OKCPS recognizes EmbraceOKC Champions

EmbraceOKC Champions - Elementary schools

Oklahoma City Public Schools (OKCPS) is celebrating this year's EmbraceOKC Champions. These leaders stood out for their dedication and contribution to the mental health needs of OKCPS families and students. 

EmbraceOKC is a comprehensive approach to providing a school-based system of support for OKCPS students and families that involves community partnerships, high-quality tiered academic, behavioral strategies, and mental health services that range from prevention to treatment.

The OKC Public Schools Compact is a collective impact model whose partners are the Oklahoma City Public Schools, the Oklahoma City Chamber, the Oklahoma City Public Schools Foundation, the United Way of Central Oklahoma, and the City of Oklahoma City to support improvements identified by the Oklahoma City Public Schools. OKCPS worked with our partner at the state level, the Oklahoma State Department of Mental Health, to administer the Oklahoma Prevention Needs Assessment (OPNA) survey to more than 7,000 of our students in 6th, 8th, 10th and 12th grades. 

“Thank you to our Compact partners for their role in making sure we can regularly assess the needs of our students using the OPNA survey,” said Jason Brown, OKCPS Deputy Superintendent. “The survey results gave us the data we needed to create a comprehensive, district-wide mental health action plan to address some of the unique challenges that OKCPS students and families experience. We are now better prepared to promote better mental health and we are excited to recognize leaders who helped implement and prioritize these findings in their schools.”

“The following individuals were nominated because they have embraced mental health as preventable and treatable, protected children’s mental health and helped ensure that their school is a sanctuary of safety and support,” said OKCPS Director of Mental Health, Armisha Harrison. “I would like to say ‘thank you’ to our Champions for embracing these tools to make OKCPS an emotionally safe community.”

Embrace OKC Champions - High Schools

HIGH SCHOOLS

Capitol Hill High School

Tasha McLellan - Counselor

Classen SAS at Northeast

Jocelyn Trager - Counselor

Douglass High School

Kevin Jones - Principal

Emerson North High School

Zachary Gleason - Teacher

Emerson South Mid-High School

Samantha Eggleston - Teacher

John Marshall Enterprise High School

Michelle Reece - Counselor

Northwest Classen High School

Claudia Rivas-Taylor - Counselor

Southeast High School

Maya Johnson - Band Director

Star Spencer Mid-High School

David Mosely - Teacher

US Grant High School

Stormy Griffith - Coach and Teacher

EmbraceOKC Champions - Middle Schools

MIDDLE SCHOOLS

Belle Isle Enterprise Middle School  (Grades 5-6) 

Sally Berry - Principal

Belle Isle Enterprise Middle School  (Grades 7-8) 

Brandon Bennett - Teacher

Classen SAS Middle School

Sarah Moore - Teacher

Capitol Hill Middle School

Laniesa Williams - Counselor

Jefferson Middle School

Katie Brown - Assistant Principal

John Marshall Enterprise Middle School

Geri Hemphill - Assistant Principal

Mary Golda Ross Middle School

Sergio Arandas - Teacher

Roosevelt Middle School

Christine Hays - Teacher

Southeast Middle School

Katherine Brooks - Teacher

Taft Middle School

Kim Landers - Principal

Webster Middle School

Sara Oudsi - Counselor

Wheeler Middle School 

Deserae Jackson - Principal

 

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

Adams Elementary School 

Pam Miller - Counselor

Adelaide Lee Elementary School 

Amber Stephens - Counselor

Arthur Elementary School 

Candace Vaenedoe - Counselor

Bodine Elementary School 

Meondrial Lewis - Paraprofessional

Britton Elementary School 

Heather Reinschmeidt - Counselor

Cesar Chavez Elementary School 

Jackie Staggs - Assistant Principal Intern

Coolidge Elementary School 

Tracie Layman - Counselor

Esperanza Elementary School 

Theresa Blanchard - Counselor

Eugene Field Elementary School

John Roberts - Counselor

Fillmore Elementary School 

Nancy Ross - Counselor

Hayes Elementary School 

Ladonna Martin - Counselor

Heronville Elementary School 

Jill Carson - Counselor

Hillcrest Elementary School 

Aubrey Moyer - Reading Specialist

Martin Luther King Elementary School 

Jessica Johnson - Assistant Principal

Monroe Elementary School 

Malisa Hepner - Counselor

Nichols Hills Elementary School 

Angela Oliver - Counselor

Thelma Parks Elementary School 

Jonelle Polk - Assistant Principal

Prairie Queen Elementary School 

Kadessa Upchurch - Teacher

Quail Creek Elementary School 

Michelle Harrison - Family Advocate

Ridgeview Elementary School 

Sena Sweat - Counselor

Rockwood Elementary School 

Susan White - Counselor

Rogers Elementary School (Grades 4-6)

Martin Rivers - Counselor

Shidler Elementary School 

Armondo Ayala - Principal

Southern Hills Elementary School 

Erin Thompson - Teacher

Spencer Elementary School (Grades 2-3)

Antonie Gilliam - Paraprofessional

Van Buren Elementary School 

Cormiere Bishop - Counselor

Willow Brook Elementary School 

Nadiriah Burris - Counselor

Wilson Elementary School 

Lee Acres - Counselor