STARS Magazine 2012-2013 by The Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools

TABLE OF CONTENTS PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 3

TEACHING SCIENTISTS 48

“Rise Up Oklahoma City.”

2012-2013 OKCPS Teacher of the Year Daniel Buckmaster discovered community support of schools is greater than he imagined.

A CATALYST FOR CHANGE 4 The Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools brings together the schools and community to support teachers and students.

LEADING THE WAY 11 One teacher seeks to prove herself again through National Board certification.

PERFECT PARTNER 50 Fields and Futures is revamping middle school athletic fields – and students’ futures – across Oklahoma City.

VITAL SUPPORT: SUPER SUPPORT STAFF 55 Support employees provide vital services every day throughout OKCPS.

HONORING ALUMNI 58 The Foundation inducts four new members into its prestigious Wall of Fame.

FINANCIAL REPORTS 78 Financial report and program impact for The Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools.

STARS OF GIVING 81 Celebrating our corporate, foundation and individual donors from 2012.

HIDDEN TALENT 17 High-performing Oklahoma City Public Schools students need a big stage to show off their skills and talents.

THE SKY IS THE LIMIT 21 A Northwest Classen graduate follows his dreams.

MORE THAN $1 MILLION 22 More than $1 million in free supplies have been distributed to Oklahoma City classrooms since 2008.

FOUNDATION & FRIENDS WIN ADDYS 25 Videos highlighting Oklahoma City Public Schools students win local advertising awards.

STARS MAGAZINE STAFF

CREATING GREAT MINDS 26 Teachers infuse their classrooms with creativity and relevance to improve student learning.

GIVING IT HER ALL: HEATHER MELDRUM 34 The 2013-2014 OKCPS Teacher of the Year wants the community to know her students.

FOUNDATION PARTNERS 60 Corporations’ financial and volunteer donations boost Foundation outreach in OKCPS.

FINALISTS FOR OKCPS TEACHER OF THE YEAR 38 First Runner-Up: Michael Spellis; Second Runner-Up: Sherry Dew; Susan Bumgarner, Suzanne Carter, Adelita DixonHernandez, Mary Johnson, Lisa Ummel-Ingram and Kristin Whitmore.

GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND: VALUABLE VOLUNTEERS 52 Celebrating those who give of their time to help OKCPS students and teachers.

OKCPS TEAM 71 OKCPS district employees work together to make generous donations through TEAM giving.

LORI M. DICKINSON Editor in Chief Lead Designer CHRISTY WATSON Chief Writer Graphic Design COLIN STRICKLAND & LEIGH LOVE PHOTOGRAPHY Photography COLIN STRICKLAND & DEREK WATSON (LAMPSTAND MEDIA) Videography FOUNDATION STAFF Research and editing support

THE FOUNDATION FOR OKLAHOMA CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS CHAIRMAN

MILES TOLBERT, Crowe & Dunlevy

CHAIR-ELECT

J. CLIFFORD HUDSON, SONIC, America’s Drive-In

TREASURER

JOY LABAR, SandRidge Energy

PAST CHAIRMAN

ROBERT J. ROSS, Inasmuch Foundation

2012-2013 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

PACO BALDERRAMA, Oklahoma City Police Department JOHN L. BELT (1936-2013), John L. Belt & Associates BILL BULLARD, OGE Energy Corporation RUSSELL CLAUS, City of Oklahoma City JEFF CLOUD, Continental Resources JASON CONSTABLE, AT&T|Oklahoma JAMES R. DANIEL, BancFirst BRYCE FAIR, Oklahoma Higher Education Regents RYAN FREE, OPUBCO Communications Group DALE HAGEMAN, Accord Human Resources ROBERT E. HAMMACK, New West Group CHRIS HAMMES, INTEGRIS Health Corp. DAVID R. HARLOW, BancFirst BRENT HENSLEY, KOCO-TV 5 STANLEY F. HUPFELD, INTEGRIS Family of Foundations PERCY KIRK, Cox Communications RUSTY N. LAFORGE, Stillwater National Bank & Trust DONNA LAWRENCE, Success Redesigned JENNY LOVE MEYER, Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores CRISTINA F. MCQUISTION, OGE Energy Corporation LYNDA MOBLEY, ONG TERESA MOISANT, Moisant Promotions MICHAEL MORRISON, COMTECH, Inc. XAVIER NEIRA, Manhattan Construction CYNDA OTTAWAY, Crowe & Dunlevy DR. RAMONA PAUL, Retired Assistant State Superintendent KELLY PEARSON, Community Volunteer DR. BILL PINK, Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City TOM PRICE, Chesapeake Energy Corporation TERESA ROSE, Chesapeake Energy Corporation CLAUDIA SAN PEDRO, SONIC, America’s Drive-In WENDI SCHUUR, Devon Energy TONY SHINN, Bank of America HELEN SULLIVAN, Community Volunteer VALERIE THOMPSON, Urban League of Greater Oklahoma City GARY E. TREDWAY, American Fidelity Group REGGIE WHITTEN, Whitten Newman Foundation TREVOR WILLIAMS, LifeChurch

PRESIDENT/CEO

LORI M. DICKINSON lori@okckids.com

ADVISORY BOARD

KARL SPRINGER, OKCPS Superintendent LYNNE HARDIN, Chairwoman, OKCPS Board of Education DANIEL BUCKMASTER, OKCPS Teacher of the Year MICK CORNETT, Mayor, City of Oklahoma City DREW DUGAN, Greater Oklahoma City Chamber

FOUNDATION STAFF

STARS OF EDUCATION

LISA REED Deputy Director lisa@okckids.com ROBYN HILGER Chief Programs Officer | robyn@okckids.com CHRISTY WATSON Director of Communications | christy@okckids.com DEANGELA GAYMON Volunteer & Event Manager |deangela@okckids.com NEWT BROWN Accounting Manager newt@okckids.com COLIN STRICKLAND Public Relations & Development Manager colin@okckids.com

KAREN WEISMAN Program Coordinator | karen@okckids.com COURTNEE RIDEOUT Program Assistant |courtnee@okckids.com

MAILING ADDRESS

5225 N. Shartel, Suite 201 Oklahoma City, OK 73118 405.879.2007 fax 405.879.2088

WWW.OKCKIDS.COM

THE FOUNDATION FOR OKLAHOMA CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS www.okckids.com

RISE UP

OKLAHOMA CITY Nowhere in Oklahoma City is there as much potential, or more hope, than there is in our schools. – Lori M. Dickinson, President & CEO

I’ve walked the halls of so many Oklahoma City schools. community knows based only on hearsay. Handwritten poems hang on the walls. Construction-paper What she also wants us all to know is her kids are smart and crafts dangle from classroom ceilings. Children are laughing and passionate and ready – so ready – to prove they are capable of so learning from their teachers and one much more than we might think. another. They play chase at recess and She wants us to know her kids, not watch the clock as the day approaches just know of them. its end. You will also read endless Nowhere in Oklahoma City is there accounts of other teachers, as much potential, or more hope, than volunteers and staff committed to there is in our schools. And yet, once helping each other and changing you walk outside of a school and can our schools one young life at a time. no longer hear the sounds of children, The blame game and politics education becomes a conversation surrounding education are about textbooks, technology, tests, discouraging at times. This parental responsibility, who is making burdens our teachers with worries decisions on behalf of children, and the that distract them from their most next method of school reform. Some important job: educating children. days, it literally breaks my heart. This also burdens our kids, who Children are resilient, but they are quite capable of learning but need opportunities. Teachers have have an equal need for caring, the hearts of missionaries, but even compassionate people to believe the most self-reliant of them need and invest in them. encouragement. In the following pages, At the end of the day, education you’ll read about how an amazing is about our kids. Nothing more. Oklahoma City Public Schools teacher Nothing less. Can our schools is pouring her heart into a little girl produce educated students who is appropriately named Unique. whose strongest armor is the Their story is one of love, triumph and self-confidence built up through abundant hope. continual encouragement and Heather Meldrum is the 2013-2104 support from caring adults? Isn’t Lori Dickinson with “her girl” Constance, a third-grader at North Highland Elementary. Oklahoma City Public Schools Teacher that the aim? of the Year. She has a message we all At The Foundation, we have the need to hear: “I want people in Oklahoma City to know my kids absolute honor to know the students of Oklahoma City and their are more than a test, more than a bubble to fill in on a sheet of teachers. We challenge you to join us. See the world through paper.” She wants us to know they face challenges that include their eyes, and never, ever doubt that just one person can make hunger, absentee parents and violence at home. That much the a difference. PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

A CATALYST FOR CHANGE 4

OUR STORY

THE FOUNDATION FOR OKLAHOMA CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS www.okckids.com

We believe all of Oklahoma City’s children can succeed academically and in life. We want to provide them hope and opportunity that give them the confidence to dream with child-like abandon. – Lori Dickinson, The Foundation

When Heather Meldrum’s students come into her classroom, she quickly knows whether they’re ready to learn. All she has to do is look at the chart hanging near the classroom door where her fifth-grade students tell her whether their “cup is full.” Maybe they missed breakfast. Maybe the grownups at home had a long night of fighting. Maybe they had no bed to sleep on. “We’re dealing with everything that child came to school with,” said Meldrum, a teacher at Stanley F. Hupfeld Academy at Western Village, who will serve as the 20132014 Oklahoma City Public Schools Teacher of the Year. “They come with their cups filled with anxiety and fear and frustration.” The Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools stands beside students and teachers as they strive to achieve dreams limited only by their imaginations. Through daily interactions with students and teachers, Foundation staff have developed a deep understanding of the challenges facing schools. Behind those challenges are

students with names who, even he doesn’t know the with help, have a promising ending. He hopes for a fairy future. tale. He hopes for kids who The Foundation strives graduate, finish college, find to remove barriers between a good job and raise a happy, students and their teachers healthy family. But he’s seen and dreams. too many The students Foundation follow encourages a path the straight into community poverty – or to do the worse. same. “We have “We to figure believe all of out how to Oklahoma help them City’s become children what they can succeed have the academically potential and in life. to become,” We want to Mosley provide them said. “These “We have to figure out how to hope and kids have help them become what they opportunity to belong to have the potential to become,” that give something. said David Mosley, Star Spencer High School. them the These kids confidence are finding to dream with childsomeplace to belong and like abandon,” said Lori someplace to go. Most of the Dickinson, The Foundation’s time that’s to the streets. president and CEO. Most of the time that’s to the David Mosley can’t predict gangs, to the violence.” the future. When the teacher Teachers throughout and stomp team coach at Star Oklahoma City Public Spencer High School says Schools have the same fairy“his boys” have a story to tell, tale visions for their students.

Even the most dedicated educators know they can’t do it alone. They need the community’s help. “I want people in Oklahoma City to know my kids are more than a test, more than a bubble to fill in on a sheet of paper,” Meldrum said. ‘They are creative. They are funny. They are the reason I show up every day.”

HISTORY History remembers an Oklahoma City Public Schools much different than the one the community sees today. Some of our city’s greatest leaders are products of John Marshall, Northwest Classen, the original Classen, Capitol Hill, Douglass, U.S. Grant Northeast, Southeast, and Star Spencer high schools. In 2012, The Foundation inducted Joyce Henderson, a longtime city schools educator, and three district alumni into its Wall of Fame. The graduates included Thom Shanker, a New York Times Pentagon war correspondent from John Marshall High School; Timothy DeGiusti, a federal judge from Douglass High (continued)

THE FOUNDATION

We want, more than anything else, to act as a catalyst between the business community, the people of Oklahoma City and the schools. – Ray Potts, The Foundation’s first board chairman The Oklahoman, 1986

THE FOUNDATION

If you’re going to take at face value what you hear and you aren’t going to set foot in a classroom, you have no idea. There is so much love and passion for kids in our schools ... to see them survive and be successful. It goes beyond the classroom,” said Heather Meldrum, fifth-grade teacher at Stanley F. Hupfeld Academy at Western Village.

Scan here to learn more about “Rise Up Oklahoma City” and how to be a part of transforming our schools or visit www.okckids.com

School; and the late Prentice Gautt, a Douglass alumni whose football prowess helped usher in a new era of race relations in collegiate athletic programs at the University of Oklahoma and across the country. For those graduates and many others, their public school education in Oklahoma City was a foundation for later successes. The need for the public school system in Oklahoma City to continue providing that educational foundation hasn’t changed even though the demographics are different. Desegregation and forced busing of students decimated the school district’s enrollment. As families fled to the suburbs, so did much of the school district’s support. Crosstown busing was still in effect in 1984 when a group of visionary leaders formed what would become known as The Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools.

“We want, more than anything else, to act as a catalyst between the business community, the people of Oklahoma City and the schools,” Ray Potts, The Foundation’s first board chairman, told The Oklahoman in 1986 as the organization looked to hire its first director. “We strongly believe Oklahoma City schools are a hell of a lot better than people think they are.” While much has changed since the 1980s, the goals of The Foundation haven’t, and poor perception of the district lingers, said Dickinson, who has led The Foundation since 2009. That’s one reason why, in addition to its serviceoriented programs, The Foundation is working to help educate the Oklahoma City community about the good things happening in the schools while still focusing on areas of concern. The massive MAPS for

Kids project voters approved in 2001 was a significant effort in re-engaging the community in schools. The work proved successful in establishing voter support for nearly $700 million of taxpayer investment in infrastructure, including new and remodeled buildings, technology and transportation. The project also included a list of non-constructionrelated objectives that have had varying levels of implementation and success, as The Foundation detailed in its 2009 assessment of progress.

EDUCATE

On the heels of MAPS for Kids, The Foundation created as one of its strategic goals to advocate for students and educators in Oklahoma City and keep the spotlight on issues affecting public education. That work begins (continued)

THE FOUNDATION

I have complete faith that if my students ever had a need that couldn’t be fulfilled with the current programs, The Foundation would still find a way to help. – Jennifer Garland, Green Pastures Elementary

with The Foundation’s board of directors. At the behest of board Chairman Miles Tolbert, board members have heard from experts on school finance, school board candidates, state education officials and others to deepen their understanding of issues facing public education, with a particular focus on Oklahoma City. “The better our board understands the issues facing our district, the more effective it will be in identifying and advocating for solutions,” Tolbert said. In 2012, The Foundation also hosted its first All Hands Raised event. This free fundraising luncheon gave attendees an opportunity to hear directly from Oklahoma City students and teachers about the importance of community support. At the luncheon, The Foundation 8

THE FOUNDATION

debuted its “Rise Up” video and subsequently launched a series of free “Lunch and Learn” events for those who want to learn more about the school district and how The Foundation supports students and teachers. The video and new events have proved powerful tools for spreading understanding about the challenges facing Oklahoma City Public Schools. They underscore the role of, and opportunities for, the community to support and champion student and teacher success. Foundation staff also attend most school board meetings and keep the community apprised of board discussion and decisions via social media. “The community has to be educated on the realities of school. They have to be educated on what’s really going on,” Meldrum said. “If

you’re going to take at face value what you hear and you aren’t going to set foot in a classroom, you have no idea. There is so much love and passion for kids in our schools … to see them survive and be successful. It goes beyond the classroom.”

CHAMPION The advocacy efforts are a perfect complement to The Foundation’s primary programs and services, Dickinson said. “We hear often from teachers and students about how grants for competitions provided new and exciting learning opportunities or how Teachers Warehouse provided students with much-needed supplies,” she said. “The opportunity to share those stories is a chance for Foundation staff to honor the amazing students and teachers we get to work

with every day.” Ninety percent of the district’s students live at or near the poverty line. Thousands of students don’t speak English as their first language. On any given day, more than 1,900 students are considered homeless. The academic pressure on these students is tremendous. In a few years, third-graders will be required to pass a reading test to advance to fourth grade. High school students must pass four subject-area tests to receive a diploma. Students are asked to track their academic progress, and even many elementary students know their reading level. School classrooms and hallways display graphs illustrating how students perform on benchmark tests, indicating whether they are meeting district and state

reading and math standards. The Foundation’s work is based on the premise Oklahoma City’s students are fully capable of meeting today’s academic standards. However, many students begin their academic careers at a deficit. Students and teachers need extra support, resources and opportunities to achieve their goals. The Foundation program with the largest reach is Teachers Warehouse, which provides free classroom supplies. In 2012, Teachers Warehouse passed the $1 million mark in supplies distributed to classrooms throughout the school district. Record numbers of teachers ordered paper, crayons, markers and other basic supplies through the monthly online store.

Experiences and opportunities other districts can provide with the support of parents are even more important for students in Oklahoma City, particularly those without the financial means to travel beyond their neighborhoods. By the spring semester, The Foundation had experienced record requests from teachers as well through the Competitive Edge program, which helps pay for students to attend artistic and academic competitions. Teachers can use the grants to pay for entry fees, transportation and food for students as they attend dance contests, robotics competitions or similar events. This program served about 200 students six years ago with about $7,000. By

comparison, with two months remaining in the 2012-2013 school year, The Foundation has provided more than $220,000 in funding to serve 5,269 students. “The Foundation allowed me to take students to robotics and technology events that we could not afford,” said Artie Lowery, a teacher at Capitol Hill High School. “These students have been exposed to positive experiences that they otherwise would never see.” Great Idea Grants, The Foundation’s longest-running program, also provided nearly $90,000 in grants to teachers with ideas to make their lessons more creative, engaging and relevant. The Foundation’s Advancing Teaching Excellence initiative is seeing

a resurgence. Interest in teachers pursuing National Board certification fell off amid uncertainty over state support of the program. But The Foundation’s stand-alone effort to prepare teachers for the certification process and to provide scholarships for teachers who decide to pursue or renew certification is growing. Jennifer Garland, a teacher at Green Pastures Elementary, said she’s grateful for all of The Foundation’s various programs and support. “I have complete faith that if my students ever had a need that couldn’t be fulfilled with the current programs, The Foundation would still find a way to help.”

Since 2007, The Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools has increased funding to students and teachers

$56,219 to $604,119 = 975 % increase! The number of Oklahoma City Public Schools students impacted by Foundation funding has increased from

2,000 to 35,000-plus = 1,650 % increase! THE FOUNDATION

Gardner Tanenbaum Holdings is your real estate development partner from concept to completion, providing high quality real estate solutions for our clients and partners for over 60 years.

Fields & Futures rebuilding fields - empowering COACHES - Inspiring KIDS

WWW.FIELDSANDFUTURES.COM PO BOX 21861 | OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA | 73156 | 405.820.6089 10

STARS OF EDUCATION

LEADING THE WAY National Board certification is not for everyone. It’s a life-changing experience. ... You will come out the other side a different person, pass or fail. – Jonetta Jonté, National Board certified teacher | Southeast High School

Claim statements. Tone. Third person. To an outsider, the language of Jonetta Jonté’s 7:35 a.m. literature class at Southeast High School might scream of boring. Then students start throwing out phrases such as “soothingly peaceful” and “bitterly foreboding.” They raise their hands when Jonté asks a question. They banter with the teacher when she misspells a word. The constant hum of student chatter is focused on the day’s lesson. There’s a lightheartedness to Jonté’s class that masks the seriousness of the class. But make no mistake: Jonté is serious about her students’ learning. “Thomas Jefferson said the reason we needed public education was to recognize tyranny if it appeared,” Jonté said. “We must have an educated citizenry.” Jonté broke into teaching at John Marshall High School, where she taught theater. She had spent years in the private sector working as a technical writer. The pay was good. The professional satisfaction was not. She was certified to teach English, but the theater job was all she could find. School had changed so much since her days

as a student. She felt ill-equipped. A colleague told her the process of National Board certification was priceless professional development. As Jonté started her fourth year of teaching, she asked her principal to allow her to teach one section of English, and she applied for National Board certification, a grueling process that’s a one- to three-year commitment open only to teachers who have completed three years in the classroom. Candidates for the certification must complete 10 assessments. The work involves intensive reflection, copious amounts of writing, videos of classroom teaching and examples of student work. “I was a single mom and had a teenager and a child in elementary,” Jonté said. “I had to sacrifice time with my children. I would close the bedroom door, and they knew mom was working on her boards.” Her children would knock on the door. “Are you bleeding?” she would ask. “No,” they would respond. “Figure it out yourself,” she’d say. (continued)

TEACHING EXCELLENCE

The Foundation ... offers the rare opportunity for an entire school staff to complete the first step of the National Board process using the Take One! program. The yearlong effort allows teachers a chance to focus in an in-depth manner on their teaching as it relates to their students. – Robyn Hilger, National Board certified teacher and The Foundation’s chief programs officer

ADVANCING TEACHING EXCELLENCE

Research consistently

points to the classroom teacher as the most important in-school factor affecting student achievement. That’s why investing in teachers is one of The Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools’ top priorities through its

Advancing Teaching Excellence program. What started as a program to help pay for teachers to pursue National Board certification is growing to develop a continuous pipeline of teachers interested in improving their craft. There’s a place in the pipeline for everyone: new teachers, those who have been teaching several years and even the master teachers with decades of experience. Pre-candidacy courses allow teachers who haven’t been teaching long enough to pursue certification or even experienced teachers to learn more about the National Board certification process. Scholarships are available to pay the $2,500 in fees associated with applying for National Board certification. Recipients also qualify for a $250 materials stipend. Scholarship recipients must agree to teach in the OKCPS district for three years and have access to support group meetings where mentors provide advice on the process. Certification lasts for 10 years, and The Foundation also offers scholarships and support for teachers who seek recertification. “The Foundation also offers the rare opportunity for an entire school staff to complete the first step of the National Board process using the Take One! program,” said Robyn Hilger, a National Board certified teacher and The Foundation’s chief programs officer. “The yearlong effort allows teachers a chance to focus in an in-depth manner on their teaching as it relates to their students.” The Foundation launched its first Take One! project two years ago at Edgemere Elementary. Student test scores increased more than in any other district elementary school. The Foundation is looking for another partner school for the 2013-2014 school year. All work related to National Board certification is supported by the Jean G. Gumerson Endowment for the Pursuit of Teaching Excellence. Donors created the endowment in recognition of Gumerson, a past president of the Foundation. 12

TEACHING EXCELLENCE

“It was always something like they couldn’t find the mayonnaise,” she laughs now. For months, she would wake up at 3:30 a.m. and write until 5:30 a.m., when it was time to get ready for the day. Unlike many teachers, she achieved certification on the first try. “I excelled at teaching English. After I got my board, I decided that’s where I needed to be,” she said. Southeast had an opening, and Jonté’s been teaching young Spartans ever since. “National Board certification is not for everyone. It’s a life-changing experience, and you should understand that before you enter it. You will come out the other side a different person, pass or fail.” National Board certification is good for 10 years and recognized by more than 40 states. As Jonté neared the expiration of her original certification, she decided to pursue recertification. The process is different than seeking firsttime certification, but no less difficult. The first time around, Jonté received a scholarship from the state to pay for the $2,500 application fee. For

proud sponsor of Stars of education

recertification, she received a scholarship from The Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools. Jonté was one of five Oklahoma City teachers to receive a renewal scholarship during the 2012-2013 school year to cover the $1,250 recertification fee. In 20112012, eight teachers received renewal scholarships – all of whom successfully renewed their certification for another decade. “It’s a source of pride for me that I’m a National Board certified teacher,” she said. “When I retire, I want to still be a National Board certified teacher because it means something to me. It also means something to my kids. It changes the classroom and changes students’ lives.” The recertification process involves teachers demonstrating they have continued to show and pursue professional growth. Initially, Jonté didn’t take on leadership roles within her school or in the teaching profession until she realized an important part of being a nationally certified teacher is helping others. That’s one area she’s reflecting on as part of the renewal process, and it has

caused her some discomfort. “I don’t like that I’m afraid to take leadership roles and speak out even when sometimes I have knowledge that other people don’t,” she said. “Sometimes I sit back because leadership is a risk. It’s something I’m learning and trying to work on. I’m trying not to be offended when people don’t like what I say.” Her success in obtaining National Board certification helped Jonté realize she has something to offer young and prospective teachers. For years now, she’s mentored new teachers and guided those pursuing a college degree in education. She invites them into her classroom so they can learn and perhaps avoid some of the early struggles she experienced. “When I started as a teacher I didn’t think I had anything worthwhile to tell other teachers. What I’m discovering about myself is I want to invest in the lives of other teachers.”

For a complete list of all OKCPS National Board certified teachers, see page 15.

Loyal

to ok lahoma & you with more than $5 billion in total assets, BancFirst is Oklahoma’s largest state-chartered bank.

Deeply rooted in our past and actively looking to the future, BancFirst is defined by our unwavering loyalty to Oklahoma and Oklahomans.

www.bancfirst.com

TEACHING EXCELLENCE

With our 170 partners and agencies, we have distributed more than $3 million in school supplies, books, backpacks, and food to students at more than 145 Oklahoma schools. In the U.S., we have distributed more than $11 million in school supplies, helping more than 2,500 teachers nationwide.

