CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY CAPTION SOLUTIONS, LLC WWW.CAPTIONSOLUTIONS.COM COMING UP ON EDUCATION MATTERS• OKLAHOMA STUDENTS EXPERIENCE MORE TRAUMA THAN STUDENTS IN ALMOST ANY OTHER STATE.

HOW IT AFFECTS THEIR LEARNING, AND WHAT TEACHERS ARE DOING.

AND• THE STATE'S LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT IS PARTNERING WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS TO FOCUS ON STUDENTS' MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS.

THESE STORES PLUS•.

AN AMAZING YOUNG ATHLETE FROM THE PANHANDLE REPRESENTS OKLAHOMA ON AN INTERNATIONAL STAGE.

IT'S ALL RIGHT NOW ON EDUCATION MATTERS.

♪♪ ♪♪ THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M JOY HOFMEISTER, STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.

WE HAVE A LOT TO SHARE WITH YOU TODAY, SO LET'S GET STARTED.

THE OKLAHOMA STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HOSTED ONE OF ITS LARGEST EVENTS EVER EARLIER THIS MONTH.

ABOUT 10-THOUSAND EDUCATORS AND PEOPLE WHO WORK WITH AT-RISK CHILDREN GATHERED INSIDE THE COX CONVENTION CENTER IN OKLAHOMA CITY ON FEBRUARY 17TH.

THE CONFERENCE WAS CALLED "BRIDGES TO HOPE: TEACHING IN THE SHADOW OF TRAUMA."

OKLAHOMA'S CHILDREN EXPERIENCE MORE TRAUMA THAN KIDS IN ALMOST ANY OTHER STATE.

THE CONFERENCE GAVE EDUCATORS TOOLS TO REACH BEYONG THE TRAUMA THAT IMPEDES LEARNING.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER DOCTOR BRUCE PERRY IS AMONG THE WORLD'S LEADING EXPERT ON CHILD TRAUMA AND IMPACT ON COGNITION.

HE ALSO FOUNDED THE CHILD TRAUMA ACADEMY.

JOINING ME NOW IS ELIZABETH SUDDATH.

SHE IS THE DIRECTOR OF PREVENTION SERVICES AT THE OKLAHOMA STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

WELCOME, ELIZABETH.

ARE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING BE.

>> AIM GLAD YOU'RE HERE AND GRATEFUL FOR BE WORK YOU'RE DOING.

>> WE SKI A LOT OF KID COMING INTO THE CLASSROOM EXPERIENCING TRAUMA, AND WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF TEACHERS REACHING OUT, ASKING HOW WE BEST SUPPORT THE STUDENTS.

WE KNOW THAT OKLAHOMA STUDENTS ARE EXPERIENCING MORE ADVERSITY AND MORE TRAUMA THAN SOME OF THE OTHER STATES IN THE NATION.

SO WE HAVE A LOT OF IMPACT THAT WE CAN MAKE WITH THOSE STUNTS JUST RIGHT HERE IN OKLAHOMA AND IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT HOW TRAUMA AFFECTS BRAIN DEVELOPMENT AND HOW LIVING IN ADVERSITY CAN BE LEADING TO SOME OF THE BEHAVIORS THAT WE'RE SEEING IN THE CLASSROOM.

>> YOU MENTIONED ADVERSITY.

AND CHILD EXPERIENCES AS THEY'RE GROWING UP.

WE HEAR PEOPLE TALK ABOUT ACES.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN.

>> ACES MIGHT BE A TERM THAT PEOPLE ARE HEARING MORE OFTEN.

IT STANDS FOR ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES FROM A STUDY THAT WAS CONDUCTED BY DR.

ROBERT AND DR.

VINCENT AND IT WAS IN THIS STUDY THEY FOUND THAT ADULTS WHO HAD THESE ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES IN THEIR PAST WERE MORE LIKELY TO SEE HEALTH RISK BEHAVIORS.

MORE LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE A ROUGHER PATH IN LIFE LATER ON.

THEY WERE EVEN SEEING THINGS SUCH AS HEART DISEASE AND HIGHER RISK OF CANCER FOR JUST HAVING ADVERSE EXPERIENCES IN THEIR LIFE.

>> CAN YOU GIVE US EXAMPLES OF CHILDHOOD ABUSE OR NEGLECT?

