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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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!

Meet Lacie McCrackin, our new school counselor. Lacie began her career as a school counselor in 2019. She is originally from the tiny town of Verden, OK, but now lives in Yukon with her husband and fur baby, Lola.

Lacie never imagined working in education until she began her Master’s program in Counseling at Oklahoma State University. But now, she can’t imagine herself anywhere else. She is passionate about helping students build confidence in all areas of their lives and helping them recognize their strengths socially and academically. Her favorite part of school counseling is working with students one-on-one and getting to know them on a personal level. She is so thankful for the opportunity to play a small role in the development of students at Trinity.

Meet Kristyn, our school nurse who joined our team in the school year of 2022-23. She comes with a wealth of experience having previously worked as a pediatric nurse in Neurology, Neurosurgery, and General Pediatrics, as well as in different areas of pediatrics. Kristyn takes great pleasure in getting to know and providing care for the students of Trinity and supporting our school’s mission. Kristyn is a recent transplant to Oklahoma and enjoys spending time with her husband Andy and their son David.

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.

Margo attained her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Speech Language Pathology from the University of Central Oklahoma. She devoted many years to working with elderly patients, evaluating and treating stroke and swallowing impairments. When her son was diagnosed with dyslexia at 6, she obtained her CALT certification and started assisting children in need with reading. Her son is now 17 and attending high school, while her daughter is 21 and embarking on a nursing program.

In her free time, Margo enjoys practicing pilates, taking ballet classes on occasion (she has had 30 years of ballet training!), and spending quality time with her husband and children. She is thrilled to be a member of Trinity School and eagerly anticipates sharing her knowledge of dyslexia remediation with her pupils and witnessing their triumphs.

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.

Sandra Valentine is a dedicated educator who believes every child deserves the best possible school experience. She is a staunch advocate for her students and enjoys seeing them flourish and reach their fullest potential. Sandra has had a lifelong aspiration to become a teacher, which began when she was just eight years old and was fortunate enough to have the best teacher ever, Mrs. Najera. Mrs. Najera remains a mentor and source of guidance for Sandra to this day.

Sandra holds two degrees in Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education from Oklahoma Baptist University. Currently, she is pursuing her Master’s degree while working towards her Special Education certification. Sandra has taught kindergarten, third, and fourth-grade students throughout her career. She takes great pleasure in teaching young children how to read and write and shares in their enthusiasm as they proudly showcase their work. She has experience teaching in both public and private schools. In the private sector, Sandra devised a mathematics curriculum for kindergarteners and a reading curriculum for third-graders. She also created formative and summative assessments for English Language Arts from kindergarten to fifth grade.

Sandra relocated to Shawnee, Oklahoma, two decades ago after taking a leap of faith and leaving her hometown, Corpus Christi, Texas, to be with her husband in his hometown. Sandra cherishes making memories with her five lively children and four beautiful grandchildren. She is also part of an October Book Club, where they discuss a diverse range of books. Sandra’s interests include attending OSU football games, enjoying pecan and praline ice cream with her grandchildren, and cooking meals alongside her husband.

Sandra is looking forward to this school year as a Trinity Tiger. She hopes to foster lifelong relationships with the families of Trinity, and by working together, she knows this will be the best school year ever.

Sophia serves as a teacher’s aide in the lower division. She is an Alum, having graduated in 2022. Sophia attended Metro Tech School for two years and graduated with a certificate in child development. Broadway musicals are her hobby, and her favorite is Phantom of the Opera! Sophia is excited to be back home with her Tigers in the lower school division!

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!

Marcus Gonzalez is a classroom instructor for Lower and Middle Division students, and he takes great pleasure in witnessing his students reach their full potential.

Marcus graduated from The University of Oklahoma in 2016 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and is originally from Lawton, Oklahoma. Marcus has since obtained his Oklahoma Teacher’s Certification. He has brought his skills to the classroom, dedicating himself to his students’ education. Marcus is passionate about teaching students about history so that they can understand the society around them. By incorporating a mix of core curriculum and fun daily lessons, he has helped many students find a passion for Social Studies, just like he did.

Marcus has worked as the Youth Coordinator for the Stayton YMCA in Oregon, specifically in Youth Sports. He was in direct contact with parents and was an inspiration to kids. Marcus enjoyed his time working in youth sports and uses his passion and experience for physical fitness as our Track and Field Coach during the Spring season.

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!

Trinity welcomes Kendall Cartmell as the Middle and Upper Division Science Instructor. With over 15 years of teaching experience, Kendall holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology and a Master’s in Education. He is also credentialed in Biological Sciences, Physical Science, and Administration.

