Board of Education

(3-year term, ending June 2027)

cocook@okvirtual.org

Colleen Cook is a passionate advocate for school choice and parents’ rights. When forced in 2012 to make a change to improve her children’s education opportunities, Colleen became actively involved in the school choice movement in Oklahoma. Since that time, Colleen has grown from an advocate for her children into a national advocate for students in her home state of Oklahoma and across the country.

Colleen is the Director of Partnerships for the National Parents Union, a network of highly effective parent organizations and grassroots activists across the country that is united behind a set of common goals and principles to channel the power of parents, as well as a volunteer serving as former President of the board for The National Coalition for Public School Options, a national alliance of parents that supports and defends parents’ rights to access the best public school options for their children.  

Two of Colleen’s children have attended OVCA during their educational journeys.  Andrew graduated from OVCA in 2015.

Colleen resides in Newcastle with her youngest daughter, Catherine.

(3-year term, ending June 2026)

pgrider@ptcentral.org

Philip Grider is a licensed physical therapist practicing for over 8 years in outpatient physical therapy in Oklahoma. He has 4 years of experience serving as a Clinic Director for Physical Therapy Central in Noble, Oklahoma, and is now owner/partner with the newest Physical Therapy Central clinic in Moore, Oklahoma. He is active in the community serving as a volunteer for athletic events such as UCO Endeavor games, OKC Memorial Marathon, physical screenings, and Tulsa Run. He has also volunteered at the Oklahoma Regional Food Bank. He joins the OVCA board to support school options for Oklahoma families. “Parents’ school choice is an essential right as a parent and is crucial to best align individual values and goals to best develop fully-rounded students and citizens of our communities. Each and every child and family situation is different, so allowing parents to have a say, within appropriate societal parameters, is an inherent right to best raise our children to be educated, morally-centered, and outstanding citizens. Aligning these values will help to strengthen schools, student learning, families, and the community at large.” Philip grew up in Davis, Oklahoma but now resides in south Oklahoma City with his wife, Rebecca, and two daughters, Marie and Elena.

(3-year term, ending June 2028)

cdegoss@yahoo.com

Claudette Goss has over 40 years of experience in education. She has served in many positions—teacher, adjust professor, specialist, and Director of English Language Arts for the Oklahoma State Department of Education for 26 years. Claudette’s work has been featured in various educational publications and she has presented on the national level. She has earned numerous awards in her career—Outstanding Young Women of America, Outstanding Educator Awards, Oklahoma African American Educators Hall of Fame 2016, Rose State College Excellence in Teacher 2019, and Oklahoma Writing Project Martha and Francis Awards 2021. Claudette joins the OVCA board as she believes virtual education is a viable option for students and wants to support the school with her expertise. She desires to learn about the needs of Oklahoma students and how her expertise can help strengthen the virtual school model. She believes “Parents should have the benefit of deciding and providing the educational vehicle that provides the best learning benefits for their children.”

(3-year term, ending June 2027)

jennifer.tupper@mntc.edu

Jennifer has dedicated 23 years to public education, serving students, educators, and communities in a variety of leadership roles. She currently serves as an administrator at Moore Norman Technology Center, where she supports innovative educational programs and workforce development initiatives that prepare students for success in college, careers, and lifelong learning. Her experience spans the K–12 setting as a classroom teacher, literacy coach, instructional technology integration specialist, and administrator, providing her with a comprehensive understanding of teaching, learning, and school leadership. Throughout her career, Jennifer has been committed to helping all students discover their passions, empowering them to reach their full potential, and fostering growth through meaningful educational opportunities. Jennifer lives in Norman, Oklahoma, with her husband and their three children.

(3-year term, ending June 2029)

shurst5@uco.edu

Sylvia Hurst has over 45 years of experience in public education. After starting her career as a first-grade teacher in Oklahoma, she transitioned to working with older students and found her true passion. She spent over 30 years as a middle school reading teacher, working primarily with 6th-8th graders. The last few years of Sylvia’s professional career were spent teaching at the University of Central Oklahoma for the Master of Education in Reading program. She has had local, state, national, and international presentations on adolescent literacy and the varied needs of older learners. She was involved with OKLA (Oklahoma Literacy Association) as a board member and officer for over 15 years. Looking for ways to contribute after retirement, Sylvia is joining the OVCA board as a strong advocate for literacy education for all types of learners. She believes virtual education can support students who need a different approach to their education and future success in life.