October is National Principals Month!
We’re proud to recognize our MPS principals and assistant principals who work hard every day to support our students, staff and families.
Thank you for all you do to make a difference in our schools. Join us in celebrating our principals and assistant principals this month!
Early Childhood Center: Jennifer Schuler
Cherokee Elementary: Latricia Dawkins
Creek Elementary: Dr. Stacy Miller
Irving Elementary: Katy Thomson
Pershing Elementary: Lisa Brown
Tony Goetz Elementary: Sarah McWilliams
Sadler Arts Academy: Ronia Davison
6th & 7th Grade Academy: Hunter Alexander, with Assistant Principals Andrae Freeman and D’Amber Desmuke Bunch
8th & 9th Grade Academy: Ryan Buell, with Assistant Principals Anayai Cooper and Lisa Charboneau
Muskogee High School: Kinsey Clark, with Assistant Principals Lynwood Wade and Chetan Munsell
Rougher Innovations Academy & Early College High School: Jennifer Kiser
Rougher Alternative Academy: Natalie Cloud
We’re proud to recognize our MPS principals and assistant principals who work hard every day to support our students, staff and families.
Thank you for all you do to make a difference in our schools. Join us in celebrating our principals and assistant principals this month!
Early Childhood Center: Jennifer Schuler
Cherokee Elementary: Latricia Dawkins
Creek Elementary: Dr. Stacy Miller
Irving Elementary: Katy Thomson
Pershing Elementary: Lisa Brown
Tony Goetz Elementary: Sarah McWilliams
Sadler Arts Academy: Ronia Davison
6th & 7th Grade Academy: Hunter Alexander, with Assistant Principals Andrae Freeman and D’Amber Desmuke Bunch
8th & 9th Grade Academy: Ryan Buell, with Assistant Principals Anayai Cooper and Lisa Charboneau
Muskogee High School: Kinsey Clark, with Assistant Principals Lynwood Wade and Chetan Munsell
Rougher Innovations Academy & Early College High School: Jennifer Kiser
Rougher Alternative Academy: Natalie Cloud
As part of this week’s staff professional development, MPS hosted the Lasting Impacts Forum at the Muskogee High School Performing Arts Center.
We were grateful to hear from retired educator Melony Carey, Sheriff Andy Simmons, former Mayor Wren Stratton and Dr. Ja’Corie Maxwell as they shared how Muskogee impacted their lives and careers. Thank you to each of our guests for taking the time to share their experiences with our staff, and to Valerie Ragsdale for serving as our emcee!
It was a great opportunity to reflect on the lasting impact educators have on their students and the Muskogee community. 💚
#TheMuskogeeWay
We were grateful to hear from retired educator Melony Carey, Sheriff Andy Simmons, former Mayor Wren Stratton and Dr. Ja’Corie Maxwell as they shared how Muskogee impacted their lives and careers. Thank you to each of our guests for taking the time to share their experiences with our staff, and to Valerie Ragsdale for serving as our emcee!
It was a great opportunity to reflect on the lasting impact educators have on their students and the Muskogee community. 💚
#TheMuskogeeWay
Welcome back, Rougher Family! We hope you had a great fall break!
Before the break, our 8th & 9th Grade Academy students brought the competition and school spirit to the 2026 Powder Puff Flag Football Game! 🏈💚🎀
Before the break, our 8th & 9th Grade Academy students brought the competition and school spirit to the 2026 Powder Puff Flag Football Game! 🏈💚🎀
Hey, Roughers! 💚 Just a reminder that there will be no school Thursday, October 15, or Friday, October 16, for fall break. We will also be out Monday, October 19, for staff professional development. We’ll see everyone back in class Tuesday, October 20!
Another reminder for our Rougher fans: Varsity football is on the road this week! We hope to see you in Ponca City Thursday night. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.!
Have a happy and safe fall break! 🍂
Another reminder for our Rougher fans: Varsity football is on the road this week! We hope to see you in Ponca City Thursday night. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.!
