Freedom Elementary School - Sapulpa, OK

Freedom Elementary School has fully committed to their motto, "Rise Above the Rest!" The school's opening in 2002 kicked off a progressive movement in the district to modernize local schools, and Freedom's faculty continue to drive this innovation 18 years later. The teacher collaboration model for the district is a direct result of Freedom's efforts to develop opportunities for teachers to analyze data, use that information to inform their teaching, and share best practices and creative strategies to engage and support their students. Freedom's attention to data and collaboration, as well as their dedication to the principles of the Great Expectations (GE) and Oklahoma A+ Arts (OKA+) programs, have paid off, earning them one of only two Oklahoma report card grades of A in the area and model school status with both GE and OKA+.

Rising above the rest is not just about academics, however. Students and staff participate in several activities throughout the year that build community and enhance the overall social/emotional framework of the school, including an annual canned food drive for the local food bank, Random Acts of Kindness Week service projects, biennial hair donation events for children with hair loss, and the beloved Veterans Day program and luncheon. As its name suggests, Freedom has patriotism in its DNA and this event enables students and staff to create bonds with local veterans and broadens the scope of students' education to include respect and service, allowing the Freedom community to truly rise above and prepare students for a bright future.