Laramie Republican Rep. Ocean Andrew has championed controversial education bills in the Wyoming Legislature this session — bills opponents have called unconstitutional, irresponsible and dangerous.
They include a measure that would create a universal school voucher program, which has already passed the House. Another would allow districts to employ teachers, administrators and others without a board certification. Supporters of the measures say they will result in more parental control over education and help with a teaching staff shortage. But critics maintain the bills will erode Wyoming’s public school system.
Now, the House majority whip is facing pushback in his personal life as critics are calling for a boycott of his business, On the Hook, which visits multiple Wyoming cities.
The effort is circulating on Facebook, where Wyoming residents are urging others not to patronize Andrew’s food trucks due to his legislative actions.
“Please consider supporting him ONLY when he starts supporting Wyoming educators,” urges a post by Erin McColley Haynes, whose profile picture is an icon that says “I stand with Wyoming teachers.”
Being a target of public anger is the normal course of business for a legislator, Andrew told WyoFile on Monday. “However, it’s unfortunate that this particular instance has been derived from so much misinformation on both the function and intent of the bill.”
He was referring to the teacher certification bill, which has received strong pushback.
Andrew defended his education bills as reflecting the will of the people during a wide-ranging interview with Capitol reporters on Friday. He pointed to a survey in which nearly 60% of respondents said they felt Wyoming education was heading in the wrong direction.
“That’s significant,” Andrew said.
“This session, I’ve thrown out a lot of different ideas,” he continued. “I don’t claim that all of them were great ideas, but I think there were a lot of things that needed to be talked about in the space of public education, and a lot of that has to do with the bureaucracy and governance of how we run public education.”
The boycott is by no means the first time politics have influenced the way people spend their dollars. And while it’s unclear if or how much the effort will impact Andrew’s food truck revenue, it does show that his legislative efforts have struck a nerve.
School choice and teacher certification
Andrew is from Washington but has lived in Wyoming for more than a decade. He was first elected to represent House District District 46 in 2021. After four years, he was elevated to the role of House majority whip, and he also serves as chairman of the House Education Committee.
Andrew’s House Bill 199, “Wyoming Freedom Scholarship Act,” would create a program to give Wyoming families up to $7,000 per student for non-public school K-12 costs. It would do so by expanding a new income-qualified education savings account program that passed in 2024. Andrew’s measure strips away income qualifications as well as the ability to use funds for pre-K costs. It also strips a requirement that participating students take statewide or similar national academic assessments.
Critics say HB 199 likely violates the Wyoming Constitution, which prohibits the state from giving money to individuals “except for the necessary support of the poor.” It also prohibits the use of public funds for private or parochial schools.
Vehement opposition from lawmakers as well as constituents has failed to slow the bill’s progress. It passed the House last week following three days of intense debate. The Freedom Caucus illustrated its voting power by defeating nearly all of the 18 attempts to amend the bill before passing it.
Andrew is trying to achieve a system of universal choice, he said, and his intent is not to take away from the public school system.
“I think what I would like to see is education where everybody has a choice of exactly what they want, and each of those choices are a good choice,” he said.
Change is never easy, he added, and that’s particularly true in education.
Another bill of Andrew’s that has caught flak, House Bill 100, “K-12 uncertified personnel,” would allow districts and charter school governing boards to employ teachers, administrators and others without a certification or permit issued by the Professional Teaching Standards Board. It would require employees without such certification to obtain a background check.
That bill hasn’t gotten as much traction; it was referred to the Education Committee on Jan. 24 and hasn’t seen action since. However, many in the education field have taken aim at the bill, saying it endangers education by relaxing rigors of those hired to teach.
“What is spreading around social media is that I ‘want anyone who is 18 and can pass a background check to be able to teach,’” Andrew told WyoFile on Monday. “This is extremely far from the truth. This bill would essentially allow school boards to take up the duty of certification on their own.”
If they choose to do so, he added, this could help districts struggling to fill education roles find “qualified individuals through alternative channels.”
