Student Support

The Oklahoma State Department of Education Office of Student Support provides a holistic approach to supporting educators and families through academic guidance, alternative education strategies, college and career readiness connections, social-emotional learning resources, and family engagement supports. We strive to increase equitable access to post-secondary opportunities and resources that promote the academic, social, and mental health and wellbeing of all students. We resource our schools. We serve our families. We support our students.

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	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. Alternative Education Field Specialist Leslie Frazier, M.Ed. Alternative Education Field Specialst Petra Woodard, M.Ed. Executive Director of Academic Counseling & Alternative Education

	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.	Beth Whittle, M.Ed, LPC Executive Director of Counseling Petra Woodard, M.Ed. Executive Director of Academic Counseling & Alternative Education

	COLLEGE & CAREER READINESS The Division of College & Career Readiness supports educators and families in developing plans that lead to success after high school. Success means that a student can obtain gainful employment that matches his or her passions and interests while still providing a living wage.	Chelsea Hunt, MBA Executive Director of Work-Based Learning & Industry Engagement Marissa Lightsey, MSHR Executive Director of College & Career Readiness

	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 Psychologist

	FAMILY & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT The Family and Community Engagement Division provides guidance, resources and support for families, schools, and communities as they work together to build meaningful partnerships that promote student success.	Sonia Johnson Executive Director of Family & Community Engagement

	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 Program Manager Project AWARE Lori Hollingsworth M.Ed, LPC Project Manager AWARE East Janessa Bointy, M.Ed School Counselor Specialist AWARE East

	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 School Climate Specialists Blaire Harrison School Climate Specialists Jenna Jones School Climate Specialists Amanda Sellers School Climate Specialists