About Tulsa Public Schools
Our students lead through literacy, are empowered through experience, and contribute to their community.
Our Students
Student demographics
-
36% Multilingual learners*
-
13% students with disabilities
-
13% gifted and talented
Student Race/ethnicity
-
38% Hispanic/Latinx
-
22% Black
-
21% white
-
11% multiracial
-
4% American Indian or Alaska Native
-
3% Asian/Pacific islander
As of Oct. 2023
*Represents both current and former multilingual learners
Our Schools
Tulsa Public Schools is a district on the move! We have academic programs that meet the needs of all learners, and we welcome you and your child to join the Tulsa family by enrolling today.
Our Team
Team Tulsa is "all in" to ensure that every student has access to exceptional learning experiences. If you are interested in making a difference in the life of a child, we encourage you to learn more about available positions on our team.
Leadership Team
Dr. Ebony Johnson
Superintendent
johnseb@tulsaschools.org
Click here to visit the superintendent's page
Kathy Dodd
Deputy Superintendent
doddka@tulsaschools.org
Read more
Dr. Kathy Dodd joined Tulsa Public Schools in January 2023 as the district's Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer, leading the district's efforts to utilize a student outcome focused governance model to improve student achievement. In May 2024, Dr. Dodd was named Deputy Superintendent, providing leadership to the district's 71 schools as well as the school leadership, school operations, organizational learning, athletics, and family, community, and youth partnership departments.
Prior to coming to the district, Dr. Dodd served as Chief Innovation Officer and Deputy Superintendent for the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE). In that role, she oversaw the Offices of Innovation, Federal Programs, Health and Wellness, Safety and Security, and Family Engagement to provide critical post-pandemic support to the state's 540 school districts.
Dr. Dodd has also served as the Regional Vice President for Project Lead The Way (PLTW), a national STEM education non-profit, as well as the Associate Superintendent of Union Public Schools in Tulsa, OK. In addition to being a teacher, state science specialist, district curriculum director, and data/assessment administrator, she is the co-author of two curricula from the Oklahoma Energy Resources Board (OERB), Fossils to Fuel and PetroActive, designed to teach the science behind Oklahoma’s oil and gas industry.
Dr. Dodd holds a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Oklahoma State University as well as a master's degree in educational administration and a Ph.D. in educational foundations from the University of Oklahoma.
Tasha Johnson
chief of staff
johnsta@tulsaschools.org
Read More
Tasha Johnson serves as the Chief of Staff for Tulsa Public Schools. She was appointed to the role in 2024 after most recently serving as Executive Director of Talent Management.
As a Tulsa native and a proud graduate of Booker T. Washington High School, Johnson began her career in Tulsa Public Schools in 1999 as a fifth grade teacher at Hawthorne Elementary, where she was known for fostering academic excellence, personal growth, and critical thinking in students. After several years, she joined the staff of Thoreau Demonstration Academy as a sixth grade teacher. While at Thoreau, she designed and implemented innovative curriculum strategies, integrated technology into the classroom, and continuously adapted teaching methods to meet the diverse needs of learners. Additionally, she was named the Professional Development Chair for Thoreau and was responsible for developing and facilitating staff learning opportunities.
In 2007, Johnson moved from the classroom into school leadership as an elementary school principal. Serving at Andrew Jackson (now known as Unity Learning Academy), Sam Houston (now known as John Hope Franklin), and Gilcrease Elementary Schools, she led diverse communities of students, teachers, and staff with a commitment to academic excellence, student well-being, and continuous improvement. Throughout her tenure as a school leader, Johnson fostered an environment of high accountability.
After more than a decade in school leadership, Johnson joined the district's Talent Management team. Over the course of five years, she served as a strategist and director, eventually being named executive director. In each role, Johnson was committed to ensuring that all 5,000+ members of Team Tulsa had the human resources support needed for their most important role: providing quality services for the students they serve.
Johnson received her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Northeastern State University and her master’s degree in Educational Administration, Curriculum, and Supervision from the University of Oklahoma. She is an active member of her community, and continues to work toward ensuring that students and teachers have the skills needed to become their own agents of change.
Joe Jennings
Chief Information and Operations Officer
jennijo@tulsaschools.org
Read More
Joe Jennings serves as Chief of Operations and Chief Information Officer for Tulsa Public Schools. He oversees multiple critical areas including campus police, child nutrition, maintenance, risk management, transportation, and the bond office, in addition to the information technology department.
