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Schematic designs by Frankfurt-Short-Bruza Associates, P.C.
referenced as the “Four Cs”— Curriculum, Competency,
Character, and Community.
Civics is a required course as is participating in one or more
community service projects each year.
Important, too, is the level of technology that students are
required to use. Technology is a required core subject.
ASTEC Charter Schools are the most technologicallyadvanced public schools in the state of Oklahoma because
technology is what today’s learners need access to and a
working understanding of if they are to go on to college and
secure good jobs. Computer hardware and software programs
are provided to and utilized by each faculty member and each
student in every classroom every day.
An Engaged & Experienced Faculty
Much is also expected from faculty members. Our schools hire “impact” teachers,
individuals who are well educated and
have valuable life experiences they are
passionate about sharing with students.
teachers. For example, our teachers are paid above the state
pay grade schedule. While not tenured, teachers express a
great satisfaction in working at ASTEC.
Teachers participate in a performance review process to assess
strengths and weaknesses; those meeting or exceeding written
goals and objectives are eligible for annual bonuses.
The bottom line is this: teachers recognize that ASTEC Charter Schools are student-focused and data-driven and that their
role is to lead the learning process.
Advantages of a New Campus
There are significant reasons that help define the benefits of a
new ASTEC Charter Schools campus and the way in which it
will positively impact students, families and the greater
Oklahoma City community:
Inner-city does not have to be a
dead-end term that automatically
translates into gangs, low
achievement or low expectations.
ASTEC Charter Schools are the only
public schools in the state of Oklahoma that employ a “Head
Master-Dean-Coordinators” administration model, which is
a team-based approach that has oversight responsibility for
the following six management areas: Instruction, Academics,
Accountability, Students, Student Services and Community
Engagement.
Teacher development is of critical importance, too. Incoming teachers spend an extra week during summer in a boot
camp-style setting, where they learn best practices and the
research-based teaching model embraced by ASTEC Charter
Schools. And they benefit from classes dismissing early one
afternoon each week to allow time for a structured teacher
development and coaching.
There are additional contrasts with traditional public school
Cost Savings
Financially, the new campus will
be a win-win situation for everyone
involved including taxpayers because campus ownership will greatly
reduce current operating costs. But, first, it is important to
explain the restrictions associated with public charter school
funding. Very simply, Oklahoma charter schools are not funded on a level with their traditional public school counterparts.
For example, ASTEC Charter Middle School and ASTEC
Charter High School currently pay more than $800,000 annually to rent 50,000 square feet of space in Shepherd Mall,
where we are also responsible for costs associated with facility cleaning, maintenance and renovations. The two schools
also purchase their own furnishings: chairs, desks, computers, books, and other education-related items and they pay