Student Support

ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION
The Oklahoma State Department of Education, Alternative Education Department is committed to providing guidance and support in order to promote excellence in education for our most at-risk student population.

Missy Corn, M.Ed.
Co-Director of Alternative Education 

Leslie Frazier, M.Ed.
Co-Director of Alternative Education 

Michelle Butler, Ed.D.
Alternative Education Specialist

COUNSELING
The OSDE Counseling and Academic Counseling divisions provide school counselors, administrators and teachers with the tools, training, knowledge, resources and technical assistance to support safe, nurturing and academically focused learning environments for all students.

CRISIS PREPAREDNESS & RESPONSE
The Crisis Team provides Oklahoma local educational agencies (LEAs) with tools, training/ professional development, consultation, or direct response support at no cost to districts. Services include support for increasing school safety, best practice recommendations for crisis management, and assistance in identifying students who may require mental health supports. The Crisis Team supports Oklahoma school districts in crisis prevention, preparedness, intervention, and response. The team responds to both hazard-based and threat-based school crises with a specific focus on balancing physical and psychological safety for school communities.

Michelle Strain, MCMHC, MHR, LPC-C
Crisis Team School Counselor

OK AWARE
Project AWARE is a SAMHSA grant award. It serves to increase mental health services and supports to students in Elk City, Weatherford, and Woodward in Western Oklahoma. Project AWARE East serves the public school districts of Checotah, Ada, and Atoka. Project AWARE focuses on increasing mental health supports with tiered intervention strategies aligned to an MTSS framework.

Cheryl McGee, MHR, LPC, LADC/MH
Executive Director of AWARE

Lori Hollingsworth M.Ed, LPC
AWARE East Program Manager

Janessa Bointy, M.Ed
School Counselor Specialist AWARE East

Angela Johnson, MHR, LPC
AWARE School Counselor Specialist 

Blaire Harrison
AWARE West Program Manager

PREVENTION SERVICES
The Prevention Services Division administers programs and initiatives that assist districts in addressing the risk behaviors in Oklahoma’s students such as bullying, suicide, substance abuse and violence prevention.

Elizabeth Suddath, MPH
Executive Director of Prevention Services

SCHOOL CLIMATE TRANSFORMATION GRANT
The Oklahoma School Climate Transformation project provides training and technical assistance to schools and districts on the implementation of a multi-tiered behavioral framework to improve school climate.

Elizabeth Suddath, MPH
Executive Director of Prevention Services

Heather Graham
Co-Director of School Climate Transformation

Amanda Sellers
Co-Director of School Climate Transformation

Elizabeth Suddath, Assistant Deputy Superintendent

Oklahoma State Department of Education
2500 North Lincoln Boulevard, Suite 112
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105
Fax: (405) 522-0496