By John Dobberstein, Editor
The Broken Arrow Public Schools Board of Education voted Tuesday in a special meeting to approve a separation agreement with Supt. Janet Vinson and named Associate Supt. of Student Services Chuck Perry as the new superintendent.
The mutual separation agreement with Vinson and the district was approved on a 4-0 vote, with board member John Cockrell abstaining. Details of the agreement were not released.
The school district distributed a lengthy statement after the meeting that included a letter from Vinson, who was the first woman to ever hold the superintendent’s role in Broken Arrow since the school district was formed in 1905.
“It is with a bittersweet heart, that I share that I am retiring from the superintendency in the state of Oklahoma,” Vinson wrote. “I leave this role to pursue other opportunities to serve the children and families in Oklahoma, yet I will always be proud of my service and of my many dear friends and colleagues that selflessly serve our children in PreK-12 schools.
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“My five years as the first woman in Broken Arrow to hold this office have provided some of the best memories and biggest accomplishments in my decades of service to Oklahoma children. For that I am grateful to the support from board of education, teachers, staff and parents of Broken Arrow Schools.”
After citing several of the district’s accomplishments of late, Vinson wrote that she leaves Broken Arrow, “with gratitude and pride in our students and staff, as I pursue another chapter in my career. Having met most of my personal career goals as the superintendent of Broken Arrow Schools, it is time to step aside for new leadership, and spend the next few months with my daughter before she graduates and leaves home.
“Thank you to the students, parents, community, educators and staff and finally to the board of education for this opportunity. I look forward to the next chapter in my career as I transition to cheering for our BA Tigers from the stands.”
Among the accomplishments Vinson cited in her 12 years as a district leader working with the school board and leadership team are:
- Creating the Early College High School partnership with NSU-BA and Tulsa Community College that provides free and discounted associates degree opportunities for high school students to earn a degree while still in high school.
- Building and launching the Vanguard Academy, a STEM/Agriculture sciences learning center
- Creating the Early College High School partnership with NSU-BA and Tulsa Community College that provides free and discounted associates degree opportunities for high school students to earn a degree while still in high school.
- Building and launching the Vanguard Academy, a STEM/Agriculture sciences learning center
- Creating reading continuum that provides scaffolded support to every learner, regardless of whether they are a gifted, on-level or struggling reader, boasting the only university-trained, school-based Reading Recovery program and reading lab for struggling readers in the state of Oklahoma.
- Forging partnerships for workforce development with the City of Broken Arrow, Chamber of Commerce, Tulsa Technology Center and local business leaders to provide clear career pathways in high-need and lucrative careers in Broken Arrow, called Project Pathways.
- Providing historical raises, beyond state requirements for teachers and support staff, the largest in the history of the district.
- Improving outcomes significantly with graduates, having raised SAT averages for all Broken Arrow Schools’ students and more than doubling the number of National Merit Scholarship finalists.
Perry is a lifetime Broken Arrow resident who attended grades kindergarten through 12th in the Broken Arrow district.
He also started his teaching and coaching career in Broken Arrow in 1992 before a stint at Union Public Schools in the mid-2000s, where he was an assistant principal, athletics director and director of secondary education.
Returning to his roots in 2013, Perry was appointed the assistant superintendent of student services, and was named associate superintendent in 2017. During his tenure in this position, he has overseen student engagement, athletics, fine arts, co-curricular activities, communications, public relations and ArrowVision video services.
Perry plans to address all Broken Arrow Public Schools employees this week, stating that he is humbled and honored to accept the position and is committed to upholding the core values of BAPS as well as the long tradition of excellence in all areas for students.
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Vinson was appointed as superintendent of BAPS in 2017 after serving the district in a variety of roles.
Vinson started her career in 1991 as a high school English teacher and has served Broken Arrow students since July 2010.
In her tenure, she has served as the executive director of curriculum, chief academic officer, associate superintendent of instruction and superintendent of schools.
In 2016, Vinson was named Oklahoma Assistant Superintendent of the Year by the Cooperative Council of Oklahoma School Administrators.
A year later she received the Women’s Community Impact Award by the Broken Arrow Chamber of Commerce, and in 2019 the Chamber honored Vinson as Citizen of the Year.
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