Have a happy and safe fall break! 🍂
It was definitely a Fun Friday at Irving Elementary! 💚 We love seeing our Roughers show their school spirit!
CHAMPIONS! The Rougher Regiment brought home the Class AA North Texas Bands of America Regional Championship! 🏆
With 1st place finishes in Visual and General Effect, 2nd place in Music and an overall 1st place finish, our Roughers had an incredible day in Prosper, Texas!
Congratulations to our students and directors on this outstanding accomplishment! 💚
REMINDER: Parent-Teacher Conferences are this Monday and Tuesday, October 12 & 13, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at all school sites. For more information, please reach out to your child’s school.
You can catch Cheyenne, Ardyn and Brayden’s interviews tonight during 2 News’ Friday Night Live series from 6-7 p.m.!
We’re so proud of these student leaders and excited to see them representing Muskogee Public Schools!
Tune in to KJRH tonight and look for these three Roughers! 💚
We’re so proud of these student leaders and excited to see them representing Muskogee Public Schools!
Tune in to KJRH tonight and look for these three Roughers! 💚
What a fun week it’s been for our third, fourth and fifth grade students at Tony Goetz Elementary during this year’s Tony Goetz Leadership Academy!
This year’s Survivor theme made for an unforgettable leadership experience, with a visit from Dr. Scout Cloud Lee, a former contestant on CBS’s Survivor!
Dr. Scout shared her experience on the show, the challenges she faced and what she learned along the way. Students also had the opportunity to ask her questions about what it was really like to compete on Survivor and hear firsthand about her time on the show.
The fun continued with a full day of activities, where students worked together, tackled challenges and put their leadership skills into action through teamwork and problem-solving.
We’re so proud of these young leaders and all they brought to this year’s TGLA! 💚
This year’s Survivor theme made for an unforgettable leadership experience, with a visit from Dr. Scout Cloud Lee, a former contestant on CBS’s Survivor!
Dr. Scout shared her experience on the show, the challenges she faced and what she learned along the way. Students also had the opportunity to ask her questions about what it was really like to compete on Survivor and hear firsthand about her time on the show.
The fun continued with a full day of activities, where students worked together, tackled challenges and put their leadership skills into action through teamwork and problem-solving.
We’re so proud of these young leaders and all they brought to this year’s TGLA! 💚
Inside the October issue of Mendenhall Minutes: Celebrating a memorable Homecoming week, taking a closer look at our enrollment trends, highlighting the 2027 Alumni Excellence Awards, and sharing our October Save the Dates!
October 5, 2026
Dear MPS Community,
We are aware of recent social media posts regarding the cancellation of a Back-to-School Community Prayer Walk at the 6th & 7th Grade Academy in August, and we want to provide some clarification.
Muskogee Public Schools has not taken a position against prayer or religious expression. In fact, a community prayer walk was held at the 6th & 7th Grade Academy last year by local churches. The circumstances surrounding this year’s event, however, were different.
This year, the district learned that the prayer walk had been promoted by district employees as a school-sponsored event. The district also received a letter from the Freedom From Religion Foundation raising concerns. Public schools cannot sponsor or promote religious activity. Therefore, the decision was made to cancel the event.
Public schools have a Constitutional obligation to neither promote religion nor discriminate against religious belief or religious expression. A public school cannot promote or sponsor religious activity, but it also cannot suppress an individual’s voluntary religious expression simply because it is religious.
That distinction is important. A school employee acting in their official capacity cannot promote a particular faith. At the same time, students, families, staff and community members are not prohibited from voluntarily praying or expressing their religious beliefs.
For example, student-led events such as See You at the Pole are permitted because they are student-led, rather than sponsored or promoted by the school or district.
This decision was not to prohibit prayer or religious expression within our schools. We understand there may be questions about the decision, particularly given that a prayer walk took place at the school the previous year. However, we hope this clarification provides a better understanding of what was different about this year’s event and why the decision was made.
