Faculty, Staff and Board

Trinity School changes the lives of the students we teach.  

Our multi-sensory curriculum, purpose-built for students with learning differences, is delivered and supported by our devoted faculty and staff.  Our team speaks with one voice to the student body, teaching lessons with patience and love.  You can learn more about joining our awesome team of educators here.  

Our Leadership Team never sleeps!  We’re all-in for Trinity kids!

Lisa Schade
About Lisa Schade
Lisa is leading Trinity toward its future as a Center of Excellence for students with learning differences, one that gives back to the great community in which we live. Her skills as a seasoned executive align perfectly with Trinity’s mission. Lisa is truly gifted at building and leading highly functional teams to develop, optimize, and implement the many facets that make our school shine. In addition, her experience in organizational management, implementation of growth strategies, marketing, legislative affairs, and financial modeling have a tangible impact on the families Trinity serves.

Lisa has held multiple leadership roles in corporate, state, and not-for-profit organizations. She’s worked as an entrepreneur, leading a global team of scientists, clinicians, and thought leaders to develop products, programs, and policies that continue to improve the quality of life for people worldwide through medical betterment and increased public safety. In her early career, Lisa held the role of Laboratory Director for the University of Oklahoma’s world-renowned DNA Sequencing laboratory. There she worked as part of a management team leading hundreds of scientists to become global contributors to the completion of the human genome project. In charitable work, she has devoted her efforts to provide practical help for people in need. This confluence of entrepreneurial skill and charity suits Trinity perfectly, providing a tremendous benefit to students, families, and coworkers.

When she’s not roaming the halls at Trinity School, you will find Lisa’s heart in action in several places. She’s deeply involved in political advocacy in Central Oklahoma on behalf of health and safety initiatives. She’s had the privilege to work alongside multiple activists and to create and expand several non-profit entities. She has served on numerous industry boards throughout her career, including Cleveland County’s Habitat for Humanity, Women Lead, DNA Saves, DNA-Prokids, and St. John’s Vestry and Outreach Center, all devoted to addressing health and safety issues and improving people’s lives.

Lisa and her husband Michael live on campus in Norman with their daughter Genevieve.

Lisa Schade

Chief Executive Officer
lschade@trinityschoolokc.org

Shelli Thomas
About Mike Smith

Mike Smith is our Head of School and Head of Operations and Administration. Mike also manages our student services team, creating meaningful enrichment programs for our students.

Mike joined Trinity with extensive experience. He began his career in education in 1996 as a high school social studies teacher and football coach. In addition, he served as a school administrator in Oklahoma, both as an Assistant High School Principal and a Middle School Principal.
Mike is a certified administrator, principal, and 7th-12th-grade teacher. He earned his undergraduate degree from Oklahoma State University and his Master’s in Educational Administration from SWOSU.

Mike’s wife Ann is a State Farm agent in Edmond, and together they have two children, Samantha and Terry. In his free time, Mike enjoys taking trips to the mountains with family and spending time building hand-crafted wood furniture and decor in his shop.

Michael Smith | MED

Head of School & Head of Operations & Administration
msmith@trinityschoolokc.org

Becky Edmonds
About Jeremy Walker

After graduating from the University of Oklahoma in 1997, Jeremy began his career in education as a middle school science teacher. He coached football, basketball, and track and served as the school’s athletic director. He worked for ten years in this role before moving to the high school level. For the past twenty-five years, Jeremy has worked in two school districts – Norman Public Schools and Moore Public Schools spending only three years at the latter. He has taught physical science, biology, and chemistry and coached football and track at the high school level.

Jeremy’s wife, Courtney, is the athletic director at Moore High School. This will be her first year in this position. She most recently served as Norman North High School’s athletic director.

Jeremy’s three sons keep him busy with very active lives. Reagan, the oldest, is entering his first semester of medical school. Craig is completing his last semester of undergraduate work at OU. Courtland, their youngest, will be starting the first semester of his junior year of high school.

In his free time, Jeremy enjoys traveling with his family (especially to the resorts in Mexico!), taking care of his golden retriever, and crushing his opponent’s hopes and dreams on the pickleball court.

Jeremy Walker

Division Head 8-12
jwalker@trinityschoolokc.org

Shelli Thomas
About Shelli Thomas
Shelli Thomas is Trinity School’s Lower Division Head. She is a Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT) and Certified Dyslexia Therapist. She is very experienced at remediating students who have dyslexia. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Oklahoma, and she has been with Trinity School since 2007.

