toward my students’ achievements. I was obligated to prepare them for a future where they could succeed. A future where their knowledge and skills would provide a strong and stable foundation from which they could flourish.
For many years, I had the privilege of teaching in Oklahoma public schools, which was a responsibility I took very seriously. While it may not have been the highest-paying career I could have chosen, I always knew that my dedication to my students and community would be rewarded by a pension that would see me through my retired years. But now, the strength and stability of that foundation — my retirement savings — is at risk.
You may have recently read about actions taken by some elected officials in the Sooner State — particularly Treasurer Todd Russ — that would insert politics into the investment strategies of state retirement systems and increase financing costs of critical infrastructure projects. Last year, a law went into effect that prohibited state pensions and municipalities from working with financial firms that supposedly consider environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors when making investments decisions. It was costly.