From left to right: Kristin Shelby, Joe Williams and Dr. Linda Dzialo
 

Dozens of schools from across Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas were recognized as “model schools” during a celebration sponsored by the Great Expectations professional school transformation program at the University of Central Oklahoma.

 

Great Expectations has trained over 38,000 teachers since it was founded in 1991. It’s estimated that 200,000 children are taught using the program’s methodology, which stresses a learning climate based on mutual respect between student and teacher, improved student self-esteem and a belief that all students can learn. Key components include a positive attitude by educators, empowering them to inspire and enable students to achieve success.

 

Representatives from 85 schools were present for the celebration, which included remarks from Kristin Shelby, the current Oklahoma Teacher of the Year. Each school received a flag to fly at their site, and a plaque noting its designation as a “model school.”

 

Earning this status is not easy. At least 90 percent of the school’s faculty must undergo training at a Great Expectations summer institute, then all of those teachers must implement the program’s key practices in the classroom. Schools must prepare an implementation plan for becoming a model school, then faculty must be observed at work by trained GE experts.

 

Even with the stringent requirements, implementation of the program’s methodology is growing in the region. This year’s list of 85 is up from 71 schools a year ago.

 

“Our program represents an approach to learning that empowers teachers to expect and to get the best from students.” said Dr. Linda Dzialo, president and CEO of Great Expectations. “It rekindles the excitement of discovery among students and teachers, and it pushes everyone involved to greater achievement. Current research validates that with full implementation of Great Expectations, academic performance and attendance increase, while discipline referrals dramatically decrease.”

 

The Oklahoma City Public Schools is among those adopting Great Expectations. The program has been implemented at 55 of its elementary schools – and nine of them have achieved model school status.

 

“The results are amazing,” said Superintendent Karl Springer. “We have increased language and math scores and seen a significant decrease in long-term suspensions. I believe that careful implementation of Great Expectations will have a significant impact on our school system.”

 

GE Model Schools

District	School	Principal
Altus	Washington Elementary	Renee Long
Ardmore	Lincoln Elementary	Ellen Patty
Ardmore	Will Rogers Elementary	Cynthia Hunter
Bartlesville	Woodrow Wilson	Tammie Krause
Bartlesville	Jane Phillips	Sandra Kent
Broken Arrow	Country Lane Intermediate	Sue Katterhenry
Broken Arrow	Country Lane PK-2	Jamie Milligan
Broken Arrow	Arrowhead Elementary	Courtney Elias
Broken Arrow	Liberty Elementary	Karyne Gates
Cache	Middle School	Debbie Hoffman
Cache	Primary	Jean Langley
Cashion	Elementary	Lisa Crosslin
Chickasha	Bill Wallace Elementary	Thomas Jeffries
Chickasha	Grand Avenue Elementary	Kathy Wenzel
Chickasha	Lincoln Elementary	Debra Warden
Chickasha	Southwest Elementary	Tressia Meeks
Choctaw	Indian Meridian Elementary	Karri Doughty
Choctaw	LW Westfall Elementary	Brenda Stanley
Choctaw	Nicoma Park Elementary	Dorothy Shetley
Claremore	Roosa Elementary	Glen Abshere
Coweta	Heritage IGC	Carolyn Rowe
Coweta	Mission IGC	Tim Brandt
Deer Creek	Grove Valley Elementary	Debbie Straughn
Edmond	Washington Irving Elementary	Robert Evans
Edmond	West Field Elementary	Cara Jernigan
El Reno	Rose Witcher	Julie Huber
El Reno	Roblyer Middle School	Jason Pennington
El Reno	Webster Elementary	Mendy Klepper
El Reno	Hillcrest Elementary	Jenifer Posey
Enid	Hayes Elementary	Jane Johnson
Grove	Elementary	Sheryl Payne
Healdton	Elementary	Jason Midkiff
Holdenville	Ethel Reed Elementary	Angela Streater
Hydro-Eakly	Elementary	Paula Horn
Idabel	Southeast	Connie Lynch
Kansas	Chetopa Elementary	Kelly Nading
Lawton	MacArthur MS	Mark Mattingly
Lawton	Whittier Elementary	Brenda Hatch
Lawton	Woodland Hills Elementary	Cheryl Scammahorn
Lone Grove	Intermediate	Meri Jayne Miller
Lone Grove	Primary	Tonya Finnerty
Mid-Del	Highland Park Elementary	Donna Cloud
Museum	Chisholm Trail Heritage Center	Leah Mulkey
Mustang	Centennial Elementary	Neil Womack
Mustang	Creek Elementary	Meggan Wilson
Mustang	Lakehoma Elementary	Shawna Carter
Mustang	Trails Elementary	Sondra Bivens
North Rock Creek	Elementary	Denise Sims
Oklahoma City	Nichols Hills Elementary	Carol Berry
Oklahoma City	Mark Twain Elementary	Sandy Phillips
Oklahoma City	Adams Elementary	Dot Violett
Oklahoma City	Cleveland Elementary	Marsha Stafford
Oklahoma City	Monroe Elementary	Angee Allen
Oklahoma City	Quail Creek Elementary	Jan Matthews
Oklahoma City	Ridgeview Elementary	Natalie Johnson
Oklahoma City	Sequoyah Elementary	Montie Koehn
Oklahoma City	Van Buren Elementary	Veleasha Stewart
Owasso	Barnes Elementary	David Riggs
Owasso	Mills Elementary	Brenda Casey
Owasso	Bailey Elementary	Ashley Hearn
Pauls Valley	Jackson Elementary	Mitzi Winters
Pauls Valley	Jefferson Early Learning Center	Jeanie Menefee
Pioneer	Elementary	Jay Edelen
Plainview	Intermediate	Juile Altom
Plainview	Primary	Lisa Moore
Ponca City	Roosevelt Elementary	Ronda Merrifield
Private	Ponca City Christian Academy	Sheryl Murray
Private	Oak Hall Episcopal School	Laura Gallagher
Putnam City	James L. Dennis Elementary	Ashely Hoggatt
Sand Springs	Limestone Technology Academy	Kristin Arnold
Sapulpa	Freedom Elementary	Nancy Turlington
Sapulpa	Holmes Park Elementary	Bobby Alfred
Stillwater	Richmond Elementary	Darren Nelson
Stratford	Elementary	Kathie Carter
Tahlequah	Cherokee Elementary	Lacie Davenport
Tahlequah	Greenwood Elementary	Susan VanZant
Tahlequah	Sequoyah Elementary	Marissa McCoy
Texas	Spring Northgate Crossing Elem	Debbie McIver
Texas	Hill School of Grapevine	Kathy Edwards
Texas	Spring McNabb Elementary	Pam Dettwiler
Turner	Elementary	Jamie Roberts
Wetumka	Elementary	Amy Kent
Wilson	Elementary	Denise Brunk
Yukon	Central Elementary	Robin Russell
Yukon	Skyview Elementary	Carla Smith