Learn more about how together we can provide

Food. Education. Essentials. Disaster Relief. Scan the QR code or visit FeedTheChildren.org/Oklahoma

TEACHING EXCELLENCE

OKCPS NBCT Dozens of Oklahoma City Public Schools educators have undergone the rigorous, multi-year process to earn National Board certification in their areas of expertise. The Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools is proud to recognize those who have dedicated their time and energy for the betterment of public education. ART Rebecca Collins Classen School of Advanced Studies Susan Gabbard OKCPS District Office Marcia Greenwood Cleveland Elementary* Michael Muller Belle Isle Enterprise Middle School Randa Reiger Heronville Elementary Gail Sloop Sequoyah Elementary

CAREER & TECHNICAL Karen Montgomery Star Spencer High School James Payne Classen School of Advanced Studies Mary Pipps Cloos Southeast High School* Tracie Rivera Spencer Elementary Murrell Thompson Southeast High School

Bill Bullock Extended Educational Services

Sharon McFerron Kaiser Elementary*

Alicia Hughes Fillmore Elementary

Shelly Campbell John Marshall High School

Mary Miller Buchanan Elementary

Sharon Scott Coolidge Elementary

Diane Crepeau Cleveland Elementary*

Carrie Price Arthur Elementary

Darla Smith Oklahoma Centennial High School

Donna Greenberg Rogers Middle School

Ruthie Rayner Stanley F. Hupfeld Academy at Western Village

Diana Steele Telstar Elementary

Doris Harris Northwest Classen High School Laneeta Malone Telstar Elementary Jana Newsom Ridgeview Elementary Bettie Shadoan Monroe Elementary

GENERALIST Debbie Adam Buchanan Elementary Deborah Bentley Quail Creek Elementary Dorann Bickford Wheeler Elementary Heather Bullock Wheeler Elementary

ENGLISH & LANGUAGE ARTS

Kara Cordell Westwood Elementary

Mindy Barmann Classen School of Advanced Studies

Carla Cox Linwood Elementary

Rebecca Feldman OKCPS District Office

Beth Ann Fint Ridgeview Elementary

Jonetta Jonté Southeast High School

Joy Rainey Fugett Stanley F. Hupfeld Academy at Western Village

Cecilia Lozano U.S. Grant High School Susan Miller Southeast High School Lisa Souza Webster Middle School Allison Stark Taft Middle School

EXCEPTIONAL NEEDS Rikki Abrams Ridgeview Elementary Angela Absher Johnson Elementary

Jennifer Sinclair Nichols Hills Elementary* Cheryl Smith Cesar Chavez Elementary* Heather Sparks Taft Middle School* Marilyn Tarron Eugene Field Elementary Samantha Twyman Buchanan Elementary Lisa Ummel-Ingram Wheeler Elementary* Vanessa VanTrease Telstar Elementary Jami Veenstra Willow Brook Elementary Marlene White F.D. Moon Academy Betty Winters Bodine Elementary

HISTORY Nancy Brewer Belle Isle Enterprise Middle School Virginia Kennedy Southeast High School*

Sandra Futrell Putnam Heights Elementary*

LIBRARY MEDIA

Helen Gilbert Shidler Elementary

John Allen Kaiser Elementary

Cheryl Halaoui Wilson Elementary

Priscilla Allen Classen School of Advanced Studies

Darlene Hawkins Southern Hills Elementary

Cathy Carlson Emerson High School

Tekoa Hill North Highland Elementary

Linda Hickerson Wheeler Elementary

Rachael Lehman Quail Creek Elementary

LITERACY

Cynthia Lindauer Wilson Elementary

Beverly Clore Greystone Lower Elementary

Kristin Whitmore Sequoyah Elementary

MATH Jenifer Kleyn U.S. Grant High School Donna Rice-Johnson Northwest Classen High School

MUSIC Rhonda Taylor North Highland Elementary Glen Woods Wheeler Elementary

PHYSICAL EDUCATION Valerie List Ridgeview Elementary

SCIENCE Carolyn Bish Classen School of Advanced Studies Daniel Buckmaster Belle Isle Enterprise Middle School Cynthia Haney Northwest Classen High School Ann Kelly Coolidge Elementary Jennifer Lynch John Marshall High School Linda Meier Belle Isle Enterprise Middle School Meredith Wronowski Capitol Hill High School

WORLD LANGUAGES OTHER THAN ENGLISH Lourdes Charry Capitol Hill High School *Teacher obtained renewal certification.

Are you a NBCT and don’t see your name on the list? Let us know by calling Robyn Hilger at 405.879.2007 or robyn@okckids.com. TEACHING EXCELLENCE

COMPETITIVE EDGE

THE FOUNDATION FOR OKLAHOMA CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS www.okckids.com

HIDDEN

TALENT

The Foundation is building a stage so Oklahoma City’s talented students can compete and perform for audiences across the state and throughout the country. The stage is just too small to hold all of Oklahoma City’s ROBOTICS, hidden talent. Students with immense academic and artistic LINWOOD ELEMENTARY talent are in every classroom in every corner of Oklahoma City Public Schools. Some play When Ashley Sapien talks about ratios, the violin with breathtaking ease. Others build rotations and robots, she’s all business. Her robots with quiet confidence and superior skill. eyes narrow, she stands just a bit taller and her Still others dance with exquisite grace. voice is filled with confidence. When she pauses They need a bigger stage. Not, of course, the for a moment to double-check a calculation on kind built with hammer and nails. The stage the computer, she breaks out in a big grin that they need is one of opportunity – to compete doesn’t quite match what you’d expect from with peers throughout the city, state and an award-winning robot programmer. Then nation; to challenge themselves to do better and again, Ashley isn’t typical. She’s a sixth-grade dream more; and to become part of the fabric of student at Linwood Elementary and the chief Oklahoma City’s continued renaissance. programmer on the school’s First Lego League Unfortunately, our schools can’t afford to robotics team. showcase all of the talent hidden away in “It’s really a lot of math and measurements,” classrooms. The students and their families she said. “It’s work, but it’s fun, too.” have limited incomes that make it difficult, if Being a team leader was especially fun not impossible, to pay for competition entry fees, when the group took second place at a regional transportation, lodging and meals for contests competition and third place in the mechanical and performances. But with donor support, the robot category of the statewide contest. Since 2008, The Foundation Competitive Edge program at The Foundation for Rebecka Graffigna, a remedial specialist at has awarded almost $600,000 Oklahoma City Public Schools is building a stage Linwood, decided to start a junior robotics team to send 15,000-plus Oklahoma so Oklahoma City’s students can compete and at the school this year after seeing a First Lego City Public Schools students perform across the state and country. League competition last year. She required to artistic and academic Competitive Edge allows teachers in interested students to complete an essay on a competitions Oklahoma City Public Schools to apply for up technology topic. Of the 10 fifth- and sixth-grade to $2,500 in funding per contest on a first-come, students selected, only one opted not to stick first-served basis to take students to competitions. Additional with the program. Students work after school programming and funding is reserved for students who win competitions or who making other adjustments so the robot can complete required advance to regional and national competitions. tasks. Students from Mount Saint Mary High School also served During the 2011-2012 school year, Competitive Edge provided as mentors early in the project. schools $175,000 in funding. Since the beginning of the 2012 Each year, First Lego League competitions have a theme. 2013 school year, 205 grants totaling more than $220,000 have This year’s focus was on challenges senior citizens face as they been awarded. More than 5,200 students have or will attend (continued) academic and artistic competitions this year alone. COMPETITIVE EDGE

In recent years, the Jefferson Middle School dance team has been a mainstay at local and regional competitions, thanks in part to the financial sponsorship of The Foundation’s Competitive Edge program.

age. Students must build the robots with motors and Legos. The machines are built to complete challenges that include opening pill bottles, gardening, wood work, moving quilts from one location to another and bowling (because, according to one student, older people like to bowl). The team members decided to opt out of some high-point challenges that required expensive modifications to the robot. Instead, their strategy was to tackle several smaller challenges to build their point total. The team also had to make a presentation on a theme-related project. The students researched everyday challenges facing people with osteoarthritis and presented a hypothetical proposal for a toothbrush with sensors that would allow seniors to more easily brush their teeth even if they had a weak grip. Graffigna wasn’t sure how the fledgling robotics team would work out. However, to say it was successful is an 18

COMPETITIVE EDGE

understatement. “The biggest thing I’ve seen is unity outside of each child’s individual social circle,” Graffigna said. She’s seen older and younger students working well together. Her team captain went from shy to an outspoken leader. Topachieving students never short of opinions have learned to listen to others and work together toward solutions. She’s especially proud to see the female members of the team interested in science and her students applying scientific principles to realworld problems. While the team faced some financial limitations to get started, funding from The Foundation’s Competitive Edge program paid registration fees and other costs associated with the regional and state competitions. STEM, BELLE ISLE ENTERPRISE MIDDLE SCHOOL The more the judges

increased the pressure on the bridge, the more nervous Tom Levescy became. He thought about the times he tried to help near his own workbench before his 12-year-old daughter, Katherine, shooed him away. He thought of the other bridge she built, still sitting intact at home because it never broke under pressure. Never mind that the bridge was built of toothpicks. When judges at the Oklahoma Engineering Fair upped the pressure to 195 pounds, the audience gasped. A bolt – not the sturdy toothpick bridge – broke. As Katherine made a repair, judges decided to move on. They’d save Katherine’s bridge for last – a move that did nothing to calm her dad’s nerves. Katherine talks about compressed beams and squared joints. After all, she spent 36 hours preparing her bridge for competition. She’s not noticeably nervous. “The best part is getting out of school,” she says, shooting a grin at her dad. Tom is undeniably proud

Scan to learn more about the Jefferson Middle School Dance Team or visit www.okckids.com

Dena Frankenfield won’t forget the big trophy anytime soon. When Northwest Classen High School’s choir, band, piano and orchestra students hoisted the Grand Sweepstakes at the Tri-State Music Festival, they made their school so proud. “It took everything we had to get there,” Frankenfield said. – Music, Northwest Classen Competitive Edge Grant

Katherine Levescy talks about compressed beams and squared joints. After all, she spent 36 hours preparing her bridge for competition.

of his daughter’s engineering skills. She’s even thinking about becoming an architect someday. But he’s also proud Katherine and her classmates are such accomplished representatives of Oklahoma City Public Schools. Katherine’s parents are proud Vikings — graduates of Oklahoma City’s Northeast High School. As a parent and chief accounting officer at Oklahoma City-based Enogex, Tom wants his family to be active consumers and supporters of public education. He’s also grateful for the

support The Foundation provides to help Oklahoma City’s kids succeed. The competition was free, but Belle Isle used a Competitive Edge grant to pay for transportation to Science Museum Oklahoma for the contest. “When the community gets involved, it really does make a difference,” he said. On this day, there was no shortage of success. Katherine’s bridge withstood 200 pounds of pressure – more than any other bridge. The competition drew schools from across the state. Overall,

Belle Isle had more winners than any other school. MUSIC, NORTHWEST CLASSEN Dena Frankenfield won’t forget the big trophy anytime soon. When Northwest Classen High School’s choir, band, piano and orchestra students hoisted the Grand Sweepstakes at the Tri-State Music Festival, they made their school so proud. Frankenfield, the school’s piano teacher, isn’t sure if any Oklahoma City school has ever won the festival’s (continued)

This year’s First Lego League competitions focused on challenges senior citizens face as they age. The team from Linwood Elementary also presented a project on everyday challenges facing people with osteoarthritis. COMPETITIVE EDGE

“The biggest thing I’ve seen is unity outside of each child’s individual social circle,” said Rebecka Graffigna, Linwood Elementary.

Scan here to see learn more about Star Spencer High School’s Brothers of Stomp or visit www.okckids.com

highest honor. Northwest Classen never had, always falling behind suburban and even some larger rural powerhouses. “It took everything we had to get there,” Frankenfield said of the teachers’ efforts to cobble together district, parent and Foundation funding through Competitive Edge to make the trip to Enid. “We make it work. I try really hard to not make it a hardship on students. If they want to go, we want to make it happen.” Frankenfield’s students are paid to play some private engagements. And she wants her students to have some investment in competitions if they can afford to contribute. But if not, she won’t let them miss out on the opportunity to show others their talent. To cut costs, Frankenfield sometimes pays for snacks instead of full meals. “There’s no way we could go to the competitions we do without The Foundation,” she said. “I absolutely refuse to use class time to raise money, and that’s what you’d be forced to do. You would have to trade teaching for fundraising.”

DANCE, JEFFERSON MIDDLE SCHOOL Juan Iglesias’ dance students at Jefferson Middle School may be short on the financial wherewithal to travel throughout the country to competitions, but they have plenty of talent. In recent years, the team has been a mainstay at local and regional competitions, thanks in part to the financial sponsorship of the Competitive Edge program. The team won first place in the school division at the American Spirit Championships in Oklahoma City in fall 2012. In 2011, the team advanced to the national competition in Orlando, Fla. The Foundation helped pay travel costs and arranged for a trip to Disneyworld. For some students, it was their first flight. Even for Iglesias, it was his first trip to Disneyworld. Iglesias said Foundation funding for competitions helps create stability within programs because students know they’ll be able to compete at a high level. “Without grant money, my

students wouldn’t be able to attend these events. It’s showing them a whole different life outside of Oklahoma.” The competitions also give Iglesias, an Oklahoma City Public Schools graduate, an opportunity to share his story of success through dance. A teacher at Southeast High School helped Iglesias turn his love of dance into a college scholarship. Now he gives back to students in the hope their love of dance will help them become successful.

See the complete listing of Competitive Edge grants funded by The Foundation through March 2013 beginning on page 68.

Tot-Tot-Hooray! tot-tot-hooray! SONIC® is a proud supporter of the students and teachers of the Oklahoma City Public Schools.

COMPETITIVE EDGE

CODY RIPLEY

“THE SKY IS THE LIMIT”

Scan here to see Cody Ripley’s story or visit www.okckids.com

Cody Ripley spent hours programming robots in the dimly lit welding shop at Northwest Classen High School. Tucked away on the backside of campus, the shop was more than just his home away from home. The time he spent testing, correcting and testing his work again was a glimpse into his future. Cody graduated from Northwest Classen in May 2012, just a few months after the robotics team he helped lead finished third place in one of the toughest regional robotics competitions in the country. The team just missed qualifying for the national competition. Cody was disappointed, but another big accomplishment was on the horizon. When he walked across the stage at the Cox

Convention Center in his purple cap and gown, he became the first in his family to graduate high school. By then, Cody’s immediate future was already decided. Cody worked through high school to help support his family. The military would be his ticket to financial stability and the college education he wanted. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy while still in high school, and just weeks after graduation, left for basic training in Chicago. A year out of high school, he’s not simply Cody Ripley, a graduate of Northwest Classen High School. He’s Interior Communications Fireman Cody Ripley, assigned to the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush in Norfolk, Va. He spends his 12-hour workdays working on all manner of electronic equipment from televisions to radars. Ripley went to school for six months to become an electrician, and recently was promoted from apprentice. A year ago, his long-term plans included eventually obtaining a degree in aeronautical engineering. Now, he’s thinking he might pursue a slightly different course. With his military schooling so far, Cody has 45 credit hours to put toward a degree. He hopes to enroll in nearby Virginia Tech and pursue a degree in electrical engineering. “Anything electronic, I just really dig it,” he said. “I really like the robotics stuff,

computers and stereos, so if I could help develop and work on some of those types of things, the sky’s the limit.” For now, he’s settling into a life very different than a year ago. Cody married his high school sweetheart, Jesse, six months after graduation. They enjoy living near the ocean in Virginia Beach, Va. The couple hope Jesse will soon be able to pursue her dream: a career in nursing. After struggling in high school to help support his family, Cody recently bought a new car: a 2012 Dodge Challenger. He acknowledges the purchase probably wouldn’t have the blessing of those he typically turns to for financial advice. “I have always wanted to have this car. I worked hard to get it. To me, it represents accomplishment – achieving a dream.” He remains grateful to Cliff Parrett and Bill Hixon, the two Northwest Classen instructors who led the robotics program and served as mentors and counselors for him throughout high school. He also credits The Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools for providing significant funding for the robotics program and giving him a chance to pursue his dreams. “Without Mr. Parrett, Mr. Hixon and The Foundation, I wouldn’t have had robotics. I wouldn’t have joined the military. I wouldn’t have pursued a technical career,” he said. ALUMNI

THE FOUNDATION FOR OKLAHOMA CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS www.okckids.com

MORE THAN

$1 MILLION

OG&E linemen made surprise deliveries in December 2012 to all OKCPS teachers who ordered from Teachers Warehouse.

Chase Bank is one of many corporations and individuals who give in-kind supplies to The Foundation’s Teachers Warehouse. 22

TEACHERS WAREHOUSE

When Teachers Warehouse passed the $1 million mark in school supplies donated to classrooms in Oklahoma City Public Schools, teachers had no time to cheer. The milestone came on the first day of school. Teachers were busy learning the names of new students and managing all of the chaos that comes with the start of a new school year. Even amid the busyness of a hectic school day, educators throughout the district know the million-dollar program is a priceless resource. Teachers can order on a monthly basis, selecting the supplies they need most. “Our students are so excited when the teachers come in with The Foundation’s blue bags because they know there are goodies in the bag to help them learn,” said Jae Strickland, principal at Hayes Elementary. Strickland said her teachers work together during the ordering period each month to make sure they order the supplies needed most in Hayes classrooms. “Teachers Warehouse really makes students and teachers feel like we’re all in this together, and there are advocates working on their behalf.” Teachers have used the program to provide new backpacks and supplies for an entire class of first-graders on the first day of school. Others have used items like Twistables crayons for special-needs students who routinely break traditional crayons. They’ve used binders donated to the warehouse to provide science and language arts notebooks for hundreds of middle school students. Unusual donations like dress shoes have outfitted a high school choir and an elementary school student in desperate need of shoes that fit. A school drama teacher quickly snatched up donated wedding dresses to use as costumes. CLASSROOM SUPPLIES are the focus of Teachers Warehouse, but that isn’t the only area of need. Encouragement is a critical component. “With every ream of paper and every box of crayons that go out the door, Oklahoma City is telling our students and teachers we want them to succeed,” said Lori Dickinson, president of The Foundation. “They need to know that despite the challenges, we’re behind them.” As awareness of Teachers Warehouse continues to grow, so does the challenge of meeting a growing need. Educators in the district are no strangers to the statistics. Ninety percent of the 43,000 students in Oklahoma City Public Schools qualify for free- or reduced-price meals, an

indicator of poverty. The vast majority of those – about 32,000 – are so poor they qualify for free meals. The result is families who must concern themselves with feeding their children and keeping the lights on. New backpacks, crayons and glue fall far down the list of priorities. For years, teachers have tapped their own bank accounts to fill the gap. With Teachers Warehouse, The Foundation stands firmly to fill that gap. In August 2012, teachers placed a record 786 orders worth more than $43,000. Serving nearly 800 teachers is no small accomplishment, but it’s only a fraction of the 2,500 educators working in the school district. The work to serve more teachers is ongoing. Last year, The Foundation decided to split the pick-up period, with elementary and secondary teachers collecting their orders on different weeks. Foundation staff worked during the summer of 2012 to upgrade the online store teachers use to place orders to handle increasing demand. COMMUNITY PARTNERS also continue to step up to fill the gap. Devon Energy, Chesapeake Energy and OGE Energy Corporation are longtime supporters of Teachers Warehouse. These companies and others provide volunteer support to sort donations, conduct inventory and pack orders. Their help is invaluable. Other companies conduct supply drives and donate the supplies collected to Teachers Warehouse. Mathis Brothers in cooperation with KOCO Channel 5 and Science Museum Oklahoma have also conducted supply drives the past few years. Another community-wide initiative – Team Up OKC – featured donation boxes available at area American Cleaners, Bank of

Oklahoma and Panera Bread locations. Several local businesses supported the cause. The Foundation continues to seek additional partners to provide support for students and teachers in Oklahoma City Public Schools. Volunteers, supplies and monetary donations are needed to level the playing field and ensure Oklahoma City’s students don’t miss out on opportunities to make their dreams come true.

What does $1 MILLION in classroom supplies look like?

9,865 reams

of white copy paper

6,692 boxes

of 24-count crayons

3,388 packages

of 10-count, No. 2 pencils and much, much more!

TEACHERS WAREHOUSE

STARS OF EDUCATION

THE FOUNDATION & FRIENDS

WIN ADDYS

Students from Spencer Elementary (top right) were featured in The Foundation’s “How To Cook A Turkey” video, while students from schools across OKCPS appeared in the “Rise Up Oklahoma City!” video. Pictured here are students from Hayes Elementary.

The Oklahoma City Advertising Club honored The Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools with three awards during its annual ADDY competition to reward creative excellence in advertising. The Foundation won a gold ADDY in the public service video campaign category and a bronze ADDY in the public service video category for its “Rise Up” videos. The videos, which were released throughout 2012, were designed to better connect the Oklahoma City community to its schools and encourage individuals, businesses and organizations to invest in student success. The videos featured stories of individual students and teachers in Oklahoma City Public Schools. One video also featured local business and community leaders encouraging more community involvement and explaining

the work of The Foundation and its donors in supporting students and teachers. “We are passionate about sharing the story of Oklahoma City’s students with the community,” said Lori Dickinson, The Foundation’s president. “They are smart, talented and capable of someday leading our city and state to even greater heights. But first, we must rise up and show them we care about them and want them to succeed.” The “Rise Up” campaign will now advance to a multi-state district ADDY competition. Oklahoma City-based Lampstand Media produced the videos in cooperation with Foundation staff. The Foundation also won a silver ADDY for a humorous video of pre-kindergarten students at Spencer Elementary explaining how to cook a turkey. Foundation

staff members Colin Strickland and Lisa Reed produced the video. The Foundation supports Oklahoma City students and teachers through a variety of programs that provide free school supplies, teaching grants and funding that enables thousands of students to attend artistic and academic competitions throughout Oklahoma and the nation. It also provides the state’s only stand-alone scholarship program for district teachers who want to pursue National Board certification.

Scan to watch “How To Cook A Turkey” or visit www.okckids.com

ADDYS

THE FOUNDATION FOR OKLAHOMA CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS www.okckids.com

CREATING

GREAT MINDS I want our students to break the walls that poverty tries to impose on them. – Lynn Green, Oklahoma Centennial Mid-High School

Great ideas come in all shapes and sizes. They also come from all sorts of teachers and all sorts of schools. The Great Idea Grants program at The Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools is the organization’s longestrunning program and rewards teachers and teams of teachers seeking to infuse their classroom with relevance and creativity. In two grant cycles during the 2012-2013 school year, The Foundation awarded nearly $90,000 in grants to 32 teachers and 18 teams of teachers. Individual recipients can receive as much as $1,000 per award. Collaborative applicants can receive up to $5,000.

expand the art program at John Marshall. In the 2012-2013 school year, high school students only had one art class from which to choose. For the 2013-2014 school year, Kaufman plans to create a second-level class, which will incorporate pottery and serve as a motivator for students in beginning art to progress to the next level. She eventually plans to offer an Advanced Placement art class that would allow her students to work on even more high-level skills, possibly for college credit. “There’s no way we could’ve done it without support from the community,” said Kaufman, who has also used The Foundation’s Competitive Edge program so her students could participate WE WANT A KILN in art contests. JOHN MARSHALL HIGH SCHOOL While John Marshall has an academy Kyla Kaufman & LaQuincey Reed focused on finance, it also has strong performing A grin spreads across Kyla Kaufman’s face arts programs. Strengthening the visual arts as she talks about clay, pottery wheels and component is important, too, school officials said. extruders. For years, she’s had a dream of “The focus right now is on technology, creating a school pottery program, but the startgetting kids reading for college and career,” John up costs of such a program are a huge hurdle. Marshall Principal Aspasia Carlson told The Kaufman and LaQuincey Reed, who teach Oklahoman. “By the same token, we don’t want art at John Marshall High School, combined a to forget about the importance of creativity. John Marshall teacher Kyla $5,000 Great Idea Grant from The Foundation There’s something to be said for hands-on Kaufman shows off the school’s with a $2,000 donation from the Midtown creation.” new kiln purchased with help Rotary and $2,600 in school district funds. In Kaufman’s already hearing buzz about from The Foundation. total, the donations gave the teachers enough to starting a pottery class for her fellow teachers buy the kiln, shelving and the long list of other and the community at-large. “I’m really excited items they need to launch a pottery program at the school. about the opportunity to share what’s happening inside our An after-school art club became the first to use the new school with the community.” equipment in spring 2013. By fall 2013, Kaufman said she hopes to integrate pottery into the curriculum in a larger effort to (continued) 26

GREAT IDEAS

TEAMS

NORTH HIGHLAND ELEMENTARY Debra Bell, Tekoa Jane Hill, Phil Burns, Holly Wilson, Rhonda Taylor & Anna Hlatka A 25-kilometer race isn’t exactly what Holly Wilson had in mind when she started the Spirit Running Club at North Highland Elementary. But when two of her running students neared the end of the race at Lake Hefner, she jumped in to help push the exhausted runners across the finish line. Sixth-grader Quinton Baden finished the more than 15 miles in just under three hours. He won first place in his age division. In fact, the 12 year old was one of only four male runners younger than 20 to finish. Kendazia Church, a 12-year-old fifth-grader, finished in about three hours, 25 minutes. She finished first in her age group and was one of only three females younger than 20 to complete the race. Running the end of

the race with each of her young club members was special, Wilson said. “It was satisfaction, pride and elation that they had completed this task that they didn’t think they could do. They were the only kids out there.” Wilson and her students were recipients of a Great Idea Grant to help fund several after-school clubs at the school. In the grant application, Assistant Principal Rhonda Taylor said the $5,000 grant titled “Together Everyone Achieves More Success” is aimed at improving the school culture. “We want to invest more time and energy in the students who choose to demonstrate model behavior despite their surroundings,” Taylor said. “We want to give these students a reason to care about school and further their motivation.” In addition to the running club, other teachers and administrators are leading a drum team, art club, technology/photography team, honor choir, welcoming team

and hall monitor team. Each club meets after school once or twice a week. The school is using the grant to pay for a variety of materials, including running shoes (offered at a discount rate from OK Runner), cameras, flash drives, a pottery wheel and supplies, and sheet music. “We know our efforts will further these students’ self-respect, nurture their individual interests, and promote a more positive environment in our school,” Taylor said. Wilson has already seen that vision come to life. Her runners – 15 in all – beam when their names are called over the intercom on Monday after they’ve finished a weekend race. Their grades and behavior are better, too. “I’ve seen this program just extend confidence that we’re trying to instill in the kids in the classroom to other venues,” Wilson said. “It’s become a really good way of showing off the talent North Highland has.”

