Professional Oklahoma Educators was founded in 1988 under the name Association of Professional Oklahoma Educators (APOE) by Mr. Olan Isbell, then superintendent of Bennington Public Schools. At the request of his staff, Mr. Isbell searched for a more affordable professional liability insurance policy and a less political teacher organization. Mr. Isbell not only found a more affordable insurance policy, but also discovered large, independent professional teacher organizations thriving in other states. One of these, the Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE), is currently the largest education organization in Texas, boasting well over 100,000 members. Using ATPE as a model, Mr. Isbell established the APOE. In 2007, the Association of Professional Oklahoma Educators became simply Professional Oklahoma Educators.

Professional Oklahoma Educators was formed specifically for educators in Oklahoma who want an independent and professional alternative to labor unions. Our dramatic growth proves that school personnel respond positively when presented with a choice that provides professionalism, member benefits, and a voice for Oklahoma educators. Membership has grown from twenty-five members in 1993 to more than 4,000 members in 2008 and continues to grow every year!