Welcome New PHS Staff 23-24

Email: sandersj@purcellps.org
Website: https://www.purcellps.org/o/phs
Location: 2020 North Green Avenue, Purcell, OK, USA
Phone: 405-442-0099
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/purcellhs
Twitter: @purcellhsdrgns

We are thrilled to welcome our new additions to the PHS family. These new faces include new positions added to the high school, transfers from other school sites, and folks brand new to the district. I'm excited for the new energy and ideas new staff members can bring to our phenomenal current Dragon staff. I appreciate their commitment to serving kids, families, and the community as a whole while prioritizing building relationships with students. Please take a moment and learn a little about our new Dragons!

Jason

Share a little about your background. Work, family, etc.

Worked 13 years in education up to this point. Spent the last 6 at Yukon and Piedmont. Married to my wife Emily for 11 years and we have two young sons, Lincoln and Cole.

Where did you attend school? High School and/or College.

Attended Purcell High School. B.S. from the University of Oklahoma. Masters from East Central University.

What are your hobbies and interests?

I enjoy reading, golfing, fishing, hunting, traveling and spending time with my family.

Name a good movie you've watched or good book you've read lately:

Recently read a book called the Twin Thieves, I also enjoy podcasts am currently listening to a lot of Malcolm Gladwell.

What is a fun or interesting fact that people may be surprised to know about you?

I prefer the mountains but married someone who likes the beach. So we compromise and almost always go to the beach.

Identify something about Purcell High School or the community that made you want to work here:

This area and community is home. I know that Purcell is a great place to work and live, and this was a chance to get closer to family and friends.

Share a little about your background. Work, family, etc.

I was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. I moved to Oklahoma at age 18 to attend the University of Oklahoma and have been an Okie ever since. I have 3 amazing children- Spencer who’s in 5th grade, Asher who’s in 3rd & Mayer who’s in 1st. I have been working in education for 15 years. My first 12 years of teaching were spent at Purcell Elementary as a 2nd grade and P.E. Teacher. The past 3 years I have served as the district library media specialist for Meeker Public Schools.

Where did you attend school? High School and/or College.

I graduated college from the University of Oklahoma in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and obtained my Masters of Education in Library Media from East Central University in 2010.

What are your hobbies and interests?

This season of my life is primarily spent watching my 3 kiddoes play ball and making as many memories between games with our ball families. Any free time I get outside of that is typically filled with activities that involves laughter & soaking up the sun.

Name a good movie you've watched or good book you've read lately:

Beach Music by Pat Conroy

What is a fun or interesting fact that people may be surprised to know about you?

I’m a licensed Skydiver and have jumped out of a plane 52 times.

Identify something about Purcell High School or the community that made you want to work here:

What I am most excited about joining the PHS family is getting to reconnect with all my little kindergartner, first & second graders I’ve worked with years ago in Elementary school.

Share a little about your background? Work, family, etc.

I'm mom to four kiddos: Jonathan, Rose, Josiah, and Jackson- my bonus son. My husband's name is Eric and we've been together for ten years now. We are a basketball family and love basketball, including supporting our local teams.

Where did you attend school? High School and/or College.

I graduated from Norman North High School, go timberwolves. And then I graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor's in English Lit and a minor in sociology.

What are your hobbies and interests?

Writing, reading, watching movies, anything basketball related

Name a good movie you've watched or good book you've read lately:

Who Moved My Cheese

What is a fun or interesting fact that people may be surprised to know about you?

I'm in the long process of getting my first book published. I've always wanted to be an author and I'm almost there.

Identify something about Purcell High School or the community that made you want to work here:

I was drawn to the small-knit community. A student once told me that relationships are my super power. So I'm excited to be in a community where I can create meaningful relationships.

Share a little about your background. Work, family, etc.

I am 22 years old and I grew up in Wayne Ok. When I was 16 I volunteered for the first time at a summer camp in Guthrie, Ok called Make Promises Happen Neuromuscular Camp. I instantly fell in love and found my passion working with special needs. I volunteer every summer at the camp. I have currently been working as physical therapy technician for about a year now while attending classes at OSU. I am currently majoring in Human Development and Family Sciences and am ready to grow my passion and gain some experience working in a special ed classroom. Maybe one day I'll even be able to teach special ed!

Where did you attend school? High School and/or College.