BISON STEAMPUNK READING CLUB OKLAHOMA CENTENNIAL MID-HIGH SCHOOL Lynn Green English teachers like to talk about plots. Some, like Lynn Green, even develop their own plot, albeit of a different sort. The Bison Steampunk Reading Club “is all a part of my plot to get kids to read for pleasure. This experience will enrich their lives, stimulate their imaginations, and improve their language and learning skills,” Green said in a Great Idea Grant request to The Foundation. “They will travel in new worlds, meet interesting people, and learn something about themselves in the bargain.” Green’s grant paid for 40 books based on steampunk, a type of science fiction and fantasy literature featuring 19th century technology and settings. Green also has used Donors Choose to buy additional books for the club, ensuring students continue to have access to new material.

The Ace Family of Companies has built a superior presence in the Oklahoma corporate relocation market since opening in 1927, and since has grown to 10 separate divisions meeting and exceeding every Oklahoma relocation need locally and around the world.

ACE is proud to honor Oklahoma City Public Schools’ outstanding educators and the programs of The Foundation that remove barriers to learning

www.aceatlas.com

GREAT IDEAS

“I want our students to break with ‘Alice in Wonderland’ by the walls that poverty tries to reading Frank Beddor’s ‘The impose on them.” Looking Glass Wars.’ Students and Green meet “Because of The Foundation at lunchtime once a week grant, I was able to buy copies to talk about their current of ‘Alice in Wonderland’ and book. They don’t waste time, ‘Through the Looking Glass’ finishing books along with the quickly. Some books that are I’ve seen this students who part two and program just have a different three of Beddor’s extend confidence ‘Looking Glass lunch period read that we’re trying the books, as Wars’ trilogy.” well. For Green, to instill in the kids “I wish you reading is just in the classroom could have seen the beginning for to other venues. how their eyes lit the steampunk ... It’s become a up when I put the club. Some of his really good way books out that I readers want to of showing off was able to get start book clubs with the grant,” based on other the talent North said Green, who types of reading Highland has. often shows up material. He also at book club in wants to expand — Holly Wilson costume to reflect the club to the day’s topic. include arts and “The grant also crafts, movies allowed me to get the kids to and poetry. read ‘classic’ literature that is the forerunner of steampunk: H.G. Wells, Jules Verne, Edgar Allen Poe and the like. Some have fallen in love

North Highland sixth-grader Quinton Baden won his division in a recent 25 km race at Lake Hefner as a result of the Spirit Running Club at his school funded by The Foundation. Photo provided by Crimson Clover Photography.

Aspire to…

…an America where every student graduates high school with the knowledge and skills to power the nation’s workforce. AT&T salutes the Star Award winners for working to raise the graduation rate and bring this vision to reality. In Oklahoma, $3,327,503 has been invested through the Aspire program

GREAT IDEAS

GREAT IDEA GRANTS A complete listing of individual and collaborative grants given to Oklahoma City Public Schools teachers for the 2012-2013 school year.

TOTAL STUDENTS SERVED: 6,362 TOTAL FUNDS DISTRIBUTED: $88,595 COLLABORATIVE GRANTS

INDIVIDUAL GRANTS

Andrew Johnson Elementary All the World’s a Stage! Kim Iraggi, Steve Berry, Mary Lavene Award: $4,840 Students Served: 220

Linwood Elementary TechJoynt Robotics Afterschool Rebecka Graffigna, Lauri Cochran, Sheryl White Award: $4,996.45 Students Served: 24

Adams Elementary Head, Shoulder, Knees and Toes -Exploring the Human Body Kathy Irion Award: $910.01 Students Served: 95

Belle Isle Enterprise Middle School Freedom Rock Fest Courtney Crauthers, Nancy Brewer, Linda Kerr, Linda Meier, Patrick O’Donnell, Tony Owens Award: $4,034.80 Students Served: 136

Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary Let’s Go Clubbin’ Tamia DeBerry, Cedric Robinson, Cameron Samuels Award: $4,951.14 Students Served: 94

Belle Isle Enterprise Middle School Making Biology Come to Life Daniel Buckmaster Award: $903.84 Students Served: 157

Belle Isle Enterprise Middle School War, Peace and All That Jazz Unit and Festival Angela Lister, David Barnes, Robin Copeland, Dan Covey, Patrick O’Donnell, Haley Odell Award: $2,707.04 Students Served: 155 Belle Isle Enterprise Middle School All-City Orchestra 2013 Clinic and Concert Anthony Chancellor, Samantha Sampson, Justin Pourtorkan, David Nixon, Richard Smith, Kelli Taylor, Regina Birchall Award: $2,988.15 Students Served: 160 Cleveland Elementary Hands on Science Collette Fenlason, Carly Chambless, Sherri Smith Award: $4,958.74 Students Served: 304 Cleveland Elementary Insightful Looking Marcia Greenwood, Scott Scrivner, Ashley Ozan, Kay Wetmore, Denise Shephard Award: $3,451.93 Students Served: 370 Coolidge Elementary Shakespeare Unites! Tamara Milner, Jennifer Kappel Award: $2,355.10 Students Served: 90 Edgemere Elementary Edgemere Robins-Dancing Into The Future Kathryn Hock, Naja Sobers Award: $1,094.75 Students Served: 40 John Marshall High/Middle School We Want a KILN!!! Kyla Kaufman, LaQuincey Reed Award: $5,000 Students Served: 250

GREAT IDEAS

Monroe Elementary Projecting Images Bettie Shadoan, Kathy Monroe, Jennifer Douglas, Jennifer Kremeier, Melissa Brett, Jamie Watkins, Eric Meador Award: $5,000 Students Served: 450 North Highland Elementary TEAMS: “Together Everyone Achieves More Success” Debra Bell, Tekoa Jane Hill, Phil Burns, Holly Wilson, Rhonda Taylor, Anna Hlatka Award: $4,997.31 Students Served: 140 Oklahoma Centennial Mid-High School Illumination: Black Lights! Angela Gong, Carrie Snyder-Renfro Award: $960 Students Served: 240 Sequoyah Elementary Ipads for Learning Becky Shultz, Karen Petree, Portia Johnson, Rosa Lazos Award: $4,684.60 Students Served: 200 Sequoyah Elementary “This is Jeopardy” Kristin Whitmore, Karen Rich Award: $1,779.80 Students Served: 250 Stanley F. Hupfeld Academy at Western Village Listening Link to Fluency Ruthie Rayner, Sarah Burghart, Kim Gadlin Award: $4,329.57 Students Served: 330 Wilson Elementary Core Success Kay Childers, Debbie Brashier, Barbara Stueve, Kirk Wilson, Kay Childers Award: $4,992.89 Students Served: 340

Britton Elementary Teaching English and Vocabulary to ELL Students Teena McKeown Award: $977.25 Students Served: 70 Britton Elementary High Interest Books for Guided Reading Pyper Baldwin Award: $727.33 Students Served: 24 Classen School of Advanced Studies The Art of the First Nations Rebecca Collins Award: $1,000 Students Served: 175 Classen School of Advanced Studies Photo/video equipment grant Tony Dyke Award: $1,000 Students Served: 80 Classen School of Advanced Studies Documentary Theatre-Eat! It’s Not Just About Food. James M. Payne Award: $1,000 Students Served: 300 Cleveland Elementary Core Knowledge Classics Collette Fenlason Award: $933.34 Students Served: 46

James Monroe Elementary Mini Apples for the class Bettie Shadoan Award: $1,000 Students Served: 45 John Marshall High School Learning to Draw from Life Kyla Kaufman Award: $996.27 Students Served: 120 John Marshall High School Poetry Power Shelly Campbell Award: $895.20 Students Served: 80 Johnson Elementary Save My Heart Rhoda Smith Award: $721.58 Students Served: 20 Linwood Elementary Reading Success Kay Childers Award: $980.98 Students Served: 230 North Highland Elementary Learning at a Cellular Level Sally Morgan Award: $927.90 Students Served: 50 Oklahoma Centennial Mid-High School The Bison Steampunk Reading Club Robert Lynn Green Award: $840 Students Served: 50 Ridgeview Elementary Fitness Fanatic Jana Newsom Award: $998.84 Students Served: 307 Southeast High School Block Printing, Timeless Treasures Cameron Lewis Award: $998.54 Students Served: 130

Coolidge Elementary Heroes to the Core Amy Seerey Award: $985.29 Students Served: 101

Stanley F. Hupfeld Academy at Western Village Library Centers Sarah Burghart Award: $986.68 Students Served: 340

Gatewood Elementary Exploring the World of Eric Carle Dawn Collums Award: $998.57 Students Served: 27

U.S. Grant High School Celedonio Romero Guitar Institute Scott Sunderman Award: $1,000 Students Served: 2

Jackson Middle School The Periodic Table is Alive! Seyithan Demirdag Award: $680.21 Students Served: 120

Cox Communications is a proud supporter of the Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools and teachers across Oklahoma. Since 2005, the employees of Cox Communications have donated more than $672,000 in classroom grants to Oklahoma teachers through the Cox Connects Foundation.

coxconnectsok.com coxbusiness.com

STARS OF EDUCATION

Recognizing one of our most precious resources: You. A healthy, growing community banks on the participation of its members, its youth included. And the younger they are the faster they learn that hard work helps others while helping themselves. Bank of America is proud to congratulate the Stars of Education awardees being recognized for nourishing our future leaders day after day. Your involvement never goes unnoticed. Visit us at bankofamerica.com

ÂŠ 2013 Bank of America Corporation SPN-108-AD | ARX2N275 32

STARS OF EDUCATION

OKCPS

TEAM

If it wasn’t for The Foundation, our kids would miss out on opportunities. – Laura Morris, principal, Cesar Chavez Elementary

Providing opportunities is an everyday job and mission for Laura Morris. As principal at Cesar Chavez Elementary, Oklahoma City’s largest elementary school, Morris wants to help her students connect their classroom learning with the outside world. The principal can’t do it alone. Neither can her teachers. That’s why she donates to the annual TEAM (Together Everyone Achieves More) campaign, a workplacegiving program for Oklahoma City Public Schools employees that benefits The Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools. “If it wasn’t for The Foundation, our kids would miss out on opportunities. When you miss out on an opportunity when you’re young, you don’t get it back. It cuts off your potential,” Morris said. TEAM donors can give a one-time gift or throughout the year via payroll deductions. During the 20122013 school year, more than 1,600 OKCPS employees contributed nearly $88,000. Collectively, TEAM donors are one of The Foundation’s

largest givers, falling only behind some of the city’s large corporations. TEAM donations fund Foundation programs focused on teacher grants, entry and travel fees for student academic and artistic competitions, and training for teachers pursuing National Board certification. During the TEAM campaign each fall, schools compete against each other to see which schools can get all employees to donate. Some teachers solicit donations from outside donors or host penny drives among students to increase the school’s giving level. Even the administration building gets in on the action, asking Star Spencer High School’s Brothers of Stomp to perform around the building to drum up support and serve as a visual reminder of who their donations ultimately support: students. “The educators in Oklahoma City are so passionate about helping our city’s children succeed. They give of their time and energy and personal resources to help make that happen,” said Lori Dickinson, president of

Cesar Chavez Elementary Principal Laura Morris enjoys a moment with a student. “The educators in Oklahoma City are so passionate about helping our children succeed ... they give their time, energy and personal resources to help make that happen,” said Lori Dickinson.

The Foundation. “I consider their donations a vote of confidence that they believe in our programs and our staff to stand alongside them as they teach and root for our children to become successful adults.”

For a complete list of OKCPS donors, see pages 72 and 75 or notice the marked by each name in the Friends of The Foundation.

OKCPS TEAM

TEACHER OF THE YEAR OKLAHOMA CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS 34

TEACHER OF THE YEAR

THE FOUNDATION FOR OKLAHOMA CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS www.okckids.com

GIVING IT

HER ALL HEATHER MELDRUM

5TH GRADE STANLEY F. HUPFELD ACADEMY AT WESTERN VILLAGE “It’s easy to say they don’t care. It’s easy to say these kids aren’t doing well. Until the community really gets in the schools and sees what these kids are overcoming – you just have no idea.” When she was 33 years old and standing in front of a classroom for the first time, Heather Meldrum locked eyes one at a time with students anxious to discuss what she had just taught them about money. Excitement filled the classroom. “I was working at a bank and had been asked to make this presentation. I was really resistant,” she said. “As I was leaving the school, I called my mother and said, ‘I know what I want to be when I grow up.’ ” That was in 2001. Meldrum was one of those kids deemed “not college material.” But in December 2006 – five years after her career revelation – she earned a college degree in education. She also had a job waiting for her as a fifth-grade teacher at Stanley F. Hupfeld Academy at Western Village, a north Oklahoma City charter school operated by INTEGRIS

Health Corp. under an agreement with Oklahoma City Public Schools. Her chief investment is now kids. The school serves 330 students in the Western Village neighborhood, just as it did long before INTEGRIS took over operations. The demographics are as tough at Hupfeld Academy as they are any other traditional city school, not that Meldrum is one to make excuses. Just ask Unique Williams, a student Meldrum describes with one word: fighter. Unique had open-heart surgery as a third-grader and missed most of the school year. She was promoted to fourth grade, where her struggles only mounted. Because Unique was behind academically, she became a target of ridicule. Unique changed schools, entering Meldrum’s class a shy fifth-grader unable

to grasp routine classroom assignments. Her reading level wasn’t yet to thirdgrade level when her health problems peaked, and her education stagnated. She arrived in fifth grade more than two years behind. Meldrum caught onto Unique’s struggles early, met with the girl’s mom and developed a catch-up plan. Within six months, Unique’s reading scores showed more than a year’s worth of progress. “We were both in tears, and I was just parading her around the school,” Meldrum said. Unique wasn’t just working hard at school. At home, she’s the oldest of four children. The twins – a boy and a girl – are in kindergarten at Hupfeld Academy. She also has a sister in first grade. In a sparsely furnished

“There’s no profession in the world that you get to leave each day and see a miracle. Some days you’ve got to really look for them, but they’re there!” — Heather Meldrum

(continued)

TEACHER OF THE YEAR

Should Heather Meldrum be teacher of the year? “Yes,” said Unique’s mother, and then paused to wipe away tears. “I’ll never forget her.”

bedroom on the upstairs floor of her family’s apartment, Unique becomes the teacher. She has a rolling cart of simple school supplies, just as Meldrum does. In one corner is a stack of books where her siblings must read a simple book and draw a picture. At another center is a stack of half-sheets of paper where the siblings can work on writing sentences and sounding out words. Yet another station has math flash cards and a list of sight words her siblings practice. Unique sits in the middle of the room in a Tinker Bell chair, ready to help but not until she’s encouraged her siblings to figure out questions on their own. It’s not an accident she sounds just like her fifth-grade teacher. “I want them to be smarter than I am,” Unique said. In that room, Unique taught her brother and sisters to spell their names. They’re learning basic math. She also taught them to tie their shoes. The walls are adorned with Unique’s student of the month certificate, a list of words Unique hung as 36

TEACHER OF THE YEAR

a reminder after misspelling them on a recent test, a copy of the Declaration of Independence from a recent field trip and a few “do not touch or you’ll have time out” signs. She gives stars when her siblings successfully complete an assignment. When the page is full of stars, she’ll reward them with a goodie bag of stickers and other treats. Watching Unique use what she’s learned in overcoming difficulties to help her brother and sisters avoid the same struggles leaves Meldrum with tears of joy and pride – and a little bit of sadness. “I don’t know how to take it as a teacher because I think she did all the work. I gave her all the opportunity and tools I give other children, but not all of them decide to use it. She did,” Meldrum said. “But this just drives home for me the level of frustration some of these kids must feel when they have so many struggles. Where do they turn?” LaToya Ballard said her oldest daughter has always enjoyed

In her room, Unique has a rolling cart of simple school supplies, just as Meldrum does. “I want them (siblings) to be smarter than I am,” Unique said.

teaching others. But after her health issues and an unhappy fourth-grade year, she was a different child. In fifth grade, the daughter she knew reemerged, thanks to Meldrum. “I’m just the momma,” Ballard said. “They know how to behave in public and be respectful and polite, but I didn’t finish school. I can’t help them with school stuff.” Should Meldrum be teacher of the year? “Yes,” Ballard said, and then paused to wipe away tears. “I’ll never forget her.” Teaching in an inner-city school is an education in resilience and love – lessons Meldrum is reminded of on a daily basis. She wants to share those lessons with the community, and as a teacher, she believes it’s her job to teach all those willing to listen and even some who won’t. “The love and passion to see our kids survive and be successful goes beyond the classroom. The community has to know. It’s our responsibility to get the community in the classroom. As teachers, we have to invite them in.” The same is true for parents. Meldrum knows many of her students’ parents didn’t have great school experiences when they were growing up. They carry that uncertainty and trepidation into parenthood and still feel uncomfortable stepping foot in a school. Like Unique’s mom, they may not understand the homework. Meldrum worries too many people mistake family struggles for lack of effort and caring. “It’s easy to say they don’t care. It’s easy to say these kids aren’t doing well. Until the community really gets in here and sees what these kids are overcoming, you have no idea.” As students enter her classroom on a daily basis, they pass by a poster titled “How Full is Your Cup?” Each student has a clothespin to

place on the row which best describes them: “I can’t talk now.” “I need some time.” “I’m ready! Give me all you got!” Throughout the day, students are free to move their clothespin as their emotions change. “We’re dealing with everything that child came to school with. That’s not a demographic issue. They come with cups full of anxiety and fear and frustration,” Meldrum said. “You’ve got to give them a platform to be able to share that.” Meldrum knows her passion for her career and her kids sometimes “shows as pretty zealous behavior.” She isn’t sorry. She doesn’t know how to turn off the passion. Whether she’s giving a kid a hug or telling them to straighten up, she knows she isn’t preparing them just for sixth grade – she’s preparing them for life. “Sometimes you have to let them fail so they can see what success really is. I want to teach my students life has so much more to offer than they think. I have to show them that.” In the eyes of her colleagues and students’ families, she’s succeeded beyond measure. They’ve seen Meldrum load up her car with kids to take to special events. She’s bought backpacks for children without. She tutors after school and on weekends – not just current students but former ones, too. Kellye Kindred, whose son was in Meldrum’s class, said many teachers are differencemakers. Meldrum, though, wants to change more than children. “What sets her apart is she took time to invest in my whole family from myself to my husband and our other children,” Kindred wrote in recommending Meldrum for Teacher of the Year. The teacher stayed after school until Kindred or her husband could pick up their children.

Meldrum would take one of Kindred’s children to events if she was busy with another child. “To me, she thought if I invest in the family succeeding, then my son, her student, succeeds. And if he succeeds, then when all is said and done, Heather Meldrum succeeds.” Ruthie Rayner, Hupfeld Academy’s principal, said the most difficult students often have the most success with Meldrum. She treats students as individuals, and “her capacity for compassion is enormous.” Ryan Fisher, the youth minister at Britton Christian Church where Meldrum attends, has seen that compassion firsthand. “Like a mother, she will pursue any child put under her care and she will go out of her way to minister to them, and I do mean ‘out of her way.’ I cannot fathom how many miles she has driven to take kids home or how many nights she has sacrificed to counsel a student or parent in need,” Fisher said. “It is this form of dedication that allows Heather to speak truth in to each of her students’ lives because they know her words are sincere.” Unique’s siblings recently made thank-you notes for Meldrum. The teacher put them in a special drawer of keepsakes she opens on the inevitable bad day. “There’s no other profession in the world that you get to leave each day and see a miracle,” Meldrum said. “Some days you’ve got to really look for them, but they’re there.”

Scan to learn more about Heather and her work in OKCPS or visit www.okckids.com

TEACHER OF THE YEAR

FIRST RUNNER-UP

MICHAEL SPELLIS MATH TAFT MIDDLE SCHOOL You want these kids to have a successful future. You do that by getting to know them and letting them know you care about them. – Michael Spellis

Scan to learn more about Michael and his work in OKCPS or visit www.okckids.com

FINALISTS

With a new degree in logistics from Ohio State University, Michael Spellis tried the private sector. He simply didn’t like it. When he tried to break into teaching in Oklahoma, schools didn’t exactly welcome him with open arms. He had promise, administrators said, but lacked experience. Then an interview in summer 2009 ended with an offer to teach math at Taft Middle School in the heart of Oklahoma City. “I think it was meant to be. I love being there. I can’t imagine teaching anywhere else,” said Spellis, who also coaches baseball. The lights in Spellis’ class are dimmed. The shades are drawn. As students get settled for a pre-algebra class, Spellis announces the day’s game to the cheers of his students: an epic match-up of math hoops between the

Lakers and Thunder. Geometric solids. Triangular prisms. Faces, edges, vertices and pi. Students sitting at tables work independently then check with their classmates to make sure they all have the same answer as Spellis makes the rounds to answer questions. Then it’s time to play referee. An attempted answer at each problem displayed on the interactive white board is worth a point. A correct answer is worth another. Spellis bounces a tennis ball to the student with the right answer. The goal is to sink the tennis ball through a Nerfsize goal hanging at the front of the classroom. “Oooohhhh, rejected,” laughs one student as his classmate misses a bucket. But in the next moment, cheers erupt as the ball sails

through the net. In just his fourth year of teaching, Spellis can already appreciate how much he’s grown. He looks back with some embarrassment and gratefulness on his first year of teaching. Spellis started with what he thought was a good plan. “It was just a bust the first week. The kids basically said you have no idea what you’re doing,” he said. “That first year was really hard, but I learned a lot from it.” Chief among those lessons was building trust with his students. “I think kids are hilarious. You build great relationships with them. You want these kids to have a successful future. You do that by getting to know them and letting them know you care about them.”

SECOND RUNNER-UP

SHERRY DEW

GEOGRAPHY/HISTORY WEBSTER MIDDLE SCHOOL Sherry Dew likes a challenge. She’s found a big one at Webster Middle School, where the daily work of teaching geography and history is often easier than convincing students they are smart and capable of overcoming their own life challenges. “They haven’t been told enough that they can,” said Dew, who has spent half of her decade-long teaching career at Webster in south Oklahoma City. She remembers telling a former student he was smart. He stared at her in disbelief. He’d made it all the way to middle school with the mind-set he was stupid, a belief that was reinforced by too many adults along the way. “He never got quite to where I wanted him to go,” Dew said, “but he tried harder in my class than he ever had

before.” Lessons about the Middle East conflict turn to conversations about how to confront daily conflict without fighting. Conversations about urban centers in India morph into discussions about what it means to live and grow up in the inner city. “Sometimes they feel geography and history aren’t important to them,” Dew said. “I have to figure out how to make it meaningful.” Dew came to the teaching profession later than many of her colleagues. Not until her children were in school did Dew fall somewhat accidentally into teaching. Looking to re-enter the workforce, Dew asked the principal at her children’s private school for a job. She cleaned the school building until a mid-year opening as a history teacher and Dew’s

college history degree made a perfect match. “I’ve taught in Edmond, and I’ve taught in private school. It’s the diversity of Oklahoma City that I truly love. You get kids from all walks of life, all ethnic groups. It’s a lot different, but I think that’s good.” Although she had always put aside suggestions she should teach, she no longer has doubts. She’s also put aside any notion that teaching content is enough. “It’s not about genocide. It’s not about the Holocaust,” she said. “I believe in my students, I want them to succeed. I want them to go to college. I want them to have a great life and a great family. I hope they can look back and know there was at least one person who truly cared about them and wanted them to do their best.”