Jennings began his career with Tulsa Public Schools in the finance department as a Budget Staff Accountant in 1991. He spent nine years in the finance department, ultimately serving as assistant treasurer for the district. Following that role, Jennings went on to serve as Director of Initiatives Management for the information technology department. For the next two decades, he led key technology initiatives and bond projects, such as overseeing student information systems and implementing an enterprise resource management system. Additionally, he led the district’s transition to using Chromebooks and interactive panels in classrooms.
In 2020, he assumed the role of Chief Information Officer (CIO). With four years of service as CIO, Jennings was asked to add the role of Chief of Operations to his responsibilities leading the information technology work. Today he leads a diverse group of district teams and initiatives in the dual role.
A lifelong Tulsan, Jennings attended Carnegie and Stevenson elementary schools; Byrd Junior High; and Memorial High School. He is a graduate of Oklahoma State University and Northeastern State University. His wife and children are all graduates of the district, and his grandson currently attends Tulsa Public Schools. He serves on numerous boards, both locally and nationally.
Sean berkstresser
Chief of Strategy and Innovation
berksse@tulsaschools.org
Read More
Sean Berkstresser is the Chief Strategy Officer for Tulsa Public Schools, where he oversees the monitoring and execution of strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing district performance and student outcomes. He was appointed to the role in 2024.
Berkstresser leads a team dedicated to continuous improvement, data-driven decision-making, strategic planning, and charter school authorization. In this role, he aligns organizational strategy with district goals and collaborates closely with senior leadership and cross-functional teams. Berkstresser drives major district-wide initiatives and supports the implementation of new programs designed to drive improved outcomes for students.
Sean started out his educational career as a Tulsa Public Schools high school teacher, and for over a decade he has held a variety of data and strategic planning roles for the district.
He holds an MBA from the University of Tulsa and a bachelor's degree from Texas A&M University.
Erin Armstrong
chief learning officer
armster@tulsaschools.org
Read More
Erin Armstrong has been a familiar face in Tulsa Public Schools. Starting in 2004, Armstrong began her career as a teacher in Broken Arrow before joining Team Tulsa and serving as a teacher, literacy coach, and school leader.
Armstrong has served as a district leader for a decade in Tulsa. As the Director of Assessment, she co-led the work of the Tulsa Curriculum & Assessment Alignment Group, reviewing current assessment practices and developing a comprehensive assessment system for the district. In addition, her department managed kindergarten through 3rd grade reading requirements, graduation progress monitoring, and district and state assessment training and compliance.
Prior to being named Chief Learning Officer in 2024, Armstrong served as the Executive Director of Teaching and Learning, overseeing the secondary content managers, instructional resources, library services, fine arts, and data-driven instruction. As the Chief Learning Officer, she leads the teaching and learning, language and cultural services, special education, gifted and talented, and student and family support services teams.
Armstrong holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master's in educational leadership from Oklahoma State University. She completed the requirements for Oklahoma superintendent certification through the University of Oklahoma.
Dr. Kimberly Dyce
chief talent officer
dyceki@tulsaschools.org
Read More
Dr. Kimberly Dyce serves as the Chief Talent Officer for Tulsa Public Schools. Named to the role in 2024, she leads the team in managing all aspects of talent management, including recruitment, retention, employee development, compensation, benefits, performance management, employee relations, and compliance with labor laws. Her focus is on building a solid workforce aligned with the strategic goal of providing a high-quality educational experience for all students.
Dr. Dyce began her educational journey in 1990, teaching grades 6 through 12 in the Rochester City School District in Rochester, New York. In 1996, she transitioned to administration as a House Administrator. Seven years later, she became the principal of Benjamin Franklin Educational Campus, where she spearheaded the implementation of three small learning communities (BioScience, International Finance, Global Media Arts) and a Montessori elementary school. These theme-based communities inspired creativity and commitment to providing diverse educational opportunities to students.
In 2013, Dr. Dyce moved to Oklahoma to serve as Deputy Superintendent for Tulsa Public Schools. In that role, she oversaw the implementation of the superintendent’s new instructional leadership model and led a dynamic team that set academic goals and objectives for schools districtwide.
Following her first role with Tulsa Public Schools, Dr. Dyce was named as the Deputy Superintendent for Muskogee Public Schools, a role she held until returning to TPS in 2024. While in Muskogee, she oversaw district-wide strategic initiatives, talent management, principal supervision, K-12 instruction, special education services, district-wide professional development, community relations, and parental engagement. As a district leader, she was committed to supporting and growing principals, challenging them to innovate and create high-performing learning communities that served the needs of all students.