Fish and chips
Andrew launched On the Hook in 2016 when he was still a University of Wyoming student with business partner Hunter Anderson. It began as a single food truck selling fish and chips made with line-caught wild cod (Andrew’s father captained a commercial fishing boat in Alaska) and has grown into a franchised company serving 20 states. The business has 558,000 Facebook followers.
In Wyoming, patrons can find it on a rotating schedule — from Rawlins to Casper, Jackson and beyond.
But some Wyoming customers are taking their money elsewhere — and encouraging others to as well. Casper resident Jane Ifland is one such person.
She called Andrew’s legislation “catastrophically damaging to the public schools system” and said the notion of relaxing teaching standards is insulting to those who have spent years training in pedagogy.
“Those are the moves of someone who does not understand what the purpose of public education is,” she told WyoFile.
— WyoFile reporter Andrew Graham contributed to this article.
From Wikipedia: Ocean Andrew earned an Associate of Arts and Sciences from Wenatchee Valley College and a Bachelor of Science degree in energy resource management and development from the University of Wyoming. I can not find any reference to his K-12 education but I’m guessing it was traditional public education, could be wrong. If so, please feel free to correct me. My point is this, he is the recipient of a pretty normal education pathway, and he has managed to in a short period of time, (from his House District 46 website): “I now have over 100 employees in 19 states and I have kept our headquarters and the majority of our high paying salaried jobs in Albany County”, not to shabby for someone that came to Wyoming 11 years ago. Course it certainly helped that his father is Shaun Andrew, an owner of Alaskan Leader Fisheries, which operates one of the largest long line fishing fleets in America. He states that he moved to Wyoming “to seek a certain freedom that I believe can only be had in this state.” He further states that: ” In Wyoming you can feel freedom. We have a culture of self-responsibility and self-reliance” OK, there you have it, straight from Rep Andrews lips. self responsibility and self reliance. Look the definition of those two words up and you’ll not see anything about getting someone else to pay for your beliefs. So put your money where your mouth is Rep Andrew and stop expecting someone else to finance your philosophy on education.
I am extraordinarily proud of Mr. Andrew. Finally, someone is standing up for parents and children. Nationwide, our education system has suffered under the stranglehold of greedy teachers unions to the abject degradation of our education system. Our country has fallen to the very bottom of the list of advanced nations in the level of academic competency of our students. We have concentrated on indoctrinating our children in social justice concepts while failing to give them adequate skills in mathematics, language, geography and history. It certainly sounds to me like Mr. Andrew is the one trying to save our education system and is being threatened by those who have almost destroyed it.
I want to know how many freedom caucus politicians home schooled their kids like Marlene Brady did. I also want to know what the teachers are willing to do to ensure our test scores and education rates exceed the highest levels in our country. I have the utmost respect for teachers and believe they should be certified to teach. I also have great disgust for those who believe they are entitled to a position because of teaching years. Our children in all education institutions deserve the best not the OK. Let’s prove that Wyoming can elevate our students to excellence because they want to.
Vincent, if your comment refers to Andrea Orobona, she is now retired from WGFD and is just a citizen like the rest of us.
Wow! A Wyoming state biologist with Wy G&F attacking a state legislator. Some things never cease to amaze. I wonder if this state employee made comments about this legislatir during the work day on a work computer? 4:31 pm on a Thursday. Hmm?
If you are referring to me, I have been retired for over 2 years, thus used my personal time and personal computer to state my personal opinion. I suggest you do your homework before you defame someone.
What are you talking about Vincent? I don’t see that in the article, and even if it’s true, a being a state employee with the WGFD doesn’t mean one gives up their right to express an opinion. Please enlighten me.
Thank you for this story! I have patronized them in the past, but no more.
Please continue to boycott Senator Ocean Andrews’ “On The Hook” business until he supports education and educators in Wyoming; there are plenty of other good food options! Also consider bringing protest signs to let others know that we don’t appreciate this Senator’s stance on education.