Shelli has taught various subjects and grade levels. The majority of her teaching career has been devoted to helping students improve their reading skills. Teaching children to read has always been her passion! Shelli is always the first to jump in with field trips, activities, and just about anything that helps Trinity students grow. She is a mentor for new teachers at Trinity and a resource to organizations and families dealing with learning differences.

Shelli has three sons and four grandchildren. Her youngest son is a graduate of Trinity School and has a bachelor of fine arts from Oklahoma Christian University. She credits the teachers he had at Trinity for giving him the tools he needed to be successful. Shelli loves horses, sports, and Peanuts. Trinity students recently assembled a Snoopy puzzle for her that hangs in our reading therapy room.

Shelli Thomas | CALT, CDT

Division Head K-7, Reading Therapy Programs Director
sthomas@trinityschoolokc.org

Chad Varney Trinity School
About Zac Niles
Zac Niles joined the Trinity team as Chaplain and Head of Religious Education Programs in December of 2020. Zac received his undergraduate degree in History at The University of Central Oklahoma and his Master’s in Ministry at Grace College and Seminary in Indiana.

Before joining the Trinity team, Zac worked as a Director and Chaplain at King’s Gate Christian School in Yukon. Also, he served as the Senior High Minister at the Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian Church in Tulsa. Zac has also served as a House Parent in a group home, a Camp Director at a Christian Summer Camp, and as Pastor at various other churches in Oklahoma and Texas.

Zac Niles | MMIN

Chaplain & Head of Religious Education Programs
zniles@trinityschoolokc.org

Traci Epperson Trinity School
About Traci Epperson
Traci Epperson is a Licensed Professional Counselor, and she joined Trinity as a school counselor in early 2020.

Traci received her master’s degree in clinical psychology from the University of Houston-Clear Lake. Before joining the Trinity team, she administered psychoeducational assessments at the Child Study Center for three and a half years. Traci has worked with children of all ages to determine how best to help them succeed academically. Her specialty is helping children to address problems related to learning and executive function differences due to neurodiversity.

Traci is excited about Trinity’s focus on providing what each student needs exactly to be successful. The opportunity to see her recommendations in action for the betterment of our students is, perhaps, what she looks forward to the most!

Traci has two school-aged daughters who attend independent schools, and the appeal of their schools is very much like what draws many students to Trinity! The smaller class sizes and more individualized support have allowed both of her girls to thrive. In her leisure time, Traci enjoys reading good fiction and cooking yummy food for her family.

Traci Epperson | LPC

Head of Academic Support and Counseling
tepperson@trinityschoolokc.org

Meet our amazing advisors!

Cathy Reim Trinity School
About Cathy Reim
Cathy Reim is Trinity School’s Director of Academic Services and School Psychometrist. She serves Trinity students through standardized testing and also tracks data from formative assessments to identify student progress, inform instruction, and guide individualized learning plans. Cathy strongly believes that every student deserves a quality education that is designed to meet their unique learning differences and develop their cognitive, academic, social-emotional, and spiritual potential to the fullest. For these reasons, Cathy is extremely excited to be part of the Trinity team.

After earning her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, Cathy went on to serve students as a classroom teacher for thirteen years. She soon felt the need to broaden her knowledge and expertise to help the struggling readers she encountered each year. She earned her Master’s degree in Education, with a specialization in reading, from the University of Central Oklahoma and later earned her School Psychometrist certification through East Central University. Cathy has supported teachers and served struggling readers in a variety of roles as a reading specialist, Literacy Coach, and School Psychometrist for seventeen years.

In her free time, Cathy loves to cook, read about reading, and has recently discovered an interest in vegetable gardening. Cathy and her husband reside in Norman. They have 3 children and three adorable grandsons.

Cathy Reim | MED

Advisor Academics, and School Psychometrist
creim@trinityschoolokc.org

Cindi Marden
About Cindy Marden
Cindy Marden serves as an Advisor for Special Education and Mathematics at Trinity School. Cindy was a substitute teacher at Trinity for many years and was well-acquainted with the school before becoming a faculty member. Because of her experience serving kids with learning differences, Cindy was thrilled to see a school fully dedicated to meeting the needs of children who may otherwise fall through the cracks. In addition, she admired how the staff at Trinity poured their hearts into the school.

Cindy earned her bachelor’s degree in science and education from the University of Kansas. However, she quickly realized her passion for teaching lies in supporting those students who are often overlooked in conventional schools. As a result, Cindy returned for her master’s degree in science education, emphasizing orthopedic disabilities and different learning styles. After a few years as an educator in Kansas, she moved to Edmond, Oklahoma.

