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September 8, 2025

This afternoon, we have some outstanding accomplishments to celebrate from graduates, to teachers to our entire District. First, Tony LoPresto, son of former Board Member Gail LoPresto, has been named a 2025 OSU Distinguished Alumni. Tony serves as the Chief Financial Officer for Griffin Communications, and his recognition highlights not only his professional success but also the lasting impact of the LoPresto family’s commitment to education and service.

We also have two employees earning national recognition in aviation education. Sam Madewell, teacher in our Putnam City Aviation Program, has been named the Air and Space Forces State Teacher of the Year for Oklahoma and went on to place fourth in the Nation. This is an incredible honor for both Sam and our program. In addition, Denise Hensley, our District CareerTech Coordinator, has been elected to the National Aviation Technician Education Council, where she will serve as the secondary schools’ representative for the entire country. Both of these recognitions speak to the quality and innovation happening right here in Putnam City.

Finally, I’m excited to share that Putnam City Schools has been named to Forbes’ 2025 Best Employers List for Oklahoma. We are the only K-12 school district (including all public, charter and private) in the state of Oklahoma to receive this recognition; standing alongside respected employers like OU, OSU, the City of Oklahoma City, Amazon, ATT, Braum’s, FedEx, Hobby Lobby, IBM and Lowe’s. This list was developed through surveys of more than 160,000 employees nationwide who were asked to rate their employers on factors such as workplace culture, salary, opportunities for advancement, and how organizations respond to serious issues. Responses were tallied along with data from the past three years to identify the top employers in each state. For Putnam City to emerge as one of them reflects not only the pride we share in our work, but also the positive environment we’ve created for our employees to grow, serve, and thrive.

These recognitions remind us that the work being done across our District is making a meaningful impact locally, statewide, and nationally.

-Dr. Fred Rhodes

September 19- Teacher Collaboration Day, No School

Students and staff showed up in bold, bright colors to make learning fun and help our littlest learners master their colors.

From science students learning note-taking skills, to woodwinds filling the band room with music, the Warriors worked hard all day. Howdy Week ended with a welcome back dance that brought the whole school together in true WOMS spirit!

Alumni, coaches, and teams from around the District came together as we welcomed the newest inductees into the Putnam City Schools Athletic Hall of Fame. Their hard work, leadership, and example continue to show every student what it means to Go Boldly... in sports and in life!

Football season is back! PC West took the field in an exciting matchup against PC High, bringing the energy, spirit, and community pride we love to see.

"Tropic like It's Hot" featured snow cones, cotton candy, a dance floor, and a pickleball tournament! What an amazing way for the Panthers to make their new students feel at home.

Moments like this show students that reading isn’t just for school; it’s a lifelong habit that even our leaders make time for.

Putnam City High’s new Cinema Production Crew held a lighting skills masterclass with Cruz Pulido, an OCCC graduate and video production specialist for the Oklahoma Historical Society. Our students got to work hands-on with professional equipment and test how lighting can change the tone and emotion of a video!

Experienced Panther performers are stepping up as mentors - helping new actors discover their talents, select the right material, and prepare with confidence.

Western Oaks + Mayfield = one team, one family.

Now in the program's second season, the Junior Patriots fast pitch softball team took on Norman Irving Thursday night and came home with two wins! With athletes ranging from travel ball players to those picking up a bat for the very first time, this program is growing stronger every game.

𝐕𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲: 16–1 | 𝐉𝐕: 6–3

Congratulations to two PC employees who have earned top honors! Denise Hensley has been elected to the National Aviation Technician Education Council, serving as the secondary schools' representative for the entire country, and Sam Madewell has been named the Air and Space Forces State Teacher of the Year for Oklahoma and went on to fourth in the Nation!

𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗯𝗲𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝘂𝘁𝗻𝗮𝗺 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 #𝟮𝟲 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗢𝗸𝗹𝗮𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗮 - 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴!

We’ve gone viral! 🚀 Our latest Putnam City Instagram video has officially passed 1 MILLION VIEWS! Don’t miss the moments everyone around the world is talking about, follow us on Instagram @putnam_city_schools and be part of the excitement!

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.