About Tulsa Public Schools
Our students lead through literacy, are empowered through experience, and contribute to their community.
Our Students
Student demographics
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36% Multilingual learners*
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13% students with disabilities
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11% gifted and talented
Student Race/ethnicity
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37% Hispanic/Latinx
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23% Black
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22% white
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11% multiracial
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5% American Indian or Alaska Native
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2% Asian/Pacific islander
As of Oct. 2022
*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
Deborah A. Gist
Superintendent
gistde@tulsaschools.org
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Joined Team Tulsa - July 2015
I joined Team Tulsa because being a part of Tulsa Public Schools combines the things I love most—children, family, teachers, education, Tulsans, hard work, and opportunities to make a difference.
Experience: I have worked in public education for more than 30 years at the school, district, and state levels. I started my career as an elementary school teacher in Texas, designed and implemented a literacy program at 108 schools in Florida, and served as a senior policy analyst for the U.S. Department of Education. I was also the first state superintendent of education for the District of Columbia; overseeing early childhood, elementary, secondary, adult, and higher education. Before coming back home to Tulsa, I served as education commissioner for the State of Rhode Island.
Education: B.S. early childhood education, University of Oklahoma; M.A. elementary education and curriculum, University of South Florida; M.P.A., Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government; Ed.D., University of Pennsylvania
Favorite Teacher: I've had many wonderful teachers including Mrs. White at Carnegie Elementary, Mr. Wiley at Grimes Elementary, Mrs. Gaddis (now Representative Gaddis) from Memorial High School, Mrs. Ratliff and Mrs. Trotter at Nimitz Junior High School.
Favorite place in Tulsa: Other than being in any classroom with teachers and students, I honestly love just being at home with family or together at Harvard Avenue Christian Church. I also adore our museums, parks, libraries and restaurants. Tulsa is so full of great things to do that it would be hard to choose just one!
Click here to visit the Superintendent's page
Paula Shannon
Deputy Superintendent
shannpa@tulsaschools.org
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Joined Team Tulsa - July 2015
In doing research on Tulsa, it was clear that there was something special underway in the city—and that Tulsans care a great deal about education. Tulsa captured my heart, and I'm committed to leading alongside many dedicated educators and staff to ensure that each young Tulsan is able to realize their full potential.
Experience: My career in education started as a Teach for America corps member in Houston, TX. Over the last 20 years, I’ve worked for Providence Public Schools, Syracuse City School District, and Achievement First serving as a teacher, literacy coach, curriculum director, and chief academic officer. I came to Tulsa as the district’s chief of staff in 2015 and took on the role of deputy superintendent in 2016.
Education: B.A., University of Notre Dame; M.Ed., Lesley University; M.A., University of Rhode Island
Favorite Teacher: Christophe Kougniazonde at Notre Dame challenged my thinking early in my post-secondary career. As I became a teacher, I realized the gift that Christophe gave to me—a deep belief in the power of transformative relationships and the role that we can play in creating connectedness and helping young people make meaning of the world around them.
Favorite place in Tulsa: I'm less into places and more into experiences. A current favorite is mountain biking in Turkey Mountain followed by a coffee at Double Shot or Hodges Bend.
ANDREA CASTAÑEDA
chief talent and equity officer
castaan@tulsaschools.org
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Joined Team Tulsa - July 2017
Team Tulsa is a place where I believe I make a difference for schools and children and the City of Tulsa is a place that my family can call home. I believe that schools are, first and foremost, part of the fabric of a city; I wanted to join a school district that shares that belief.
Experience: I am fortunate to have spent my 15-year career in public education serving students, teachers, and families at the school, district, and state levels.
Education: B.A., Brown University; Ed.M., Harvard University
Leader for: Design and Innovation Lab
Favorite Teacher: My favorite teacher was Danny Duncan, my high school track coach. Danny expected more of us than we expected from ourselves, and we never wanted to disappoint him by failing to reach his high standards.
Favorite place in Tulsa: Being new to Tulsa means constantly making new discoveries. Currently topping my list is Turkey Mountain (because it feels like I am on a hike but still in the city), Las Americas grocery store (because it feels like we are in Mexico) and the Boston Avenue Methodist Church (where I like to park and admire the deco details).