Early in her career, Cindy forged an inclusion program to help kids with unique needs remain in their classrooms with the support of specially trained teachers. Cindy worked in a conventional classroom, supporting the primary teacher, helping all the students present, and assisting students who learn differently. This led her to a career fully dedicated to differently-abled students. Her teaching philosophy centers around smaller class sizes and plenty of one-on-one time with students. After 23 years of teaching, she has worked with every grade and development level. Much of her time in the classroom has been spent helping students with physical disabilities or learning differences.

Cindy and her husband Steve have three children and five grandchildren, most of whom live in Colorado. In her time outside of the classroom, Cindy likes to spend time cooking meals from scratch, reading, and taking walks with her dog.

Cindy Marden | SPED

Advisor Special Education and Mathematics
cmarden@trinityschoolokc.org

Traci Epperson Trinity School
About Karmyn Reimer
Karmyn graduated from Oklahoma City University with a degree in Elementary Education and a minor in music. She received her Masters of Reading from East Central University in 2001.

Her teaching career began in 1997 at Tecumseh Public Schools, where she taught first, fourth and fifth grades. In 2006 she was hired as a Reading Specialist at Cross Timbers Elementary in Tecumseh, working closely with teachers and students to help in all areas of reading. In 2012, she started her training with Payne Education Center as a Dyslexia Therapist. Karmyn finished her C.A.L.T. certification, completed the Qualified Instructor program with Payne, and became a reading specialist for Tecumseh Schools. Recently Karmyn worked for Little Axe Public Schools in Norman, OK, as the Reading Sufficiency Coordinator.

Karmyn loves to help students become better readers, spellers, and writers, and her passion is seeing dyslexic students excel.

She loves spending time with her family, her husband Jason, an educator, and her son Isaac. In addition, she enjoys a lifelong talent for singing, even having the honor of singing with Oklahoma’s Canterbury Choral Society. Karmyn also loves to cook, do leather crafting, and sew.

Karmyn Reimer | CALT, QI

Advisor Reading Therapy
kreimer@trinityschoolokc.org

Smile! Our office staff loves you!

Kim Byers Trinity School
About Kim Byers
Kim Byers has been a part of Trinity School since 2016. She came to Trinity after a 16-year stint in television.

Kim began at Trinity School as an Administrative Assistant but was soon promoted to Executive Administrative Assistant. She received her BS in Education from the University of Central Oklahoma. She received the Dean’s and President’s honor roll throughout her time in college.
Kim has always loved working with children, and Trinity has provided the ideal opportunity. She is so thankful for her Trinity family and their support over the years.

Kim has one brother and 4 nieces and nephews. They have been the greatest gift she has ever received. Kim has a pet cat, and she has always had a love for animals. Her hobbies include dance, reading, baking, and going to the movies. She has been dancing at the same studio since she was a child. Dance has taught her perseverance, time management, organization, dedication, discipline, and most of all life long friendships.

Kim Byers

Student Services Coordinator
kbyers@trinityschoolokc.org

Colin Ryan Trinity School
About Jennifer Free
Jennifer joined the Trinity team in January 2021 as a Classroom Aide and Graphic Designer and has since become the Head of Marketing for the school. Jennifer graduated with her Bachelor’s Degree from Oklahoma City University. Before coming to Trinity, she worked as a graphic designer for an events production company based in Nashville, designing signage for large companies, including Walmart, Starbucks, and Lego. Before that, she worked as a freelance designer, creating children’s products, stationery, and invitations for several online retailers.

Jennifer homeschooled her three children, David, Caleb, and Brennyn, for over eight years before coming to Trinity and truly understands the value of individualized education. She enjoys spending time with her family, boating, hiking, and running with her giant labradoodle Charlie.

Jennifer Free

Head of Marketing
jfree@trinityschoolokc.org

Teresa Sullivan Trinity School
About Teresa Sullivan
Teresa Sullivan’s role as Head of Human Resources and Finance didn’t begin at Trinity until August 2020; however, she was already well acquainted with the school. Teresa worked for the CPA firm DWG for several years handling the finances for Trinity.

Teresa is the definition of a hard worker with over 25 years of self-taught accounting experience. She enjoys her role with Trinity and has a rich appreciation for Trinity’s commitment to helping children find their potential and academic excellence.

