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BOARD ACTIONS The Board approved the following agenda items: Recommendation of employment of new personnel and reassignments
Motion regarding renewal of employment for Certified Teachers as listed on Attachment C for the 2026-2027 school year. Motion regarding Contract with archSCAN LLC for PDF remediation to help ensure the District website meets Federal ADA accessibility requirements. Motion regarding Agreement with Angela May, d/b/a Kairos Kaoching, for Professional Development on Transforming Instruction through Neuro-Pedagogy. Motion regarding Quarterly District Transfer Capacities for the 2025-2026 school year. Motion regarding the revised 2026-2027 District School Calendar. Motion regarding Summer School and Extended Year Programs for the 2025-2026 school year. Motion regarding revisions of District Policy BB – District Property and Facilities.
Motion regarding revisions of District Policy CF – Travel and Expense Reimbursement. Motion for the Board to consider and take action on a resolution determining the maturities of, and setting a date, time and place for the sale of the $32,000,000 General Obligation Combined Purpose Bonds of this School District, and designating bond counsel for this issuance of bonds.
For a full list of Board meeting items and attachments, please view the full agenda on our website. |
| Welcome Dr. Kenny Rodrequez, 25th Superintendent of Schools |
Today, during a Special Meeting, the School Board selected Dr. Kenny Rodrequez as the 25th Superintendent of Putnam City Schools.
An Oklahoma native and graduate of Broken Arrow High School, Dr. Rodrequez earned degrees from Oklahoma State University and a Doctorate from Baker University. He began his career as a music educator and most recently served as superintendent of Grandview C-4 Schools in Missouri, where he was named 2024 Missouri Superintendent of the Year.
The Board values the community’s input throughout this process and believes Dr. Rodrequez reflects what families and staff asked for in a leader — a relationship-builder, communicator, and visionary. Please join us in welcoming Dr. Rodrequez to Putnam City. He will officially begin July 1, 2026.
Read more about Dr. Rodrequez. |
Charity Avery welcomed Dr. Rodrequez, incoming superintendent, and said she looked forward to working with him. She thanked the students who performed tonight for Youth Arts Month. She spoke highly of PCW wrestler Chloe Medlock for her state championship and the record-breaking win it is for the school. |
Judy Mullen Hopper thanked our Youth Arts Month participants and spoke about her personal experiences with our student-performers and staff. She reminded everyone about an upcoming districtwide event, CommUNITY Night, on March 24th at PCN. |
Jay Sherrill spoke about the excellence of our District and how proud he is of the District. Thanked our Communications Department and the Board for their work on the announcement and introduction of Dr. Rodrequez. |
Steve Burger highlighted the process of working with the Board for finding our incoming superintendent and thanked everyone who was involved. He recognized the District’s Fine Arts Programs, our District’s National Merit Finalists, and our newest State Champion, PCW Wrestler, Chloe Medlock. He mentioned how important extracurricular activities are for our students and how successful our programs are in the District. |
Meeting Date: Monday, March 2, 2026, 5pm
Location: PC Centennial Center, Gail LoPresto Board Room
1914 Centennial Pkwy, OKC. OK. 73122
In Attendance: Board Members: President Steve Burger, Vice President Jay Sherrill, Charity Avery, Judy Mullen-Hopper; Superintendent Dr. Fred Rhodes, Board Clerk Stephanie Knox
Next Meeting: Monday, April 6, 2026 |
Tonight's student leader was: |
Lula Russell, a senior at Putnam City High School. She has been a member of the Varsity Pom squad for 3 years and is this year's captain. She has been involved in the Freshman Mentor program, National Honor Society, Unified Leadership, and has helped with several special Olympic events. Lula is currently working on PC High's annual philanthropy week, Cancer Carnival Week, where their goal is to raise $20,000 for OMRF. She has received academic awards in Biology, English, and AP Environmental Science. Lula is proud to be a Pirate, just like her two older brothers and mother!