>> SO IN THE STUDY THEY ACTUALLY LOOKED AT TEN DIFFERENT ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES.

THESE WERE BROKEN DOWN INTO ABUSE, NEGLECT, AND HOUSEHOLD DISFUNCTION.

WHEN WE TALK BUT HOUSEHOLD DYSFUNCTION THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT ABANDONMENT, MENTAL ILLNESS THE HOME, INCARCERATED PARENT OR ALSO DIVORCE IS ANOTHER INDICATOR, AND ALWAYS OF THESE THINGS ARE WHAT IS AFFECTING THE EXPERIENCES THAT THIS CHILD IS HAVING SOME WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE WAY THE BRAIN DEVELOPS IS IT DEVELOPS BASED OFF OF EXPERIENCES IN THEIR LIFE.

>> SO THIS IMPACTS LEARNING, AND IF AT THE TEACHER RECEIVES STUDENTS WHO EXPERIENCING THIS NOW,ER INS PARENTS.

>> WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT OKLAHOMA IS THAT WE EXPERIENCE A VERY HIGH RATE OF SOME OF THESE ACES THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING.

SO WE KNOW WE HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST INCARCERATION RATES IN THE NATION.

>> THIS IS INFORMATION COLLECTED THROUGH THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL, THE CDC.

>> YES.

SO ALL OF THIS STUDY IS THROUGH THE CENTER -- THROUGH CDC, YES.

>> AS A TEACHER, MAYBE A CHILD HAS A LOT THEY'VE HAD TO ENDURE IN PAST YEARS OR CURRENTLY.

HOW DOES THAT TRANSLATE IN CLASSROOMS AND LEARNING AND NOW WHAT DO WE DO THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT KIDS ARE CARRYING A LOT OF BAGGAGE.

>> RIGHT.

THE WAY THAT IS IMPACTING LEARNING, SOMEBODY WHO HAS MORE OF THESE ADVERSE EXPERIENCES, MORE LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE TRAUMA, AND WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT TRAUMA IS THAT IT IS ACTUALLY CHANGING THE BRAIN CHEMISTRY.

SO IT IS AFFECTING THE WAY THAT STUDENTS CAN LEARN, TAKE IN NEW INFORMATION, AND MAKE CHOICES AND BEHAVIORS IN THE CLASSROOM.

SO THIS IS WHAT IS REALLY LEADING TO THE BRAIN SCIENCE BEHIND WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING FOR STUDENTS.

IT COULD BE BEHAVIORS OUT OF THEIR CONTROL DUE TO THE WAY THE BRAIN HAS DEVELOPED IN THIS CHAOS DURING THIS ADVERSE ENVIRONMENT, OR THROUGH THIS TRAUMA.

SO THAT IS WHAT IS LEADING TO SOME OF THE BEHAVIORS THAT TEACHERS ARE SEEING, AND IF YOU HAVE A STUDENT WHO IS IN A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE LEARNING -- ENVIRONMENT, THEN THEIR BRAIN IS DEVELOPING BASED OFF THOSE EXPERIENCEES.

IF YOU HAVE A STUDENT LIVING IN ADVERSITY AND TRAUMA, THEIR BRAIN IS DEVELOPING BASES OFF TO THE EXPERIENCES.

SO KNOWING WE HAVE TO TEACH THE TWO STUDENTS DIFFERENTLY AND OFFER DIFFERENT SUPPORT TO STUDENTS BASED OFF THE WAY THEIR BRAIN IS DEVELOPING.

>> I THINK YOU HAVE AN EXPERIENCE IN THAT REGARD, EVEN PERSONALLY.

>> YES.

THIS IS ALL VERY PERSONAL TO ME.

THERE'S A STORY THAT I TELL WHEN WE GO AROUND THE STATE AND DO OUR TRAINING, AND IT'S A STORY ABOUT MY DAD.

SO MY DAD ACTUALLY COMES FROM A BACKGROUND THAT HE HAS A LOT OF THESE ACES THAT WE TALK BUT.

HE HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST ACE SCORES SOMEBODY CAN GET BUT IT WAS BECAUSE SOMEBODY STEPPED INTO HIS LIFE BECAUSE PEOPLE SAW THE PATH MY DAD WAS GOING DOWN, AND KNEW HE COULD HAVE HOPE FOR A BETTER FUTURE, THAT HE WAS ABLE TO HAVE THAT CHANCE AND HAVE THAT CHANCE TO THINK BUT WHAT HE WANTED FOR HIS FUTURE.

