Tahlequah Press
Jun
16 EPIC Charter Schools virtually
2020
Page
graduates dozens from area
A10 OKLAHOMA CITY –
Clip
EPIC Charter Schools, in
resized its first-ever virtual grad-
52% uation ceremony to hon-
or the graduating Class
of 2020, conferred diplo-
mas on 3,805 students on
Saturday, June 6.
The virtual ceremony,
believed to be the largest
of its kind in the state, in-
cluded recorded remarks
from notable Oklahoma
speakers such as former
Gov. George Nigh, mem-
bers of Oklahoma’s con-
gressional delegation,
and state lawmakers.
“This isn’t the gradua-
tion ceremony any of us
expected when we start-
ed the 2019-2020 school
year, but our first-ever
virtual ceremony is testa-
ment to a guiding prin-
cipal at EPIC – the only
constant in the world
is change and we must
be resilient, innovative
and adapt to it,” said
EPIC Superintendent
Bart Banfield. “Watching
our record-number of
graduates succeed aca-
demically in the face of a
global pandemic is truly
inspiring.”
The virtual com-
mencement had all of the
elements of a traditional
graduation ceremony,
including the reading of
every graduate’s name,
recognition of academic
honors, valedictorian
Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
addresses, and special
guest speakers. Many
EPIC families planned
in-home celebrations
with families and friends
and celebrated graduates
in real time as the gradu-
ation was streamed.
The full EPIC 2020
virtual graduation cere-
mony has been archived
on YouTube, https://
youtu.be/kYpv13fMfjM;
Vimeo, https://vimeo.
com/426432880; www.
epiccharterschools.org;
and EPIC’s social media’s
platforms.
Graduates include the
following.
Cookson: Logan
Woodruff.
Fort Gibson: Chloe
Copeland, Richard
Flores, Briar Gillian, Des-
tiny Lamb, Lauren Men-
denhall, Sara Phillips,
Sarina Tautkus, and Tori
Ward.
Hulbert: William Al-
verson, Brayden Bowlin,
Cali Brown, Christopher
Brown, Makayla Brown,
Isaley Carpenter, Nata-
lie Jennings, Kailey Lipe,
and Hannah Robinson.
Kansas: Jonnie Cowett,
Autumn Ethridge, Tanner
Fletcher, Tatum Hendrix,
Give A Voice to an
Abused Child
Volunteer
Azalee Maddan, Micaiah Glenn, Trace Hill, Shelby
Moore, Avery Tehee, and Holt, Serendipity Howe,
Hannah Thompson. Anna Hutson, Kristopher
Leach: Cordelia Cal- Kelly, Brissa Navarrete,
vert. Keely Polumbus, Evelyn
Locust Grove: Michael Siandua, Sheri Sims,
Hibbs, Kyle Labit, Al- Daniel Stanley, Rhett
lyse Perry, Bethany Ross, Tackett, Jaeden Terrapin,
Jeffrey Stokes, Mon- Jolene Thompson, Jaida
tana Todd, and Autumn WhiteCloud, Christian
Weimer. Winans, and Thomas
Park Hill: Abigail Re- Yingling.
aly. Watts: Brittni Counts,
Peggs: John Goertz Jr. Emily Oakball, and Dylan
and Daphne Setters. Smith.
Rose: Dylan Benoit, Welling: Raelea Coles,
Jarek Cowan, Nikki Dol- Lexi Cook, Alexa John-
larhide, Taylor Fleming, son, and Kalia Spears.
Layla Perdue, Andrew Westville: Victo-
Vantrease, and Trinity ria Caudle and Mason
Ward. Wood.
Stilwell: Rosalee An- EPIC is the state’s
drews, Wesley Brannon, third-largest public
Ali Brown, Kyla Howard, school system. It is serv-
Zachary Kirkland, and ing approximately 32,000
Alexis Rietman. students statewide in the
Tahlequah: Gioia 2019-2020 school year,
Adelizzi, Madison Bird, and currently employs
Rachel Boyd, Gracyn more than 1,400 educa-
Crittenden, Jasmine Gal- tors and administrators
van, Jaden Gandy, Jacob throughout the state.
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 Clip
Jun 2020 Page resized
17 A009 52%
Owasso Reporter
EPIC graduates 55 Owasso, Collinsville students
FROM STAFF REPORTS
EPIC Charter Schools,
in its first-ever virtual
graduation ceremony to
honor the Class of 2020,
conferred diplomas of
3,805 students on Satur-
day, June 6.
This year, Fifty-five
Owasso and Collinsville
students received di-
plomas from EPIC, the
state’s third-largest pub-
lic school system.
The virtual com-
mencement had all of
the elements of a tradi-
tional graduation cer-
emony, including the
reading of every gradu-
ate’s name, recognition
of academic honors,
valedictorian addresses
and special guest speak-
ers. Many EPIC families way, Quinn Chenoweth,
planned in-home cel- Randi Choate, Dereck
ebrations with families Clabough, Madison Do-
and friends and cele- ane, Damon Dodd, Ad-
brated graduates in real dison Ekstrum, Emily
time. Fields, Serenity Foster,
“This isn’t the gradua- Taylor Freyholtz, Roland
tion ceremony any of us Goodwin, Camden Head,
expected when we start- Alexandra Hutchins,
ed the 2019-2020 school Andrew Hutchins, Se-
year,” said EPIC Super- bastian Hutton, Allison
intendent Bart Banfield. May, Kelsey McCurry,
“Watching our record- Meredith Meade, Kay-
number of graduates lee Moody, Madison
succeed academically in Morrison, Kayren Nash,
the face of a global pan- Reyoni Ocasio, Zhanna
demic is truly inspiring.” Riesen, Makayla Skais-
Owasso graduates: tis, Emily Stewart, April
John Alexander, Payton Thao, Megan Treat, Ann
Archer-Johnson, Caro- Trost, Jack Whiles, Kier-
line Arnoux, Addison ra Williams, Wesley Wil- Epic Charter Schools.  JIM BECKEL/The Oklahoman
Avery, Kierstyn Barnes, son and Ashlyn Wooden.