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Youth Arts Month Celebration at Tonight's Board Meeting |
Thank you to all of our student fine arts groups who performed at tonight's Board meeting! Putnam City Schools' fine arts programs throughout the District are vibrant and robust. We are beyond proud to recognize the hard work of the students, the teachers, and the staff. |
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Today is a historic day for our District as we have officially announced our 25th Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Rodrequez. During a Special Board Meeting this morning, the Board unanimously approved Dr. Rodrequez’s appointment after a lengthy nationwide search from a long list of highly-qualified candidates. Thank you to OSSBA for helping the Board work through this intricate and critical process. Dr. Rodrequez brings a strong record of leadership, student-centered decision-making, and a clear vision for continuous improvement for Putnam City Schools, building on our rich history and innovative practices. We look forward to a thoughtful transition process over the next several months and are confident that Putnam City Schools will continue to boldly move forward with focus and momentum under his leadership. He will officially begin on July 1st.
Next, I am proud to recognize PC North Educator, Danielle Jones, for being accepted into the prestigious Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms Program. This highly selective national program provides educators with immersive international professional learning experiences. Ms. Jones will travel to Senegal in April, where she will engage in cross-cultural exchange and deepen her global studies expertise. This opportunity will directly benefit her students as she continues to promote global competence and cultural understanding in her classroom.
We also celebrate some outstanding scholars in our District this evening. Ava Tu and Omar Hassan from PC North were recently named National Merit Finalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program. This distinction places them among the top high school students in the nation based on their academic achievement, PSAT performance, and overall excellence.
Additionally, we want to congratulate three exceptional students who earned recognition as 2026 Academic All-Staters through the Oklahoma Foundation of Excellence. Ava Tu, PCN; Rishi Patel, PCH; and Nischal Joshi, PCH. The Academic All-State honor recognizes the top 100 public high school seniors across the state for outstanding academic achievement, leadership, and community involvement.
Finally, we have another State Championship to add to our District! PC West Girls’ Wrestler, Chloe Medlock, secured a 1st place finish in her weight class at the State Tournament this weekend. We are proud of Chloe as well as all of the other PC wrestlers who participated in the big tournament. These are all extraordinary accomplishments, and we are proud of how they represent themselves, their schools, and our District.
-Dr. Fred Rhodes |
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March 2 Pre-K Lottery Begins ,Closes March 27 March 13-20 No School, Spring Break |
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Putnam City Student Sworn in as Oklahoma Kid Lieutenant Governor |
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Sophia Chavarria Rivera, a 5th grade student at Apollo Elementary, has officially been sworn in as Oklahoma’s Kid Lieutenant Governor! Supported by her family, teachers, and school leaders, Sophia will spend the year advocating for the prevention of bullying while gaining hands-on experience in civic leadership. |
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Curiosity Gets Brighter When Students Test Ideas |
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Second graders in Ms. Moss's class at Coronado Heights Elementary compared glow sticks in warm and cold water, then carried that curiosity into reading, math, and hands-on stations across the room. Glow Day turned science questions into real discoveries! |
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Every Valentine is a Lesson |
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In Ms. Brown’s Pre-K classroom at Kirkland Elementary, students have requested Valentines from people across the United States. They read each letter, color in the state it came from, and create a Valentine to send back, blending kindness, art, and early literacy. One recent Valentine even arrived from the United Kingdom! |
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Putnam City Juniors Connected at PC College Fair |
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Putnam City juniors explored majors and connected with college admissions counselors at this year’s PC College Fair, with more than 20 colleges represented. We’re especially grateful for our college and career counselors who encourage students to explore all options and take ownership of their next steps. |
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| Students at Coronado Elementary got to see a dragon dance up close while learning about Lunar New Year celebrations! For some, it was a first look at a long-standing tradition meant to bring good fortune, strength, and prosperity.