I believe in my students. I want them to succeed. I want them to go to college. I want them to have a great life and a great family. – Sherry Dew

Scan to learn more about Sherry and her work in OKCPS or visit www.okckids.com

FINALISTS

Commitment Runs Deep

Science Giants Devon Energy, one of North America’s leading independent oil and natural gas producers, is dedicated to helping the students in Oklahoma City’s public schools excel in the classroom. The Devon Science Giants Award recognizes schools that demonstrate gains in science and innovative approaches to foster student interest in the critical subject. The $25,000 annual award is presented to support the winning school’s strategic and creative vision for school-wide academic progress in science. For more information or to download an application, visit the Community section at devonenergy.com.

FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For® six consecutive years

FINALISTS

Four-year-olds don’t ever waste their time, even though it may not look that way to adults. – Susan Bumgarner

SUSAN BUMGARNER PRE-K WILSON ARTS INTEGRATION TEACHER OF THE YEAR FINALIST In classroom A107 at Wilson Arts Integration Elementary, the clock always says playtime. “Voices off, brains on,” says pre-kindergarten teacher Susan Bumgarner. “Stand as actors.” Their first assignment: Eat like a groundhog. As students munch on pretend food, they talk about what a groundhog might eat. They stay in character and begin digging as they build their groundhog houses. “What room are you building first?” Bumgarner asks. “The bathroom!” replies one student. “The back door!” says another. Two decades ago, Bumgarner wasn’t sure such young children even belonged in a classroom. But just days after leading her students through the lesson on groundhogs, she found herself representing Oklahoma’s success in early childhood education as first lady Michelle Obama’s guest

at the 2013 said. “Play State of the is the best Union address. way children Her 20-year learn, so I journey from have to work unbeliever to very hard to success story make sure has been filled I can create with continual time for them learning – all to play and to stay a few still have steps ahead them learn of her prethe things kindergarten they are students. required to Bumgarner learn.” first had to Bumgarner’s Bumgarner represented be convinced students Oklahoma’s success in early childhood education as first 4-year-olds dance, sing, lady Michelle Obama’s guest could learn pretend at the State of the Union. and thrive in like they’re the context of driving cars a traditional public school. around the classroom and Then came the challenge stack blocks. They regularly of figuring out what pre-K pretend they are actors, looked like in a school with a strategy Bumgarner arts integrated throughout learned as part of Wilson’s the curriculum. partnership with the John “It’s very different from F. Kennedy Center for the what it was even 10 years Performing Arts. ago. There’s a much stronger “My biggest challenge is emphasis on academics,” she balancing the paperwork and

keeping track of each person’s progress … with making sure my children experience excitement and fun and learning,” she said. Every day in Bumgarner’s class is an adventure. “They have so many different ways they come at things and perceive them,” Bumgarner said of her students. “They’re smart, they’re thoughtful, they’re perceptive, they’re always thinking. Four-year olds don’t ever waste their time, even though it may not look that way to adults.”

Scan to learn more about Susan and her work in OKCPS or visit www.okckids.com

FINALISTS

SUZANNE CARTER FIRST GRADE TELSTAR ELEMENTARY TEACHER OF THE YEAR FINALIST

I just love their lively hearts and how they love and enjoy life. – Suzanne Carter

Scan to learn more about Suzanne and her work in OKCPS or visit www.okckids.com

FINALISTS

The little moments are big moments for Suzanne Carter’s first-graders at Telstar Elementary. The trick is to remember that truth in the hectic rush of a school day, when patience wears thin. “When my student brings me a tooth and says ‘I lost my tooth’ or ‘Tomorrow is my mother’s birthday,’ it’s perspective,” Carter said. “I just love their lively hearts and how they love and enjoy life.” In Carter’s classroom, there’s plenty of love and fun. But students know exactly what’s expected of them. “All right, I need everyone in their LLP,” Carter says as she prepares students for the next activity. Some of the students have forgotten the words behind the acronym – listening, learning position

– but they waste no time. Quickly and quietly, students sit up straight in their chairs, hands folded on the desk. With Carter singing about tip-toeing, the students then quietly make their way to the front of the room for calendar time in front of the interactive Smart Board. On this day, “Mr. Smart Board” was having a rough day. As students talked about the day’s weather, the web page with the day’s forecast wouldn’t load. Carter didn’t miss a beat as she used a classroom telephone to call the automated time and temperature phone number so students could carry on their lesson. It wouldn’t be the last time that day a technology problem would sidetrack Carter’s plans, but she never showed frustration. And she

even turned a mistake about the correct day of Abraham Lincoln’s birthday into a teachable moment: “If you can’t make a mistake,” the teacher chanted, “You can’t make anything,” replied her students. Throughout the day, Carter reminds her students about her high expectations and her faith in them. It’s obvious as her students answer questions with a complete sentence or work on spelling words with squishy piles of shaving cream with relative neatness. She is quick to offer praise for good behavior just as quickly as she reminds students who fall off task. One compliment from Carter to her students tops them all, meriting grins and gasps: “You look like secondgraders.”

ADELITA DIXON-HERNANDEZ DANCE CAPITOL HILL HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER OF THE YEAR FINALIST As dance practice winds down and students’ heart rates begin to slow after perfecting the finer points of a salsa dance, Adelita DixonHernandez tones down her dance instructor voice. Soft music plays. Students stretch out on the floor. Quietly, she urges her students to let go of a bad math test or argument with a friend that happened earlier in the day. The cool down period at the end of the day is DixonHernandez’s chance to be the positive voice in students’ heads as they head home or to work. “We all know tomorrow’s a new day, and we’re all going to start over again,” said Dixon-Hernandez, who is in her fourth year as a dance teacher at Capitol Hill High School after three years at Roosevelt Middle School. Her days as a dancer nearly ended before they had really begun. When she was in kindergarten, the little ballerina was diagnosed with a kidney condition. She missed most of the school year. Her legs became so weak after hospitalization that they crumbled even under the weight of her tiny frame. But her grandmother had an iron will – one she passed on to her granddaughter. “Don’t you ever give up,” her Nana said even as her granddaughter had a pity party. “If you want to walk, then get up and walk. Believe

in yourself.” Dixon-Hernandez did walk and dance again. So when the dance teacher sees her students struggling, she knows exactly what to say. “My No. 1 silver lining in all my teaching is if you fall down, you get up and you keep going,” she said. “If I wouldn’t have learned that at a very young age, I don’t know that I’d be teaching today. I would’ve given up a long time ago, and I don’t want that for any of my students.” Following in her Nana’s footsteps, Dixon-Hernandez isn’t about to give up on her students.

When one student faced needing to drop out of dance class to make sure she could pass a test required for graduation, the teacher worked with her student. The student remained a member of Capitol Hill’s dance company, passed the test and vowed to someday become a dance teacher. “I know I’ve been a successful teacher if my students have so much empowerment and so much belief they are going to excel above and beyond,” she said. “I’m happy they believe in themselves.”

Scan to learn more about Adelita and her work in OKCPS or visit www.okckids.com

“My No. 1 silver lining in all my teaching is if you fall down, you get up and you keep going,” Adelita Dixon-Hernandez said. FINALISTS

MARY JOHNSON KINDERGARTEN RANCHO VILLAGE ELEMENTARY TEACHER OF THE YEAR FINALIST

I am witnessing a generation of Hispanic students who are forsaking the Spanish language for cultural assimilation. – Mary Johnson

Scan to learn more about Mary and her work in OKCPS or visit www.okckids.com

FINALISTS

Language is no barrier as Mary Johnson’s kindergarten students start their day at Rancho Village Elementary in south Oklahoma City “Good morning, good morning, good morning to you. Our day is beginning, there’s so much to do,” students and teacher sing in English and then Spanish while also using sign language. Johnson’s students are mostly Hispanic and don’t speak English as their first language, which she believes should be viewed as an asset. She would know. When Johnson, her husband and their two children moved to Mexico City in the late 1980s, she found herself living and learning in a foreign culture with a foreign language. She and her husband spent six months in a language program in Costa Rica, fully immersed in learning to read, write and speak Spanish.

Teaching was not part of the plan. Then, Johnson was unexpectedly hired to teach an English immersion class at an early childhood center in Mexico City. It was there she learned the important connection between language and music. Now, she marches at the head of a line of dozens of kindergartners as they twist, turn and dance in circles around the cafeteria so students get their wiggles out. They also practice developing language skills with the sort of unbridled enthusiasm kindergartners are known for. “I learned Spanish at the age of 35, so I understand how they struggle to find the right words; I understand how they mix it; and I understand that it’s all right and it’s wonderful to be able to think and read and write in a second language,” she said. Johnson teaches in

English, but her ability to communicate with students and their parents in Spanish when needed is a powerful tool. “They know when I speak in Spanish there is an acceptance and understanding of where they come from,” Johnson said of her interactions with parents. She can explain how parents can help their children, even if they don’t speak English. Her students need to learn English but not to the exclusion of their native language and culture. “I am witnessing a generation of Hispanic students who are forsaking the Spanish language for cultural assimilation,” she said. “There is no need for a tension to exist in maintaining a mother tongue and being literate in it. The global job market welcomes those who have those skills.”

LISA UMMEL-INGRAM 5TH GRADE WHEELER ELEMENTARY TEACHER OF THE YEAR FINALIST

Some days it’s tough, but we live for the toughness. – Lisa Ummel-Ingram

One big classroom, a malfunctioning heater, falling ceiling fans, 46 students and two rookie teachers is the very short story of how Lisa Ummel-Ingram began her teaching career. “It was a crazy time,” Ummel-Ingram said of her first year at Wheeler Elementary in south Oklahoma City. She and her college classmate had accepted teaching jobs at the school only weeks earlier. The then-principal was also an instructor at Oklahoma City University. Ummel-

Ingram was fascinated with the principal’s unflattering stories of daily school life at Wheeler. “I learned a lot that first year about what not to do,” she said. “I heard a teacher yelling at a student, ‘If you don’t stop, you’re not eating lunch.’ ” Ummel-Ingram was never going to be a yeller. Nineteen years after she first stepped into Wheeler, that hasn’t changed. As she walks around the classroom checking on students as they work, the

only sound is the occasional creak of the wood floor under her feet. Students work quietly on memoirs about a word of their choosing: fly, shine, journey, hope, courage or smile. The teacher’s voice is barely above a whisper as she answers students’ questions. And when it’s time for students to break up in small groups and share their writing, they’re quiet, serious and focused. The orderly nature of the fifth-grade class defies what’s been a tough year for some

of Wheeler’s teachers and students. Turnover among the sixth-grade teachers was high in the fall semester. UmmelIngram went from teaching one class of fifth-grade students all of their subjects, to teaching language arts, spelling and writing to fifthand sixth-grade students, back to teaching just fifthgrade students language arts, spelling and writing. “Some days it’s tough, but we live for the toughness. We’re a great team,” she said of the Wheeler teachers. “Some of our children have been through three changes of teachers. They’re hanging in there, and we have, too.” Ummel-Ingram said she lives for challenges. The biggest challenge of all might just be living out her teaching dream of meeting each student’s needs – academic or otherwise. “I look at each student and find out what they need. Getting to know 32 students is not the easiest thing I’ve ever done, but when they know you care, it makes a huge difference day to day.”

Scan to learn more about Lisa and her work in OKCPS or visit www.okckids.com

FINALISTS

KRISTIN WHITMORE 3RD GRADE SEQUOYAH ELEMENTARY TEACHER OF THE YEAR FINALIST Green beans or squash? Sweet corn or tomatoes? A little bit of water or a lot? Sunlight, lamp light or no light? The answers to those questions are important ones for Kristin Whitmore’s third-graders at Sequoyah Elementary. When their project on germination is complete, some of Whitmore’s students will have the beginnings of a garden. What Whitmore herself is sowing is much more important – confident, capable students who know their third-grade teacher will always be on their side. “Every day, I find a reason to compliment them. Something to let them know I’m glad you’re here … and I care about you and value you.” Whitmore wasn’t much older than her students when she started thinking 46

FINALISTS

about becoming a teacher. The words of her fifth-grade teacher still haunt and inspire her. “She told me she wished I was in another teacher’s class because I drove her crazy. It was that day that I had my first thought about teaching. I thought, ‘If I were a teacher, I’d never be like her,’ ” Whitmore said. Whitmore had what she called the “gift of gab,” and her teacher gave her a daily reminder that it wasn’t, in fact, a gift at all. Six more years would pass before Whitmore would stop thinking about what kind of teacher she wouldn’t be and instead realize her junior and senior English teacher was exactly the kind of caring and compassionate teacher she wanted to be when she grew up. Whitmore is that teacher. More than once, students

with a history of classroom difficulties have been assigned to Whitmore’s class. She had so much success with one highly intelligent student with a long list of behavioral issues that she taught him for two years. It’s a point of pride he’ll graduate in two years, and she still hears from him on a regular basis. “I want them to feel confident when they’re with me that they’re going to be loved, they’re going to feel safe and they’re going to learn.”

I want my students to feel confident when they’re with me that they’re going to be loved. – Kristin Whitmore

Scan to learn more about Kristin and her work in OKCPS or visit www.okckids.com

OKCPS BUILDING TEACHERS OF THE YEAR In addition to the OKCPS Teacher of the Year finalists, we would like to congratulate each of the teachers representing individual schools as building Teacher of the Year: Cheri Reilly, Arthur Elementary David Barnes, Belle Isle Enterprise Middle School Suzanne Jackson, Bodine Elementary Jessica Robinson, Britton Elementary Mary Miller, Buchanan Elementary Lacy (Elizabeth) Pappano, Capitol Hill Elementary Cheryl Smith, Cesar Chavez Elementary Brandon Risenhoover, Classen School of Advanced Studies Kate Glasson, Cleveland Elementary Kristie Rodriguez, Columbus Enterprise Elementary Rocheyl Beliel, Coolidge Elementary Brenda Asher, Edgemere Elementary Amy Harrington, Edwards Elementary George Perry, Emerson High School Hong Lam, Eugene Field Elementary Anjanette Wallace, F. D. Moon Academy Bridget Akers, Fillmore Elementary Nikole Debose-Hunter, Gatewood Elementary Tina Widell, Greystone Lower Elementary Mildred Stevenson, Greystone Upper Elementary Ninnah Webb, Hawthorne Elementary Rhonda Wingate, Hayes Elementary Thomas Parker, Heronville Elementary John D. Strain, Hillcrest Elementary Terry Sharp, Jackson Middle School Claudia Jones, John Marshall High School Sara White, Johnson Elementary Amy Leazer, Kaiser Elementary

Claudia Gayton, Lee Elementary Laurie Cochran, Linwood Elementary Winter Kozak, Mark Twain Elementary Nakita Green, Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary Regan Moad, Monroe Elementary Jocelyn Morgan, Nichols Hills Elementary Carole Thompson, Northeast Academy Natalie Bowman, Northwest Classen High School Cheryl Nieves, Oakridge Elementary Anne Smittick, Oklahoma Centennial Mid-High School Angela Davis, Parks Elementary Pamela Begley, Pierce Elementary Marla Shepherd, Prairie Queen Elementary Keri Packard, Putnam Heights Academy Cheryl Marvel, Quail Creek Elementary Beth Ann Fint, Ridgeview Elementary Relva Giesey, Rockwood Elementary Ravonne French, Rogers Middle School Vickie Kastl, Santa Fe South Charter High School Lisa Jobe-Elkins, Southeast High School Martha (Kristie) Hull, Southern Hills Elementary Kelly Dugan, Spencer Elementary Beth Hise, Stand Watie Elementary Tiamber Derrick, Star Spencer High School Michelle Barnes, Van Buren Elementary Angela Smith, West Nichols Hills Elementary Ana Raygoza, Westwood Elementary Diane Combest, Willow Brook Elementary

SUPPORTING EXCELLENCE

IN EDUCATION With the support of more than 5,000 member companies, the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber is working for a brighter future for our students.

• Supporting high performing schools,

teachers and students • Encouraging excellence in the classroom • Pushing for quality education reform

www.okcchamber.com 405-297-8940 | ddugan@okcchamber.com FINALISTS

The most surprising experience has been the way I was received at different community events. ... I felt like a rock star or their hero in some ways. – Daniel Buckmaster

Scan to learn more about Daniel and his work in OKCPS or visit www.okckids.com

STARS OF EDUCATION

TEACHING

SCIENTISTS

All through last year’s Oklahoma City Public Schools Teacher of the Year process, Team Buckmaster stuck together. Daniel and Jamie Buckmaster had each been selected as their school’s representative for the district-wide competition. Judges picked both to compete in the final round, with seven other teachers. They told anyone who would listen they were in the contest together, no matter who won. The moment Daniel Buckmaster heard his named called as the winner, he shook Superintendent Karl Springer’s hand. Then he turned around on the stage

and embraced his wife. “Sharing the stage with Jamie and all of those other teachers was really special,” Daniel Buckmaster said as his Teacher of the Year reign comes to a close. “I realized how lucky I am to have such a great support system.” He felt the same way a few months later when he stood on the stage at the State Fair of Oklahoma as a finalist for Oklahoma Teacher of the Year. In the audience was the high school science teacher who inspired Buckmaster to pursue teaching as a career. “Both those experiences reminded me how the people around me helped shape who

I am,” he said. “I hope I am able to do that for kids in my classroom.” Buckmaster, a sixth-grade science teacher at Belle Isle Enterprise Middle School, described his reign as an “awesome, awesome” year that he’s sad to see come to end. He appreciated the opportunity to share with the community at-large how great and rewarding it is to teach in Oklahoma City Public Schools. “The most surprising experience has been the way I was received at different community events. I really felt like I was a rock star or their hero in some ways,”

he said. “It is a complete misconception that business people and the community don’t care about Oklahoma City Public Schools. They do.” Less than a month after his name was announced, he spoke at The Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools’ inaugural All Hands Raised fundraising lunch. He spoke of the potential of Oklahoma City’s children – and of the need for the community to support them in any way possible. He repeated that message at community and Foundation-sponsored events throughout the year. It was a message that resonated every time he repeated it. And those on the receiving end had a glimpse of the high-quality nature of many Oklahoma City teachers tending to the education of our city’s children. “Everybody’s been in school, and so they know. They know everybody’s been touched by a teacher.” Even while he prepared for the competition for Oklahoma Teacher of the Year, Buckmaster remained focused on his classroom and students. His classroom was relocated during construction, so he’s taught science without a lab environment. But as you would expect from a teacher of the year, his classroom is as dynamic as it always was. The Buckmasters also are continuing their educations. Both are enrolled in doctoral programs at the University of Oklahoma. Daniel Buckmaster does have some parting advice for his successor: Be honest. “A lot of times you’re tempted to say what you think people want to hear. The more honest I was being, the better I was received,” he said. “The other thing is just to take it in. It goes by really fast.”

STARS OF EDUCATION

FIELDS & FUTURES PERFECT PARTNER Tim McLaughlin’s field of dreams was nothing like the rocks, drought-hardened dirt and glass shards that cracked underfoot as he walked across what was supposed to be a football field. “This isn’t a field,” he thought. It’s certainly not the sort of field that would pass muster in the north Oklahoma City area where he was raised – not even close. McLaughlin was about 20 miles and a world away at a middle school not forgotten but most assuredly neglected. “The state of some of the Oklahoma City Public Schools athletic facilities was really an eye-opener,” said 50

PERFECT PARTNER

McLaughlin, who toured the athletic fields at Jefferson Middle School as part of tour sponsored by the Wes Welker Foundation. Also on the tour was Keith Sinor, the then-first-year athletic director for Oklahoma City Public Schools who floated his idea of renovating athletic fields throughout the district and providing mentoring for coaches and athletes. McLaughlin had no trouble grabbing on to Sinor’s vision. A new nonprofit, Fields and Futures, was born. McLaughlin rallied support from the Wes Welker Foundation; the McLaughlin Family Foundation, of which he is a director; and other

companies that provided discounted or free services. The first target: Jefferson Middle School. A year after Sinor’s vision first took hold, the partnership has invested about $300,000 in Jefferson for equipment, soccer, football and softball fields, and ongoing costs to maintain the fields. Fundraising is under way to begin a similar level of work at Webster, another south Oklahoma City middle school. Oklahoma City Public Schools has 44 outdoor middle school sports fields. When the project began, only eight were deemed playable, and only three had irrigation. School

These kids come to school. They have to make their grades. They have to learn to work hard and be on a team. Athletics enhances the academic mission of schools. And let’s be honest, schools need the help. – Tim McLaughlin, Fields and Futures by school, Sinor, McLaughlin and their partners aim to change that, a dream they estimate will cost $4.5 million in the next few years. They are measuring their efforts in wins and losses, but not in the traditional sense. The first thing visitors see when they walk inside Jefferson is a near-empty trophy case. But if you look hard enough, there’s an allcity championship trophy the softball team won last fall. The volleyball and crosscountry track teams won first place, too. The story of the school’s new athletic swag isn’t so much about winning a game as it is the players themselves. The softball team started

the season with 15 players. By season’s end, participation had doubled even though the school’s fledging volleyball program was fielding its first team simultaneously. The football team nearly tripled the 20 players it started the season with. The boys’ soccer team doubled its numbers, and a new girls’ soccer team fielded 30 players. The baseball program became so popular it required two teams. “These kids have to come to school. They have to make their grades. They have to learn to work hard and be on a team,” McLaughlin said. “Athletics enhances the academic mission of schools. And let’s be honest, schools

need the help.” Nationally, about 55 percent of secondary students participate in athletics. Oklahoma City is well below that at about 30 percent, McLaughlin said. Just reaching the national average would mean about 4,000 more Oklahoma City students active in athletics and hopefully motivated to do better in school. On a recent weekend drive by Jefferson, McLaughlin smiled at what he saw. A few dozen young people kicked around a soccer ball. A family walked their dog. A few other kids played catch. Field of dreams, indeed.

Oklahoma City native and NFL standout Wes Welker encourages students at Jefferson Middle School during ribbon cutting ceremonies.

HONORABLE MENTION Metro Technology Centers — GirlTech Northeast Academy Prospect Missionary Baptist Church Oklahoma Centennial

(l to r) OKCPS Athletic Director Keith Sinor, Fields and Futures’ Tim McLaughlin, and OKCPS Assistant Athletic Director Robert McPherson celebrate the opening of the new fields at Jefferson Middle School.

SONIC, America’s Drive-In Wilson Elementary PERFECT PARTNER

THE FOUNDATION FOR OKLAHOMA CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS www.okckids.com

GOING ABOVE

AND BEYOND You should be where you’re needed instead of where it’s easy. That’s why I’m here. – Sunshine Dukes, Valuable Volunteer | Rogers Middle School

Sunshine Dukes worked in a downtown law firm and her children were in private school when she and her husband decided she should be a stay-at-home mom. Her new “job description” doesn’t do her justice. Other parents in her Spencer neighborhood “warned” her about the nearby public schools. She did her own investigating and was pleasantly surprised by what she found. “I just saw so many positives” at Spencer Elementary and Rogers Middle School, where Dukes is an active volunteer and always-on-duty mom. “You should be where you’re needed instead of where it’s easy. That’s why I’m here.” Dukes spends most of her volunteer time at Rogers, where the number of consistent volunteers can 52

VALUABLE VOLUNTEERS

be counted with just a few fingers. She helps organize the school’s food backpacks, organizes fundraising activities, plans fitness activities and put on a Thanksgiving event. As a mom, a member of the school community and president of Roger’s Parent Teacher Student Association, Dukes has a vision for the school she says requires an “atmospheric shift.” Dukes wants teachers and administrators to feel supported. Even more, she wants to stomp out the attitude that good enough is good enough. “I don’t like lowered expectations. The kids may come here with a deficit, but that doesn’t mean they should leave with one,” she said. “I tell the kids that when you leave here, all you take with you is what you learned.”

SUNSHINE DUKES

ROGERS MIDDLE SCHOOL

TERRY HARRIS JOHN MARSHALL

During his 29-year career in corporate distribution, Andrew James dealt with adult issues. Now he spends his day with elementary school students, whose issues are well beyond what one should expect children to handle. “I just want to be a role model for kids,” said James, who shows up like clockwork every day at Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary in northeast Oklahoma City. “They need somebody to listen to them.” He’ll do most anything – talk to kids, run errands, organize storage closets. But what he aims to do is make school a comfortable home away from home for students and staff. That means watering plants so students have a home-like environment to spend their days in. It means

asking troubled students what he can do to help. It means laundering uniforms so students who need fresh clothes will have something to wear. It means picking up school supply orders so teachers will have the precious supplies they need to ensure learning isn’t interrupted and teachers won’t have to take time away from their students, from planning the day’s lessons or from personal commitments. James started volunteering at the school when his nephew was a student. His nephew has moved on, but Principal Ethel Grubbs hopes her prized volunteer stays put for a long time. “The kids need the attention he gives them,” she said. “It really does make a difference.”

