Muskogee Public Schools

It’s #NationalSchoolCounselingWeek, and we want to sincerely thank our school counselors for the incredible impact they have on Muskogee students helping them succeed today and plan for the future. Please take a moment this week to stop by and say thank you to your school counselor! 💚

ALUMNI EXCELLENCE AWARD: Professional Achievement, Dr. J. Martin Beal

Dr. Beal is a 1983 graduate of Muskogee High School. He attended the University of Oklahoma, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in English Literature, and graduated from the OSU School of Osteopathic Medicine in 1993. In 1994 he went to Africa with Medical Aid to care for refugees of the Rwandan genocide. From 1994 to 1998 Dr. Beal was a resident in obstetrics and gynecology at Tulsa Regional Medical Center. While a
practicing physician, Dr. Beal was Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine from 1998 until 2003 and Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology from 2003 – 2008. He went into private practice with Tulsa OB-GYN Associates, Inc. from 2008 – 2025. He served as Chief of Staff at St. John’s Medical Center during COVID from 2019 – 2022. He has authored numerous articles published in The Journal of Reproductive Medicine. Dr. Beal’s awards include the Osteopathic Foundation’s Outstanding Physician Award and being named Outstanding Educator and
Outstanding Lecturer at OSU Osteopathic Medical School. He was selected for the Oklahoma
Top Doctors Award by Oklahoma Magazine for fifteen years from 2008 to 2022. Dr. Beal is
currently attending physician and chair of the OB/GYN department at St. John’s Ascension
in Tulsa.

Inside the February issue of Mendenhall Minutes: Winter weather highlights, upcoming events, and important spring reminders!

Save the Dates:
Staff Professional Development / MEA ½ Day – No School: Feb. 16
Parent/Teacher Conferences: March 9–10
End of 3rd Term – No School: March 13
Spring Break – No School: March 16–20

Here is a snippet of our Instructional Calendar for February:

- Feb 16: Professional Development for Staff - No School

To view the full 2025-26 Instructional Calendar, visit https://www.muskogeeps.org/page/instructional-calendars

The Read, Play, Talk Bus is rolling back into Muskogee this spring and summer!

Join us for reading, play, and learning fun at stops throughout the community. Check out the full schedule below and come see us! 📚

For more information, visit: https://www.muskogeeps.org/page/read-play-talk

For those who like to plan ahead, here are the Instructional Calendars for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 school years.

You can always find them on our website here: https://www.muskogeeps.org/.../page/instructional-calendars

With the potential for winter weather across Oklahoma later this week, learn how decisions are made, how notifications are shared, and where to find official closure or delay information by reviewing our Inclement Weather Procedures here: https://files backend.assets.thrillshare.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4490/Mps/5cac8d75-f928-4003-a838-216ed06c63dd/Inclement-Weather-Procedures-.pdf?disposition=inline

January is School Board Appreciation Month! 💚 Muskogee Public Schools would like to thank our Board of Education members: Bobby Jefferson, Tommy Anderson, Larry Stewart, Debra Horsechief, and Danny Shiew for their dedication, leadership, and commitment to putting students first. Your guidance strengthens our schools, supports our community, and makes a lasting impact on the lives of every Rougher student and family. #TheMuskogeeWay

Today, we honor and celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.

Another great night of basketball last night at Rougher Village Arena! We loved seeing our Little Rougher cheerleaders perform at halftime! 💚

Reminder: No school Monday, January 19, 2026 in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. See you on Tuesday, Roughers!

Today, Dr. Jarod Mendenhall was honored with the Beloved Community Award by the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center Trust Authority for his exceptional service and commitment to building a beloved community. 💚

Adding to the celebration, the Muskogee High School Advanced Choral performed two incredible pieces, filling the event with inspiring music and joy. 🎶

Service in action! Our Muskogee 8th & 9th Grade Academy Student Council is preparing dinner this evening at the Gospel Rescue Mission.

Look at these smiling faces at Irving Elementary ! 💚

Fourth-grade students at Irving Elementary are putting their STEM learning into action using materials made possible through a grant from the Education Foundation of Muskogee!

Learning doesn’t stop at the classroom door! Students at the Early Childhood Center are exploring, creating, and discovering in their Outdoor Classroom—made possible through the Little Explorers Outdoor Classroom grant from the Education Foundation of Muskogee!

Welcome back and Happy New Year, Roughers! January Mendenhall Minutes is here with highlights and key information as we begin the spring semester.

Save the Dates:
Martin Luther King Jr. Day - No School: Jan. 19
Staff Professional Development/ MEA 1/2 Day - No School: Feb. 16

Check out the new look of Rougher Hall at Muskogee High School! We are excited to welcome everyone back on Monday, January 5, 2026! 💚 #TheMuskogeeWay

Here is a snippet of our Instructional Calendar for January:

- Jan 1: Winter Break - No School
- Jan 2: Professional Development for Staff - No School
- Jan 19: Martin Luther King Jr. Day - No School

To view the full 2025-26 Instructional Calendar, visit https://www.muskogeeps.org/o/mps/page/instructional-calendars

A standing ovation for the 320 students who brought The Nutcracker to life at Sadler Arts Academy We are incredibly proud of the hard work that went into this year's production—a proud Muskogee tradition since 1996.