AND I'M VERY TRANSPARENT BUT THE FACT I DON'T HAVE AN ACE SCORE.

SO WITHIN ONE GENERATION, BECAUSE SOMEBODY WAS ABLE TO BUILD A RELATIONSHIP WITH MY PARENT.

>> WAS THAT A TEACHER.

>> IT WAS A TEACHER, YES, ABLE TO BUILD THIS RELATIONSHIP WITH MY DAD.

WE WERE ABLE TO BREAK A CYCLE.

ONE PERSON WAS ABLE TO GO FROM A CHILD WHO HAS THIS INCREDIBLY HIGH ACE SCORE TO NOW HIS CHILDREN DON'T HAVE AN ACE SCORE AND THAT AFFECTS GENERATIONS TO COME.

THAT IS WHAT I FIND SO POWERFUL ABOUT EDUCATION AND BEING AN EDUCATOR, WE GET TO BE THAT SECOND LINE OF DEFENSE FOR STUDENTS.

WE GET TO OFFER THEM HOPE.

WE GET TO OFFER THEM WHAT A DIFFERENT PATH IN LIFE COULD LOOK LIKE.

>> TEACHERS ALL ACROSS THE STATE ARE WANTING THIS KIND OF INFORMATION AND TRAINING TO KNOW WHAT DO THEY DO IN MY CLASSROOM IN A PRACTICAL WAY.

NOW THAT WE'RE TRAUMA AWARE, NOW HOW DO WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE CLASSROOM AND THAT IS WHAT THE TRAINING WITH DR.

BRUCE PERRY AND WHAT YOU DO, ALL ACROSS THE STATE, IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE AND EQUIPPING TEACHERS.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY, ELIZABETH.

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR MORE RESOURCES DEALING WITH TRAUMA IN THE CLASSROOM, GO TO SDE.OK.GOV/COUNSELING.

ONE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN NORTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA IS USING A UNIQUE APPROACH TO HELP CALM STUDENTS, IMPROVE ATTENDANCE AND RELIEVE STRESS.

BROKEN ARROW PUBLIC SCHOOLS BRINGS IN THERAPY DOGS EVERY OTHER WEEK, AND TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS ARE SEEING A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN THE STUDENTS.

TAKE PKG >> THERAPY DOGS ARE HERE TO MAKE IS FUEL GOOD.

>> DOES IT TICKLE.

>> LESS STRESS.

>> OH, MY GOODNESS.

>> A BRIGHT SPOT IN A LOT OF STUDENT'S DAY.

>> SEEING THEIR FACES LIGHT UP AND THE KID LOVE THEM.

A LOT OF FUN TO DO IT.

>> WE'RE ALL VOLUNTEERS, ALL BELIEVE IN WHAT WE DO.

>> TOOK ME TWO YEARS TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THE TRAINING, BROKEN ARROW MAKES US JUMP THROUGH A LOT OF HOOPS TO MAKE IT SAFE.

IF THEY'RE NOT THE RIGHT TEMPERMENT IT WON'T WORK.

>> A LOT OF STUDENTS DEAL WITH ANXIETY ISSUES DAY-TO-DAY, TRYING TO GET THROUGH LIFE AS A TEENAGER.

>> YOU SEE THE DOG COME IN AND THE EXCITEMENT, IT OFFASSETS EVERYTHING.

>> THE DOGS SENSE THAT KIND OF STUFF AND THE DOGS JUST KIND OF BRIGHTEN THEIR DAY AND THE FORGET ABOUT THE STUFF THEY'RE TRYING WITH.

>> RESEARCH STUDIES SHOW THAT LOWERS YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE, YOUR ANXIETY WHEN YOU CAN PET A DOG.

>> THE MORE WE CAN GET OUR STUDENTS TO RELAX AND IF WE CAN TAP INTO A STUDENT TO ENGAGE THEM AND GET THEM TO ENCOURAGED TO COME TO SCHOOL AND INCREASE THEY'RE ATTENDANCE, IMPROVE BEHAVIOR ISSUES IN SCHOOL, ALL OF THOSE ARE VITAL FOR STUDENT TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN SCHOOL.

>> I NEED YOUR LOVE TODAY.

THANK YOU.

>> WE WERE WALKING DOWN THE HALL EARLIER AND SARAH VEERED OFF TO A CLASSROOM.