Terry Harris didn’t attend John Marshall High School, but you wouldn’t know that judging from his attachment to the school. He started volunteering at the school when his children were younger and attended John Marshall at its former location near Britton and Western. What started as a desire to raise money to hire soccer coaches has now morphed into a school-specific foundation that gives away as much as year $20,000 in college scholarships. “We try to fill a whole lot of gaps,” Harris said of the John Marshall Foundation. “Alumni have given money for coats, to upgrade football facilities and other items to help the kids.” Although he graduated from old Classen High School,

Harris is a recognized face around the school where he enjoys “rock star” status of sorts. “He is in our halls, knows the kids by name, and talks to the teachers and students about their needs,” said teacher Shelly Campbell. “You can’t walk through the halls of John Marshall without seeing something or someone with which Terry has been involved.” While he has pulled away from the school a time or two, Harris keeps coming back. “John Marshall is a mission field. Sometimes I’ve asked God why I’m here. Every time I pulled away, I just keep coming back,” he said. “These are blue-collar kids who want to do better. They want an education and to be successful.”

ANDREW JAMES

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR VALUABLE VOLUNTEERS

DARRON LAMKIN

NORTHEAST

A lot of people have the view that high school is really too late to help kids. I think it’s never too late to make a difference – Darron Lamkin, Valuable Volunteer | Northeast Academy for Health Sciences & Engineering Jana Mellen wasn’t sure where her school-age daughters would land when the family moved from Texas to Oklahoma City in 2011. She couldn’t be happier with the schools her daughters attend: Wilson Arts Integration Elementary and Classen School of Advanced Studies. Mellen is an active volunteer at Wilson, where she’s manned the busy library, answered phones and tended to any other number of tasks that need doing. “The first day her children attended Wilson, Jana stayed and helped in the library,” said second-grade teacher Debbie Brashier. “Wilson did not have a library assistant for that school year. Jana said she knew what to do because she had helped at her former school. She went into the library and went to work.” 54

VALUABLE VOLUNTEERS

For a short time, Darron Lamkin stopped showing up at Northeast Academy for Health Sciences and Engineering. He had talked to students about college, about study skills and about life. He just wasn’t sure it was making a difference. Then he found his way back. “The kids are just extremely honest,” Lamkin said. “One kid said he wanted me to come back because I

treated him like an adult.” Lamkin vowed not to be someone who let the students down. “A lot of people have the view that high school is really too late to help kids,” he said. “I think it’s never too late to make a difference.” Lamkin finished his master’s degree in industrial engineering and management last year and then began work on his doctorate even

as he became a prolific Northeast volunteer. In two years at the school, Lamkin logged 1,200 volunteer hours. He serves as a mentor for students in the school’s engineering program. “I just want to inspire them and let them know they can go to college,” he said. Lamkin has another goal in mind, too. He wants to increase the number of minorities in the engineering field. But first, those students must finish high school. “I hear these kids using engineering terms, and it’s so encouraging,” he said. “I see so much potential for this school, for these students.”

JANA MELLEN

WILSON ARTS INTEGRATION She continues to work in the library as needed. She’s been known to pinch-hit in the front office when she notices help is needed. “What I bring to the school is my enthusiasm,” Mellen

said. “I appreciate what we have at Wilson. Whatever I can do to keep this school and the focus on the arts, I’ll do it.” The mother of three is also a fan of the school’s diversity

and feels blessed she’s able to volunteer regularly at the school. “It’s my responsibility to be here because not everybody is as fortunate. I feel like I can make a difference here.”

DARIN NELSON LINWOOD

When Janet Stricklin says goodbye to fifth-grade students leaving Westwood Elementary for the last time, she has really high hopes. A spreadsheet reminds her when to send birthday and other greeting cards as they make their way through middle school. She is kind and cares about the kids, but she has another motivation. In 2016, she wants to be the bearer of news that those students will receive a paid-for education from her employer, Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City. For six years, Stricklin has coordinated the “lunch bunch” at Westwood in south Oklahoma City. OSU-OKC employees come to the school and read with first- through fifth-grade students on a 15-minute rotation, offering encouragement and gentle correction. Some volunteers come sporadically when their schedules allow. Others come every week. Creation of the lunch bunch and an ongoing, campus-wide penny drive to help the school buy white copy paper were just the beginning of the partnership. An idea to do more than just talk with students about the importance of college soon followed. After Westwood students walk across the stage at their fifth-grade promotion ceremony, an OSU official greets them and their parents or guardian to sign a pledge. If the student graduates from an Oklahoma City Public School, stays out of trouble and is a legal resident, OSU officials will help make sure student’s can afford tuition, fees and books at OSU-OKC. Stricklin vividly remembers a grandfather in tears at the promotion ceremony, thrilled his grandson would some day be able to attend college. The grandson told Stricklin, “My grandfather wants you to know we were OU fans, but not anymore.”

One hour a week, Darin Nelson takes a break from his studies at the University of Central Oklahoma to visit Ricardo, a fifth-grader at Linwood elementary. They sit together at a table in the hallway outside Ricardo’s classroom to read, review vocabulary, and study multiplication and division facts. They read a variety of books, but Ricardo is particularly fond of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” a challenging read for a fifthgrader. When finished with a book, Nelson joins Ricardo while he takes reading tests in the library computer lab. Nelson has experience in other grades, too. In his four years mentoring at Linwood Elementary through Mercy Health’s tutoring partnership, he’s mentored students in kindergarten, first, second and fifth grades. Although he enjoys his time with Ricardo, Nelson says his favorite grade is

kindergarten. He enjoys how happy they are to see him when he walks into the room. Fifth-graders are excited too, just more reserved about it, he explained. “I just want to help the kids,” Nelson said. “I enjoy being part of something bigger than myself.” Laurie Cochran, Ricardo’s teacher, is grateful for Nelson’s consistency and dedication to Ricardo and other students in her classroom. “Mr. Nelson helps students to understand concepts that they may have missed during class because of his one-toone tutoring,” Cochran said. “He has influenced several students positively with his knowledge and strong work ethic.” Nelson will graduate in May with a degree in museum studies, but he plans to continuing tutoring at Linwood for as long as possible.

JANET STRICKLIN WESTWOOD

VALUABLE VOLUNTEERS

SB-24461-0213

SUPER SUPPORT STAFF

THE FOUNDATION FOR OKLAHOMA CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS www.okckids.com

VITAL

SUPPORT Above all else, I’m an advocate for kids. – Tissha Cook, Parent Liaison | Willow Brook Elementary

ALENA CASTILLO

CAFETERIA MANAGER | LINWOOD ELEMENTARY The cafeteria at Linwood Elementary was bigger before art and music classes needed a new home. Now, as cafeteria workers prepare and clean up after lunch, they are treated to the sounds of small voices. It’s all in a day’s work for Alena Castillo, Linwood’s cafeteria manager. She knows each child’s name and is always ready with a smile. “For a lot of the children, I might be one of the only smiles they see all day,” Castillo said. “It’s really important.” As children make their way through the food line, Castillo asks about parents and siblings and if the students are having a good day. She’s spent five of her seven years in Oklahoma City Public Schools at Linwood. “Some of our sixth-graders were in kindergarten when I got here. I’ve seen them grow up.” Castillo and her staff prepare nearly 200 breakfasts

and 430 lunches every school day. Linwood teacher Laurie Cochran said Castillo surveys students about their food likes and dislikes. Students also enjoy seeing Castillo in costume on book character day. Castillo is praised at the

district level for the accuracy of her work and at the school for pursuing training that keeps the cafeteria operations smooth. “All the staff and students at Linwood love Alena and appreciate her hard work and dedication,” Cochran said.

SUPER SUPPORT STAFF

TISSHA COOK

DIXIE HENDRIX

PARENT LIAISON | WILLOW BROOK

Tissha Cook isn’t unlike many support staff throughout Oklahoma City Public Schools. On any given day, she’ll answer phones, help a teacher, assist the principal, love on a student. “Above all else,” she said, “I’m an advocate for kids.” Cook serves as the parent liaison for Willow Brook Elementary, a high-poverty school on Oklahoma City’s easternmost edges. She stocks a parent resource room with books and videos for parents, grandparents or anyone else interested in helping Willow Brook’s students. She’s recruited 10 regular parent volunteers to help out at the school. She also organized a standing-roomonly Grandparents’ Day, a recognition that many students aren’t being raised by their parents. “Tissha Cook provides a

ADJUNCT FACULTY | CLASSEN SAS

bridge between the school and community. Her amazing efforts allow our students to grow academically and socially while allowing the school and home to partner for greatest results,” said physical education teacher Diane Combest. Cook leads the school’s Smart Start program, which focuses on early childhood education. She also helps with the food backpack program, and filled in when needed for teachers and staff out with long-term illnesses. “She views each task as an opportunity to implement the mission of Willow Brook and Oklahoma City Public Schools,” Combest said. Cook said despite improved parental involvement, she wants even more. “We’re trying to figure out more ways to get people involved. We’re going to keep trying.”

In the beginning, Dixie Hendrix was a mom trying to support the school her children attended. Three years ago, she was pursuing certification to teach yoga and started a yoga club during lunchtime at Classen School of Advanced Studies. The practice teaching, she thought, would help with her certification. The club proved popular, and Hendrix was invited to teach a yoga class as an adjunct instructor. The class is still going strong. “Our administration supports the growth of this club, especially because they can see the impact on students,” said her colleague, Terri Schuelein. “Often, I hear the students going to Dixie when she is not teaching, asking for her help. She has become a person the students feel confident and comfortable

to discuss their problems and issues of stress.” Hendrix teaches five classes a week with about 110 students. Many of the students are autistic, and yoga provides one of their few opportunities to attend class with traditional Classen students. “I just love working with the autistic students,” said Hendrix, who is also a licensed professional counselor and has long served on the schools ParentTeacher-Student Association board. Several of her students also have hearing impairments. She’s taught CPR, first aid and covered traditional physical education skills the state requires for physical education classes. “Not every kid is built to play basketball, but I’ve yet to meet someone who couldn’t benefit from yoga.”

HONORABLE MENTION

SHARYN BYARS

CALEE CARTER

BRYAN COLEMAN

CARMEN CUDE

ROSANNA LOPEZ

Super Support Staff

SUPER SUPPORT STAFF

FALISHA MELOTT

TAMMY REY

TEACHING ASSISTANT | MONROE

Falisha Melott was the parent of a pre-kindergarten student new to Monroe Elementary six years ago. She volunteered to serve as treasurer of the ParentTeacher Association and helped out in the pre-K classroom. A year later, she found herself in an even more unexpected role: assistant to Monroe’s hearing-impaired students. “I learned to sign just from being in the classroom,” Melott said. “There aren’t many in the teaching field who know sign language.” Monroe is home to the district’s only hearingimpaired program for elementary school students. Students with hearing deficiencies often have their own activities but also interact with regular education students as much as possible.

TEACHING ASSISTANT | COOLIDGE

“When Falisha accompanies her students to specials and mainstream classes to translate, she immediately becomes an asset to that classroom,” said Monroe teacher Jamie Watkins. Melott researches and talks with mainstream teachers about ways to improve educational opportunities for her students. She works mostly with kindergarten and firstgrade students. Many come to her with few language skills, but “I get to watch them grow,” she said. “Falisha never takes an interaction with a child lightly,” Watkins said. “She does so much more than anyone could ever expect of her, and she does it for the good of the school, and most of all, for the good of the children.”

Coolidge Elementary is more than the place Tammy Rey works. Her three children attended the south Oklahoma City school and, she still lives in the neighborhood. Coolidge is very much part of Rey’s history. Rey has served as a teaching assistant at the school for 12 years, helping in nearly every class and at every grade except for fifth grade. For the past two years, she’s served as a teaching assistant with special education and emotionally disturbed students. Rey wasn’t what Phillip Scarbrough expected when he joined the Coolidge staff as the special-education teacher at the beginning of the 20122013 school year. He uses one word to describe her: heroic. “Kids of all ages and grade levels came to my room that first week to see Mrs. Rey.

Not only were they specialneeds students, but regular education students as well,” he said. “They came in large numbers and so did their parents. I was jealous. I have since discovered the reason: They love Mrs. Rey because of her genuine love and concern for their well-being.” Rey said relating to children becomes natural to her. Scarbrough said it’s more than that. “She has taken pieces of her heart and distributed them through 12 years of sacrificial service. Sometimes she may not get a piece of heart back from someone, however more often than not, the exchange of heart is equal.”

HONORABLE MENTION (not pictured)

TAMMY MAYFIELD

BELINDA TURCIOS

DEBBIE SULLIVAN

Super Support Staff

Valuable Volunteer

Brenda Barber Marilyn Barnett Candace Brown Shannon Bryson Michelle Cerda Terrie Cross Luicila De DeLoera-Esparaza Lavonna Edwards Leticia Foreman Toby Halbert Sharon Henderson Carmany Phillips Patricia Stanford Humberto Vasquez Robles Lisa Viviani SUPER SUPPORT STAFF

THE FOUNDATION FOR OKLAHOMA CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS www.okckids.com

THE POWER OF

PARTNERS On the surface, Oklahoma City companies Devon, Chesapeake, and OG&E stand to provide clean, reliant energy to the American way of life. Below the surface, they find a shared energy and passion. In partnership with The Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools and through their respective adopted schools, the combined contributions from this power of three are empowering Oklahoma City’s schools through the children who attend and define them. Devon executive Frank Rudolph presents a Science Giant award to Edgemere Elementary along with other Devon employees.

FOUNDATION PARTNERS

DEVON ENERGY

Devon Energy has shown a lasting commitment to Oklahoma City Public Schools over the last decade. Allowing employees to spend company time mentoring students at Mark Twain Elementary is one way they impact students in the district. Starting in 2002 with Devon’s official adoption of Mark Twain, mentors have visited students, providing a resource and a listening ear. Now with more than 240 tutors, every student in second- through fifth- grade at Mark Twain has someone providing motivation to

succeed. But Devon doesn’t just limit its community support to Mark Twain. In 2008, Devon decided to financially match the TEAM Campaign, a fundraising initiative of The Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools. Until then, programs funded by the TEAM Campaign were reliant on the giving of district employees. Financial matching by Devon gave new energy to the campaign, encouraging more district workers to give. The commitment also allowed The Foundation’s programs capacity to build, impacting more students than ever before. The additional support allowed for the expansion of the Great Idea Grants program, which supports teachers in implementing creative and interactive projects in their classrooms. Devon’s matching initiative granted an increase from $48,699 to $76,374 and impacted 5,755 more students than the previous year. The Competitive Edge program, which pays for student artistic and academic competitions, enjoyed a similar growth. Student

participation increased to 1,518 students, up from 374 the previous year. Devon continued to energize in 2010 with the launch of Foundation Partners, creating an opportunity for a deeper commitment to OKCPS. This time the financial commitment didn’t just enhance Foundation programs, but also wholeheartedly endorsed the mission of The Foundation. The visionary partner package was designed for donors as a comprehensive involvement in Foundation initiatives. In exchange for support, partners receive recognition and develop an affiliation with programs of The Foundation. Devon was the first Foundation partner to commit as a visionary partner. “Devon Energy’s commitment and confidence in our mission to kickstart the expansion of The Foundation’s programs. We’ve been able to provide resources to more teachers in OKCPS, impacting more students than ever before,” said Lori Dickinson, president of The Foundation. “As a visionary

Chesapeake employees volunteer with Teachers Warehouse inventory every summer during Operation Blue.

I learn from the students as much as they learn from me. ... I’ve seen a marked improvement in the students I’ve tutored; it is thrilling! – Kathleen Dedig, OG&E

partner, Devon Energy set and continues to provide a great example for our community.”

CHESAPEAKE ENERGY Every Tuesday afternoon, students eagerly wait for the white natural-gas powered buses to arrive at the front doors of Horace Mann Elementary. As Lynn Looper steps off the bus and into the halls, Devin’s face lights up. Looper serves Chesapeake as a senior reservoir engineering technician. For one hour each week, he visits Horace Mann Elementary to mentor Devin, a fifth-grader he’s been working with for four years. In his first year at Chesapeake, Looper joined a group of his colleagues to visit a school for Doughnut Friday. Juice, doughnuts and reading to kids who arrived early were a small part of the mentorship program being developed by Chesapeake. Thirteen years later, with more than 528 mentors, the Chesapeake Mentoring Program is the largest corporate mentoring program in Oklahoma.

“It is easy to see the impact we have on these kids, so it is easy to continue,” said Looper. “To be a part of a kid’s life, to be a part of the best day of the week at school, to make a kid smile, I definitely think it helps the attitude and effort of each of the students. It is likewise for the mentors.” The mission for the Chesapeake Mentoring Program is to provide students with a caring adult who will serve as a positive role model and promote academic success. Every Horace Mann student has a mentor. Belle Isle Enterprise Middle School, Harding Charter Preparatory High School and North Highland Elementary also host Chesapeake mentors. For 18 years, Chesapeake employees in Oklahoma City have given encouragement, hope and confidence to thousands of students through the company’s mentoring program. Employees in Texas, West Virginia and Colorado have expanded the program’s reach and have begun mentoring local students for the 2012-

2013 school year. Beside the millions of dollars given to educational programs, Chesapeake also strives to build better, stronger communities with volunteerism and community service. In 2012, employees served more than 47,624 volunteer hours in Chesapeake’s operating states. Chesapeake also has been a major force behind The Foundation’s Teacher Warehouse. The company was the program’s first large-scale donor and provides ongoing support.

OGE ENERGY CORP

Orange OG&E trucks are a common sight after an Oklahoma thunderstorm or when maintenance is needed on Oklahoma City’s power grid. However, electricity that powers our homes and businesses is only part of the undertaking these familiar trucks represent. Through community outreach programs, OG&E also powers the knowledge and safety of our kids by investing a generous sum of time and (continued)

FOUNDATION PARTNERS

money to Oklahoma City Public Schools. OG&E employee Kathleen Dedig has been tutoring students for 14 years. As an avid reader, Dedig wanted to share her passion by helping students who have difficulty reading. Each week she visits Elvia, an OKCPS fifth-grader. “I love the interaction with the students,” she said. “Carrying on a conversation is difficult at first, but once the student becomes comfortable and realizes that yes, you are going to show up every week, having a conversation is much easier.” Elvia’s favorite book is “Goosebumps.” She is just one of the students Dedig has made an impact on while tutoring reading and math in OKCPS over the years. “I believe the students really enjoy the one-on-one

attention. I learn from the students as much as they learn from me. Over the year, I have seen a marked improvement in the students I’ve tutored; it is thrilling.” Tutoring students is only one place OG&E employees can be found benefiting the schools. As a partner of The Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools, OG&E staff fills the Teachers Warehouse with volunteers during order-filling time, the last two weeks of every month. Teachers Warehouse, a program of The Foundation, gives an average of $30,000 to $40,000 in supplies to teachers across OKCPS each month. OG&E’s volunteer support provides a large part of the outside workforce that keeps the warehouse running at full capacity.

OG&E also provides classes for fourth-grade students to learn the importance of electrical safety throughout OG&E’s service area, which includes OKCPS. The company also has provided more than $280,000 in teaching grants focused on math, science and reading since 2003. “The time and money put into the Oklahoma City Public Schools shows OG&E cares for the community they service, and are committed to the knowledge, safety, and resources provided to educate and protect our future generation,” Dickinson said. “We’re honored to have OG&E as a partner in our mission to advance excellence, create champions and build community support for lasting change in Oklahoma City Public Schools.”

OG&E employees volunteer monthly to fill Teachers Warehouse orders, restock supplies and make surprise deliveries to schools.

FOUNDATION PARTNERS

WALL OF FAME

HONORING OKCPS ALUMNI The Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools inducted three city district alumni and a longtime educator into its Wall of Fame in 2012. The Honorable Judge Timothy D. DeGiusti, the late Prentice Gautt, Thom Shanker and Joyce Henderson became the 28th class honored for their contributions to the city, state and nation. “Many generations will never fully appreciate what it was like to grow up and go to school in Oklahoma City during such tense and historic times,” Lori Dickinson, president of The Foundation, said during the ceremony. “I am honored to be in the presence of those who lived through that time, and because of their courage and character, used those experiences for good to make a difference for future generations.”

THE HONORABLE JUDGE TIMOTHY D. DEGIUSTI

Columbus Elementary, Jackson Middle School, Douglass High School Timothy D. DeGiusti discovered the law as a senior at Douglass High School while studying a U.S. Supreme Court decision and preparing arguments for a mock trial. That longago assignment foretold his future. DeGiusti now serves as a U.S. district judge for the Western District of Oklahoma. Born in 1962 in Oklahoma City, DeGiusti received undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Oklahoma. After years in private practice and more than two decades in active and reserve military service, including serving for a time as a prosecutor 64

WALL OF FAME

in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps, DeGiusti was again tapped for public service. In 2007, he won bipartisan support as President George W. Bush’s appointment to the federal bench.

PRENTICE GAUTT

Posthumous Page Woodson Elementary, Douglass High School Prentice Gautt was senior class president at Douglass High School when his name first became part of history. He was a key player in the state’s first integrated high school football game where Douglass took on Capitol Hill High School. Gautt broke down more race barriers at the University of Oklahoma, where he earned a football scholarship that initially had been denied him. In 1999, the university named its academic center in his honor. He was an Academic All-American, played in the NFL and is a member of the Orange Bowl and Oklahoma halls of fame. He coached at the collegiate level and earned a doctorate in counseling psychology. Gautt worked for the Big XII conference before his death in

2005 and was posthumously awarded the 2005 Outstanding Contribution to Amateur Football Award by the National Football Foundation. Gautt’s widow, Sandra, accepted the award on his behalf.

JOYCE HENDERSON

Dunjee High School Educator, Oklahoma City Public Schools Joyce Henderson is a retired teacher and administrator who taught generations of students in Oklahoma City Public Schools. She was the first principal of Classen School of Advanced Studies, which opened in 1994 and is ranked as one of the nation’s top public schools. She also served as an administrator at Harding Middle School, Emerson Alternative High School, Northeast High School and Star Spencer High School. Before her retirement in 2006, Henderson served as the district’s executive director of school and community services. She began her teaching career at the now-closed Dunjee High School, where she was once a student of teacher-turned-civil-rightsactivist Clara Luper. At Luper’s invitation, Henderson attended the 1963 civil rights march in Washington, D.C., where she heard the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech.

THOM SHANKER

Nichols Hills Elementary, Eisenhower Junior High, John Marshall High School Thom Shanker is a correspondent covering the Pentagon, the military and national security for The New York Times. He joined The Times in 1997 and was named Pentagon correspondent in May 2001. He co-authored “Counterstrike: The Untold Story of America’s Secret Campaign Against Al Qaeda” and was embedded with Army Special Forces during the war in Afghanistan. His journalism career had humble beginnings as he served as a newspaper editor during junior high and high school. His professional career began at The Oklahoman, and he later worked at The Chicago Tribune. He has a bachelor’s degree from Colorado College and attended The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. He also holds an honorary doctor of laws degree from Colorado College. Proceeds from the Wall of Fame support Foundation programs that provide enhanced educational opportunities for students in Oklahoma City Public Schools. The Wall of Fame celebration was made possible with support Past honoree and OKCPS alumnus Judge Ralph Thompson from Devon Energy, Chesapeake Energy, introduces Judge DeGiusti. OG&E, Whitten-Newman Foundation and other generous sponsors.

ENJOY WATCHING THE 2012 WALL OF FAME VIDEOS BY SCANNING THE QR CODES WITH A SMART PHONE Judge Timothy D. DeGiusti

Prentice Gautt

Joyce Henderson

Thom Shanker

Partnering with

Okahoma City Public Schools since 1979 to provide Career & Technology Education Metro Technology Centers Preparing for Life

www.metrotech.edu WALL OF FAME

WALL OF FAME MEMORIES

Foundation chairman Miles Tolbert, Thom Shanker, Sandra Gautt, Joyce Henderson, Lori Dickinson and 2012 Wall of Fame chair Teresa Rose.

Ben and Shirley Shanker with their son and honoree Thom Shanker and his wife, Lisa Gordinier.

Judge Ralph and Betty Thompson pose with Judge Timothy and Elaine DeGiusti and their family prior to the dinner.

Sue Ann Hyde, Berta Faye Rex, Joyce Henderson and Patsy Webb celebrate Joyce Hendersonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s induction into the Wall of Fame.

Kim Davis, Rick Cooper, Thom Shanker and Mark Shanker enjoy catching up as Davis traveled from NYC and Mark from London.

Foundation board member Bill Bullard, OG&E, hosts students from Hayes Elementary as they greet guests arriving for the dinner.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THE 2013 WALL OF FAME Champagne Reception, Wednesday, Oct. 9 Awards Dinner & Induction Ceremony, Thursday, Oct. 10 66

WALL OF FAME

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on Your

Bucket List?

Planned Giving can leave a legacy for generations.

