Norman Public Schools is proud to recognize Ely Gonzalez of Norman High School and Eden Bales of Norman North High School, who have both been accepted into the prestigious National Youth Orchestra.
Ely and Eden are both 11th-grade students, and their selection reflects their exceptional musical talent, dedication, and hard work. Being chosen for the National Youth Orchestra is a significant national honor, placing them among the top young musicians in the country.
Congratulations to Ely and Eden on this outstanding achievement. We are incredibly proud of you!
Norman Public Schools and the Norman Philharmonic were proud to come together for a powerful Black History Month Celebration that honored the rich contributions of Black Americans to the arts, culture, and history.
The program featured an inspiring Unity Choir made up of NPS choirs, and community singers, alongside the Norman Philharmonic Orchestra, a gospel combo, the Langston University Choir, dance performances, and visual art. The collaboration brought together students, educators, artists, and community partners from across Norman for an afternoon of meaningful reflection and celebration.
A highlight of the event was a special guest performance by Oklahoma native and University of Oklahoma graduate Elvie Ellis, currently appearing in Broadway’s award-winning production of Hamilton. His performance was a memorable moment for students and audience members alike.
Thank you to all of our students, staff, partners, and community members who helped make this celebration possible and to Allied Arts and the Harris Foundation for their support. Events like this showcase the strength of our fine arts programs and the power of collaboration across our community.
Norman Public Schools Announces Teacher of the Year Finalists
Norman Public Schools is proud to announce the four finalists for the district’s Teacher of the Year honor.
The 2026 Teacher of the Year finalists are:
• Lakeview Elementary Brooke Barnett
• Eisenhower Elementary Kristen Dude
• Whittier Middle School Katelin Frantz
• Kennedy Elementary Kevin Russ
These outstanding educators were selected based on their commitment to student success, instructional excellence, leadership, and dedication to the Norman Public Schools community. Each finalist represents the very best of our profession and the meaningful impact teachers have on students every day.
Norman Public Schools congratulates all four finalists and thanks them for their continued service, passion, and commitment to excellence in education.
Today, we are proud to celebrate 24 student-athletes from Norman High School and Norman North High School who officially signed with colleges to continue their academic and athletic careers!
This milestone reflects years of dedication, discipline, and hard work, both in the classroom and in competition. We are incredibly proud of these athletes for representing their schools, their families, and Norman Public Schools at the next level.
Thank you to the coaches, teachers, teammates, and families who supported these students along the way. Your commitment makes moments like this possible.
Congratulations to our signees. We can’t wait to see what the future holds!
Congratulations to:
Caroline Keogh, Alcott Middle School Women’s Basketball Coach
Kenady Sheldon, Norman High School Soccer Coach
Daron Chesley, Irving Middle School Volleyball Coach
These coaches exemplify leadership, dedication, and a deep commitment to student-athletes, both on and off the field. Their impact extends beyond wins and losses, helping develop confidence, teamwork, and character that students carry with them as they advance through our schools.
Thank you for the time, passion, and care you invest in our students and programs every day. Norman Public Schools is proud to celebrate you!
Students who filled their SOAR cards throughout the month of January were entered into a drawing for the chance to enjoy a special pancake breakfast complete with all the toppings, prepared by Principal. Hoover. Staff members were also entered into a drawing, and several lucky winners joined in on the fun.
A big congratulations to our SOAR students and a thank you to everyone who helped make this memorable morning at Lakeview!
We’re incredibly proud of these talented students and grateful to everyone who helped make this special opportunity possible. Way to represent Whittier!
Thank you to our ELC families for sharing these special moments with us. We miss our students and look forward to welcoming everyone back very soon.
The contest received more than 780 submissions from students across Cleveland County, making Millie’s selection a notable accomplishment. Her winning design has been printed and will be used during the February 10 and April 7 elections, distributed alongside the traditional American flag “I Voted” sticker.
Millie’s success reflects the creativity and civic-minded spirit of Norman Public Schools students, and the district congratulates her on this well-deserved honor.
Alcott Middle School’s front hallway has a fresh new look thanks to a collaborative mural created by Jason Cytacki and a group of University of Oklahoma visual art students.