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Listening, learning, and lifting one another up |
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Hosted by the Putnam City Schools Foundation, Her Story in the Making: A Seat at the Table Summit created space for students to connect, reflect, and grow. We’re proud to highlight opportunities that help students see themselves as leaders and decision-makers. |
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Putnam City High's Cinema Production Club |
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What started as one student’s idea, backed by a teacher willing to build something new, has grown into Putnam City High's Cinema Production Club! They spent first semester learning technique, and now are putting their knowledge to good use. From script reads to calling “action,” these Pirates are working toward a completed film they plan to screen later this semester. |
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Who knew math could be this much fun? |
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From big reactions to huge high-fives, students at the PEAK Elementary Math Tournament tackled each round together and celebrated every hard-earned answer. More than one adult admitted, “I’m not sure I could even solve these!” Congratulations to all competitors and to the first-place team, the Harvest Hills Hawks! |
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Are you, like, a 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡 real judge? |
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At Hefner Middle School, students put Andrew Jackson on trial in a hands-on mock courtroom experience. United States Magistrate Judge Amanda Maxfield presided over the case. Students were surprised to learn she also attended Hefner before graduating from Putnam City North, proving that big careers truly can start here. |
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Dinosaurs in cubism. Snails as sculptures. |
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Each second grade class at Central Elementary explored a different famous artist or art movement, from pointillism to the imaginative style of Maurice Sendak, and created original pieces inspired by their favorite things. Students then presented their work in a gallery walk for classmates, teachers, and families. |
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Meet our 2026 finalists, selected from Site Teachers of the Year across all 27 Putnam City schools. We’ll be sharing a closer look at each finalist in the weeks leading up to the District Teacher of the Year Banquet held Tuesday, March 31st at the Putnam City Centennial Center. |
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| Over 160 students. 13 schools. One incredible night. |
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Congratulations to our students and staff who made Circle the State With Song a success! Participation grew so fast that this year's regional performance shifted to feature only Putnam City Schools, creating a rare chance for elementary and middle school voices from across the District to unite for one shared performance. |
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Please join us in congratulating PC High senior, Zion Siranga, on signing a contract with FC Tulsa, a professional soccer club competing in the USL Championship. A Putnam City student since Pre-K, Zion will complete his coursework through Putnam City Virtual and graduate with honors this spring with his classmates while continuing his development within FC Tulsa’s professional pathway. We are proud to support our students as they pursue ambitious goals while staying committed to their education!
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Congratulations to Ava Tu and Omar Hassan, seniors at Putnam City North, on being named National Merit Finalists! This distinction is awarded to students who score in the 𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝟏% 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 on the PSAT and successfully complete a rigorous academic and application review process. We are proud to see Putnam City represented on the national stage through their achievement. |
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Congratulations to PCW Sophomore, Chloe Medlock, for her 1st place finish at the State Wrestling Championship this weekend! Great job to all of our PC wrestlers who participated in the state tournament. Way to represent! |
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The 2026 All-State YTIO Artworks have officially been selected for the 66th Annual Young Talent in Oklahoma All-State Show! This year, 47 dedicated teachers submitted over 775 student artworks from across the state, along with 63 impressive Senior Portfolios. The exhibition highlights the incredible creativity, skill, and vision of Oklahoma’s young artists. Putnam City Schools is proud to have 8 students selected for this top All-State show. |
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Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence Names 2026 Academic All-State Honorees |
Oklahoma Art Education Association and the Masonic Charity Foundation gave a $5,000 grant towards teacher professional development. Thank you for supporting our fine arts teachers! |
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Putnam City North and Putnam City High DECA recognized for outstanding School-based Enterprise. Congratulations! Our CareerTech programs are strong in PC! |
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Putnam City Aviation Files High |
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Students in Putnam City’s Aviation Program are logging real flight hours, earning licenses before graduation, and stepping directly into summer internships and full-time careers. The program prepares future pilots and trains students for careers in airport operations, aircraft maintenance, and avionics technology. We’re proud to launch students into Oklahoma’s second-largest industry with real credentials and real opportunities. |
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Family School Year Calendar |
Download the Putnam City Schools App!
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Have a story of an amazing achievement by a PC student, teacher, group, or team? Click here to share it with us
or email: goodnews@putnamcityschools.org. |
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Putnam City Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, identity, national origin, age, marital or veteran status, or disability. Translations are completed by Google Translate. |
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