(405) 879-2007 | www.okckids.com STARS OF EDUCATION

COMPETITIVE EDGE LISTING A listing of all the grants provided by The Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools to support students and teachers in attending and participating in academic and artistic competitions during the 2012-2013 school year (through March 31, 2013) in Oklahoma and throughout the United States. Listed is the type of competition, school name, competition name and location, teacher name, grant amount, and number of students served.

TOTAL STUDENTS SERVED: 5,269 Counting Bee, Adams Elementary, All-City Counting Bee, Oklahoma City Teacher: Caroline Hatfield Award: $275 Students Served: 35 Mariachi, Adams Elementary, Arbuckle Band Contest, Davis Teacher: Christiaan Osborn Award: $1,470 Students Served: 35 Mariachi, Adams Elementary, Heartland Music Festival, Oklahoma City Teacher: Christiaan Osborn Award: $1,000 Students Served: 35

Speech & Debate Team, ASTEC Charter Middle School, Speech & Debate Tournament, Fairview Teacher: Daniel Smith Award: $775 Students Served: 35 Speech & Debate Team, ASTEC Charter Middle School, Speech & Debate Tournament, Okarche Teacher: Daniel Smith Award: $700 Students Served: 25

Engineering Fair Winners, Belle Isle Enterprise Middle School, Oklahoma Engineering Fair, Oklahoma City Teacher: Daniel Buckmaster Award: $728 Students Served: 30

Mariachi , Capitol Hill Elementary, Arbuckle Band Contest, Davis Teacher: Christiaan Osborn Award: $1,470 Students Served: 35 Mariachi , Capitol Hill Elementary, Heartland Music Festival, Oklahoma City Teacher: Christiaan Osborn Award: $1,000 Students Served: 35 Business Professionals of America, Capitol Hill High School, BPA State Competition, Okmulgee Teacher: Adam Rogers Award: $2,000 Students Served: 50 Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America, Capitol Hill High School, FCCLA STAR Events, Oklahoma City Teacher: Susan DJ Watts-Bowker Award: $400 Students Served: 12 Health Occupations Students of America, Capitol Hill High School, State Leadership Competition, Oklahoma City Teacher: Meredith Wronowski Award: $1,000 Students Served: 29 Robotics Team, Capitol Hill High School, U.S. First Robotics Competition, Stillwater Teacher: Bob Eggeling Award: $560 Students Served: 20

Robotics Team, Capitol Hill High School, U.S. First Robotics Competition, Oklahoma City Teacher: Bob Eggeling Award: $1,000 Students Served: 25

COMPETITIVE EDGE

â&#x20AC;˘

TOTAL FUNDS DISTRIBUTED: $220,000

Robotics Team, Capitol Hill High School, U.S. First Robotics Competition, San Antonio, TX Teacher: Bob Eggeling Award: $2,000 Students Served: 20

Orchestra-MS, Classen School of Advanced Studies, OSSAA Large Group Contest, Edmond Teacher: Justin Pourtorkan Award: $1,000 Students Served: 60

Band & Strings, Classen School of Advanced Studies, OSSAA Large Group Contest, Edmond Teacher: Reginald Irons Award: $800 Students Served: 40

Piano, Classen School of Advanced Studies, OMTA District Achievement , Bethany Teacher: Marye Cory Award: $700 Students Served: 35

Choir, Cesar Chavez Elementary, Pride of Oklahoma Music Festival, Norman Teacher: Norma Smith Award: $1,000 Students Served: 30

Guitar, Classen School of Advanced Studies, OSSAA District Competition, Bethany Teacher: Matthew Denman Award: $1,000 Students Served: 40

Choir, Classen School of Advanced Studies, OMEA All-State Audition, Lawton Teacher: Rebecca Lindley Award: $450 Students Served: 30 Choir, Classen School of Advanced Studies, OSSAA Large Group Contest, Oklahoma City Teacher: Jessica Wheeler Award: $960 Students Served: 90 Choir, Classen School of Advanced Studies, OSSAA Large Group Contest, Oklahoma City Teacher: Rebecca Lindley Award: $350 Students Served: 60

Choir-HS, Classen School of Advanced Studies, Kennedy Center Memorial Day Concert, Washington D.C. Teacher: Rebecca Lindley Award: $2,500 Students Served: 60 Drama, Classen School of Advanced Studies, OSSAA One-Act Play Competition, Tulsa Teacher: James M. Payne Award: $2,000 Students Served: 50 Orchestra-HS, Classen School of Advanced Studies, OSSAA District Solo and Ensemble Contest, Bethany Teacher: Justin Pourtorkan Award: $1,000 Students Served: 60 Orchestra-HS, Classen School of Advanced Studies, OSSAA Large Group Contest, Edmond Teacher: Justin Pourtorkan Award: $1,000 Students Served: 60

Orchestra-MS, Classen School of Advanced Studies, OSSAA District Solo and Ensemble Contest, Oklahoma City Teacher: Justin Pourtorkan Award: $800 Students Served: 60 Orchestra-MS, Classen School of Advanced Studies, OSSAA Large Group Contest, Edmond Teacher: Justin Pourtorkan Award: $1,000 Students Served: 60

Orchestra-MS, Classen School of Advanced Studies, Sandy Lakes Festival, Dallas, TX Teacher: Justin Pourtorkan Award: $1,200 Students Served: 80

Odyssey of the Mind Teams, Cleveland Elementary, Odyssey of the Mind Western Oklahoma Regional, Yukon Teacher: Marcia Greenwood Award: $420 Students Served: 21 Speech & Debate Team, Douglass High School, Speech & Debate Tournament, Kingfisher Teacher: Billy Elles Award: $500 Students Served: 12 Speech & Debate Team, Douglass High School, Speech & Debate Tournament, Prague Teacher: Billy Elles Award: $500 Students Served: 12 Speech & Debate Team, Douglass High School, Speech & Debate Tournament, Seminole Teacher: Billy Elles Award: $500 Students Served: 12 Speech & Debate Team, Douglass High School, Speech & Debate Tournament, Weatherford Teacher: Billy Elles Award: $500 Students Served: 12

Delta Epsilon Chi, Emerson High School, DECA Fall Leadership Conference, Oklahoma City Teacher: Sandra Gooden Award: $250 Students Served: 7 Delta Epsilon Chi, Emerson High School, DECA Fall Leadership Conference, Oklahoma City Teacher: Sandra Gooden Award: $550 Students Served: 7

Delta Epsilon Chi, Emerson High School, DECA State Conference, Tulsa Teacher: Sandra Gooden Award: $1,500 Students Served: 7 Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America, Emerson High School, FCCLA STAR Events, Oklahoma City Teacher: Carmelita Brazille Award: $750 Students Served: 8 Choir, Fillmore Elementary, Arbuckle Choir Contest, Davis Teacher: Linda Rowland Woody Award: $1,470 Students Served: 20

Mariachi, Fillmore Elementary, Arbuckle Band Contest, Davis Teacher: Christiaan Osborn Award: $1,470 Students Served: 35

Mariachi, Fillmore Elementary, Trills and Thrills Music Festival, Dallas, TX Teacher: Christiaan Osborn Award: $2,500 Students Served: 35 Band, Harding Charter Preparatory High School, Cimarron Valley Honor Band, Bristow Teacher: Kelli Taylor Award: $80 Students Served: 8 Band, Harding Charter Preparatory High School, CODA auditions, Edmond Teacher: Kelli Taylor Award: $298 Students Served: 9

Band, Harding Charter Preparatory High School, OSSAA Large Group Contest, Edmond Teacher: Kelli Taylor Award: $945 Students Served: 55 Band & Strings, Harding Charter Preparatory High School, OSSAA District Solo and Ensemble Contest, Edmond Teacher: Kelli Taylor Award: $275 Students Served: 35 Choir, Harding Charter Preparatory High School, OSSAA Large Group Contest, Mustang Teacher: Carrie Hoipkemier Award: $875 Students Served: 50 Orchestra, Harding Charter Preparatory High School, NCHO Auditions, Edmond Teacher: Kelli Taylor Award: $62 Students Served: 6

Orchestra, Harding Charter Preparatory High School, OMEA All-State Audition, Moore Teacher: Kelli Taylor Award: $60 Students Served: 4

Speech & Debate Team, Harding Charter Preparatory High School, Speech & Debate Tournament, Choctaw Teacher: Cailey Gray Award: $800 Students Served: 35 Speech & Debate Team, Harding Charter Preparatory High School, Speech & Debate Tournament, Edmond Teacher: Cailey Gray Award: $375 Students Served: 20 Speech & Debate Team, Harding Charter Preparatory High School, Speech & Debate Tournament, Edmond Teacher: Cailey Gray Award: $450 Students Served: 20

Speech & Debate Team, Harding Charter Preparatory High School, Speech & Debate Tournament, Moore Teacher: Cailey Gray Award: $450 Students Served: 20 Speech & Debate Team, Harding Charter Preparatory High School, Speech & Debate Tournament, Norman Teacher: Cailey Gray Award: $450 Students Served: 20 Speech & Debate Team, Harding Charter Preparatory High School, Speech & Debate Tournament, Norman Teacher: Cailey Gray Award: $450 Students Served: 20 Speech & Debate Team, Harding Charter Preparatory High School, Speech & Debate Tournament, Oklahoma City Teacher: Cailey Gray Award: $450 Students Served: 20 Yearbook, Harding Charter Preparatory High School, Oklahoma Scholastic Media Fall Media Monday, Norman Teacher: Kelli Taylor Award: $248 Students Served: 8

Speech & Debate Team, Harding Fine Arts Academy, Speech & Debate Tournament, Okarche Teacher: Jaimie Gargas Award: $212 Students Served: 10 Speech & Debate Team, Harding Fine Arts Academy, Speech & Debate Tournament, Kingfisher Teacher: Jaimie Gargas Award: $300 Students Served: 25 Speech & Debate Team, Harding Fine Arts Academy, Speech & Debate Tournament, Ada Teacher: Jaimie Gargas Award: $230 Students Served: 15 Speech & Debate Team, Harding Fine Arts Academy, Speech & Debate Tournament, Marlow Teacher: Jaimie Gargas Award: $230 Students Served: 15 Speech & Debate Team, Harding Fine Arts Academy, Speech & Debate Tournament, Prague Teacher: Jaimie Gargas Award: $275 Students Served: 20 Speech & Debate Team, Harding Fine Arts Academy, Speech & Debate Tournament, Seminole Teacher: Jaimie Gargas Award: $275 Students Served: 20 Speech & Debate Team, Harding Fine Arts Academy, Speech & Debate Tournament, Weatherford Teacher: Jaimie Gargas Award: $1,000 Students Served: 20 Speech & Debate Team, Harding Fine Arts Academy, OSSAA Western Regional Tournament, Weatherford Teacher: Jaimie Gargas Award: $1,478 Students Served: 21 Robotics Team, Jackson Middle

School, European Botball Conference, Vienna, Austria Teacher: Lisa Burton Award: $2,500 Students Served: 10

Choir, Jefferson Middle School, Heartland Music Festival, Oklahoma City Teacher: Bobbi Elkamely Award: $1,000 Students Served: 35

Dance, Jefferson Middle School, ASC Regional Dance Competition, Oklahoma City Teacher: Juan Iglesias Award: $1,000 Students Served: 15

Art Students, John Marshall High School, Art Competition, Weatherford Teacher: Kyla Kaufman Award: $910 Students Served: 30 Art Students, John Marshall High School, Montmartre Sidewalk Chalk Art Festival, Chickasha Teacher: Kyla Kaufman Award: $1,050 Students Served: 50

Band, John Marshall High School, Arbuckle Band Contest, Davis Teacher: Kenneth McCool Award: $1,700 Students Served: 80 Band, John Marshall High School, Peak Music Festival, Argyle, TX Teacher: Kenneth McCool Award: $2,300 Students Served: 41 Business Professionals of America, John Marshall High School, BPA State Competition, Tulsa Teacher: Barbara Albritton Award: $2,000 Students Served: 20 Business Professionals of America, John Marshall High School, BPA State Competition, Tulsa Teacher: Barbara Albritton Award: $560 Students Served: 30 Business Professionals of America, John Marshall High School, BPA State Competition, Oklahoma City Teacher: Sharon Marker Award: $400 Students Served: 25 Business Professionals of America, John Marshall High School, BPA State Competition, Tulsa Teacher: Sharon Marker Award: $2,000 Students Served: 25

Choir, John Marshall High School, OMEA All-State Audition, Weatherford Teacher: Denise Caton Award: $120 Students Served: 2 Dance, John Marshall High School, ASC Regional Dance Competition, Oklahoma City Teacher: Sherri Smith Award: $630 Students Served: 11

Delta Epsilon Chi, John Marshall High School, DECA Fall Leadership Conference, Oklahoma City Teacher: Todd DeArmon Award: $700 Students Served: 7

Delta Epsilon Chi, John Marshall High School, DECA State Conference, Tulsa Teacher: Todd DeArmon Award: $2,000 Students Served: 20 Drama, John Marshall High School, OSSAA One-Act Play Competition, Oklahoma City Teacher: Brandy Clark Award: $515 Students Served: 20

Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America, John Marshall High School, FCCLA Investor Challenge, Oklahoma City Teacher: Erica McCollum Award: $400 Students Served: 52 Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America, John Marshall High School, FCCLA STAR Events, Oklahoma City Teacher: Erica McCollum Award: $295 Students Served: 8 Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America, John Marshall High School, FCCLA STAR Events, Oklahoma City Teacher: Erica McCollum Award: $675 Students Served: 15 Orchestra, John Marshall High School, Arbuckle Orchestra Contest, Davis Teacher: Richard Smith Award: $1,500 Students Served: 50 Orchestra, John Marshall High School, OSSAA District Solo and Ensemble Contest, Edmond Teacher: Richard Smith Award: $500 Students Served: 25

Orchestra, John Marshall High School, Peak Music Festival, Dallas, TX Teacher: Richard Smith Award: $2,500 Students Served: 25 Band, Kaiser Elementary, Arbuckle Band Contest, Davis Teacher: Christiaan Osborn Award: $1,470 Students Served: 35

Band, Kaiser Elementary, Heartland Music Festival, Oklahoma City Teacher: Christiaan Osborn Award: $1,000 Students Served: 35 Band, Kaiser Elementary, Pawnee Band Day, Pawnee Teacher: Christiaan Osborn Award: $1,320 Students Served: 35

Choir, Linwood Elementary, Seiling Music Festival, Seiling Teacher: Jack Mitchell Award: $875 Students Served: 65 Robotics Team, Linwood Elementary, First Lego League Qualifier, Oklahoma City Teacher: Rebecka Graffigna Award: $285 Students Served: 10

Robotics Team, Linwood Elementary, First Lego League State Competition, Oklahoma City Teacher: Rebecka Graffigna Award: $375 Students Served: 9 Band-HS, Northeast Academy, N. OK. College Honor Band , Ponca City Teacher: Chris Lehew Award: $1,800 Students Served: 20 Band-HS, Northeast Academy, OSSAA District Solo and Ensemble Contest, Mustang Teacher: Chris Lehew Award: $1,000 Students Served: 30

Band-HS, Northeast Academy, TriState Music Festival, Enid Teacher: Chris Lehew Award: $1,200 Students Served: 30

Band-MS, Northeast Academy, Marlow Music Festival, Marlow Teacher: Chris Lehew Award: $1,500 Students Served: 40

Band-MS, Northeast Academy, N. OK. College Honor Band , Ponca City Teacher: Chris Lehew Award: $1,300 Students Served: 40 Band-MS, Northeast Academy, OSSAA District Solo and Ensemble Contest, Mustang Teacher: Chris Lehew Award: $1,000 Students Served: 40

Band-MS, Northeast Academy, TriState Music Festival, Enid Teacher: Chris Lehew Award: $200 Students Served: 40 Colorguard, Northeast Academy, Lawton Superior Colorguard Contest, Lawton Teacher: Chris Lehew Award: $1,400 Students Served: 16 Engineering students, Northeast Academy, Engineering Fair, Oklahoma City Teacher: Mary Tran Award: $550 Students Served: 20

Orchestra-HS, Northeast Academy, Arbuckle Orchestra Contest, Davis Teacher: Chris Lehew Award: $1,000 Students Served: 30 Orchestra-HS, Northeast Academy, NCHO Auditions, Edmond Teacher: Chris Lehew Award: $1,000 Students Served: 20 Orchestra-HS, Northeast Academy, OMEA All-State Audition, Edmond Teacher: Chris Lehew Award: $1,000 Students Served: 20 Orchestra-HS, Northeast Academy, OSSAA District Solo and Ensemble Contest, Mustang Teacher: Chris Lehew Award: $1,000 Students Served: 30

Orchestra-MS, Northeast Academy, Marlow Music Festival, Marlow Teacher: Chris Lehew Award: $1,500 Students Served: 30 Orchestra-MS, Northeast Academy, Tri-State Music Festival, Enid Teacher: Chris Lehew Award: $1,500 Students Served: 30 Orchestra-MS, Northeast Academy, OSSAA District Solo and Ensemble Contest, Mustang Teacher: Chris Lehew Award: $1,000 Students Served: 30 Robotics Team, Northeast Academy, U.S. First Robotics Competition, Oklahoma City Teacher: Mary Tran Award: $1,000 Students Served: 40 Health Occupations Students of America, Northeast Academy, State Leadership Competition, Oklahoma City Teacher: Kristine Sigman Award: $786 Students Served: 20

Band, Northwest Classen High School, CODA auditions, Edmond Teacher: Rheuben Green Award: $1,000 Students Served: 30 (continued)

COMPETITIVE EDGE

Teacher of The year NomiNee www.oc.edu

Congratulations to OC alumna Sherry Dew for being chosen as a finalist for the Teacher of the Year award! S t a r S o f E d u c at i o n OC has the second-highest state education certification exam pass rate in Oklahoma.

Band, Northwest Classen High School, N. OK. College Honor Band , Ponca City Teacher: Rheuben Green Award: $2,000 Students Served: 45

Band, Northwest Classen High School, OMEA All-State Clinic, Tulsa Teacher: Rheuben Green Award: $1,275 Students Served: 1 Band, Northwest Classen High School, OSSAA Regional Marching Band, Lawton Teacher: Rheuben Green Award: $1,000 Students Served: 50 Choir, Northwest Classen High School, All-Region Honor Choir, Lawton Teacher: Rheuben Green Award: $1,500 Students Served: 30 Choir, Northwest Classen High School, OMEA All-State Audition, Oklahoma City Teacher: Ruben Alcala Award: $1,000 Students Served: 35 Business Professionals of America, Southeast High School, BPA State Competition, Okmulgee Teacher: Valerie Bryant Award: $1,000 Students Served: 30 Business Professionals of America, Southeast High School, BPA State Competition, Okmulgee & Tulsa Teacher: William Chamberlain Award: $2,000 Students Served: 20 Technology Student Association, Southeast High School, TSA State Competition, Stillwater Teacher: Bradley Corn Award: $1,500 Students Served: 12 Band, Star Spencer High School, Langston University Battle of Bands, Langston Teacher: Torrey Purvey Award: $1,500 Students Served: 95

COMPETITIVE EDGE

Brothers Of Stomp (BOS), Star Spencer High School, Martin High School Step Show, Arlington, TX Teacher: David Mosley Award: $1,500 Students Served: 20 Brothers Of Stomp (BOS) and Sisters Of Stomp(SOS), Star Spencer High School, Garland High School Step Show, Garland, TX Teacher: David Mosley Award: $2,500 Students Served: 29 Business Professionals of America, Star Spencer High School, BPA State Competition, Okmulgee & Tulsa Teacher: Karen Montgomery Award: $1,100 Students Served: 8 Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America, Star Spencer High School, FCCLA STAR Events, Norman Teacher: Sharon Love Award: $1,000 Students Served: 5 Band, Taft Middle School Arbuckle Band Contest, Davis Teacher: Rheuben Green Award: $500 Students Served: 45 Band, Taft Middle School CODA auditions, Edmond Teacher: Rheuben Green Award: $1,000 Students Served: 30

Orchestra, Taft Middle School Heartland Music Festival, Edmond Teacher: Samantha Sampson Award: $1,000 Students Served: 35

Technology Student Association, U.S. Grant High School, Last-Chance TSA Conference, Claremore Teacher: Garry Montgomery Award: $568 Students Served: 14 Technology Student Association, U.S. Grant High School, TSA miniconference, Elk City Teacher: Garry Montgomery Award: $96 Students Served: 8 Technology Student Association, U.S. Grant High School, Motivator Conference, Rush Springs Teacher: Garry Montgomery Award: $112 Students Served: 14 Business Professionals of America, U.S. Grant High School, BPA State Competition, Tulsa Teacher: Susan Turpen Award: $2,000 Students Served: 20

Dance, U.S. Grant High School, Aloha Spirit Championships, Denver, CO Teacher: Tracey Smith Award: $1,500 Students Served: 11

Band, Taft Middle School N. OK. College Honor Band , Ponca City Teacher: Rheuben Green Award: $1,500 Students Served: 30

Dance, U.S. Grant High School, NCA/NDA St. Louis Classic, St. Charles, MO Teacher: Tracey Smith Award: $2,500 Students Served: 11

Orchestra, Taft Middle School Arbuckle Orchestra Contest, Davis Teacher: Samantha Sampson Award: $850 Students Served: 25

Show Choir, U.S. Grant High School, Tri-State Music Festival, Enid Teacher: Shana Hansen Award: $1,500 Students Served: 25

Band, Taft Middle School OSSAA District Solo and Ensemble Contest, Edmond Teacher: Rheuben Green Award: $1,000 Students Served: 30

Drama, U.S. Grant High School, OSSAA One-Act Play Competition, Oklahoma City Teacher: Racey Ballard Award: $975 Students Served: 16

Technology Student Association, U.S. Grant High School, TSA Competition, Ponca City Teacher: Garry Montgomery Award: $240 Students Served: 10

Technology Student Association, U.S. Grant High School, TSA State Competition, Tulsa Teacher: Garry Montgomery Award: $120 Students Served: 8 Robotics Team, Webster Middle School, River Valley BEST Robotics, Ft. Smith, AR Teacher: Artie Lowery Award: $2,400 Students Served: 20 Technology Student Association, Webster Middle School, TSA Competition, Ponca City Teacher: Artie Lowery Award: $310 Students Served: 12 Technology Student Association, Webster Middle School, TSA Competition, Red Rock Teacher: Artie Lowery Award: $395 Students Served: 15 Technology Student Association, Webster Middle School, TSA State Competition, Stillwater Teacher: Artie Lowery Award: $1,500 Students Served: 15

THANK YOU TO STARS VOLUNTEERS OKCPS TEACHER OF THE YEAR

GREAT IDEA GRANTS

SELECTION COMMITTEE

Debbie Adam Buchanan Elementary; District Teacher of the Year Finalist 2007-2008 Daniel Buckmaster Belle Isle Enterprise Middle School; District Teacher of the Year 2012-2013 Passion Bradley OKCPS District Office Liaison Nikki Coshow Edgemere Elementary; 2nd Runner-Up District Teacher of the Year 2010-2011 Greg Eskridge Wilson Elementary; 1st Runner Up District Teacher of the Year 2009-2010 Diana Dawson Fillmore Elementary; 2nd Runner Up District Teacher of the Year 2009-2010 Barbara Hutchison Hillcrest Elementary; District Teacher of the Year Finalist 2009-2010 Michael Payne Classen School of Advanced Studies; District Teacher of the Year 2006 Virginia Sherman Hawthorne Elementary Heather Sparks Taft Middle School; District Teacher of the Year 2008; Oklahoma State Teacher of the Year 2009 Marlene White F.D. Moon Academy; Finalist, District Teacher of the Year 2011-2012 Meredith Wronowski Capitol Hill High School; District Teacher of the Year 2010-2011

Debbie Adam Buchanan Elementary Kari Allison Santa Fe South Charter High School Mary Best American Federation of Teachers, OKC Paul Bianchi John Marshall High School D.J. Bowker Capitol Hill High School Jamie Buckmaster OKCPS ELL, multi site Kay Childers Linwood Elementary Diana Dawson Fillmore Elementary Greg Eskridge Wilson Elementary Caroline Hatfield Adams Elementary Tekoa J. Hill North Highland Elementary Barbara Hutchison Hillcrest Elementary Kim Iraggi Johnson Elementary Vicki Stover Pierce Elementary Mary Tran Northeast Academy Marlene White F.D. Moon Academy

STARS OF EDUCATION SELECTION COMMITTEE

Michael W. Dickinson BancFirst Percy Kirk Cox Communications, Foundation for OKC Public Schools Board Member Xavier Neira Manhattan Construction, Foundation for OKC Public Schools Board Member Dr. Ramona Paul Former Asst. State Supt. for Public Instruction, Foundation for OKC Public Schools Board Member Wendi Schuur Devon Energy, Foundation for OKC Public Schools Board Member

The future is brighter thanks to the Stars of Education.