AND THERE WAS A STUDENT THAT WAS IN TEARS.

SHE WAS HAVING A REALLY BAD DAY AND SARAH JUST WALKED UP TO HER AND SHE HUGGED SARAH AND CRIED IN HER FUR AND GET BETTER BECAUSE SARAH WAS THERE.

>> PRIOR TO A DOG COMING INTO THE CLASSROOM, THE QUITENESS, THE STRESS, THE EDGINESS AND THEN I SEE THEM CALM DOWN.

AND THEN WHEN THE DOG EXITS AFTERWARDS, THEY'RE REALLY RELAXED, THERE'S A LOT OF ENGAGEMENT AND THEY SEEM TO LAUGH AND FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE AND CALM.

>> YOU GET THAT OCCASIONAL, I'M HAVING A REALLY BAD DAY, AND SHE MADE MY FEEL BETTER, AND ALL IT TAKES IS ONE PERSON TO SAY THAT AND THAT MAKES YOUR WHOLE DAY.

>> WE ALSO HAVE A CHARACTER WORD THAT WE USE EACH WEEK, THE FIRST WORD WE HAD EMPATHY.

>> WE'RE HERE TO TEACH ABOUT COMPASSION.

>> EVERYBODY CAN IDENTIFY WITH A DOG AND HAVE THAT TO REPLATE WE CAN SHARE STORIES HOW TO BE COMPASSIONATE TO ONE ANOTHER OR DO ACTS OF KINDNESS.

>> WE WANT OUR STUDENTS TO GRADUATE FROM BROKEN ARROW HIGH SCHOOL ACADEMICALLY READY TO FACE THE WORLD, AND TO BE AN INTERGUARDRAIL PART IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> I WISH IT WOULD BE IN MORE SCHOOLS.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT AND ELLY DOES, TOO.

OKLAHOMA CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS ARE FOCUSING ON THE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF STUDENTS THROUGH AN INITIATIVE CALLED "EMBRACE OKC."

AS PART OF THE INITIATIVE, THE DISTRICT WORKS WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES TO SURVEY MORE THAN 7,000 STUDENTS IN 6TH, 8TH, 10TH AND 12TH GRADES.

THE MOST RECENT SURVEY RESULTS SHOW 48% OF STUDENTS WERE IN MODERATE-TO-SEVERE PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS.

HERE TO TALK MORE ABOUT EMBRACE OKC ARE SUPERINTENDENT OF OKLAHOMA CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, DR.

SEAN MCDANIEL• PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA, DEBBY HAMPTON• AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE COMMUNITIES FOUNDATION OF OKLAHOMA, TERESA ROSE CROOK.

WELCOME ALL!

THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT HOW THIS ALL GOT STARTED, EMBRACE OKC.

>> PART OF THE CHAMBER, I'M AN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER OF THE OKLAHOMA CITY CHAMBER AND WE HAVE BEEN VERY INTERESTED?

WHAT IS GOING ON WITH OKLAHOMA CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND WANTING TO PARTNER.

SEVERAL YEARS AGO CAME UP WITH THE IDEA OF PUTTING TOGETHER A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT HAD RESOURCES THAT WE COULD COMMIT TO THE DISTRICT, TO HELP THEM RESOLVE SOME ISSUES THAT MAYBE THEY CAN'T HAPPEN -- CAN'T HANDLE BY THEMSELVES THE STUDENTS THAT ZACH AND HIS STAFF ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR EDUCATING ON A DAILY BASIS, THOSE KIDS BELONG TO ALL OF US AND FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY'S PERSPECTIVE, THIS IS OUR WORK FORCE.

THESE ARE OUR KIDS, TOO MUCH IT'S NOT JUST THE DISTRICT'S RESPONSIBILITY.

>> SO WE PUT TOGETHER WHAT IS CALLED THE OKLAHOMA CITY COMPACT AND IT IS THE CITY, THE CHAMBER, UNITED WAY, THE OKLAHOMA CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT BRINGS TO US ISSUES THAT THEY WANT US TO HELP THEM ENGAGE WITH.

AND SEVERAL YEARS AGO, MENTAL HEALTH WAG -- WAS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION AND WE DOVE RIGHT IN.

>> WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE FOR THE 40,000 STUDENTS IN OKLAHOMA PUBLIC SCHOOLS UMBRELLA OF SCHOOLS.

