Union Public Schools

Gretchen Haas-Bethell

Gretchen Haas-Bethell
Executive Director of Communications / Biography 

(918) 357-6015

Welcome to the Communications Department! 
We would like to know your questions/comments.   Please feel free to contact us.

What we do….

The Communications Department assists district management and employees in interpreting public attitudes; identifies and helps shape district policies and procedures in the public interest; and helps to provide ways to inform and involve Union’s various audiences in an effort to gain understanding and support for Union Public Schools and the services it provides.

The Communications Department provides a system for fostering open, two-way communications and good relationships between the district and its various internal audiences (students, certified employees, support employees, Board of Education members, administrators, etc.) and external audiences (parents, taxpayers, community organizations, lawmakers, businesses, etc.).

Three specialists help the executive director manage the department’s needs:

• Janie Froman, Graphic Designer
• Beverly Thummel, Administrative Assistant for Communications and the Board of Education
• Michael Vore, Webmaster/Communications Specialist

The Communications Department also relies on a team of staff members appointed to serve as communication representatives. The communication representatives are charged with helping the department keep abreast of news at school sites and departments throughout the district.

Publications and Productions 

The Communications Department produces a number of printed and electronic-based products designed to inform patrons about Union Public Schools.

More than 40 publications were printed and included everything from handbooks, course offerings and report cards, to brochures, programs and annual reports.

Major publications produced by the Communications Department include:

Welcome to Union Public Schools

Audio/video productions include an annual bond-related video, a Teacher of the Year slide show, a Teacher of the Year video, district videos and programming for the U-View Scoreboards at Union High School and the UMAC. The Communications Department also works with the Athletics Department to produce a weekly coach's show during the football season. 

A network of 45 communications representatives from all sites, departments and various parent groups submitted news tips, photos and story ideas to our staff throughout the year. Their input helps generate hundreds of news releases and photos which are sent to the media and/or are posted on the Union web site each year.

Our records indicate Union-related news (not counting regular sports stories) appeared on television news 313 times during 2008-2009 and in 151 stories in Tulsa area newspapers.  

Communication Representatives -


Andersen Elementary
Linda Snowbarger (Enrichment Spec.)
357-8233 (wk)

Boevers Elementary
Karen Pearman (Enrichment Specialist)
357-8328 (wk)

Briarglen Elementary
Carrie Soward (Language Arts Spec.)
357-8456 (wk)

Cedar Ridge Elementary
Cherry Redus (Enrichment Spec.)
357-8671 (wk)

Clark Elementary
Shanda Sullivan (5th Grade)
357-8517

Darnaby Elementary
Kristi Ruskjer (2nd Grade)
357-8708 (wk)

Aaron Parsons (5th Grade)
357-8717 (wk)

Dana Bundy (Enrichment Specialist)
357-8731

Grove Elementary
Stacy Haynes (Principal's secretary)_
357-8880

 

Jarman Elementary
Patti Pitcock (Principal)
357-8990 (wk)

Andrea Holcomb (Principal's Secretary)
357-8980

 

Jefferson Elementary
Renee Williams
357-6608

McAuliffe Elementary
Kim Jobe   (Kindergarten)
357-6502 (wk)

Moore Elementary
LeeAnna Weaver (Media Specialist)
357-6981 (wk)

Rosa Parks Elementary
Gina Ward (Media Specialist)
357-6884 (wk)

Peters Elementary
Leigh Ann Keller (3rd Grade)
357-6716 (wk)

Kay Leslie (Media Specialist)
357-6737

Rosa Parks Early Childhood Center
Katie White
357-7394

Sixth/Seventh Grade Center
Margaret Lewis (Drama 7)
357-8049 (wk) 

Eighth Grade Center
Tonya Wyatt
357-7917

Intermediate High
Cindy Brown (Business)
357-7796 (wk)

Alternative Education
Melissa Wyatt (English)
357-7014 (wk)

High School
Dr. Janet Dunlop (Assistant Principal)
357-7169

Amy Riker (English/Yearbook)
357-7190 (wk)

 

Evening Academy
Amy McCready (Asst. Principal)
357-7607

Teaching & Learning
Dr. Kirt Hartzler (Asst. Supt.) 
357-6008 (wk)

JoAnn Bodenstab (Sr. Admin. Asst.) 
357-6008 (wk)

CFO / Finance
Melva Curtis (Exec. Admin. Asst.) 
357-6005 (wk)

Technology
Lee Snodgrass (Exec. Director) 
357-6161 (wk)

Human Resources
Melissa Brock (HR Tech Spec.)
357-6053

Community Education
Sharon Parker (Secretary)
357-7034

Support Services
Jan Shanahan (Admin. Asst.) 
357-6010 (wk)

Betty Dean  (Secretary)
357-6183 (wk)

Drew Diamond (Director of Security)
357-8178

Child Nutrition 
Lisa Griffin ( Director) 
357-6132 (wk)

Evelyn Davis (Asst. Coordinator)
357-6131

Transportation
Justin Porter (Asst. Director)
357-7062 (wk)

Operations
Betty Dean (Secretary) 
357-6183 (wk)

Fine Arts
Phyllis Whisman (Secretary)
357-7414 (wk)

Athletics & Spirit
Rhonda Duke (Office Manager)
357-7410 (wk)

 8th Grade Highsteppers
 Dee Williams (president)
 252-1043 (hm)  232-3083 (cell)
 skideeski@yahoo.com 

Varsity Cheer
Kim Minihan (president)
459-5975 (hm)  357-8066 (wk)
minihan.kim@unionps.org 

JV Cheer
 Dianne Woods (president)
 286-8607 (hm)  510-3610 (cell)
 dabkt@tulsacoxmail.com 

9th Grade Cheer
 Chad Acklin (president)
 250-2448 (hm)  630-8691 (cell)
 cacklin@me.com 

8th Grade Cheer
 Cindy Stone (president)
 294-1417 (hm)  504-5235 (cell)
 cstonesix@cox.net 

Highsteppers
Becky Gates
oksodak@cox.net<mailto:oksodak@cox.net>
Cell:  918-607-6816

JV Highsteppers
Lisa Welch (president)
kirkwelch@cox.net

Varsity Pom
 Debra Carroll
 254-9083 (hm)  407-4708 (cell)
 dcarroll@dellmail.com 

JV Pom
 Micki Curtis
 254-7526 (hm)  607-7821 (cell)
 mcurtis@valornet.com 

8th Grade Pom
 Debbie Romo (president)
 633-7130 (hm/cell)  357-8064 (wk)
 romo.debbie@unionps.org

 Dayna Rayburn
 254-9318 (hm)  639-4375 (cell)
 danarayburn@cox.net 

9th Grade Pom
 Kerry Barnes
 496-2782 (hm)  899-9344 (cell)
 kerryvery64@gmail.com 

 Kirsten Dean (president)
 252-3125 (hm)  357-6861 (wk) 
 dean.kirsten@unionps.org 

HS Band/Band Parents
 Dennis Vasicek (president)
 286-4962 (hm)  688-9077 (cell)
 denandjul@cox.net 

 Charles Pisarra (Band instructor)
 357-5225 (wk)
 pisarra.charles@unionps.org 

Graduation Celebration

Note: Spirit group presidents are listed unless they have designated a Communication Representative.


 

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