Dr. Dyce received a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Rochester in 1991, followed by a second Master's Degree in Administration from the same institution in 1997. She earned her Doctorate in Educational Administration in 2005. Today, she lives with her family in the Tulsa area.
Stephanie Gentry
acting General Counsel
gentrst@tulsaschools.org
Read More
Stephanie Gentry serves as acting general counsel for the district.
Gentry brings to the role many years of experience as a practicing attorney. She has been a member of Team Tulsa since 2018, when she joined the district as part of the talent management as the Director of Compliance & Employment Law. Prior to joining Tulsa Public Schools, she was an associate at Hall Estill for more than two decades.
Gentry is a graduate of the University of Arizona, where she earned both her bachelor’s degree and Juris Doctor. She serves on the board of The Tristesse Grief Center and lives in Tulsa with her family.
Donald Lewis
Acting Chief of Police
lewisdo1@tulsaschools.org
Read More
Donald Lewis was appointed to serve as the Acting Chief of Tulsa Public Schools Campus Police in December of 2023. Prior to taking the role, he had served in the campus police department for five years as an officer and a Major.
Before joining the school district, Lewis worked for the Kiefer Police Department. While in Kiefer, he ascended through the ranks from patrol officer to eventually being promoted to Assistant Chief of Police.
Lewis began his career in civil emergency response as a firefighter with the Jenks Fire Department, where he served as a firefighter and emergency medical technician for six years.
Acting Chief Lewis is well steeped in public service, as his father served in the Jenks Police Department, retiring as Chief of Police in 2004. His mother worked in the Glenpool Public School system as a teacher and a school administrator.
By the Numbers
Board of Education
President Stacey Woolley (District 1)
Calvin Moniz (District 2)
Jennettie Marshall (District 3)
E'Lena Ashley (District 4)
John Croisant (Vice President) (District 5)
Sarah Smith (District 6)
Susan Lamkin (District 7)
More about our board
Our Strategic Plan
Pathways to Opportunity is the culmination of many candid community conversations, insights and suggestions from every corner of our city, and the very best thinking of our system’s educators, school leaders, support professionals, parents, students, partners, and advocates. Click here to learn more.
Mission and Vision
Our Core Values
Equity
We know that our diversity is a community treasure, and we are committed to dismantling practices and systems that perpetuate inequities, being actively anti-bias, anti-racist, and working toward justice and opportunity for all.
Character
We are honest, trustworthy, and have high standards of behavior. We make decisions based on what our students and community need, and we do the right thing even when it is hard.
Excellence
We work together to give Tulsa the world-class schools it needs and deserves. We expect a lot of one another, and we support one another in achieving our shared, high expectations.
Team
We care for one another and work together to celebrate success, learn from struggles, and work to help every team member be their best selves.
Joy
Joy at school and at work makes us more productive, because when we create, innovate, and imagine, our motivation grows. Also, we love to have fun!
Our Beliefs
Our Students Can
Every child can learn. Every child has talent. Every child has value. To succeed in a competitive world and to serve as the next generation of leaders, students must engage in their education, own their learning, and feel accepted and supported in our schools.
Our Teachers Make it Happen
Extraordinary teachers are the heart of successful schools, and they deserve working conditions and environments that promote educator professional growth and fulfillment. We must foster learning communities where teachers can continually hone their craft and content knowledge to design engaging learning experiences that meet the needs of every child.
Our Principals are Key
Principals’ responsibilities are strategic, vast, and intense. As leaders, they must be visible, hire the right staff, cultivate talent, build relationships with families and communities, foster positive and safe school cultures, and ensure results. We must support principals’ growth as instructional leaders who strengthen the quality of teaching and learning in all classrooms.
Our District is "All In"
Effective teams collaborate and continually assess and improve their service to schools. This means our employees and board must work together, reflect, adjust, think ahead, and innovate in service of powerful teaching and learning.
Our Community is Essential
High quality schools are vital to the health of our community. Our children and schools need all of us—educators, families, and community partners. We must engage our families and all of Tulsa by embracing transparency, holding ourselves accountable to high standards, proactively communicating, and working as a team toward the success of every student.
Our Progress
We will provide monthly updates during meetings of our Board of Education. Those monthly reports will be posted here.
This is the top hero image that will appear in the header of the live version of this page
District News