School district announces administrative changes

The 2015-2016 school year will see many administrative changes for the Ponca City Public School district.

Jill Henderson – New Director of Special Services
Jill Henderson has been named as the new Director of Special Services for the district. She started her new role on June 1, 2015.

“I am honored and appreciative to have the opportunity to bring 25 years of educational experiences along with the knowledge gained in this district to serve the position of Director of Special Services for the Ponca City Public Schools,” Henderson said.

She came to the district in August 2013. She taught at Liberty Elementary until accepting the principal position there in January 2014.

Henderson received her Bachelors in Elementary Education at Central State University, and she also earned a Master’s Degree in Special Education, School Counseling and Bilingual Education. She has served as principal at Ripley Public Schools and has had other administrative experience at both the public school level and Western Technology Center in Weatherford, Oklahoma.

Jennifer Martinez – New Principal at Liberty Elementary

Jennifer Martinez has been selected as the new principal for Liberty next year.

“I am excited about the opportunity to move to this next phase of my career with Ponca City Public Schools,” Martinez said. “The experiences of teaching several elementary and middle school grades, along with serving as an instructional coach and assistant principal, have prepared me to become the principal of Liberty Elementary.

"I will work hard to continue the successes established at Liberty by building strong relationships with parents, students, staff and community partners," she said. "We will focus on fostering a nurturing safe environment for children, the use of data to inform instruction, consistent implementation of instructional strategies to increase students’ achievement, and providing exciting and challenging enrichment opportunities for all students.”

Martinez received her Bachelor of Science degree at the Texas Woman’s University in Denton, Texas. She received a Master of Science degree from the University of Texas in Austin, Texas. She taught in the Edmond Public School district and Austin ISD, where she was promoted to assistant principal.

Tim Williams – New Principal at Woodlands Elementary
Tim Williams has been named the new principal at Woodlands Elementary.

“It is an incredible honor to be given the opportunity to serve the Woodlands family as principal. As we transition back to our home campus, I am confident our students will continue to thrive not only academically, but in all aspects of their development,” Williams said.

He received his two Bachelor degrees from Southern Nazarene University in Bethany, Oklahoma. He received his Master of Arts from the University of Texas of Permian Basin in Odessa, Texas. He also received a Masters of Divinity at Nazarene Theological Seminary, and a Masters of Educational Leadership at Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva, Oklahoma.

Williams’ experience includes teaching music for the Ponca City School district from 2009 until 2015. He was the Music Pastor at St. Luke’s Church of the Nazarene in Ponca City for five years. His history also includes serving as Senior Pastor at First Church of the Nazarene in Batesville, Arkansas from 1997 until 2003.

Jared Freeman – New Dean of Students at East Middle School
Jared Freeman will be the new Dean of Students at East Middle School. He has been teaching and coaching in the district since 2007.

“I am extremely excited to join the administrative team with the Ponca City Schools," Freeman said. "I am grateful that I have been given the opportunity to serve the district as the Dean of Students at East Middle School. I look forward to working with the faculty and students next year as we continue meeting the challenges of academic growth.”

Freeman has been teaching for the district at the high school, and he is also the head varsity girls’ softball coach. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree at Oklahoma State University. He earned his Masters of Science and Masters of Education Administration degrees from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, Oklahoma. Prior to coming to Ponca City in 2007, Freeman taught and coached at Marietta High School and Pawnee High School.

Trenton Murner – New Assistant Principal at the Senior High School

Trenton Murner has been named the new Assistant Principal at the Senior High School.

“I am very excited about my opportunity to work for Ponca City Public Schools," Murner said. "It will be great working in a community that has a lot of pride for its schools. I am looking forward to building relationships and sharing challenges and successes with a great staff and a wonderful study body.”

Murner received his Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education degree from Chadron State College in Chadron, Nebraska. He also earned a Master’s in Education Leadership from Oklahoma State University. Prior to coming to Ponca City, Trenton was a teacher and a football coach at Stillwater Middle School.