Teresa enjoys spending time with her three children and 10 grandchildren and her “spoiled rotten” Yorkie-Poo, Rascal. Teresa enjoys camping, boating, reading a good murder mystery book, especially by Stephen King or James Patterson.

Teresa Sullivan

Head of Human Resources and Finance
tsullivan@trinityschoolokc.org

Kim Byers Trinity School
About Monica Valles

Monica Valles joined the Trinity Team in early Spring 2022 after serving three and a half years with Moore Public Schools as a Junior High Principal Secretary. Monica received her Bachelor of Arts in Human Relations from the University of Oklahoma. She has served multiple volunteer hours with the Boys and Girls Club, Center for Children and Families in Norman, Habitat for Humanity, and Harvest Foster Kids Summer Camp. She enjoys being involved with youth and their education.

Monica’s hobbies include running, reading, drawing, and hanging out with her family and friends. She has a two-year-old daughter named Amelia, who keeps her busy when not at work. Together they love singing, walking to the park, and jumping on the trampoline! She loves her so much and absolutely enjoys teaching her new things and watching her grow! Monica is so thankful to be a part of the Trinity family. She looks forward to getting to know the staff, students, and families throughout the years!

Monica Valles

School Secretary
mvalles@trinityschoolokc.org

Kim Byers Trinity School
About Brett Hodges

Brett Hodges is the Head of Information Technology and also teaches Coding at Trinity. He received his bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Southeastern Oklahoma State University and is proud to have worked as an IT Technician for many projects and companies around Oklahoma.

Brett is excited for the opportunity to work at Trinity School, keeping our students, teachers, and families connected.

In Brett’s free time, you can find him enjoying ESports, camping with his family and friends, and cheering for the Sooners on Saturdays!
We are so excited to have Brett on our Trinity team!

Brett Hodges

Head of Information Technology and Classroom Instructor
bhodges@trinityschoolokc.org

A hero in every classroom!

Norma Morton Trinity School
About Norma Morton
Teaching isn’t a job, it’s a calling, and Norma Morton heard that call her freshman year of college. After 39 years of teaching experience, Norma joined Trinity School to lead the kindergarten and first-grade programs and has since shifted to teaching fourth and fifth grade.

Norma’s teaching career began in 1981 on a reservation in Montana, where she worked with early elementary students. She has experience in public and private schools, teaching in a Minnesota private Christian school and Oklahoma City Public Schools. She has also helped kids with reading intervention who experienced trauma at a Houston drug and alcohol treatment center.

Seeing children whose needs were not met in conventional schools drew Norma to institutions focusing on learning differences. She has come to value the importance of individualized education, and Trinity School was a perfect fit.

Norma earned her associate’s degree from Golden Valley Lutheran College and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Southwest State University in Minnesota. She grew up in the northern central US, living in Minnesota, North Dakota, and Montana. She has been married to her husband for 37 years, and the two have three children and two grandsons together.

If she isn’t teaching, Norma is probably baking. Her favorite recipe is cherry turnovers, but she regularly scouts for new recipes and unique methods of baking her old favorites. She has several vegans in her life, and her vegan baked goods have become so good that you’d never know the difference. In her downtime, Norma loves spending time with her family, watching movies, and crafting.

Norma Morton

Lower Division Classroom Instructor
nmorton@trinityschoolokc.org

Rachel Young Trinity School
About Rachel Young
Rachel Young came to Trinity School after 20 years of working with youth in several different avenues. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Rachel started at Trinity teaching kindergarten, first and second grades, and is now a lower division classroom and reading instructor.

Rachel’s career started at a YMCA in her hometown of Ponca City. She worked for ten years with elementary students as the director and assistant director of the after-school programs and summer day camps. It was there that Rachel met families who had children with learning differences, and her passion for working with them grew. For ten years, Rachel worked as a director of child care centers and Head Start programs.

Rachel’s passion for helping people and especially people with learning differences, started very young. She met her step-dad at age ten, who was a Polio survivor. She learned valuable lessons watching him go through life with many physical, intellectual, and emotional struggles. She felt that same passion from the administration and staff at Trinity and knew Trinity was where she wanted to be. Trinity School puts students’ educational needs first by taking the time to individualize learning for children to thrive.

Rachel is married with two children Roman and Hadley, and a step-daughter Skylar. She spends a lot of time with her family going to sporting events, and she lives for football. If you ask her what her favorite season is, it’s football season. “Boomer Sooner!” She loves the beach, a good cup of coffee, and traveling anywhere new.

