Barbara Staggs

Barbara Masterson Staggs (July 18, 1940 – November 22, 2014) was a longtime educator in Muskogee, Oklahoma and a legislator in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. During her time in the legislature, Staggs assisted as a member of the Common Education Committee and was integral in passing many bills, such as one that lead to the creation of the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in Muskogee.

Staggs earned a bachelor's degree in education from Northeastern State University and both a master's degree in English and a doctorate in education from the University of Tulsa. She worked as a classroom teacher for 15 years, then moved up in school administration until she became superintendent of public schools in Talequah, Oklahoma. After three years in Talequah, she decided to run for the legislature.

Early life and education Barbara Staggs was born in her grandmother's home in Hulbert, Oklahoma, in 1940 to parents Truman and Veleria Masterson. She was an only child and three weeks after her birth, was moved to and raised in Muskogee. Staggs graduated from Muskogee High School in 1958. After her time in the classroom, Staggs served as the assistant principal for six years and served as the principal for three years. She was the first female to hold the position of secondary principal in Muskogee. In 1990, Staggs started as the superintendent for Tahlequah public schools. Again, she was the first woman to hold this position and served until 1993 when she decided to run for office. Some of her accomplishments in office include aiding in passing a bill that provided funding to the Oklahoma Department of Libraries as well as passing a bill that made it legal for persons with disabilities to hunt with a crossbow. Staggs helped with the creation of the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in Muskogee, OK as well as aided in the bill that made throwing objects off of an overpass a felony. Leadership Oklahoma Muskogee Morning Optimists Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and Museum Five Civilized Tribes Museum Three Rivers Museum Muskogee Development Corporation NSU Alumni board Board of Directors of Southwest Educational Development Laboratory NAACP Port of Muskogee board Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women Oklahoma Foundation for the Education of the Blind Noon Lions Club Service League of Muskogee Lakewood Girl Scouts Soroptimist CASA Women's Leadership Conference 2010 for Freshman Girls