2/14/2025: Sundance, 11a-2p, Western Properties
2/14/2025: Newcastle, 3:30-7p, Bomgaars
2/15/2025: Torrington 11a-7p, Napa
I’m going to say the quiet part out loud. The Earth isn’t flat, evolution is true, and trans people exist and should play sports if they want to. Voucher programs take money away from public schools so the misinformed can continue their kid’s indoctrination into creationism and bigotry.
Thank you for the simple truth.
Went to the food truck today in Cody at Tractor Supply. Absolutely delicious fish and chips. These guys were working in 3 degree weather making food for their customers. We touched on the issue of the “boycott” and they mentioned there were some people yesterday driving by and yelling inappropriate things. However, today has been the opposite.
The guy who took my order told me, dude, I just make fish!
Great food, great attitude!
Cancel, cancel culture, and support these guys! They’ll be there until 7pm.
Your article infers that Andrew is opposed to background checks that could prevent sex addicts and child predators from teaching in Wyoming schools. Could you clarify the paragraph that starts with, ‘there is a rumor..’
Put Senator Ocean Andrews “on the hook” by boycotting his food truck business On The Hook! Senator Andrews has advocated for education bills in the Wyoming Legislature that are unconstitutional, irresponsible, and dangerous to Wyomingites. Let’s say NO to Senator Andrews through our wallets!
On The Hook schedule this week:
2/5 – Cody (Tractor Supply)
2/7 – Gillette (Tractor Supply)
2/8 – Laramie (Mingle’s)
In addition to not purchasing from Senator Andrews’ business, consider protesting with a sign at the food truck locations so others can be educated, as well.
When Senator Andrews actually supports Wyoming educators, then we can consider supporting his business once again. Until then, we need to fight back hard!
Then why waste the money at all on public education.
Let them grow up to be the janitors, gardeners, and fast-food worker for the immigrants who’s parents rigorously forced educational excellence.
Maybe Wyoming residents could gather around his truck with signs to save our schools.
Play stupid games. Win stupid prizes.
Why are there so many proponents of a Monopoly that gives their patrons such bad results?
The people so outraged at someone proposing alternatives to a broken system probably would have helped rearrange deck chairs on the Titanic.
Vouchers mean that all Wyoming taxpayers pay to support curriculums for which we have no input. Didn’t we fight a revolutionary war about taxation without representation?
Relaxing the requirements to have teachers and administrators board certified isn’t to make things easier to account for a teacher shortage. If someone, of any age, even a SAHM whose kids have left the house, is committed enough to wanting a new career or always wanted to be a teacher, they will do it. What they are REALLY trying to accomplish is to clear a path for charter schools and other parent choice schools to not be held to the same state standard. And THAT is what is dragging down the education in Wyoming. We aren’t fearful of change. What I would like to know is what was their sample size that said 60% of the respondents thought education was going in the wrong direction, and who did they survey?
I may be wrong,but there seems to be a correlation between folks who didn’t do well in school and folks who oppose public education.
Gee, a lot of hostility and personal attacks flying around here. Like they say, if you’re taking a lot of flak, you’re probably standing over the target! If the public schools are so great, why would anyone want to go elsewhere? If hardly any students leave, then the cost to the state and the education establishment’s pocketbook will be miniscule, right?
Education is not only for the children being educated but to create citizens that are beneficial to the nation and humanity. This Bill reminds me of something that Horace Mann, the Father of American Education, wrote before the Civil War.
“When the Pennsylvania Dutchman said that all he wanted his boys to know was, how to count a hundred dollars and to row a boat to New Orleans, he did not think that if others had not known vastly more than this, there would have been no dollars to count, nor New Orleans to go to.”
First of all, what survey was he referencing? A survey of the
GOP Central Committee?
These FC folks are bringing national bs into our beloved state and they need to be slapped down at every opportunity. The majority of Wyoming public school parents are very happy with the direction of our schools.
Resist any bill that might degrade educational excellence.
Who are your respondents for this bill? Hiring non-certified individuals to teach and school voucher programs are not for rural Wyoming communities.