Rachel Young  | CALT

Lower Division Classroom Instructor and Reading
ryoung@trinityschoolokc.org

Rachel Young Trinity School
About Lisa Nunes

Lisa joined Trinity School coming from the central valley of California. She taught early childhood special education classes for 13 years, primarily working with students on the autism spectrum. Lisa is excited to join the Trinity team supporting children as she helps them grow and flourish.

Lisa received her BA in child development from CSU Stanislaus and her Masters of Education in early childhood curriculum and instruction from Concordia University.

Lisa has three young children of her own. Not only does Lisa love children, but she shares a love and passion for animals as well. Lisa has two dogs but was surrounded by horses and cattle her entire childhood as she was raised on a ranch. Lisa loves to ride horses and has had the opportunity to spread that passion to her own children. In her free time, Lisa loves to be outdoors. She is looking forward to having the opportunity to explore new areas in Oklahoma with her family.

Lisa Nunes | MED

Lower Division Classroom Instructor 
lnunes@trinityschoolokc.org

Norma Morton Trinity School
About Janice Weigand

Coming Soon!

Janice Weigand

Lower Division Classroom Instructor
jweigand@trinityschoolokc.org

Megan Wimberley
About Hannah Smith
Hannah graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Oklahoma. Prior to that, she attended Rose State College on a full-ride softball scholarship. This is Hannah’s fourth year at Trinity school and her ninth year teaching. Her teaching career began at Bishop John Carroll School, where she taught Physical Education, Health, Religion, and Math. At Trinity School, Hannah has taught Physical Education, Health, Math, and Sign Language. Hannah has also received several reading certifications from the Payne Education Center. She is currently working toward certification in dyslexia advocacy through the Dyslexia Training Institute.

Hannah has always had a passion for working with students who have learning differences. She began working with special education students when she volunteered in the special education program at her high school.

Hannah lives in Mustang, Oklahoma, with her husband Barry and two sons Christian and Weston.

Hannah Smith

Lower Division Classroom Instructor
hsmith@trinityschoolokc.org

Darren Huff
About Nimisha Patel
Coming soon

Nimisha Patel | RBT

K-3 Classroom Aide
npatel@trinityschoolokc.org

Addie Lewallen
About Addie Lewallen
Addie serves as a teacher’s aid in the lower division. She is an Alum, having graduated in 2015. After graduation, Addie completed a four-year on-campus transition program and graduated from the University of North Florida, Jacksonville, in the spring of 2019. She returned home and has completed a one-year internship with Trinity. Addie is so excited to have the opportunity to join the Trinity family in a full-time position. She loves her family, dogs, and, of course, the beach!

Addie Lewallen

Classroom Helper

Addie Lewallen
About Sophia Chase

Coming Soon!

Sophia Chase

Classroom Helper

Addie Lewallen
About Rylee Lloyd

Coming Soon!

Rylee Lloyd

Classroom Helper

Richard Ritz Trinity School
About Dillon Thomas

Coming Soon!

Dillon Thomas

Library/Media & Athletics

Tracy Fields Trinity School
About Tracy Fields
Tracy Fields teaches elementary social studies and middle school language arts at Trinity School. Tracy attended college at Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas, and received her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with a minor in reading and language arts in 1985.

Over the past 35 years, Tracy taught elementary and middle school in Oklahoma and Texas schools. Much of that time was spent serving as a substitute teacher across several schools. During that time, she mastered the skill of quickly changing and adapting lesson plans as needed, on short notice.

Her son Colton brought Tracy to Trinity when he enrolled as a sophomore in the fall of 2010 to get the help he needed for dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia. It was then that Tracy began substituting and working with students in the after-care program. Tracy began teaching at Trinity full-time in 2015 while continuing to help with the after-care program and various other roles in the school.

Tracy has always loved reading and knows how important it is for children to learn the basics of reading. She loves showing students the history of authors and the timeline of when and why books were written. In addition, she believes in the importance of learning how to express oneself in writing. By understanding the fundamentals of the English language, students can become better writers as they go through school.

Because of the help her son Colton received at Trinity, he was able to continue his education. He graduated from college with a fine arts degree and, while in college, was able to advocate for himself. She loves to share his success story with all Trinity students!

Tracy Fields

Lower and Middle Division Classroom Instructor
tfields@trinityschoolokc.org

Marcus Gonzalez Trinity School
About Marcus Gonzalez
Marcus Gonzalez is a Lower and Middle Division classroom instructor and is also in charge of enrichment at Trinity School. He takes the student’s fun very seriously.