>> WE TALK A LOT ABOUT THE OBSTACLES THAT STAND IN KIDS' WAY.

POTENTIAL AND MANY TIMED OR KIDS NEVER REACH THAT POTENTIAL BECAUSE OF THOSE OBSTACLES.

SO EMBRACE OKC IS THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT UNTIL WE CAN HELP KIDS AND FAMILIES RESOLVE SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT THEY COME TO SCHOOL WITH, THE IDEA THAT WE'RE GOING TO MOVE THE ACADEMIC NEEDLE REALLY BECOMES A SECONDARY CONVERSATION.

SO EMBRACE OKC IS A WONDERFUL PARTNERSHIP, COMMUNITY, SCHOOLS, THAT SAYS WE ARE GOING TO STEP UP AND BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION TO PROTECTING OUR KIDS' MENTAL HEALTH.

>> IT TAKES AN INVESTMENT.

RIGHT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND THIS FITS RIGHT IN WITH WHAT UNITED WAY DOES AND WHAT WE STAND FOR.

ACTUALLY WE HOPE THE RIPPLE EFFECT OF EMBRACE OKC, THE PREVENTION PIECE OF IT ESPECIALLY.

WE JUST AS A STATE AREN'T FOCUSING AS MUCH ON PREVENTION SEEMS TO BE AT THE TREATMENT SIDE BUT THIS CAN HAVE A RIPPLE EFFECT WITH ALL OTHE AGENCIES WE FUND TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT AND CAN BE REPLICATED.

>> YES SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THIS WORK AND MANY OF US ARE WATCHING AND WANT TO SUPPORT IT BECAUSE WE WANT TO SEE THIS MODEL IMPLEMENTED, SCALED, IN DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE.

THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PIECE, UNITED WAY PARTER INSHIP.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR PRACTICALLY WHAT KIND OF INFORMATION DO YOU LEARN THROUGH THE SURVEY OR HOW YOU ADDRESS THIS?

>> YOU MENTIONED THE OP -- OKLAHOMA PREVENTION NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND WE WERE ABLE TO REALLY GLEAN A LOT OF USABLE INFORMATION FROM THAT SURVEY.

KIDS TELL US WHAT THEIR RISKS ARE, WHAT THEY'RE ENGAGED IN, WHAT THEIR PROTECTIVE FACTORS ARE, WHERE THEY FEEL SAFE.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DATA, WE CAN GO TO OUR PARTNERS AND SAY NOT JUST GLOBALLY BUT BY NEIGHBORHOOD, BY SCHOOL, THESE THINGS EXIST.

DO YOU HAVE AN AGENCY THAT CAN HELP SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION FOR THAT SPECIFIC NEED?

AND OF COURSE, DEBBIE AND THE REST OF US SAY, YES, WE WANT TO STEP UP AND FILL THAT GAP.

SO WHAT IT LOOKS LIKER IS THERE'S THIS REALLY COOL PARTNERING BETWEEN SCHOOL PERSONNEL, COUNSELORS, SOCIAL WORKERS, NURSES, TEACHERS, AND AGENCY SUPPORT THAT COMES INTO THE SCHOOL.

WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THE NEED, WE CREATE A TEAM, AND THEN FROM THE EDUCATIONAL SIDE, THE PREVENTIVE SIDE TO THE TREATMENT OF THE STUDENTS AND EVEN SUPPORTING THEIR FAMILIES, WE CREATE A TEAM THAT ADDRESSES THOSE NEEDS.

SO THAT'S THE IDEAL.

WHERE WE STRUGGLE, LIKE ALL PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS, IS FROM A FUNDING STANDPOINT.

WE HAVE A MUCH GREATER NEED THAN THE FUNDING WILL SUPPORT.

AND THAT'S WHY THIS PARTNERSHIP IS SO CRITICAL.

>> THIS ISN'T SOMETHING YOU DO ONE TIME.

RIGHT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> DEBBIE, HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE IT WHEN YOU TALK TO OTHER BUSINESS AND TREATS AS WELLMENT WHEN YOU TALK WITH OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE OR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BE INVOLVED AND HELP?

>> WE HAVE ALL BEEN TOGETHER TALKING TO SEVERAL BUSINESS PARTNERS THAT I REALLY HAVE BEEN FOCUSING A LOT ALSO ON THE NONPROFIT SECTOR.

