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)

cmaloy@okvirtual.org

Carla Maloy is a Registered Nurse. She is a former teacher/director of Practical Nursing – Chisholm Trail Technology Center.

She is the past chair of HOSA Future Health Professionals and continues to be a member of this organization. She is an active member of Crossings Community Church. Carla lives in Cashion, Oklahoma with her husband. They have 3 children and 9 grandchildren.

Carla believes Oklahoma families should have the opportunity to school where individual needs are met and students create a foundation for life-long learning.

(3-year term, ending June 2026)

pgriffith@ou.edu

Priscilla L. Griffith, Ph. D. is an emeritus professor from the University of Oklahoma. While an active faculty member at OU, she was the Ruth G. Hardman Chair in Education and the Director of the Oklahoma Writing Project.  In her dual roles as the Hardman chair and the the writing project director, she worked extensively across the state providing professional development for teachers.  

Dr. Griffith is an avid dog lover.