Teachers/Staff

"Our Mission is to Graduate 100 Percent of Our Students, College & Career Ready."

Together We Make a Difference

Union Public Schools employs nearly 2,000 staff members, including more than 1,000 teachers, more than 800 support employee and abut 80 administrators.

More than 90 percent of the district's administrators hold a master's degree or higher. Of the teaching and administrative staff, more than 40 percent hold graduate-level degrees – with more than 400 holding master’s degrees and 19 with doctorates. Twenty-five teachers have National Board Certification.

Rebecka Peterson, a math teacher at Union High School, was named the 2023 National Teacher of the Year – after she had already been named the 2020-2021 Union Public Schools District Teacher of the Year and Oklahoma’s Teacher of the Year in 2022!

Also in 2023, Superintendent Dr. Kirt Hartzler was named State Superintendent of The Year. Assistant Superintendent John Federline received his doctorate in the summer of 2023 as well.

Video: Information Session On Retirement For Union Employees

The Oklahoma Teachers’ Retirement System hosted an in-person informational session at Union on Thursday, March 27, aimed primarily at employees who are within five years of retirement. 

The session, which featured Rod Boles, communication and education manager for OTRS, provided valuable information for anyone interested in learning more about the state’s teacher retirement system and how to maximize benefits given their personal situation. In addition, Jay Loegering, executive director of Human Resources, and Brandi White, benefits manager, provided additional retirement information specific to Union and the district’s Early Retirement Incentive. View video of the presentation.

Topics covered include:

• History & Overview of the teacher retirement system
• Mission & Vision
• Membership & The Plan
• Funding/Contributions to Member Account
• Retirement Eligibility
• Retirement Benefit Formula
• Retirement Plans/Partial Lump Sum Option
• Preparing for Retirement
• Post-Retirement Employment; and
• The Member Portal