Colton Blake, Samuel Collinsville graduates: Gilbert, Chelsea Grogan, Joy Marble-Miller, Aar- Nelaya Sink, Chance
Brueggemann, Anna Alexander Baassler, Heather Hamblin, Joelle on Mashburn, Jordan Smith, Sabrina Stehl
Bruner, Hailey Callo- Bethany DeVries, Alise Isom, MaKayla Larson, Pickell, Alexis Ponder, and Cheyann Tecumseh.
Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
 Clip
Jun 2020 Page resized
17 A002 71%
Skiatook Journal
Did parents notice lack of learning?
BY JONATHAN SMALL
When schools in Oklahoma and na-
tionwide transitioned to distance learn-
ing in April in response to COVID-19,
many schools simply stopped teaching
students. Recent polling indicates par-
ents noticed—and aren’t happy with
that fact.
A recent RealClear Opinion Research
nationwide survey found 40 percent of
families are now more likely to home-
school or use virtual school after the
COVID lockdowns. The desire for al-
ternatives is understandable given
how many traditional schools handled
their duties during the shutdown. In
too many cases, schools simply stopped
teaching new material or even grad-
ing lessons that students were asked to
complete.
And that trend was not a product of
the “digital divide” that makes online
learning more challenging for low-
income students. In fact, some of the
state’s wealthiest suburbs were among
those who did the least for students.
Norman Public Schools informed par-
ents and students that “no grades will
be taken on activities assigned during
distance learning.” Longtime journalist
and Edmond parent Ted Streuli noted
in a column that 90 percent of homes
Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
in Edmond have inter-
net access, yet he wrote
that students in that
suburban school were
asked to cover only “ma-
terial they’ve already
mastered” that “doesn’t
Small
count” because it was not
graded.
Insufficient technical expertise was
not the chief barrier. EPIC Charter
Schools, the state’s largest online K-12
provider, offered several free distance-
learning tools to other Oklahoma pub-
lic schools, including two hours of staff
development. Reportedly, only four dis-
tricts took EPIC up on that offer by the
April start of the statewide school re-
opening via distance learning.
In March, the director of the Center
on Reinventing Public Education esti-
mated that only 10 percent of schools
nationwide would provide “any kind
of real curriculum and instruction pro-
gram.”
It turns out student demograph-
ics mattered less in this process than
school officials’ grit and dedication. For
example, Crossover Preparatory Acad-
emy, a private school in North Tulsa
that serves mostly working-class minor-
ity male students in grades six through
nine, continued teaching and grading
new material. That school serves many
students with significant economic
challenges and a lack of home internet
access, yet school officials found a way
to serve those children anyway.
As a result, those young boys in North
Tulsa received a better education this
year than many of their affluent peers
who attend suburban schools. The sub-
urbs may have lavish facilities, but long-
term benefit is generated by student
learning, not school architecture.
Many students at Crossover attend
that school thanks to the Oklahoma
Equal Opportunity Education Scholar-
ship Act, which supports school-choice
options for low-income students. Law-
makers had the chance to build on suc-
cess and expand that program this year,
but House Republican leaders refused
to hear the bill even after the Senate
passed it.
Perhaps House Republican leaders
feel what happened to students in Ed-
mond and Norman should be the stan-
dard statewide. But polling suggests
that parents, in Oklahoma and else-
where, disagree.
Jonathan Small serves as president of
the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs
(www.ocpathink.org).
 Clip
Jun 2020 Page resized
17 A006 48%
Skiatook Journal
Skiatook, Sperry seniors graduate from EPIC
BY LINDSEY CHASTAIN
News Editor
EPIC Charter Schools,
in its first-ever virtual
graduation ceremony to
honor the Graduating
Class of 2020, conferred
diplomas on 3,805 stu-
dents on Saturday, June
6. The virtual ceremony,
believed to be the largest
of its kind in the state, in-
cluded recorded remarks
from notable Oklahoma
speakers such as former
Gov. George Nigh, mem-
bers of Oklahoma’s con-
gressional delegation and
state lawmakers.
“This isn’t the gradua- ments of a traditional
tion ceremony any of us graduation ceremony,
expected when we start- including the reading of
ed the 2019-2020 school every graduate’s name,
year,” said EPIC Super- recognition of academic
intendent Bart Banfield, honors, valedictorian ad-
“but our first-ever virtual dresses and special guest
ceremony is testament speakers. Many EPIC
to a guiding principal at families planned in-home
EPIC – the only constant celebrations with families
in the world is change and friends and celebrat-
and we must be resilient, ed graduates in real time
innovative and adapt to as the graduation live
it. Watching our record- streamed on June 6. Sage Elzo Shandra Morgans Melissa Anderson
number of graduates suc- Skiatook Zoey Hendricks Brooke Richardson Chloe Blevins
ceed academically in the Mason Adkisson Haley Marietta Emily Roy Lacie Chism
face of a global pandemic Jacob Beeler Alexis Marshall Stormy Ryan Catheryn Holcomb
is truly inspiring.” Kaibree Best Breanna Marshall Jacob Spurgeon David McBroom
The virtual commence- Colby Carson Luis Mata-Cruz Emma Thorpe Cierra Rainez
ment had all of the ele- Gunnar Coffman Kelsey McElhaney Sperry Adam Uber
Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.