Kendall’s claim to fame is his appearance on the National Geographic Channel’s “The Mummy Roadshow,” where he collected specimens during a mummy autopsy in an episode titled “An Unwanted Mummy.”

Kendall is excited to join the Trinity Tiger community this year. He has a great passion for science and enjoys sharing this enthusiasm with his students.

Jess Warren joined Trinity after teaching for ten years in public schools. She taught for one year in Florida, four years in Oklahoma City Public Schools, and six years in Edmond Public Schools. She holds a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education from Flagler College in Saint Augustine, Florida.

Jess was born and raised in Palatka, Florida, and moved to Oklahoma City in 2013. She is married with a daughter, Harper, an adopted daughter, Nina, and two stepdaughters, Charlie and Samantha.

Jess has a strong passion for teaching, which is not just a job but a part of who she is. She is a dedicated lifelong learner who continuously seeks to expand her knowledge in the field of education. What attracted her to Trinity was its focus on providing a personalized education for students with learning differences. Jess strongly believes in the power of developing each student’s strengths and helping them overcome any obstacles they may face to become enthusiastic learners.

When she is not teaching, Jess loves spending time with her family, cooking, watching documentaries, and reading.

Introducing David Finch, a new member of the Trinity community! David hails from Texas and brings with him sixteen years of teaching and coaching experience. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in English from Texas A&M University-Commerce and a Master’s degree in Educational Administration from the University of the Southwest. David is currently working towards his second Master’s degree in English from Southwestern Assemblies of God University.

David was raised in Paris, TX, by his grandmother and currently lives in suburban Oklahoma City with his son, who is starting sixth grade. He has a strong passion for teaching and coaching, which he believes is his true calling from God. David firmly believes that all children have the ability to learn and that it all starts with a teacher who is passionate about teaching and determined to set their students up for success in every way possible.

During his free time, David likes to attend his son’s football games and martial arts events. He also enjoys mentoring, going to sporting events, dining out, traveling, shopping, exercising, reading, and attending church.

Leilani Dade joined the Trinity team in August 2021. She teaches music and art history. Her primary instrument is classical guitar, though she dabbles in a variety of 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) and 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. She recently received her doctorate in music with a dissertation titled “La Sulamita: Reviving Joaquín Turina’s First and Nearly Forgotten Biblical Opera.”

In her spare time, she enjoys teaching computer science and Minecraft classes online, collecting Legos, and making 3D art. She also coaches Tiger Bytes, Trinity’s lower school gaming club.

Julie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Physical/Health/Safety Education and a Master’s in Educational Leadership. She recently got married and changed her last name from Dolf to Brooks. Julie has been teaching for 12 years and is excited for the upcoming school year at Trinity, where she anticipates new and exciting opportunities. She has three sons: Jake (23), who is happily married to Victoria and has two beautiful children, Zeke (2) and Posie (3 months); Beaux (19), who will be attending UCO this fall; and Mick (17), who will be a junior at Edmond North this fall. Julie has also added her husband, Billy, and her new daughter, Juliann (17), to her family. Juliann will be a senior at Edmond North this year.

Gina hails from Mustang, Oklahoma, and after graduating from college, relocated to New Hampshire, where she met and wedded her spouse, Tony. Over the years, they have lived in New Hampshire, North Carolina, and Nevada and have returned to Oklahoma. Gina has been an Art Teacher for 17 years in Catholic Education and one year in a charter public school. Gina has a daughter who lives in Manchester, NH, with her family and a son who lives in Turin, Italy, with his family.

Since her youth, Gina has had a strong passion for the arts, which began when she was diagnosed with diabetes. She has been drawing and painting for most of her life. Gina gained national recognition as a pastel artist and was featured in the Best of America Artists and Best in North Carolina. Additionally, she has illustrated a book and a Christian CD cover and has exhibited her artwork in numerous galleries throughout North Carolina.

Gina is passionate about the arts and enjoys sharing her talent with her students. She feels grateful for the gift that God has given her, and she hopes to inspire others by teaching them about the history of art and various techniques and styles.

Britain joined the Trinity team in the summer of 2023 as the Head of Student Services and as a Bible instructor. Britain received his undergraduate degree in Theology from Southern Nazarene University and his Master’s in Theological Studies degree from Duke University. In addition to teaching at Trinity, Britain is an adjunct professor at Southern Nazarene University in their religion department. His specialities and interests are focused on biblical languages (Greek/Hebrew), biblical studies, and the intersection between students and their conceptual picture of who God is.

Prior to working at Trinity, Britain taught middle school and high school Bible/Theology at a private K-12 school in Kansas City, Missouri. When Britain is not teaching, he enjoys woodworking, a good coffee shop, and spending time with his wife, Kenedy, and their dog Blue.

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.

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.

Coming Soon!

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.