STARS OF EDUCATION

MVPs I n rec o gn i t i on o f O KCPS d istr i ct em pl o yees w h o pl e dge d $2 40 or m ore to t h e 201 2- 201 3 T E A M Cam paign To get h er Ever yon e A dds M ore! Karen Baker Carol Berry Paul Bianchi Carolyn Bish Jennifer Bortvit-Mapes Julie Boyington Susie Bratcher William Buck Daniel & Jamie Buckmaster Heather Bullock Earnest Bush Laura S. Buxton Shelly Campbell Charlotte Canida Aspasia Carlson Cathy Carlson Karen Carothers Denise Caton William Chamberlain Robert Chambers Brandy Clark David Clark Susan Combs Christine Cooper J. Mary Coughlin Hartley Crawley Amy Davis DeAnn Davis John Divelbiss Kelly Dugan Robert & Cindy

STARS OF EDUCATION

Eggeling Judith Evans Terry Fraley Shannon Freeman Susan Gabbard Marian Garcia Jennifer Garland Vickie Garrett Glen Gean Susan Gee Mary Geurin LeeAva Gooch Susan Good Pamela Greathouse Katrinka M. Greear Marcia Greenwood Julie Grissom Cynthia Hamilton Charlotte Hamon Rubye Harrington Michel Harris Valerie Harris Rachel Harsen Jean E. Haynes Pam Hibbs Eric Hileman Leon Hill Katie Hock Susan Hurst Kim Iraggi Pamela A. Jameson Michael Jennings Natalie JohnsonPapageorge

Barbara Jones Chantel Jones Edith Jones Jonetta Jonteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Scott P. Kaufman Brittani Keeton Marilynn Kellert Cherylann Kidd Kimberly King Sherry Kishore Joanne Little Ronald Lodes Tonya Mann Pedro Martinez Rhonda McGuire Jack Mitchell Beth Moakley Laura Morris Angela Nealy David Nixon Kasey Organ Della Orr Sandra Park Robin Parker Holly Partin Ryan Patten Carol Perry Carol Phillips Shamon Pickens Kristin Regalado Sandra Rose Beverly Rosenberg Ralene Sarrington

Cindy Schmidt Kelly Sehon Linda Sexton Bettie Shadoan Richard Smith Cheryl Smith Lisa Souza Heather Sparks Karl Springer Brian & Susan Staples J. L. Strickland Martha Sturm Sawyer Melissa Sullivan Teachers Credit Union Debra Thomas Mary Tran Heidi Tuers Jackson Susan Turpen Troy Vance Edith Vickers Iva N. Wetzel Betty Winters Meredith Wronowski Students of Eugene Fields Elementary

All Makes • All Models • One Location Hudiburg Chevrolet Hudiburg Buick GMC Hudiburg Nissan Hudiburg Toyota Hudiburg Subaru

405.737.6641

405.631.7771

405.741.4451

405.644.3100

Hudiburg.com Proud to support the Stars of Education.

STARS OF EDUCATION

ALL STARS In rec o gn i t i on o f O KCPS d istr i ct em plo yees w h o ple dge d $120-$239 or m ore to t h e 2012-2013 T E A M Cam paign â&#x20AC;&#x201C; To get h er Ever yon e A dds M ore! Angela Adams John Addison Barbara Albritton Angela Allen Sandy Alvarez Stephanie Angier Rashaun Ashanti-Alexander Brenda Asher Vincent Atkins Sarah Bailey Deborah Barnes DaCe Beaty Teri Bell Tanisha Billingslea Amande Blanchard Melita Bowman Jessica Bragg Michael Branch Vickii Brashears Paige Bressman James R. Brewer Nancy Brewer Susan Brewer Carol Brogan Harold Brooks Cindy Brown Cynthia Brown Josephine Burton Kari Caldwell Chad Campbell Suzanne Carter Tammy Carter Sarah Cates Belinda Christ Terry Christian Jessica Clay Stephanie Cobb Linda Coe Rosalind Coleman Dawn Collums Diane Combest Evelyn Conder Nikki Coshow Joe B. Cox Tamula Craig Chele Crosby Phillip Cunningham Debbie Curry Rebecca Daniels Jacquetta Davis Meredith Davis Sharland Deitz Mario Delgado Marcelle DeSpain Kellie Dickents Barbara Dozier Tina Duenas Susan Dye

Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Mondre Ealy Linda Edgell Anne Edwards Heather Elias Susie Esters Ginger Fenwick Amy Fillman Dena Frankenfield Deborah French Julie Gathright Dennis Giddens Jennifer Gilley Susan Good Sandra Gooden Lynn Green Glenda Greenhoward Julie Grissom Dolores Gunter Kevin Hamilton Katherine Harper Clay Hart Jean Hartmann Caroline Hatfield Laura Head Sandy Henry Stephen Henry Rhonda Hensley Donna Hill John Hill Leon Hill Tenishea Tolbert Linda Holder Barbara Holland Myrna Holliday Penelope Holloway Amy House William Hughes Rena Hurd Jonathan Imhoffe Susan Isbell Corbie Jackson James Jacob Tina T. Jennings Kristen Johnson Matthew Johnson Brittani Keeton Ashley Kellert Michelle Kemery Kathleen Kennedy Virginia A. Kennedy Linda Kerr Ashley Keys Cathy Klasek Jennifer Kloeppel Thanh Le Cheryl LeClair Marcella Lee Esther Leyva

Bill Loch Stacy Long Sylvia Long Artie Lowery Barbara Lowery Jessica Mahaffey Susan Malloy Sharon Marker Curtis L. Marshall Verna Martin Shirley Maxey Cherry Mays Scot & Sheli McAdoo Gloria McClure Aimee McCracken Blanca McCracken Gennifer McHargue Cynthia L. B. McKinney Eric Meador Shelly Michael Dorothea Miller Susan Miller Rose Marie Miranda Jack Mitchell Caron Monday Daniel Monks Kathy Monroe Deborah Morgan Sally Morgan Paula Morrow Sarah Nelson Ha Nguyen Tam Thi Nguyen Tiffany Olvera Magee Christiaan Osborn Kelli Packnett Timothy Pelletier Linda Pelton Warren Pete Laurel Pierce Diana Polley Jay Pool William Pool John Pundsack Jovette Quinn David Rackley Antonia Ramirez Kimberly Randall LaToyra Randle Brian Raper Beverly Ray Sherry Read Lori Richardson Kimberly Ricketson Johnnie Riley Mary Roberson Theodore Ross September Rowlett

Mary Rozotte Angela Sanders Francine D. Sanderson James Schlup Rhonda Schroeder Ryan Schweikhart Catherine Sherman Melanie Simms Mary Siria Gowry Sivanesan Sherri Smith Teresa Sneed Koleta Snyder John Sommers Alexandre Souza Michael Stafford Gary Stevens Meaghan Story Cynthia Sullivan Rhonda Taylor Teresa Tedder Curtis L. Thompson Charles Tompkins Lisa Ummel-Ingram Jean Vawter Jami Veenstra Michael Violett Nancy Wall Leslie Warden Glimerine Ware Patricia Watson Jessica Weaver Rebecca Weber Anna White Sara White Susan Wilkerson Annette Williams Louise Williford Angelia Wilson Austin Wilson Holly Wilson Nancy Winn Shelby Winters Glin Witt David G. Woodside Kimberly Wooldridge Payten Woolf Greg Worley Judith Wright Cassandra Yarbrough Chris Yeldell Sarah Young Jessica Zannikos Sheila Zummer

STARS OF EDUCATION

Think Globally... Teach Locally. Independent Insurance Agents of Greater Oklahoma City are proud to support the work of The Foundation and its positive impact on Oklahoma City children.

STARS OF EDUCATION

CONGRATULATIONS

OKCPS NURSE OF THE YEAR

KAREN PETERS MILLER KAREN’S CARE AND COMPASSION MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OKLAHOMA CITY PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS.

THANK YOU KAREN FOR A JOB WELL DONE!

STARS OF EDUCATION

FINANCIAL OVERVIEW FINANCIAL OVERVIEW

AUDITED STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES AND CHANGES IN ASSETS FOR JULY 1, 2011- JUNE 30, 2012 AUDITED STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES AND CHANGE IN ASSETS FOR JULY 1, 2011-JUNE 30, 2012

Revenues, Gains and Support Grant-making foundations

Expenses $96,838

Programs

$1,583,826

Corporate contributions

$624,025

Management & general

Individuals

$382,508

Fundraising

In-kind contributions

$419,853

Total Expenses

Investment income

$77,476 $90,359 $1,751,662

$62,853

Total revenues, gains and support

Investments 4% Individuals 24%

$1,585,063

Change in net assets

($166,599)

Net assets, beginning of year

$2,308,698

Net assets, end of year

$2,142,100 Fundraising 5.2%

Foundations 6%

Management & General 4.4% Corporations 39%

In-Kind 27%

* Teachers Warehouse began during the 2008-2009 school year

ANNUAL REPORT

Programs 90.4%

*as of March 2013

DIRECT PROGRAM IMPACT

x x

x x x x x

x x

x x x x x

x x x x x x

x x x x

School

Monroe Elementary Nichols Hills Elementary North Highland Math & Science Academy Northeast Academy Northwest Classen High School Oakridge Elementary Oklahoma Centennial High School Parmelee Elementary Pathways Middle College High School Pierce Elementary Prairie Queen Elementary Putnam Heights Academy Quail Creek Elementary Rancho Village Elementary Ridgeview Elementary Rockwood Elementary Rogers Middle School Roosevelt Middle School Santa Fe South Elementary School Santa Fe South High School Santa Fe South Middle School Seeworth Academy Sequoyah Elementary Shidler Elementary Southeast High School Southern Hills Elementary Spencer Elementary Stand Watie Elementary Star Spencer High School Taft Middle School Telstar Elementary The Stanley Hupfeld Academy at Western Village Thelma R. Parks Elementary U.S. Grant High School Van Buren Elementary Webster Middle School West Nichols Hills Elementary Westwood Elementary Wheeler Elementary Willow Brook Elementary Wilson Elementary

x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

x x x

Competitive Edge Grants

Great Idea Grants

Teachers Warehouse

Competitive Edge Grants

x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

Great Idea Grants

School

Adams Elementary Arthur Elementary ASTEC Charter High School ASTEC Charter Middle School Belle Isle Enterprise Middle School Bodine Elementary Britton Elementary Buchanan Elementary Capitol Hill Elementary Capitol Hill High School Cesar Chavez Elementary Classen School of Advanced Studies Cleveland Elementary Columbus Elementary Coolidge Elementary Douglass High School Dove Science Academy Dove Science Academy Elementary Edgemere Elementary Edwards Elementary Emerson High School Eugene Field Elementary F.D. Moon Academy Fillmore Elementary Gatewood Elementary Green Pastures Elementary Greystone Lower Elementary Greystone Upper Elementary Harding Charter Preparatory High School Harding Fine Arts Academy Hawthorne Elementary Hayes Elementary Heronville Elementary Hillcrest Elementary Horace Mann Elementary Independence Charter Middle School Jackson Middle School Jefferson Middle School John Marshall High School Johnson Elementary Kaiser Elementary KIPP Reach College Preparatory Lee Elementary Linwood Elementary Marcus Garvey Charter School Mark Twain Elementary Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary

Teachers Warehouse

GRANT AND SUPPLY DISTRIBUTIONS DURING THE 2011-2012 AND 2012-2013 SCHOOL YEARS*

x x x x

x x

x x x x x

x x

ANNUAL REPORT

STARS OF GIVING MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIFE OF A CHILD The important work of supporting the children and teachers of Oklahoma City Public Schools wouldn’t be possible without our generous corporate, foundation and individual donors. Every donation gives our children the opportunities and tools they would otherwise go without. It gives them the confidence and encouragement they need to rise above their sometimes difficult circumstances. The Foundation and the children and teachers we serve are grateful for the support of each donor. Donations are recognized for Jan. 1, 2012 - Dec. 31, 2012.

CORPORATIONS AND FOUNDATIONS $200,000+ Chesapeake Energy Corporation Devon Energy Corporation $50,000-$99,999

OGE Energy Corporation

$35,000-$49,999 Clear Channel Communications E.L. & Thelma Gaylord Foundation Feed the Children William T. Payne Fund

$20,000-$34,999

American Fidelity Group Independent Insurance Agents of Greater OKC JPMorgan Chase N.A. SandRidge Energy Inc. SONIC, America’s Drive-In Whitten-Newman Foundation

STARS OF GIVING

$10,000-$19,999

BancFirst Bank of America Casady School Greater Oklahoma City Chamber Harris Foundation, Inc. Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores, Inc. Oklahoma Natural Gas, a division of ONEOK OPUBCO Communications Group

$5,000-$9,999 Accord Human Resources Bachman Services, Inc. The Chickasaw Nation Ethics & Excellence in Journalism Foundation Graco Roofing & Construction, LLC Inasmuch Foundation INTEGRIS Health MidFirst Bank Mustang Fuel Corporation National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

Oklahoma City Community College Oklahoma City Retailers Foundation Positive Tomorrows Sodexo TEAM UP Campaign U.S. Cellular In support of the Craig R. Kennamer Legacy Fund

$2,500-$4,999 Accel Financial Staffing Access Midstream Apartment Association of Central Oklahoma AT&T Oklahoma Charles & Cassandra Bowen Charitable Foundation Center for Educational Law Communities Foundation of Oklahoma Elevation Church Elliott + Associates Architects Hudiburg Auto Group Fred Jones Family Foundation KOCO-TV Oklahoma City University PROEvents

CORPORATIONS AND FOUNDATIONS Records-Johnston Family Foundation, Inc. Rotary Club 29 Foundation University of Oklahoma Whataco CompaniesWhataburger Whole Foods

$1,500-$2,499 7-Eleven Stores Christmas Connection Crowe & Dunlevy Edgemere Park Preservation, Inc. Friends of Sandy Garrett Gallagher Benefit Services Mathis Brothers Furniture New View Oklahoma United Way of Central Oklahoma

$500-$1,499 ACE Commercial Movers Ackerman McQueen ADG, Inc. Albright Steel & Wire Company American Business Women’s Association Anderson & House, Inc. B.C. Clark Jewelers Bockus, Payne & Associates

Architects C.H. Guernsey & Company Clements Foods Foundation Cox Communications, Inc. DCP Midstream Design Resources E.V. Cox Construction Company First National Bank of Oklahoma Gardner Tanenbaum Holdings The Hertz Corporation Ideal Homes Impressions Printing Jewish Federation of Greater Oklahoma City Junior Achievement of Greater OKC Junior League of Oklahoma City Kids in Need Foundation Kimray, Inc. Kings Worldwide Transportation Lampstand Media LASSO Corporation MA+ Architecture, LLC McAfee & Taft Medley Turrentine & Associates Mercy Health Center Moisant Promotional Products Moliere Bridal Oklahoma City American Federation of Teachers Oklahoma City Public Schools

Oklahoma Department of Labor Oklahoma State University Oklahoma City Orthocare Osborne Electric Company PL Studios Potts Family Foundation, Inc. Quail Creek Bank, NA Roll Giving Schnake Turnbo FrankOklahoma City Science Museum Oklahoma The Small Group, LLC Smith & Pickel Construction, Inc. Smith, Roberts & Baldischwiler, LLC Southwestern Roofing & Metal St. Anthony Hospital Third Degree Advertising & Communications Triad Design Group, Inc. Trochta’s Flowers, Inc. UMB Bank - Oklahoma University of Central Oklahoma Uptown 23rd District Association US Food Service WEOKIE Credit Union Zahl-Ford, Inc.

LEGACY CIRCLE

I n r e c o g n it io n o f do n o r s w h o ha v e i ncl u d e d The F o u nd a t i o n i n t he i r e s t a t e p l a nni ng .

The late Robert & Marie Leonard

The late Thomas W. Utterback

GUIDING HANDS SOCIETY

I n rec o g n it io n o f do n o r s w h o h av e ma d e mu l t i y e a r co mmi t me nt s t o s u p p o r t The F o u nd a t i o n’s wo r k .

VISIONARY ($75,000) Reggie & Rachelle Whitten

CHAMPION ($30,000) William T. Payne Fund

INNOVATE ($15,000) Angela Bachman J. Clifford & Leslie Hudson

LEAD ($7,500)

Michael W. & Lori Dickinson Ron Ward

BUILD ($3,000)

Newt Brown Kent Gardner Phil & Marian Horning Joy & John LaBar Donna & Bruce Lawrence Ed & Kathy Martin Cristina & George McQuistion Dr. Ramona & Homer Paul Kelly & Paul Pearson Ray & Pat Potts Mrs. Berta Faye Rex

Stephen Smith & Lisa Reed Marnie & Clayton Taylor In honor of Cliff Hudson

Miles & Molly Tolbert In support of the Craig R. Kennamer Legacy Fund

Carol & Mac Troy Tim & Christy Watson Mary & Scott Whitson

In memory of John W. Rex

Councilwoman Meg Salyer Mr. & Mrs. Ben Shanker

(continued)

STARS OF GIVING

FRIENDS OF THE FOUNDATION $35,000-$49,999 Reggie & Rachelle Whitten

Mr. & Mrs. Mark Shanker Karl & Catherine Springer

$10,000-$19,999 Dr. & Mrs. Robert S. Ellis

$7,500-$9,999 Joy Kennamer In support of the Craig R. Kennamer Legacy Fund

$5,000-$7,499 Angela Bachman James R. Daniel Jim & Christy Everest J. Clifford & Leslie Hudson Lori Walle Ron Ward

$2,500-$4,999

Anonymous Anonymous Louise & Clay Bennett Charles & Cassandra Bowen Newt Brown Geneva Burke In support of the Kenneth Donald Burke Scholarship Michael W. & Lori Dickinson Charles & Laurie Givens Wallace Johnson & Family Percy & Becky Kirk Robert & Jeaneen Naifeh H.E. Rainbolt Erin Horton & David Schneider Mr. & Mrs. Ben Shanker 82

STARS OF GIVING

$1,000-$2,499 Rick & Lerri Cooper Steve & Nikki Coshow John Funk Susan Gabbard Kent Gardner Alan C. Greenberg Jane B. Harlow Phil & Marian Horning Lezlie & David Hudiburg Jonetta Jonté Sherry Kishore Joy & John LaBar Donna & Bruce Lawrence Theresa Lee Jim & Jan Loftis Edmund & Kathy Martin Cristina & George McQuistion Robert & Charlotte Mitchell In memory of my father, E.J. Drabek Mrs.Berta Faye Rex In memory of John W. Rex Laura Morris Frank & Cindy Narcomey Dr. Ramona & Homer Paul Kelly & Paul Pearson Ray & Pat Potts Pat & Marianne Rooney Councilwoman Meg Salyer Stephen Smith & Lisa Reed Melissa Sullivan Helen & Robert Sullivan Marnie & Clayton Taylor In honor of Cliff Hudson The Honorable & Mrs. Ralph Thompson

Miles & Molly Tolbert In support of the Craig R. Kennamer Legacy Fund Mary Tran Carol & Mac Troy Michael & Susan Turpen Jim Vallion Tim & Christy Watson Bea Jai Webb Mary & Scott Whitson

$750-$999

Students of Eugene Field Elementary Sandra Park Brian & Susan Staples Dr. Larkin & Jean Warner

$500-$749

Anonymous State Superintendent Janet Barresi J. Edward Barth Dr. Joy Reed Belt & the late John Belt Carol Berry Paul Bianchi Dr. Bob & Debbie Blackburn Scott Borchetta In honor of Erik Logan Major General William Bowden Dr. John R. & Sharon Bozalis Henry Browne Cathy Carlson Carl & Susan Edwards Kay & Richard Floyd Joan Frates Kay Goebel, PhD Rubye Harrington Valerie Harris Jeanne Hoffman Smith Gary & Betty Huckabay Kirk & Danna Humphreys Scott P. Kaufman Erik & Erin Logan Toppenberg

Tonya Mann Laurent & Laura Massenat Frank & Nadine McPherson Dr. & Mrs. Mark Mellow John Meyer & Jenny Love Meyer Carol Perry Paul Sund & Claudia San Pedro Paula & Bill Sanford Cindy Schmidt Amy & Dean Sergent William & Pamela Shdeed Tony & Kelly Shinn Richard & Glenna Tanenbaum Debra Thomas James Tolbert III Gary & Sheila Tredway Iva N. Wetzel Renate & Chuck Wiggin Teachers Credit Union

$250-$499 Ed & Sallie Allen Karen Baker Lt. Paco & Kyla Balderrama Jennifer Bortvit-Mapes Susie Bratcher Larry & Masie Bross Daniel & Jamie Buckmaster Bill & Lisa Bullard Laura S. Buxton William Chamberlain Cindy Chapline Gary & Michelle Chilton Brandy Clark Russell Claus & Lisa Kibblewhite Bridgid Cook Christine Cooper DeAnn Davis Rick & Jennifer Dunning Robert & Janet Eskridge Bryce & Sherri Fair Richard & Debbie Forshee Terry Fraley Bill & Kris Frankfurt Scott & Lucy Fritts

FRIENDS OF THE FOUNDATION Jennifer Garland Vickie Garrett Susan Gee Pamela Greathouse Marcia Greenwood Cynthia Hamilton Bob & Lauren Hammack David & Aimee Harlow Michel Harris Rachel Harsen Jean E. Haynes Heather Hendricks Brent Hensley Pam Hibbs David & Robyn Hilger In memory of Elvon Pearson Dr. J. William Hood In memory of Geneva Hood Kim Iraggi Pamela A. Jameson Jarred Johnson Barbara Jones Cherylann Kidd The Honorable Tim & Nancy Leonard Joanne Little Lana & Dave Lopez J.W. & Connie Mashburn Bob & Betty McCoy David Nixon Della Orr Robin Parker Ryan Patten Blake & Amy Pellow Dr. Bill & Lori Pink Bill & Mary Lynn Price Dr. Robert & Suzanne Reynolds Sandra Rose Terry & Wendi Schuur Linda Sexton Bettie Shadoan Jeff Simpsen The Small Group, LLC Cheryl Smith Richard Smith Roy & Marty Smith Heather Sparks Margaret & Joseph Strealy In support of the Craig R. Kennamer Legacy Fund

Board of Director/Foundation Staff

Betty Winters Shino & Matthew Yeager

$100-$249 Employees of Accord Human Resources In memory of Betsy Qualls Angela Adams John Addison Barbara Albritton Angela Allen Sandy Alvarez Stephanie Angier Commissioner Bob & Dr. Nancy Anthony Rashaun Ashanti-Alexander Brenda Asher Vincent Atkins Sarah Bailey Deborah Barnes Jan Barrett Renee Bauer DaCe Beaty Teri Bell Tanisha Billingslea Carolyn Bish Amanda Blanchard Melita Bowman Julie Boyington Jessica Bragg Tami Bramel Michael Branch Vickii Brashears Paige Bressman James R. Brewer Nancy Brewer Susan Brewer Carol Brogan Harold Brooks Cindy Brown Cynthia Brown William Buck Heather Bullock Josephine Burton Earnest Bush Kari Caldwell Chad Campbell Shelly Campbell Charlotte Canida Aspasia Carlson Karen Carothers Suzanne Carter OKCPS Employee

Tammy Carter Sarah Cates Denise Caton The Honorable Robin & Hank Cauthron Robert Chambers Flora Hyun Jung Cho Belinda Christ Terry Christian David Clark Jessica Clay Lindsey Clift Stephanie Cobb Linda Coe Rosalind Coleman Dawn Collums Diane Combest Susan Combs Evelyn Conder Brandon Coon Nikki Coshow J. Mary Coughlin Joe B. Cox Tamula Craig Hartley Crawley Chele Crosby Dorothy Cruzen Phillip Cunningham Debbie Curry Rebecca Daniels Amy Davis Janice Davis Jacquetta Davis Meredith Davis Todd DeArmon Sharland Deitz Mario Delgado Marcelle DeSpain Kellie Dickents John Divelbiss Barbara Dozier Tina Duenas Kelly Dugan Susan Dye Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Mondre Ealy Linda Edgell Anne Edwards Robert & Cindy Eggeling Heather Elias Susie Esters Judith Evans Ginger Fenwick Amy Fillman

Dena Frankenfield Shannon Freeman Sharon & Frank Freeny Deborah French The Honorable Stephen & Nancy Friot Marian Garcia Julie Gathright Glen Gean Mary Geurin Dennis Giddens Jennifer Gilley LeeAva Gooch Susan Good Brent & Valerie Gooden Sandra Gooden Katrinka M. Greear Lynn Green Glenda Greenhoward Dr. Gloria Griffin Julie Grissom Dolores Gunter Kevin Hamilton Royce & Kirk Hammons Charlotte Hamon Katherine Harper Clay Hart Jean Hartmann Leigh Ann Harville Dr. Michael & Stephani Haslam Caroline Hatfield Laura Head Sandy Henry Stephen Henry Rhonda Hensley Eric Hileman Donna Hill John Hill Leon Hill Rebecca Hines Katie Hock Nancy Hodgkinson Tenishea Holbert Linda Holder Barbara Holland Myrna Holliday Penelope Holloway The Honorable Jerome Holmes Amy House David & Lucinda Huffman William Hughes (continued)