I graduated high school from wayne, ok. And i am currently attending college at Oklahoma State in Stillwater

What are your hobbies and interests?

I love watching basketball and anything to do with OSU sports as well as spending time with family and friends.

Identify something about Purcell High School or the community that made you want to work here:

I grew up in the area and I love the small town community. Purcell High School has made me feel welcomed and appreciated already and it just felt like home.

Share a little about your background. Work, family, etc.

I was the 7th grade science and geography teacher at Purcell Junior High for the 2022-2023 school year.

Where did you attend school? High School and/or College.

I graduated from Purcell High School in 2017 and graduated from East Central University in 2021.

What are your hobbies and interests?

I enjoy running, hiking, and reading.

Name a good movie you've watched or good book you've read lately:

Les Misérables by Victor Hugo

What is a fun or interesting fact that people may be surprised to know about you?

I have completed 3 half marathons.

Identify something about Purcell High School or the community that made you want to work here:

I chose my new position because Purcell is my home and as a 2017 Purcell High School graduate I am excited to be back. I enjoy the school community and the culture that Purcell strives to foster.

Share a little about your background. Work, family, etc.

I was born and raised in Purcell. I have 2 daughters Lyric and Willow. I enjoy helping others. I love to travel and enjoy time with my family while making memories.

Where did you attend school? High School and/or College.

I graduated from Purcell in 2004. I attended OCCC as well as Mid-America where I got my Medical Assistant and Phlebotomy certificates.

What are your hobbies and interests?

I enjoy photography and crafting when I have free time from running my kids around for sports.

Name a good movie you've watched or good book you've read lately:

Any Hallmark movie is a good one to watch.

What is an interesting fact that people may be surprised to know about you?

I have a rare disease called Latent autoimmune diabetes of adults (LADA) it is a autoimmune disease related to diabetes in adulthood.

Identify something about Purcell High School or the community that made you want to work here:

To be a positive role model in the children's lives here in Purcell.

Note: Jacob will be teaching classes at the junior high.

Share a little about your background. Work, family, etc.

I'll be going into my third year of teaching, I taught the previous two years as a band director out in Altus, Oklahoma.

Where did you attend school? High School and/or College.

Jenks High School in Tulsa, then the University of Oklahoma!

What are your hobbies and interests?

I love traveling, especially to Alaska to see my extended family!

What is a fun or interesting fact that people may be surprised to know about you?

I actually worked with Purcell's band back in 2018 as a percussion tech!

Identify something about Purcell High School or the community that made you want to work here:

I love teaching in a smaller town, it makes the community and relationships that much more meaningful. It helped that I knew a little bit about Purcell having been here back in 2018, so it was nice to end up somewhere familiar!

Share a little about your background? Work, family, etc.

Before teaching I have worked in concrete and at Wilson Little funeral home. I live on my own with my dog Asher in Wanette.

Where did you attend school? High School and/or College.

High School was in Lexington. Graduated college from OU

What are your hobbies and interests?

I love competitive sports. My favorite is football but anything competitive will draw my attention. I also enjoy working on small tasks around the house or the yard. The sense of accomplishment is something I am constantly striving for. Fishing is a new hobby that I have tried to dip my toes into lately. Unfortunately I am the absolute worst and bad luck for the boat.

Name a good movie you've watched or good book you've read lately:

An awesome book that I am in the middle of is called "Rising" by Elizabeth Rush

What is a fun or interesting fact that people may be surprised to know about you?

In school I was very involved with choir and also show choir. I was even an all state singer and while it was a long time ago I am still rather proud.

Identify something about Purcell High School or the community that made you want to work here:

While it is not technically my home town it is still where I have always been most of my life. Working in this town for such a long time has given me a strong bond with the community. This school provides me with the most opportunity to grow as a teacher and a coach and I am so excited for the experiences and opportunities that I will have at PHS

Share a little about your background. Work, family, etc.

I have a daughter, Ana and a son, Sebastian, who both go to school here in Purcell.

Where did you attend school? High School and/or College.

Washington Ok

What are your hobbies and interests?

I love to read books and spending time with my kids and my family.

Name a good movie you've watched or good book you've read lately:

My Sister's Keeper. A Miracle from Heaven.

What is a fun or interesting fact that people may be surprised to know about you?

I speak five languages.

Identify something about Purcell High School or the community that made you want to work here:

I transferred from the Jr. High School.