Union Public Schools

Gretchen Haas-Bethell

Gretchen Haas-Bethell
Executive Director of Communications / Biography 

(918) 357-6015

Welcome to the Communications Department! 
We would like to know your questions/comments.   Please feel free to contact us.

What we do….

The Communications Department assists district management and employees in interpreting public attitudes; identifies and helps shape district policies and procedures in the public interest; and helps to provide ways to inform and involve Union’s various audiences in an effort to gain understanding and support for Union Public Schools and the services it provides.

The Communications Department provides a system for fostering open, two-way communications and good relationships between the district and its various internal audiences (students, certified employees, support employees, Board of Education members, administrators, etc.) and external audiences (parents, taxpayers, community organizations, lawmakers, businesses, etc.).

Three specialists help the executive director manage the department’s needs:

• Janie Froman, Graphic Designer
• Beverly Thummel, Administrative Assistant for Communications and the Board of Education
• Michael Vore, Webmaster/Communications Specialist

The Communications Department also relies on a team of staff members appointed to serve as communication representatives. The communication representatives are charged with helping the department keep abreast of news at school sites and departments throughout the district.

Publications and Productions 

The Communications Department produces a number of printed and electronic-based products designed to inform patrons about Union Public Schools.

More than 40 publications were printed and included everything from handbooks, course offerings and report cards, to brochures, programs and annual reports.

Major publications produced by the Communications Department include:

Welcome to Union Public Schools

Audio/video productions include an annual bond-related video, a Teacher of the Year slide show, a Teacher of the Year video, district videos and programming for the U-View Scoreboards at Union High School and the UMAC. The Communications Department also works with the Athletics Department to produce a weekly coach's show during the football season. 

A network of 45 communications representatives from all sites, departments and various parent groups submitted news tips, photos and story ideas to our staff throughout the year. Their input helps generate hundreds of news releases and photos which are sent to the media and/or are posted on the Union web site each year.   

Communication Representatives - 2010-2011

Andersen Elementary
Linda Snowbarger (Enrichment Spec.)
357-8233 (wk)

Boevers Elementary
Karen Pearman (Enrichment Specialist)
357-8328 (wk)

Briarglen Elementary
Carrie Soward (Language Arts Spec.)
357-8456 (wk)

Cedar Ridge Elementary
Cindy Forbis (2nd Grade)
357-8663 (wk)

Clark Elementary
Shanda Hart(5th Grade)
357-8517

Darnaby Elementary
Kristi Ruskjer (2nd Grade)
357-8708 (wk)

Aaron Parsons (5th Grade)
357-8717 (wk)

Dana Bundy (Enrichment Specialist)
357-8731

Grove Elementary
Stacy Haynes (Principal's secretary)
357-8880

 

Jarman Elementary
Patti Pitcock (Principal)
357-8990 (wk)

Andrea Holcomb (Principal's Secretary)
357-8980

 

Jefferson Elementary
Shannon Troxel
357-6689 (wk)

McAuliffe Elementary
Kim Jobe   (Kindergarten)
357-6502 (wk)

Kathryn Christian   (Pre-Kindergarten)
357-6505 (wk) 

Carol Conrad   (Langauge Arts Specialist)
357-6526 (wk)

Krystal Lee   (3rd Grade)
357-6518 (wk)

 

Moore Elementary
LeeAnna Weaver (Media Specialist)
357-6981 (wk)

Rosa Parks Elementary
Gina Ward (Media Specialist)
357-6884 (wk)

Erin Velez (Commnity Schools Coordinator)
357-6807 (wk)

Peters Elementary
Leigh Ann Keller (3rd Grade)
357-6716 (wk)

Kay Leslie (Media Specialist)
357-6737

Rosa Parks Early Childhood Center
Katie White
357-7394

Sixth/Seventh Grade Center
 Camilla Chapman (Principal’s Secretary)
 357-8071 (wk) 

 Jennifer Beer (6th Asst. Principal)
 357-8072 (wk) 

 Estella Evans (6th Asst. Principal)
 357-8170 (wk) 

 Gidget Pettit (7th Asst. Principal)
 357-8074 (wk)

 Tim Neller (7th Asst. Principal)
 357-8073 (wk)   

Eighth Grade Center
Tonya Wyatt
357-7917

Intermediate High
Cindy Brown (Business)
357-7796 (wk)

Alternative Education
Melissa Wyatt (English)
357-7014 (wk)

High School
Amy Riker (English/Yearbook)
357-7190 (wk)

 

 

Teaching & Learning
Dr. Kirt Hartzler (Asst. Supt.) 
357-6008 (wk)

JoAnn Bodenstab (Sr. Admin. Asst.) 
357-6008 (wk)

CFO / Finance
Melva Curtis (Exec. Admin. Asst.) 
357-6005 (wk)

Technology
Lee Snodgrass (Exec. Director) 
357-6161 (wk)

Human Resources
Melissa Brock (HR Tech Spec.)
357-6053

Community Education
Sharon Parker (Secretary)
357-7034

Support Services
Jan Shanahan (Admin. Asst.) 
357-6010 (wk)

Betty Dean  (Secretary)
357-6183 (wk)

Drew Diamond (Director of Security)
357-8178

Child Nutrition 
Lisa Griffin ( Director) 
357-6132 (wk)

Evelyn Davis (Asst. Coordinator)
357-6131

Transportation
Justin Porter (Asst. Director)
357-7062 (wk)

Operations
Betty Dean (Secretary) 
357-6183 (wk)

Fine Arts
Phyllis Whisman (Secretary)
357-7414 (wk)

Athletics & Spirit
Rhonda Duke (Office Manager)
357-7410 (wk)

 8th Grade Highsteppers
 Dee Williams (president)
 252-1043 (hm)    skideeski@yahoo.com 

Varsity Cheer
Deneen Pennington (president)
 dpenn@ncda.org 

JV Cheer
 Stephany Harrison (president)
 stepper@cox.net 

9th Grade Cheer
 Holly Anderson (president)
 anderson.holly@unionps.org

8th Grade Cheer
Kim Pitchford (president)
 kimpitchford1@cox.net

Highsteppers
Becky Gates
oksodak@cox.net<mailto:oksodak@cox.net>
Cell:  918-607-6816

8th Grade Highsteppers
 Kari Ernest (president)
 249-2104 (hm)  
 karibeth@valornet.com

Varsity Pom
Kathy Gamble
 497-5528 (wk)  
 kgamble@seg.org 

JV Pom
 

8th Grade Pom
 

9th Grade Pom
 Brett Washam
 361-1594 (cell)  382-3214 (wk)
 bwasham@CAPTC.org 

 

HS Band/Band Parents
 Dennis Vasicek (president)
 286-4962 (hm)   denandjul@cox.net 

 Charles Pisarra (Band instructor)
 357-5225 (wk)
 pisarra.charles@unionps.org

 

Baseball
Laura Reynolds (8th Attendance Secty)
 357-7931 (wk)  523-8369 (hm)
 reynolds.laura@unionps.org

 

 

 

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