Inaugural Inductees into Oklahoma Charter School Hall of Fame Announced

NORMAN, Okla. — This school year, an estimated one in 10 public school students in Oklahoma attend a charter school and Oklahoma’s charter schools are ranked Top 10 in the nation in performance. However, before Oklahoma had a charter school community, it had families seeking another public-school option and it needed leaders willing to help build one.

Five of those pioneering leaders were inducted today at noon into the inaugural Oklahoma Charter School Hall of Fame during a banquet luncheon on the closing day of Momentum: The Annual Oklahoma Charter Schools Conference at the Norman Embassy Suites Hotel & Conference Center. More than 400 charter school leaders and stakeholders attended the conference.

The Hall of Fame inducted former Gov. Frank Keating, former state superintendents Sandy Garrett and Dr. Janet Barresi, ASTEC Charter Schools founder Dr. Freda Deskin, and the late health care executive and school founder Stanley Hupfeld for helping turn the promise of public charter education into schools, opportunities, and enduring community institutions. Keating, Dr. Barresi, and Dr. Deskin individually gave acceptance remarks and family members of Garrett and the late Hupfeld accepted on their behaves. In addition, the CEO and president of the National Charter Schools Institute, Dr. Jim Goenner, gave remarks praising the inductees, as did State Superintendent-elect Dr. Robert Franklin.

“These pioneers saw possibilities for Oklahoma children and did the difficult work to make them real,” said Dr. Rebecca Wilkinson, executive director of the Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board, which hosts the new Hall of Fame, with an independent committee of stakeholders making the selections from nominations. “They built support across political differences, opened schools, and brought communities together around students. Hearing their stories helps us understand what it took to get here and the responsibility we share to carry that work forward.”

THE INAUGURAL CLASS

• Former Gov. Frank Keating: As a Republican governor, championed charter school legislation and worked across party lines with a Democrat-controlled Legislature to help establish a new public education option for Oklahoma families.
• Former State Supt. Sandy Garrett: As a Democratic state superintendent, worked with Gov. Keating and lawmakers to shape and advance the legislation, then supported educators and founders as they turned the law into functioning schools.
• Former State Supt. Janet Barresi: Brought a parent’s determination and a founder’s resolve to advocacy for the Act and for Oklahoma’s early charter schools, including Independence Charter Middle School and Harding Charter Preparatory High School, before later serving as state superintendent.
• Dr. Freda Deskin: Founded ASTEC, Oklahoma’s first startup charter school, and rallied resources and community support to build an enduring educational institution from the ground up.
• Stanley Hupfeld: Brought business and education together through INTEGRIS’ patronage of Western Village, now Stanley Hupfeld Academy, helping create a school culture rooted in mentoring, creativity, opportunity, and health for underserved students. He will be honored posthumously.

“The legacy of these five leaders extends far beyond the laws enacted or the schools they helped build. Their trailblazing vision and determination launched a new path for public education in Oklahoma, creating opportunities for students and families to find a school that best meets their needs,” said Barry Schmelzenbach, executive director of the Oklahoma Public Charter Schools Association. “Honoring them is an opportunity to recognize the people whose courage and commitment helped make public school choice a reality for generations of Oklahoma families.”