Marcus is from Lawton, Oklahoma, and graduated from The University of Oklahoma in 2016 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism. He was involved in the Beta Theta Pi chapter, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cleveland County, Earth Day Big Event Committee, PR Society of America, and the Animal Volunteer Alliance during college.

Following graduation, Marcus packed his bags and took off on the Oregon Trail, moving to Salem, Oregon! In Oregon, he worked as the Youth Sports Coordinator for the Stayton YMCA, organizing youth sports and managing memberships. As a direct contact for parents and, more importantly, an inspiration to kids, Marcus enjoyed working at the YMCA. However, he yearned to be back in Oklahoma and made the difficult decision to return home.

Marcus’s passion has always been helping the community. He did just that in his previous role as an Educational Support Specialist for the Department of Human Services. He helped clients by issuing benefits, organizing cases, and enrolling them into programs. Helping individuals from all over the state was rewarding. Still, Marcus felt he could influence others more locally, leading him to Trinity School.

In this spare time, Marcus enjoys running and playing video games. He loves his work with the Trinity School at Edgemere community and is proud to call himself a Tiger!

Marcus Gonzalez

Lower and Middle Division Classroom Instructor and Student Enrichment
mgonzalez@trinityschoolokc.org

Marcus Gonzalez Trinity School
About Rachel Hall
Rachel Hall started at Trinity School in the Fall of 2019 as a certified reading therapist. Rachel teaches Lower and Middle School Literature and reading therapy. She graduated with a B.S. in Education from the University of Arkansas in 2017 and trained to become a Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT) shortly after.

Her passion for ready therapy began her senior year of college while working at a reading therapy clinic using the Barton Reading and Spelling System. Working at the clinic opened her eyes to the lack of training teachers received on working with children with learning disabilities and the lack of intervention options at most conventional schools. She was so excited to find a school like Trinity that provides the intervention that so many students cannot access.

Outside of school, Rachel enjoys camping, biking, and backpacking. Her family lives in Portland, Oregon and she loves being able to visit and enjoy all the outdoor activities there.

Rachel Hall | CALT

Middle Division Classroom Instructor and Reading Therapist
rhall@trinityschoolokc.org

Chad Varney Trinity School
About Tom Bliss

Tom Graduated from Valley Forge Military Academy with a Liberal Arts Associate Degree. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Education, majoring in Biology, from Kent State University. Intent to pursue his passion for flying, he entered the Air Force as a First Lieutenant, completing flight training with his first assignment in B-52s.

With Vietnam escalating in the late 60s, Tom found himself in Danang, RVN, spotting targets for fighters. After returning to the states, he flew B-52s for two years out of Guam and out of Thailand for four consecutive 6-month tours. After returning to the States again, he was chosen for the Instructor cadre in the Air Force’s new aircraft, the E-3, of which 32 aircraft would be based at Tinker AFB in Oklahoma. During this time, he completed his MBA in Finance from Auburn University.

Tom returned to Tinker for two more tours, the last of which he served as Commander of the E3 in Saudi Arabia during Desert Storm. He retired as Group Commander after 30 years and over 6,000 flying hours.

Tom started his educational journey with Troops for Teachers spending five years at Jefferson Middle School teaching Science in all three grades. After that, he taught three years of Middle School Science in the Edmond School District. Tom also taught for two years at Emerson South in Oklahoma City, a school for disadvantaged students. Most recently, he was a substitute teacher for three years at Christian Heritage Academy, where four of his grandchildren attend.

Tom found a passion for teaching children with learning difficulties when his twin grandsons received an Autism diagnosis. Tom feels very blessed to join the tremendous staff at Trinity. He has committed to ensuring his students receive the best possible education with love and kindness to make them successful.

Tom is married to his wonderful wife, Glenda. Together they have seven grandchildren. In his spare time, he loves gardening, spending time with his grandchildren, and taking care of his backyard pool.

Tom Bliss

Middle Division Science Instructor
tbliss@trinityschoolokc.org

Chad Varney Trinity School
About Chad Varney
Chad Varney teaches World History, Social Skills, and PE at Trinity School. His favorite part of working with Trinity students is building new relationships with students and their families as they learn and grow.

Chad is originally from Little Rock, Arkansas, but moved to Shawnee, Oklahoma, in 2005 to attend Oklahoma Baptist University. He earned a B.S in Exercise Science and a minor in Bible. His dream was to coach big-time college football, and instead, he landed at the Middle-School level, and he feels lucky to have done so!