Kathy Dodd
CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER
doddka@tulsaschools.org
Joe Jennings
Chief Information and Analytics Officer
jennijo@tulsaschools.org
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Joined Team Tulsa - 1991
I joined team Tulsa right after my education at NSU. My first job was as a budget accountant and was hired by Tulsa Public Schools and longtime Union CFO Debbie Jacoby. Talk about having a great first boss.
Education: B.S., Oklahoma State University; M.B.A., Northeastern State University.
Leader for: Data, analytics, and IT
Favorite Teacher: Memorial High School history teacher Mr. Travis Henderson, hands down. I remember he always referred to us as scholars and told us those who failed to learn the lessons of history were doomed to repeat them, or some variation. His approach to history was hands on and we had to team build and present our projects in class. Think STEM in the early 80s! Interesting turn of events, I was fortunate enough to be able to support his career throughout my various roles within the district.
Favorite place in Tulsa: As a lifelong Tulsan, except 4 years in Stillwater, there is a special place in my heart for Bell's Amusement Park. Now that Tulsa has so many awesome places that families can go explore and enjoy, it is hard to choose. However, right now it is the backyard, grilling with family and friends and trying to keep up with the grandkids.
Ebony Johnson
Chief Learning Officer
johnseb@tulsaschools.org
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Joined Team Tulsa - October 2005
Experience: Dr. Johnson recently served as our executive director of student and family support services, and has served as a teacher, teacher coach, dean/assistant principal, and principal in her 20-year career in public education. Her time in Tulsa Public Schools includes serving as school leader at Academy Central Elementary School, McLain High School, and Central High School.
Education: Dr. Johnson is a proud McLain graduate and holds a BA and an MA in Education from Northeastern State University and an Ed.D. from the University of Oklahoma.
Leader for: Teaching and learning, educator effectiveness, professional learning, personalized learning, language and cultural services, exceptional student services.
Jana Burk
General Counsel
burkja@tulsaschools.org
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Joined Team Tulsa - Spring 2011
I wanted challenging work on a high-performing team that improves outcomes for children and families.
Experience: Prior to my current position, my most recent Tulsa Public Schools experience involved leading the design of our district strategic plan and co-developing our teacher evaluation system with the district's teachers. Before working at TPS, I spent many years as a school law attorney, and though I taught middle school for only a brief period of time, it is one of my career highlights.
Education: B.A., Plan I, at University of Texas, Austin; J.D. at University of Texas, Austin
Leader for: Legal
Favorite Teacher: My global economic geography teacher at UT Austin. He opened my world and changed my life course by introducing me to a field of study that connects economics, demography, culture, sociology, environment and location.
Favorite place in Tulsa: The renovated Tulsa City/County Library - it's beautiful, it's a place for everyone, and the possibilities are endless.
Jorge Robles
Chief Finance and operations officer
roblejo@tulsaschools.org
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Joined Team Tulsa - May 2018
I joined Team Tulsa for the opportunity to work with an amazing team of talented and committed professionals on realizing a vision of providing a positive, safe, healthy and engaging daily educational experience for every student, for every educator and for our community in the city of Tulsa.
Experience: I join Tulsa Public Schools after five years in Denver Public Schools where I led the district’s English language acquisition department and the bilingual and newcomer programs serving approximately 38,000 students whose native language was not English. Before moving into public education, I spent 15 years in the private sector working in financial services, marketing and business development.
Education: Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile (Agriculture Engineering), M.B.A., University of Texas, Austin; M.Ed., The Broad Center
Favorite Teacher: My American history teacher Dr. Morrison in high school taught me the value of learning history to understand the present and shape the future.
Favorite place in Tulsa: Riverparks trail and the Midland Valley trail. I also really like the lakes around Tulsa.
By the Numbers
Our 5,520 Team Members*
Racial/Ethnic
Distribution of Our Team*
- 26% Black
- 5% American Indian or Alaska Native
- 2% Asian/Pacific Islander
- 11% Hispanic/Latinx
- 56% White
*As of October 18, 2021
3rd Largest Employer
in the Tulsa Area**
**According to the most recent (2020) Comprehensive Annual Financial Report from Tulsa County
Board of Education
- Stacey Woolley (President), District 1
- Diamond Marshall, District 2
- Jennettie Marshall, District 3
- E'Lena Ashley, District 4
- John Croisant (Vice President), District 5
- Jerry Griffin, District 6
- Susan Lamkin, District 7
Click here for more information about the Board of Education.
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.
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