The colorful bulletin board reflects the creativity, energy, and pride that define the Alcott community while helping create a more welcoming environment for students and visitors. This project highlights the impact of partnerships that celebrate students and school culture, and Alcott is thankful for the time, talent, and dedication that made this mural possible.
We are grateful for the passion, dedication, and service these teachers bring to their students and school communities every day. Congratulations to each of our outstanding Teacher of the Year nominees. Your commitment makes Norman Public Schools an exceptional place to learn and grow.
Norman North students kicked off SPUD Week today with energy, school spirit and a whole lot of heart as they come together to support this meaningful cause. From fun activities to friendly competition, it’s all about making a difference while showing Timberwolf pride!
We can’t wait to see how the rest of SPUD Week unfolds—way to start strong, Norman North! 💙🐺
Norman Public Schools is proud to celebrate Matt Mairet, a Library Media Specialist at Reagan Elementary School, who was named the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Teacher of the Game during the Thunder’s New Year’s Eve matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Matt’s dedication to students extends far beyond the library. In addition to fostering a love of reading and learning, he is deeply committed to serving the Norman community through volunteer work and mutual aid efforts.
We are grateful for educators like Matt who make a meaningful impact both inside and outside the classroom. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition!
As we welcome the new year, Norman Public Schools extends best wishes to our students, families, staff and community. We look forward to continued learning, growth and success together in the year ahead. Thank you for your ongoing support of our schools.
From all of us at Norman Public Schools, we wish our students, families, staff and community a joyful and restful holiday season. Thank you for your support throughout the year — we look forward to an exciting 2026 together!
Stay safe, stay warm, and enjoy the break!
Two Kennedy students received brand-new bikes today thanks to the generosity of the Norman Rotary Club. This long-standing tradition has been bringing smiles to students for many years, and we are grateful for their continued support of our school community.
Students are selected by staff for consistently demonstrating ideal Kennedy traits, doing the right thing, setting a positive example for others, and being strong students in the classroom.
Congratulations to our recipients, and thank you to the Norman Rotary Club for helping us celebrate students who make a difference every day!
Congratulations to the Norman North Pom team on a strong showing at the OSDTDA State Championships. The team earned multiple top finishes across several categories, reflecting the hard work and dedication of the students and coaches throughout the season.
State results include:
6A Large Jazz – State Champions
Senior Large Ensemble – State Champions
Senior Small Ensemble – State Champions
JV Pom – State Champions
6A Gameday – State Runner-Up
6A Large Pom – State Runner-Up
JV Jazz – State Runner-Up
Individual and special recognitions:
Cooper Palmer – 2nd Place Senior Soloist
Aileen Kim – 5th Place Senior Soloist
Emma McClure – 6th Place Senior Soloist
Kamryn Wise – 5th Place Intermediate Soloist
Abigail Slate – Community Service Scholarship Recipient
Well done to all students involved for representing Norman Public Schools with excellence.
State Success for Norman High Pom!
The Norman High School Pom team had an incredible showing at State with multiple accomplishments to celebrate:
3rd place in the 6A Small Pom division
Ella Hartsock advanced to the Senior Solo Finals, finishing 13th overall
Coach Sarah Hartsock was named Coach of the Year (West)
Congratulations to our talented student-athletes and to Coach Hartsock for her outstanding leadership and dedication. We are proud of the hard work, teamwork, and excellence this program continues to demonstrate!
This week marked the fourth year of caroling through the Kennedy neighborhoods, and it’s quickly become one of the staff’s favorite traditions. On Wednesday, December 10, the incredible team, led once again by Officer Bobby Owens, set out with Santa, festive elves, music, and plenty of candy canes to share.
The smiles from the students, families, and neighbors make this night so special. It’s a wonderful way for our Kennedy staff to come together and give back to the community we love.
We celebrated the official ribbon-cutting for the newly completed upgrades at Lakeview Elementary School! The refreshed space features a new front office, updated hallways, and renovated bathrooms, all designed to enhance safety, accessibility, and the overall experience for students, staff and families.
We’re grateful for the support that made these improvements possible and excited for the positive impact they’ll have on the Lakeview community.