Chad’s career began teaching science, language arts, and elective courses in computer science at the middle-school level within the Mid-Del School District. In addition, he served as a head coach for the football, basketball, and baseball teams during his time there. These were some of the best school times outside the classroom!

Chad went on to teach cognitive behavior courses within correctional facilities. The experience was intense and incredibly eye-opening. Most recently, Chad coordinated a group home for young boys with emotional challenges.

In his spare time, Chad enjoys Razorback ANYTHING, sports (his TV permanently tuned to ESPN), as well as reading suspense and mysteries books, watching movies, fishing, and volunteering to coach his son’s sports teams. He and his wife, Stephanie, have two kids, Caitlyn and Seth.

Chad Varney

Upper Division Classroom Instructor and Athletics
cvarney@trinityschoolokc.org

Marcus Gonzalez Trinity School
About Kay Spriggs

Coming Soon!

Kay Spriggs

Upper Division Math Instructor
kspriggs@trinityschoolokc.org

Chad Varney Trinity School
About Clarice Pink

Clarice Pink is very excited to join the Trinity School family and loves having the opportunity to share her love of education with students. Clarice was raised in Colorado Springs, CO, but has lived most of her life in Texas. She has been married for twenty-four years to her wonderful husband, Quentin. Together they have three amazing children, including twin girls Mia and Vanessa, who are currently in High School. Their son Gerard is in college at West Texas A&M. They also have a little dog named Atticus Finch.

Clarice majored in History and minored in English, graduating from Texas A&M Central Texas with her Bachelor’s. She went on to finish her Master’s Degree in Liberal Studies with a focus on History, her Capstone being Disability Studies. She has been teaching for six years and has taught all ages and levels, including college, as an Adjunct Professor.

Clarice Pink | MS

Upper Division ELA Instructor
cpink@trinityschoolokc.org

Chad Varney Trinity School
About Kathy Jagosh

Kathy joins Trinity after thirteen years of teaching special education students in the public school system. She began teaching students with learning disabilities for five years at a Putnam City elementary. She took a sixteen-year hiatus after adopting her oldest child, who is a person with autism. During that time, Kathy learned about autism and sensory issues to better help her son. She became an autism advocate in her community and her son’s school system. She also worked as a receptionist at Sensational Kids for a year. Kathy returned to the classroom as a special education middle school ELA teacher in Edmond and remained there for eight years.

Kathy is a lifelong Oklahoma resident. She graduated from Bishop McGuinness and received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UCO. Kathy resides in Edmond and has two adult sons and her morkie, Quinn. In her free time, Kathy likes to go to festivals and spend time with friends and family. She loves trying new restaurants, following OU football and softball, reading, gardening, and enjoying great music.

Kathy Jagosh | MED, SPED

Middle Division Math Instructor
kjagosh@trinityschoolokc.org

Chad Varney Trinity School
About Leilani Dade
Leilani Dade joined the Trinity team in August 2021. She teaches music and co-teaches a coding class. Her primary instrument is classical guitar though she also plays a variety of woodwind instruments.

Originally from Roanoke, Virginia, Leilani Dade received her bachelor’s degree in music and French at Hollins University, where she graduated magna cum laude with a specialization in classical guitar and a certificate in arts management. She studied guitar and music theory at l’Ecole Normale de Musique in Paris, France, as part of the Hollins Abroad Paris program (2011-12).

Leilani received her M.A. from the University of California Riverside in 2017 with a master’s thesis titled Alejandro Caturla and Alejo Carpentier’s La Manita en el Suelo: A Creative (Re)Staging. Her thesis examines nationalism, surrealism, and folklore in Caturla’s unpublished puppet opera, La Manita en el Suelo. She received the Chancellor’s Distinguished Fellowship in 2014 and is a returning recipient of the GLUCK Fellowship of the Arts (2014-18), for which she developed two artist-in-residency programs: Cadence and Bolero: A Musical Journey through Space, and Drama and Drums: A Five-Week Music Program in Opera and Folklore based on her thesis research.

In 2018, she published an article on Turina’s works for guitar titled “Joaquín Turina: Spanish Nationalism and Guitar in The Early 20th Century” in Soundboard Scholar and received the Manolito Pinazo Memorial Award for advanced research in Spanish music. Her dissertation research focuses on French and Spanish nationalism in Spanish composer Joaquin Turina’s stage works.