STARS OF GIVING

FRIENDS OF THE FOUNDATION Marian Hulsey Rena Hurd Susan Hurst Michele Huston Jonathan Imhoffe Susan Isbell Corbie Jackson James Jacob Michael Jennings Tina T. Jennings Kristen Johnson Matthew Johnson Natalie Johnson-Papageorge Chantel Jones Edith Jones Brittani Keeton Ashley Kellert Marilynn Kellert Michelle Kemery Kathleen Kennedy Virginia A. Kennedy Linda Kerr Ashley Keys Kimberly King Cathy Klasek Jennifer Kloeppel Michael Laird Thanh Le Debra Leal-Herrera Cheryl LeClair Marcella Lee Don & Patti Leeman Esther Leyva Raquel Leyva Bill Loch Kevin & Kara Locke Ronald Lodes Stacy Long Sylvia Long Kaye & John Love Artie Lowery Barbara Lowery Carol Magness Jessica Mahaffey Susan Malloy Sharon Marker Curtis L. Marshall Verna Martin Pedro Martinez Jan Matthews Shirley Maxey Cherry Mays Scot & Sheli McAdoo 84

STARS OF GIVING

Gloria McClure Aimee McCracken Blanca McCracken Rhonda McGuire Gennifer McHargue Cynthia L. B. McKinney Eric Meador Harry & Hedra Merson Shelly Michael Karen Miles The Honorable Vicki MilesLaGrange Dorothea Miller Susan Miller Val Miller Rose Marie Miranda Jack Mitchell Beth Moakley Elizabeth Moakley Teresa Moisant Caron Monday Daniel Monks Kathy Monroe Deborah Morgan Sally Morgan Paula Morrow Angela Nealy Sarah Nelson Ha Nguyen Tam Thi Nguyen Tiffany Olvera Magee Kasey Organ Christiaan Osborn Kelli Packnett Holly Partin Timothy Pelletier Linda Pelton Warren Pete Carol Phillips Sandy Phillips Shamon Pickens Laurel Pierce Cindy Pipkin Diana Polley Jay Pool William Pool Mona Preuss In honor of Newt Brown John Pundsack Jovette Quinn David Rackley Antonia Ramirez Kimberly Randall

LaToyra Randle Brian Raper Beverly Ray Sherry Read Kristin Regalado Valerie Rhodes Lori Richardson Kimberly Ricketson Johnnie Riley Mary Roberson Susan & Mark Robertson Beverly Rosenberg Theodore Ross Bob & Heather Ross September Rowlett Mary Rozotte The Honorable David & Dana Russell Councilman Patrick & Grace Ryan Angela Sanders Francine D. Sanderson Ralene Sarrington James Schlup Cindy Schmidt Rhonda Schroeder Ryan Schweikhart Kelly Sehon Catherine Sherman Melanie Simms Janice Singer Jankowsky Mary Siria Gowry Sivanesan Jayne E. Sivard Tena Slaughter Cheryl Smith Sherri Smith Teresa Sneed Koleta Snyder John Sommers Lisa Souza Alexandre Souza Marsha Stafford Michael Stafford Gary Stevens Meaghan Story J L Strickland Dean & Carol Stringer Martha Sturm Sawyer Cynthia Sullivan Rhonda Taylor Teresa Tedder Curtis L. Thompson

James Thomson Sheila Tiarks Charles Tompkins Jill & Robert Trauschke Jon & Katie Trudgeon II Heidi Tuers Jackson Susan Turpen Lisa Ummel-Ingram Troy Vance Steve & Merrie Vaughan Jean Vawter Jami Veenstra Edith Vickers Michael Violett Nancy Wall Leslie Warden Glimerine Ware Lyn & Brad Watson Patricia Watson Jessica Weaver Rebecca Weber The Honorable Lee & Mary West Anna White Sara White Susan Wilkerson Annette Williams Brenda Williams Marvin Williams Louise Williford Angelia Wilson Austin Wilson Holly Wilson Nancy Winn Shelby Winters Glin Witt David G. Woodside Kimberly Wooldridge Payten Woolf Greg Worley Judith Wright Meredith Wronowski Cassandra Yarbrough Chris Yeldell Sarah Young Jessica Zannikos Claranell Zimmerman Sheila Zummer $24-$99

Sharon Abbott Jodi Abraham Angela Absher Cathy Adams

FRIENDS OF THE FOUNDATION Mildred Adams Jeanette Akers Leah Akers Michele Albanys Daniela Aleman Ann Marie Allen Glenda Allen James Allen John Allen Laradius Allen Priscilla Allen Sallie Allen Jennifer Allman Claudia Almillo Anania Almonte Marianne Alvarez Saundra Alvarez Faye Amos Nicole Amzycki Jose Anaya Samuel Anaya Ashley Anderson Edward Anderson Kristin Angle Anonymous Anonymous Anonymous Anonymous Art Anthony Debra Arms Darla Arnold The Honorable Robert Bacharach Rosa Baeza Candice Bailey Helen Bailey H.A. Bakare Pyper Baldwin Magret Ballard Crysta Barber Cynthia Barchue Mindy Barmann Tonye Barnes Christie Barris Clarebel Barron Janet Basler Kathryn Bass Tara Bassett Tobytha Battle Keren Beasley Pamela Begley Lillian Benefee Marshetta Berry Glenna Berry James Berry Donna Berryhill Patti Bessen Leota Betts Debra Billy Rebecka Binion Kandy Bishop Joann Black Sharon Black Betty Blackburn Janeene Blalock Michelle Bland Barbara Blanton Brenda J. Blum Janessa Bointy Angela Bolin Tyvet Bolin Nicole Henry Bondurant Vickie Bonner Pat Borelli Terri Borgfeld Nancy Boudreau Barbara & Phillip Bowersox Board of Director/Foundation Staff

Stephanie Bowman Lisa Bozarth Sarah Bradford Passion Bradley Linda Brasuell Janice Braxton Nolen Breckenridge Melissa Brett Tamera Brewster Donna Brice Ceretta Bridges Joshua Bridges Becky Brinkley Elizabeth Brooks Linda Brooks Rick Brown Samaya Brown Trena Brown Harry Bryant Valerie Bryant Jackie Buchanan Yolanda Buckley Michelle Buggs Marla Bullard William Bullock Chanda Burdine Linda Burke Dennis Burleson Alma Burrell-Pearson Steven Burris Jane Bush Jeri Bush Kenneth Butler Tara Byfield Emma Kay Byrd Deborah Byrne Janet Caesar Bernest Cain Amanda Caldwell Glenda Callahan Kaitlyn Camp Jillian Campbell Maryann Campbell Neil Campbell Kelly Cardwell Erin Carlstrom Sarah Carnes Teresita Carreon Elaine Carrington Cathy Carter Margaret Carter Dawn Cash Mary Casteel Amy Castleman Judith Chalmers Anita Chambless Carly Chambless G. L. Chavez Dawn W. Chernicky Jackie Christian Janet L. Cimbalo Erin Clapper Elizabeth Clark Jamie Clark Laura Clark Richard & Barbara Clark Daniel Coats Laurie Cochran Lisa Cochrane Heather Coffey Gary Colbert Alicia Coleman Bryan Coleman Tracey Coleman Dedie Collett Kimberli Collins OKCPS Employee

Lourdes Collins Ramona Collins Rita Compton Christen Conger Senia Contreras Betty Cooper Karolyn Corbett Kara Cordell Bradley Corn Mary Cornelius Marye Cory James Coursey Ashley Cox Jeanie Cox Mary Cox Karla Crager Connie Crawford Letia Crawford Dana Creger Maria Croce Patsy Crookshanks Karen Cross Christopher Cudjoe Patrick Cudjoe Janet Curren Alicia & Cedric Curren-Moore Henry Curtis Diane Darby Ycedra Daughty Betsy Davidson Martha Davidson Amanda Davis Jennifer Davis Tajuana Davis Shelly Deas Tamia Dixon DeBerry Paula J. Dedmon Jennifer Defee Matthew Denman Susie Dennis Freda Deskin Stephanie Devero Edward Dial James Dixon Allen Dobbs Pamela Dobbs Travis Doolin Lydia Dowdell Tracy Dowell Mariea Drain Linda Dudley Lonzetta Dukes Megan Dunks Silvia Duran James R. Durley Sandra Duty Sarah Dvoracek Donna Eagleston Annie Eastman Ruth Eckel Lindsey Edmondson Doris Edwards Sharon Elkins Claudya Elliott Jennifer Davis Elizabeth Ellis Michael Ellis Matthew Emde Sheila Ennis Robin Enright Victoria Errickson Rejeanna Eski Casey Estes Lisa Estes Harold Factory Janet Farmer

Melissa Farris Rebecca Feldman Collette Fenlason Catherine Ferguson Traci Ferguson Brenda Finney-Fenner Deanne Fisher Jeanne Fisher Carla Fitzgerald Kim Fitzgerald Judy P. Flatt Steven Fletcher Carmen Flores Mary Flores Jennie Fondren Carletta Ford Sheridan Fowler Martha Fraire Andre Francisco Shalanda Freeman Omaira Freites Ravone French Jennifer Frikken Susan Fulks Susan Fuller Sandra Futrell Crystal Gaines Ambra Gales Michael Gallmore Loretta Gallo Deneen Gambrell Christy Gammon Dianna Gann Jenna Garcia Janet Garrett Sherrie Gatlin Jessica Geeslin Maryanne Gentry Dana George Sharita Gibson Becky Gilbert Jenny Gilbert Stephanie Gilliam Connie Givens Kate Glasson Mary Glasson Wanda Glover Traci Goodwin Roberta Graham Anna Graven Carolyn Gray Casey Gray James Gray Rita Gray-Martin Loretta Grayson Genella Green Liesl Green Donna J. Greenberg Jason Grife Jeanne Griffin Monica Griffin Donna Griffith Jennifer Grizzle Ethel Grubbs Cynthia Grundy Kimberly Gunter-Sites April Gustafson Cheryl Halaoui Michelle Halbrook Derik Hale Lisa Hammons David & Traci Hampton Sharon Hardin Susan Hardy Brooks In memory of Bud Hardy (continued)

STARS OF GIVING

FRIENDS OF THE FOUNDATION Debra Harmon Robina Harmon Joseph R. Harrington Thomas Harrington Alison Harris Betty Harris Doris Harris James Harris Sherri Harris Keta Hartman-Pope Darlene Hawkins Juanita Hayes Tracy Hayes Shari Haygood Barbara Hayworth Cynthia Heckman Emily Hemphill Meredith Henderson Sharon Henderson Dusty Hendon Toni Henson Samantha Herbel James Herider Linda Herider Kay Herriott Brad Herzer Gary Heyd Luis Hidalgo Samantha Higgins Kelly Higham Senaqua Hildreth Kendra Hill G.J. Hill Jane Hill Douglas Hinkle Cami Hise Elizabeth Hise Jamie Hite Alice Hixenbaugh Nguyen Ho Suzanne Hobson David Hodgson Gary Hoeffken Don & Kay Holladay Linda Hollars Sarah Holloway Samantha Holman-Dowdy Lisa Holmes Marshade Holmes Madera Holstein Jackie Holt Crystal Hoogeveen Katherine Hoskins Barbara Houston Gale Howard Sheila Howell Claudia Hoyos Mauri Hubbard Lindsey Huberty Charleen Hudson Suzanne Hudson Donald G. Huff Homer Huff Kathy Hughes Kathy Hunt Sondra D. Hunter Marion Hutton Kathy Irion Suzy Ivarson Lynda Izevbingie Carol Jack Grizette Jackson Johnnie Jackson Sanford Jackson

STARS OF GIVING

Vera Jantz Barbara Jaramillo Shelly Jarvis Susan Jeffreys Brooke Jenkins Karon Jeter Lisa Jobe-Elkins Dana Johns Debbie Johnson Heather Johnson Joan Johnson LaNita Johnson Monta Johnson Portia Johnson Robert Johnson Sharon Johnson Sonia Johnson Carol Jones Carolyn Jones Connie Jones Curtis Jones David Jones Madeline Jones Pamela Jones Robert Jones Rochelle Jones Sue Ann Jones Alma Joseph Judi M. Joy Kendra Kavan Christine Keith Shelly Kelley Neal Kellogg Tommie Kelly Catherine Kendall Rachel Kennedy Tammy Ketch George Kimball Rhonda Kimmel Tom Kindinger Brenda King Jayna Kinsel Kath Kisselburg Dorothy Klein Tamara Knapp Karen Koch Montie Koehn Wannetta Kohl Lisa Kongs Winter Kozak Nicole Kramer Carol Ladd Rusty & Mandy LaForge Vicki Land Vince Larsen Alfreda Laskey Alexander Lau Kimberly Lavielle James Lawrence Paul Lawrence Vivian Le Ashley Leadford Amy Leazer Deanna Lee Sandra Lee Alesha & Brett Leemaster Rachael Lehman Angela Lewis Cameron Lewis Donnie Lewis Jennifer Lewis Thomas Lewis Elena Leyva Kathleen Lienke

Michele Lindley Rebecca Lindley Robin Lindsey Michael Lisenby Angela Lister Leslie Littejohn Franklin Little Melissa Little Susan Lodes Erin & Brett Logan Emily Longo Rachel Loop Juanita Lopez Sharon Love Cecilia Lozano Linda Luther Jennifer Lynch William Lynch Diane Mace Michelle Madde Janice Maddox Londa Madron Laneeta Malone Jeremy Malwick Donna Manley Michelle Manley Karen Mann Kay Manning Patricia Marable Delia Marand Cynthia Marigny Amy Martin Deanna Martin Dorcha Martin Eileen Martin Heather Martin Susan Martin Brenda Martindale Calley Martinez Juana Martinez Sandra Masopust Maryanne Matheson Mary Matheson Linda Mathieson Diane McBride Marilyn McCall Rebecca McCarter Susan McCauley Margy McClain Thelma McClain Annetta & Gene McCoy Lori McCoy Janel McCully Connie McCurtain Jessica McDannald Ashley McDonald Gene McDonald Stacey McFarland Susan McGowan Elaine McIlroy-Hargrove Teena McKeown Sarah McKim Donna McKinney Herbert McKinney Lynda McKinney Sandra McKinney-Lee Roxanne McKnight Shawna McLellan Laura McLeod John McMahan Marie McMahan Andrea McMillan Tammy McMillan Stacey McMillian

Eileen McRoy Kimberly Means Cathy Mears Emily Medders Geneva Meely Sheila Mejias-Shauers Nadean Melton Brandi Mercer Nicole Mercer Bevra Merritt Jay Merritt Linda Merriweather Richard Meza Julia Michel Patriciol Mick Laurisa Miller Max Miller Amu Minton Lynda Mobley Cristina Moershel Angelina Molina Ashley Montgomery Karen Montgomery Sarah Moody Charles Moore Devera Moore Jerry Moore Joshua Morgan Christie Morris Michael & Stacia Morrison Dana Morrow Shelley Morse Courtney Morton Yolanda Moseley Charles Mosley David Mosley Paul Mueller Armetta Murphy Kevin Myers Melissa Naron Scott Nation Deborah Neitzel Wendy Nelson Nathan Nero Jana Newsom Phuong Nguyen Tam Nguyen Thuc Nguyen Trien Nguyen Emily Nickell Karlita North Diane Nowakowski Dora Obuobisa Karen Ohlheiser Paul Olguin Nancy Organ Brianne Orkwis Ana Ortega Beth Ann Ortiz Elizabeth Pappano Lacy Pappano Joyce Parham Carolyn Parker Clifford Parrett Joby Patchen Katherine Patterson Michael Payne Carole Peery Elianne Perex Mickaela Perez Timothy Perkins Members of the Perry High School Class of 1958 In memory of Randal R. Khoury

FRIENDS OF THE FOUNDATION Doris Perry Donna Perry-Griffith Cole Perryman Deborah Petersen Karen Peters-Miller Cassie Petty Eric Pevehouse Andrew Pierce Randa & Cary Pirrong Michelle Platt Paula Pluess Stephanie Pollard Liliana Ponce Todd Potter Kelli Powelson Kimberly Powers Carrie Price Wanda Price Amy Proctor Dina Pullen Mardina Pullen Lisa Purcell Jane Putnam Krystal Ramsey Scott Randall Eric Randall Kelly Randle Mary Ray Ana Raygoza Katy Reagan LaQuincey Reed Philip Reid Steve Reid Willie Reid Cheri Reilly DeAnna Remy William Renshaw Tahereh ReyahyAsl Julie Reynolds Norva Reynolds Teresa Reynolds Shana Rhoades-Reed Donna Rice Karen Rich Bree Richardson Susan Richison Kristi Rickey Tina Rickner Toshia Riddle Molly Robbins Jonathan Roberts Karmon Roberts Deborah Robertson The Honorable Bana & Wilson Roberts Cedric Robinson Jennifer Robinson Jessica Robinson Kristie Rodriguez Lori Rodriguez Rosalba Rodriguez Stepheny Rogers Delia Roland Martha Roller Deborah Romain Alex Ronan Bianca Rose Bryanna Ross Sherry Rowan Donna Roy Chris Rushton Angel Russell Sharon Rysted Sherry Sahi

Samantha Sampson Brenda Sanders Kara Sanders Marta Sartin Tahira Saylors Chana Scantlin Kathleen Schmidt Patricia Schrader Rebecca Scott Connie Seaborn Penny Sederis Monica Seif Patricia Seitz Vasithy Sengdara Judith Shadix Laurie Shannon Lisa & Robert Shannon Leon Shaw Angela Sheehy Valerie Sheesley James & Lucy Shields Marla Shepherd Ginger Sherman Sherrie Shoemaker Janis Shue Cheryl Shults Becky Shultz Kelly Silvers Tessie Simmons Julieann Simms Karen Simpkins Carol Simpson Luella Skopak Gail Sloop Amber Smith Angela Smith Frances Smith Joveta Smith Ken Smith Lori Smith Margret Smith Rhoda Smith Tondaleria Smith John Smythe Paula Snyder Carol Sokatch Tom Spall Rhythm Spasic Katie Spencer Terry Spencer Sharon Stafford Tom Stanke Allison Stark Diana Steele Tonya Steele Irwin Steinhorn Karen Stephens Stacey Stevens Eva Stevenson Michelle Stevenson Veleasha Stewart Robyn Stickley Rashanda Stockard Stephanie Stockton Vickie Stover Lenard Street Joyce Stripling Barbara Stueve Aimee Stutzman Delores Styron Benjamin Swagerty Linda Swanson Tammy Swinney Paula Synder

Lynn Takahata Earla Tate Tammy Tauber Evgeniya Taylor Tanisha Taylor Tiffany Taylor Joey Teague Darlene Teh Ella Tharp James Thatcher Valerie The Barbara Thomas Connie Thomas Leslie Thomas Shawn Thomas Willie Thomas Ernest Thompson Henrietta Thompson Jock & Cindy Thompson Lisa Thompson Murrell P. Thompson Wanda Thompson Ronald Thorson Marsha Tidwell Shannon Tiger Lesla Tilley Ann Tinnin Tierney Tinnin Hai Tonthat Marta Torres Joshua Traynor Elizabeth Treadway Sheila Tripp Patricia Trotter Nancy Truelove Karla Trumbull Erin Trussell John Tsotigh Kylah Tucker-Fisk Jesse Turpin Tammy Twyman Deborah Ummel Amy Upchurch Clarissa Urbina Jo Vail Nancy VandeVerie Dierdre VanSwearingen Sharon Vaughan Narcesa Vaughn Igo Jill Vaught Terry Veal Jerry Venz Jennifer Vesper Jennifer Violette Dot Violette William Wade In support of the Craig R. Kennamer Legacy Fund Carolyn Wade Mark Waldrip Erika Walker Howard Walker Karen Walker Lena Walker Belinda Wall Carol Wamble Rochelle Ware Steven Warner Stephen Washam

Paula Washington Marjorie Waters Mary Watkins-Bradley Maria Watley Vicki Watson Susan DJ Watts-Bowker Janet Weaver Jason Webster Mary Weeter David Wehba Deborah Welch Misti Welch Rebecca Welch Kelly West Students of West Nichols Hills Elementary Jessica Wheeler Elizabeth Whitaker Marlene White Kristin Whitmore Robert Whitney Jon Whittington Valene Wiegman Cynthia Wiley Barbara Wilkins Donna Williams Lindsay Williams Melissa Williams Portia Williams Tina R.Williams Anika Wilson Ashley Wilson Chad Wilson Gloria Wilson Voncile Wilson Iris L. Wilson-Diaz Rhonda Wingate Tonya Wise Beverly Womack Petra Woodard Bianca Woods Vicki Woods Delynn Woodside D. Woody Debra Woody Darlene Woolery Teri Wooley Elizabeth Woolsey Jody Workman Janet Wright Shino Yeager Melissa Yearwood Celia R. Yen Dana Young Timothy Young Heather Zacarias Kimberly Zachery Marica Zangri Tracey Zeeck Misti Zerge Sheila Zoltowski

(continued) Board of Director/Foundation Staff

OKCPS Employee

STARS OF GIVING

FRIENDS OF THE FOUNDATION PASS-THROUGH GIFTS

I n recog n it ion of don o rs who have g ive n g ift s t o Ok l aho ma C it y Public S chool s utilizing The Foundation for a passthrough don ation .

American Fidelity Group Dr. Joy Reed Belt & the late John L. Belt Sam Blackstock Joe Borg Sarah Boyd Dr. John & Sharon Bozalis Henry Browne Steven Burris Bernest Cain Linda Clement Christopher & Holly Corbin Steve & Nikki Coshow Design Resources Devon Energy Corporation John Doddy Ana Dominguez Lecye Doolen Michael & Rosanne Dover Michael & Loutitia Eason Edgemere Park Preservation, Inc. Richard & Kay Floyd Nicolle Franklin Carolee Galbraith H.T. & Susan Gee David Hansen James Harrod Edward & Jessica Harroz III Nicole Henry Bondurant Phil & Marian Horning Inasmuch Foundation Robin Johnson Kevo Properties Kimray, Inc. Kirkpatrick Foundation, Inc. Linda Lambert D.C. & Beverly Laughead Kimberly Leonard Harrison & Elaine Levy, Sr. William & Nancy Majors, Jr. Robert & Carlita Manger Marguerite Mayabb The McLaughlin Family Foundation Robert & Charlotte Mitchell Dennis & Roberta Nauman Elizabeth Park-Capron Paseo Originals LLC Paul & Kelly Pearson Scott & Kendra Plafker Principal Technologies 88

STARS OF GIVING

Roger Quinn Brian & Kiley Raper Jason & Terri Roselius Councilwoman Meg Salyer Richard & Jeanette Sias Karl & Catherine Springer Richard & Nancy Stalcup Robert & Helen Sullivan Patti Tepper-Rasmussen The Honorable Ralph & Barbara Thompson Helen Thompson Uptown 23rd District Association Denise Waters Chuck Wells Jane Wheeler Pam Fountain-Wilkes & Brian Wilkes Jonathan & Misti Zerger

MAPS FOR KIDS ANNUAL GIVING FROM CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES

In rec o gn i ti o n o f c o m p a n i e s fu lfi lli n g m u lti - y ear c om m i tm en ts to Th e Fo u n dati on du ri n g the c on s tr u c ti on ph as e o f M A P S for Ki ds .

Albright Steel & Wire Company Anderson & House, Inc. Architectural Design Group Inc. Associated Glass Company Beck Associates Architects The Benham Companies, Inc. Bockus, Payne & Associates Architects The Boldt Company Cobb Architecture LLC/ Engineering Co. Commercial Carpet Contractors Connelly Paving Jim Cooley Construction, Inc. Dolese Brothers Company

E.V. Cox Construction Company Elliott + Associates Architects Mark Eudaley Structural Engineers, Inc. Fox Building Supply Frankfurt-Short-Bruza Associates, P.C. Globe Construction Co. C.H. Guernsey & Company Harrison-Orr Air Conditioning LLC Howard-Fairbairn Site Design, Inc. J.L. Walker Construction Jividen & Company, P.L.L.C. Lippert Brothers, Inc. LWPB Architects & Planners, P.C. MBK Architects/Planners, PC Metheny Concrete Products, Inc. MA+ Architecture LLC HSE Architects Nashert Constructors, Inc. Osborne Electric Company PowerSmith Cogeneration Project, LP PSA Consulting Engineers The Small Group, LLC Smith & Pickel Construction, Inc. Smith, Roberts & Baldischwiler, LLC Southwestern Roofing & Metal Standard Roofing Co., Inc. Triad Design Group, Inc. Ron Ward Investments Zahl-Ford, Inc.

Board of Director/Foundation Staff

A MESSAGE TO OUR DONORS To more effectively serve our teachers and students, The Foundation recently transitioned to a new database. We have made every effort to verify and recognize all calendar year 2012 gifts and pledges. If you identify an error or wish to be recognized differently, please kindly bring it to our attention so we may update your record. Contact Lisa Reed, Deputy Director, at lisa@okckids. com or call 405.879.2007.

OKCPS Employee