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. Jeremy has worked 25 years 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 second year in this position. Prior to this she was the athletic director at Norman North High School and Longfellow Middle School in Norman, OK.

Jeremy has three sons. Reagan, the oldest, is starting his 2nd year of medical school at OU. Craig, a 2022 graduate of OU is starting a career in community health in Austin, TX. Courtland, the youngest, will be starting the first semester of his senior 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, C-SLDS

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 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/Athletic Director
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

Smile! Our office staff loves you!

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

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

Darren Huff
About Emily Cleek

Emily is a versatile and service-oriented artist passionate about creating safe and welcoming environments that encourage open expression, confidence, creativity, joy, and hope for the future. With over 11 years of experience working independently and collaborating with other businesses and organizations, Emily has a colorful background that has always centered around community, which led her to begin a new chapter here at Trinity.

Emily attended Moore-Norman Technology Center part-time during high school and became certified by Oklahoma’s State Board of Cosmetology at 18. While studying Voice with Dr. Marilyn Govich at the University of Central Oklahoma, Emily worked as a Color and Bridal Specialist at a Salon. She earned a Bachelor of Music in Music Theatre in just three years. Throughout college and post-graduation, Emily balanced her time between hairstyling, directing children’s theatre productions, teaching dance, and private vocal lessons, and performing professionally with local production companies.

Emily is excited to be a part of the Trinity Tigers this year. As a result of this change, she no longer works at a salon but is still involved in the OKC Bridal beauty industry when possible. Additionally, she participates in different performing arts projects depending on the season. Let’s show our support for the arts!

She has been married to her best friend and husband, Jarrod, since 2016. Together, they have two lovely cats named Chai and Leia.

Emily Cleek

Secretary/Administrative Assistant
ecleek@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

Health & Counseling Services

Darren Huff
About Lacie McCrackin

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.

Lacie McCrackin | MSC

School Counselor
lmcrackin@trinityschoolokc.org

Darren Huff
About Kristyn Johnson

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.

Kristyn Johnson | RN

School Nurse
kjohnson@trinityschoolokc.org

Meet our Reading Interventionalists

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

Darren Huff
About Margo Maberry

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.

Margo Maberry

Reading Therapist and Speech Pathologist
mmaberry@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 CALT 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

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

Darren Huff
About Sandra Valentine

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.

Sandra Valentine

Lower Division Classroom Instructor
svalentine@trinityschoolokc.org

Darren Huff
About Morgan Moffett

Originally from Massachusetts, Morgan relocated to Edmond, Oklahoma, in July 2023. Throughout her childhood, she was passionate about spending time with her family, animals, and sports. Throughout her school years, Morgan excelled in lacrosse and field hockey, serving as captain for both teams during her junior and senior years.

Morgan completed her high school education at Northampton High School before pursuing further studies at Westfield State University. She obtained her undergraduate degree in Social Work with a minor in Psychology in 2020. During college, Morgan worked as a preschool teacher for a year and later interned at Gerena School in Springfield, Massachusetts. After graduation, she worked as a teacher’s assistant in a Special Education classroom that mainly focused on students with Autism. With her dedication and hard work, Morgan was promoted to head teacher for another special education classroom catering to 3rd and 4th-grade students. Through this experience, she discovered her passion for teaching students with learning differences. Morgan continued teaching for another school year, teaching 2nd to 4th-grade students, before relocating to Oklahoma.

Morgan is pursuing her master’s degree in Special Education and plans to transfer to OSU in the fall. As a student with learning differences, she is passionate about advocating for her students. Morgan constantly seeks innovative ways and opportunities to aid and support her students. Her primary goal is to ensure that her students progress academically and learn to advocate for themselves when they require assistance.

When Morgan is not working, she spends time with her family and two Labradors, Pistol Pete, and Darla Sue. She loves swimming, horseback riding, traveling to new places, and creating new recipes. She is very excited about this next adventure in Oklahoma and being a part of the Trinity School community.

Morgan Moffett

Lower Division Classroom Instructor
mmoffett@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 Aide

Addie Lewallen
About Sophia Chase

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!

Sophia Chase

Classroom Aide

Richard Ritz Trinity School
About Dillon Thomas

Coming Soon!

Dillon Thomas

Library/Media & Computers

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 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!

 

Marcus Gonzalez

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

Darren Huff
About Kendall Cartmell

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.

Kendall Cartmell

Middle and Upper Division Science Instructor
kcartmell@trinityschoolokc.org

Darren Huff
About Jess Warren

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.

Jess Warren

Middle Division Math Instructor
jwarren@trinityschoolokc.org

Norma Morton Trinity School
About Janice Weigand

Janice earned a degree in Math Education from USAO and went on to teach math at Jones High School. After five years, she took a break to start a family but continued teaching Geometry and Algebra 2 for a homeschool co-op. When her children began school, one of them had difficulty with reading, which sparked her interest in finding ways to help. Janice completed LETRS training and tutored K-3 students in Yukon. She also taught 2/3 grade last year, focusing on helping students improve their reading skills. This year, Janice is excited to return to teaching High School math.

Janice Weigand

Upper School Math Instructor
jweigand@trinityschoolokc.org

Darren Huff
About David Finch

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.

David Finch

Upper School History Instructor/Head Basketball Coach
dfinch@trinityschoolokc.org

Chad Varney Trinity School
About Leilani Dade

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.

Leilani Dade | PhD

Music and Fine Arts Programs
ldade@trinityschoolokc.org

Darren Huff
About Julie Brooks

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.

Julie Brooks

Physical Education
jdolf@trinityschoolokc.org

Marcus Gonzalez Trinity School
About Kay Spriggs

Mrs. Kaye Spriggs joined the Trinity team as Music Education Instructor In November 2020.

Kaye has a Bachelor of Music Education from Oklahoma Baptist University and a Master of Music from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. She has taught in Oklahoma City for 4 years after serving in numerous churches and teaching privately for over 30 years.

Kaye was born and raised in Oklahoma City. She is a graduate of John Marshall High School.  She and her husband have celebrated over 25 years of marriage and have two adult children. (No grandchildren yet.) She plays the piano and enjoys the company of their three dogs, Papi, Bean, and Coco.

Kaye is looking forward to experiencing and developing the many unique talents of the Trinity family.

Kay Spriggs

Music and Electives Instructor
kspriggs@trinityschoolokc.org

Darren Huff
About Gina DeGrechie

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.

Gina DeGrechie

Art Instructor
gdegrechie@trinityschoolokc.org

Darren Huff
About Britain Dawson

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.

Britain Dawson

Bible & After School Programs
bdawson@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

Keeping the Tigers Safe!

Darren Huff
About Officer Duke

Coming Soon!

Officer Duke

Security
dduke@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