Leilani’s connection to Oklahoma City began at the annual Celedonio Romero Guitar Institute at OCU. In her spare time, she enjoys teaching computer science and Minecraft classes online, collecting Legos, and making 3D art. Her newest hobbies include electronic music and stop-motion animation.

Leilani Dade | MA

Music and Fine Arts Programs
ldade@trinityschoolokc.org

Darren Huff
About Julie Dolf

Coming Soon!

Julie Dolf

Physical Education
jdolf@trinityschoolokc.org

Darren Huff
About Jacob Baccus

Coming Soon!

Jacob Baccus | MDIV

Art and Theater Programs
jbaccus@trinityschoolokc.org

Keeping the Tigers Safe!

Chad Varney Trinity School
About Officer Ash

Andrew graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Central Oklahoma and a Juris Doctor from Oklahoma City University School of Law. He has served in the military for thirteen years on active duty and in the Oklahoma Army National Guard. Andrew served four and a half years as a police officer.

Andrew is married with two teen-aged children that keep him and his wife extremely busy. Andrew enjoys spending time with his family, rock climbing, working out, and traveling.

 

Officer Ash

Security
aash@trinityschoolokc.org

We Love Our Kitchen and Custodial Teams!

Richard Ritz Trinity School
About Mackenzie Bentley

Mackenzie joined the Trinity team in the summer of 2021 as our Chef & Head of Child Nutrition. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Public Relations from the University of Oklahoma, where she was a walk-on for the Track and Field team.

Upon graduating, she joined the 4HIM Healing Hands nonprofit, ministering to children and young adults in Togo and Sierra Leone, West Africa, working in two children’s orphanages.

Mackenzie became the second female to complete the three-year culinary apprenticeship at The Coach House in Oklahoma City. Mackenzie has spent 10 years in the restaurant industry, learning various roles. First, as menu developer/Executive Chef for Coolgreens in Nichols Hills, OK. Then, she moved on to Washington D.C. to work at Komi Restaurant, a Michelin Star restaurant. She then moved to Boulder, Colorado, where Meadowlark Farm Dinners worked out of a school bus-turned 5-star kitchen. Mackenzie then moved back to OKC, where she became Executive Chef at The Lobby Bar and Tasting Room and eventually became the Chef de Cuisine at The Jones Assembly.

While back in Oklahoma, Mackenzie has worked in the oil and gas industry, sales, and as a private chef/caterer for five years. During the time back, she coached a girls basketball team for two years. She has recently pursued her love for painting and is currently the prayer pastor at The Table OKC.

She loves nature and adventure, hot yoga, cooking for friends and family, reading, writing, learning new things, her dog Luna. She is excited to become an aunt for the first time!

She loves nature and adventure, hot yoga, cooking for friends and family, reading, writing, learning new things, her dog Luna, and is about to be an aunt for the first time.

Mackenzie Bentley

Chef and Head of Child Nutrition
mbentley@trinityschoolokc.org

Richard Ritz Trinity School
About Richard Ritz
Richard Ritz leads Trinity School’s custodial team, and as he says, he keeps the tigers clean and tidy. It’s no small task, given that Richard is helping keep the whole school healthy and safe!

Richard is originally from southeast Iowa, and his family roots there run deep. He moved to Oklahoma City for a job in 1987, and he’s lived here ever since. He worked for 7/11 for over two decades before coming to join the Trinity School staff.

Richard’s wife, Denise, spends most of her days babysitting their grandkids, and she works part-time as a cook in Western Heights School District. The couple has been married for 40 years, and they have three kids, Adam, Austin, and Erica. Between them all, Richard has four grandkids.

Richard is a big Nascar fan; outside of school, he spends a lot of time cheering on his favorite drivers.

Richard Ritz

Head of Custodial Services
rritz@trinityschoolokc.org

Board of Trustees

Our Board of Trustees is dedicated to expanding Trinity’s legacy. These accomplished, OKC business owners and influencers, many of whom have had children attend Trinity School have demonstrated dedication that is endless. Over the past several years, the Board has facilitated the move of the school from its previous location to our new Edgemere home. Their passion and commitment to the school make the expansion of Trinity’s mission possible and are responsible for ushering in a new era for the school.

President – Jamie Lewallen
Vice-President – Michael Perri
Secretary – Blake Pellow
Members 

  • Dan Couch
  • Denise Howard
  • Cindy Rottler
  • Jeff Van Hoose
Richard Ritz Trinity School
Richard Ritz Trinity School