Christa McAuliffe Elementary was built in 1988 and named in honor of the teacher – the first teacher in space - who died during the Challenger Space Shuttle disaster on Jan. 28, 1986.

Vision Statement

McAuliffe is a place where:
Leaders are
Empowered to
Achieve academic excellence
Dream without boundaries
Embrace their community
Reach their destiny

Motto

Be a Leader

Student Pledge

I am a leader, empowered to:
Achieve academic excellence, dream without boundaries, embrace my community, and reach my destiny!

Principal Staff

Jennifer McKnight was named priincipal of McAuliffe Elementary in 2017, after being named assistant principal for McAuliffe in the summer of 2016. She previously had served as principal of East Elementary at Jenks Public Schools since 2004. She has been in the education field since from 1995, serving as a teacher, enrichment director and curriculum resources instructor.

McKnight has a master’s degree in instruction leadership from Colorado State University and a bachelor’s degree in education from Oklahoma State University.

Donna Ross was named Assistant Principal for McAuliffe Elementary in August 2022.

Ross comes to Union from Tulsa Public Schools where she was a teacher at McKinley Elementary School.

Ross has 27 years of experience in education, and had been working at TPS since 1995. Her extensive knowledge of curriculum and consistent practice of utilizing research-based instructional strategies, have resulted in several recognitions and awards. One time, she even received a proclamation from the mayor and the Tulsa City Council, and she was a finalist in NEA’s Bullying and Harassment Codrea 2012. 

More recently, Ross had the honor to serve as 2021 Tulsa Public Schools Teacher of the Year as well as an Oklahoma top-12 finalist for state teacher of the year. Ross currently serves on the State Superintendent Advisory Board and State Department of Education Math Advisory Committee. And now, she serves the kids at McAuliffe!

Ross received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Langston University and her master’s degree from Southern Nazarene University.