SO, WE'RE PART OF 18 DIFFERENT UNITED WAYS THAT COVER THE ENTIRE STATE OF OKLAHOMA, SO I'VE PRESENTED EMBRACE OKC AS THE UNITED WAY'S ROLE IN THIS AND I THINK WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE OF THIS IS WE ALL HAVE 100% BUYIN, AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT BUY-IN.

I KNOW I CAN PICK UP THE PHONE OR TEXT SEAN OR TERESA AND IF THERE'S A NEED OR WE'RE MAKE A FUNDRAISING CALL THEY'LL BE THERE AND THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.

TERESA TALKED BUT THE COMPACT BUT WHAT THE CHAMBER DID I THOUGHT WAS SO WISE IS THEY PUT THE DECISIONMAKERS AT THE TABLE.

AND SO WE COULD MAKE DECISIONS RIGHT AT THE TABLE AND SAY, WE'RE IN.

>> THAT'S SO EXCITING AND IT'S IMPORTANT WORK AND I THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.

DEBBIE, TERESA AND SEAN, FOR THE INVESTMENT THAT YOU ARE MAKING AND YOUR DEDICATION.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE EMBRACE OKC INITIATIVE, GO TO OKCPS.ORG.

A HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMAN IN THE OKLAHOMA PANHANDLE HAS EARNED A SPOT IN AN INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION.

JACKSON SCHROEDER IS ONE OF SIXTEEN HIGH SCHOOLERS IN THE COUNTRY TO MAKE THE U-S-A JUNIOR PARA-LYMPIC TEAM.

, I DIE SHOT PUT, DIFFICULT AND JAVELIN.

ION THROWN DISCUS FOR SIX YEARS.

>> GOOD JOB.

>> MY FAMILY HAS BEEN VERY COMPETITIVE FROM THE START I WAS BORN.

>> WHEN JACK WON WAS BORN WE FOUND OUTS HE WOULD HAVE ISSUES.

>> NEVER WALK, NEVER FEEL ANYTHING BELOW HIS WAIST AND I THINK SOMETIMES THEY TELL YOU THE WORST.

AS ANY PARENT YOU'RE DEVASTATED.

>> HE WAS REALLY STRONG AS A KID.

>> WE HAD TAKEN HIM SKIING AND HEED BEEN PART OF THE ADABTIVE PROGRAM IN SKIING.

AND I THOUGHT THERE'S GOT TO BE MORE.

LOOKING ON THE INTERNET AND FINDING THESE CLUBS, I RAN INTO ONE AT A TIME.

>> I GOT TO SEE HIM GROW UP RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME.

>> THE YEAR BEFORE LAST HE BROKE HIS FIRST RECORD IT AND WAS LIKE, MY GOSH, HE'S LIKE WE CAN HAVE SOMETHING ON OUR HANDS HERE.

>> LAST YEAR, WHEN WE WENT TO THE REGIONAL AND SEE THAT JACKSON HAS REACHED THAT LEVEL HE WAS THROWING WITH THE MEN.

THESE ARE GROWN MEN IN THEIR 30s AND 20s, AND HERE YOU HAVE THIS KID, THROWING, AND HE'S THROWING CLOSE TO THEIR DISTANCE.

>> JUST BEEN GETTING BIGGER AND BIGGER AND STRONGER AND STRONGER.

>> MADE THE INTERNATIONAL WHEELCHAIR AND AMPUTEE SPORT JUNIOR TEAM.

IT'S A TEAM FROM U.S.A.

ONLY 16 KIDS GOING TO COMPETE IN TRACK AND FIELD FROM THE U.S.

THAT ARE GOING.

>> IT'S IN THAILAND.

>> UNBELIEVABLE.

I MEAN, LIKE ANY PARENT I THINK THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.

>> I FOUND OUT THEY HAD A BIG ASSEMBLY HERE AND I HAD NO IDEA, AND THEY JUST WALKED IN AND THE WHOLE SCHOOL WAS HERE AND TOLD ME IN FRONT OF EVERYONE.

>> I WAS KIND OF SHY.

KIDS FROM ALL THESE OTHER COUNTRIES COMPETING TO SEE WHO IS THE BEST IN THE WORLD.

>> WE ARE GOING TO GET ON THE PEDDUM.

>> TOUGH COMPETITION.