It’s not good fish anyway. You can get better fish in the frozen section at Safeway.
I see his business in Jackson taking a hit – as it should. School voucher programs are the last thing our public education system in Wyoming needs.
How very sad (LOL).
I see his business in Jackson taking a hit – as it should.
Thank you for including inks to the actual bills referenced in this, and other WyoFile articles.
I support teachers in Casper, and I’m OFF the hook.
I am a Wyoming Teacher and I will no longer support his business. His food truck’s food quality has gone very far down hill anyway.
Showing disdain for Wyoming teachers is Not going to solve our teacher shortages. It will only put unqualified, likely temporary, bodies to fill in. Maybe respect, support and a pay raise would keep and bring teachers to Wyoming. On another bill, forcing teachers to list every article, book, page, written word that may or may not get discussed in their classroom is an unnecessary burden that will further show how little we respect and trust certified, educated teachers.
To hire uncertified people to act as teachers is extremely offensive to those of us who put in the time and effort to become certified. Any school board that would entertain such an idiotic notion should be unseated to make way for actual smart people to take their place.
Anyone that eats at food truck simply is wanting case of food poisoning.
We all know what this is about, and what it’s not about. First, it’s not about giving our kids “more options” or giving them a better education because Wyoming was already rated pretty high nationally. What it is about is getting rid of public education and installing unqualified teachers who will push their religious beliefs on our kids. If you want to teach your kids that the earth is 6000 years old; a one hundred year old man built a boat the size of a football field; and an invisible man in the sky created the whole Universe in six days, then do it at home. I want my kids to be taught the truth, not a bunch of fairytales.
Well said, Nathan! You pulled back the curtain on this one.
I agree with your comments Nathan. 👍
Thank you for your article. Please do not let the freedom caucus run roughshod over our state. I have seen the media blitz from the freedom caucus labeling anyone who is moderate a Rhino and slandering their name. Please stand up to them.
Hilarious how this transplant backpedals when he gets a little pushback that might damage his wardrobe budget: “I didn’t say they were good ideas; I just tried to make them into laws.”
Go back to Washington, fancy fishmonger.
How are they getting this through when it CLEARLY violates the Wyoming constitution? I don’t want my tax dollars going to pay for people to go to private schools. If they want that, they can pay for it themselves.
Fair enough, but they also should not pay taxes for public education on top of it, right? Or is it only fair when they pay for yours and theirs?
Yes. We all pay to support a public school system that educates ALL students, regardless of ability, disability, or ability to pay.
It benefits all of us to have an educated citizenry. If you don’t like public schools, you’re fine to go elsewhere OR to try to improve public schools. Sadly, your financial obligation to the greater community remains the same.
First, we pay almost or the most per student for public education amongst the first world countries on this planet. We consistently rank lower than others in the key areas for education. I don’t see how school choice is going to be a bad thing, it will make our public education react and become better, or be replaced altogether.
Second, I don’t agree with many things taught in public education. Why should I be forced to pay for public education (at the risk of my home if I don’t) to educate a population in ways I don’t agree with? Let alone a public education system that has consistently and continuously trended downwards in effectiveness, even though costs have constantly risen? If you are ok forcing people to pay for things you don’t agree with because some perceived standard of public benefit, there are by that logic many other items that should be publicly funded as well (abortion anyone?), but I will bet you don’t agree with funding those. And even more so funding these other benefits at the risk of your home being taken away when you don’t pay.
That is on target everyone who pays property taxes should be able to get there kids quality schooling , even a voucher will come from the same payers and remember people who have never had kids still pay for schools.
Not sure what you’re saying here. But please use the correct word in your statement and understand the difference between there, their, and they’re.
Try reading the state constitution. It mandates one thing and prohibits the other.
I you care about our public schools in Wyoming, you should make Ocean Andrew feel the pain and NEVER patronize his business, On the Hook!
Here is the link to find On The Hook’s travel schedule so you can boycott in your community:
https://onthehookfishandchips.com/find-us/
Good to hear!