>> IF I HEAR EVERYTHING IN THE TOWN, THE PROGRAM, EVERYTHING, BECAUSE WHEN YOU WIN, WE WIN, EVERYBODY WINS.

NO MATTER WHAT YOUR PHYSICAL CONDITION IS, THERE'S SOMETHING FOR YOU.

IF PEOPLE SAY YOU CAN'T, DON'T LISTEN TO THEM AT ALL.

>> THERE YOU GO.

JACKSON IS COMPETING AT THE 2020 INTERNATIONAL WHEELCHAIR AND AMPUTEE SPORTS FEDERATION WORLD GAMES IN THAILAND.

THE GAMES RUN THROUGH FEBRUARY 28.

AND WE WANT TO WISH JACKSON GOOD LUCK!

PERIODICALLY ON EDUCATION MATTERS, WE'RE INTRODUCING YOU TO THE MEMBERS OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

THESE MEMBERS MAKE A LASTING IMPACT ON OKLAHOMA'S PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS.

SEVEN PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE STATE - INCLUDING ME - MAKE UP THE GOVERNING BOARD OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

FIVE OF THE MEMBERS WERE APPOINTED BY GOVERNOR STITT JUST LAST YEAR.

JOINING ME TODAY IS BRIAN BOBEK, A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSMAN, AND A PRODUCT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

WE'RE SO HAPPY TO HAVE YOU HERE TODAY.

>> THANK YOU.

>> YOU TRAVEL EVERYWHERE.

YOU HAVE TAKEN THIS ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITY VERY SERIOUSLY AND ALSO SERVE ON THE CAREER TECH STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AS WELL AS ONE OF OUR APPOINTEES, TELL ME WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN IN OKLAHOMA PUBLIC EDUCATION SINCE YOU HAVE BEEN APPOINTED.

>> THANK YOU, AND I MUST TELL YOU THAT SOME OF THE SHARPEST KNIVES IN THE DRAWER ARE RIGHT HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

I'VE BEEN VERY IMPRESSED IN THE STATE AND MET A LOT OF THE KEY STAKEHOLDERS, WHETHER THEY BE SUPERINTENDENTS OR BOARD MEMBERS, PRINCIPALS, TEACHERS, AND LEARNING FROM THEM, ASKING QUESTIONS, MAY NOT AGREE ON EVERY TOPIC HERE IN THE STATE, SOME OF THE THING THAT HAVE COME ACROSS THE BOARD BUT I HAVE TRIED TO SHOW RESPECT, AND BECOME INFORMED SO THAT AS THESE MATTERS COME TO US, THAT WE CAN MAKE GOOD DECISIONS AT THENED OF THE DAY WILL BENEFIT STUDENTS.

>> I KNOW THAT YOU AND YOUR WIFE, TONEIE, AND YOUR FAMILY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN SOUTH OKLAHOMA CITY AS WELL.

CAN YOU TELL US HOW YOU GOT STARTED IN SOME OF THAT WORK.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ABOUT SIX YEARS AGO THROUGH A FRIEND OF OURS, WE -- WE WERE PRETTY NAIVE TO CONDITIONED THAT SOME STUDENTS IN OKLAHOMA LIVE IN.

WHETHER IT'S THE JUST NOT KNOWING WHERE THEIR NEXT MEAL COMES FROM, WHERE THEY'LL SLEEP AT NIGHT AND THOSE MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO GO TO SCHOOL AND LEARN OBVIOUSLY.

SO THROUGH A FRIEND OF U.S.

WE BECAME AWARE AT CAPITAL HILL HIGH SCHOOL OF THE ATHLETES THERE AND SOME OF THE VERY TOUGH SITUATIONS THEY WERE IN.

SO WORK WITH THE PRINCIPAL THERE AND THE COACHES, WE ADOPTED THEIR TEAMS AND BEGAN TO JUST DO SOMETHING -- SOME SIMPLE THINGS LIKE BRINGING PIZZA AND GATORADE BEFORE HOME GAMES AND THAT EVOLVED INTO AN ANNUAL ALL-SPORTS BANQUET AND WE HAVE BEEN VERY PRIVILEGED TO BE PART OF AND THAT GIVE BACK TO THE KIDS' LIVES.

>> BULLYING AND SUICIDE PREVENTION IS PERSONALITY TO YOU.

TELL ME YOU THOUGHTS ON THAT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

UNDER THAT HEALTH AND SAFETY UMBRELLA WE SPEAK OF, IN OUR SCHOOLS, AND WORKING AS WE SPEAK WITH YOUR TEAM ON LOOKING AT WAYS WE CAN BRING SOME OUTSIDE PARTIES IN AND MAKE THEM AVAILABLE TO DISTRICTS WHO WOULD CHOOSE TO HAVE THEM COME TO THEIR SCHOOL AND DO ASSEMBLIES IS AN AWARENESS AND INFORMATIVE PIECE WHERE THROUGH MIGHT BE HOTLINES AND EVEN APPS WHERE THE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES COULD UTILIZE TO HELP OVERCOME THE REALLY TOUGH SITUATIONS.

>> YOU'RE A BIG SUPPORTER OF THE INDIVIDUAL CAREER ACADEMIC PLANNING WHERE ALL OF THE KID GRADUATING WILL NOW HAIR IF THE OWN PERSONAL PLAN FOR WHAT HAPPENS NEXT AFTER HIGH SCHOOL.

HOW DO YOU SEE THIS AS A PARENT?

>> MY WIFE TAUGHT ME EARLY ON THAT THE COOKIE CUTTER APPROACH DOESN'T WORK AND SO WHAT WORKED WITH OUR OLDEST WON'T WORK WITH OUR YOUNGEST AND THAT PRIM I HAVE TAKEN THANK YOU THAT THROUGH THE LENS IN THIS NEW POSITION AND MY GOAL WOULD BE AND MY HEART WE WOULD INFORM AND PROVIDE OPTIONS FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES TO KNOW WHAT THOSE NEXT STEPS WOULD BE AS THEY PREPARE TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL.

SO WHETHER WE'RE TALKING BEAUT FOUR-YEAR SCHOOL, A TWO-YEAR COLLEGE, A CAREER AND TECH, WHICH IS A NATION'S LEADER, OR EVEN THE MILITARY WHICH IS A VIABLE OPTION, JUST SO THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THEY CAN GIVE THEM HOPE SO THEY CAN DEVELOP THEIR FUTURE AND FULFILL THEIR GOD-GIVEN DESTINY.

>> THAT FOLDS RIGHT INTO BEING TRAUMA INFORMED OR TRAUMA SENSITIVE, RECOGNIZING THAT NOT ALL OF OUR KID HAVE HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCES AND SOME NEED EXTRA UNDERSTANDING.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> THAT HAS TOUCHED YOUR HEART DEEPLY AS YOU THINK ABOUT THE WORK YOU SPOKE OF, THAT CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, AND THAT TRAUMA INFORMED APPROACH MEANS WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THAT AND YOU TALK TO SOMEONE OUTSIDE OF EDUCATION, HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE THAT?

>> WELL, OF COURSE, YOU'RE CONSIDERED ONE OF THE TOP TWO OR THREE LEAD EVERS IN THE NATION IN TRAUMA INFORMED, AND WE APPRECIATE SO MUCH OF YOUR LEADERSHIP THERE.

IN ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION, REALLY IN THE LAST NINE MONTHS LEARNED MORE I THINK OFTEN TIMES THE APPROACH HAS BEEN -- THIS IS MY OPINION -- HAS BEEN TO TEACH THE TEACHERS HOW TO MANAGE THE TRAUMA IN THE CLASSROOM, I BELIEVE TO GET TO THE ROOT OF THAT ISSUE TO YOUR POINT WE NEED TO TEACH CHARACTER BUILDING TO THE KID SOD THEY CAN OVERCOME AND THEN DEVELOP THAT PATHWAY THAT WILL LEAD THEM TO THEIR SUCCESS.

>> IT'S ABOUT STRONG FAMILIES.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

LY WOULD 'WE APPRECIATOR SOLVES AND YOUR BEING HERE TODAY AND YOU'RE PART OF HE SUMMIT WE JUST CHAD SO GLAD YOU'RE PART OF THAT.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

THAT'S ABOUT ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR TODAY.

REMEMBER, IF THERE ARE EDUCATION ISSUES YOU'D LIKE US TO TACKLE, SEND US AN E-MAIL TO EDUCATION MATTERS @SDE.OK.GOV.

UNTIL NEXT TIME, REMEMBER TO STAY ENGAGED IN PUBLIC EDUCATION.

I'M JOY HOFMEISTER.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

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