Sincerely,
MPS District Administration
Dear MPS Community,
We are aware of recent social media posts regarding the cancellation of a Back-to-School Community Prayer Walk at the 6th & 7th Grade Academy in August, and we want to provide some clarification.
Muskogee Public Schools has not taken a position against prayer or religious expression. In fact, a community prayer walk was held at the 6th & 7th Grade Academy last year by local churches. The circumstances surrounding this year’s event, however, were different.
This year, the district learned that the prayer walk had been promoted by district employees as a school-sponsored event. The district also received a letter from the Freedom From Religion Foundation raising concerns. Public schools cannot sponsor or promote religious activity. Therefore, the decision was made to cancel the event.
Public schools have a Constitutional obligation to neither promote religion nor discriminate against religious belief or religious expression. A public school cannot promote or sponsor religious activity, but it also cannot suppress an individual’s voluntary religious expression simply because it is religious.
That distinction is important. A school employee acting in their official capacity cannot promote a particular faith. At the same time, students, families, staff and community members are not prohibited from voluntarily praying or expressing their religious beliefs.
For example, student-led events such as See You at the Pole are permitted because they are student-led, rather than sponsored or promoted by the school or district.
This decision was not to prohibit prayer or religious expression within our schools. We understand there may be questions about the decision, particularly given that a prayer walk took place at the school the previous year. However, we hope this clarification provides a better understanding of what was different about this year’s event and why the decision was made.
Sincerely,
MPS District Administration
Your 2025 Muskogee High School Homecoming Court! Congratulations to all! 👑
Muskogee High School Homecoming Parade 2026! 💚
Check out all the photos from the parade here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/15V9eE8cHEFjmwEJH5xl4jYscOamDTtnr?usp=sharing
Check out all the photos from the parade here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/15V9eE8cHEFjmwEJH5xl4jYscOamDTtnr?usp=sharing
“Behind every great school is a caring custodian.” 💚
Happy National Custodian Day! Thank you to our incredible custodians who work behind the scenes every day to keep our schools clean, safe and welcoming for our students and staff. Thank you for all you do for MPS!
#TheMuskogeeWay
Happy National Custodian Day! Thank you to our incredible custodians who work behind the scenes every day to keep our schools clean, safe and welcoming for our students and staff. Thank you for all you do for MPS!
#TheMuskogeeWay
What a fun morning with our Pershing Pups! 💚
#TheMuskogeeWay
#TheMuskogeeWay
🎉 Homecoming is tomorrow! 🎉
Join us Friday, October 2, for the Rougher Dreamhouse Homecoming Parade at 12:00 PM! The parade will travel through Downtown Muskogee along Broadway St.
🏆 Parade awards will be given for:
- Best Overall
- Best School Spirit
- Best Community Float
- Best Storefront
Then, head to Rougher Village tomorrow night for the Homecoming football game! Gates open at 5:00 PM, Homecoming Court coronation begins at 6:40 PM, and kickoff is at 7:00 PM.
There is no school tomorrow, so come out and celebrate Homecoming with us! 💚
Join us Friday, October 2, for the Rougher Dreamhouse Homecoming Parade at 12:00 PM! The parade will travel through Downtown Muskogee along Broadway St.
🏆 Parade awards will be given for:
- Best Overall
- Best School Spirit
- Best Community Float
- Best Storefront
Then, head to Rougher Village tomorrow night for the Homecoming football game! Gates open at 5:00 PM, Homecoming Court coronation begins at 6:40 PM, and kickoff is at 7:00 PM.
There is no school tomorrow, so come out and celebrate Homecoming with us! 💚
Howdy, Roughers! 🤠 It’s Wild West Wednesday at the Rougher Dreamhouse! Homecoming Week is in full swing, and we’re having a little fun with our western side today. 💚
Here is a snippet of our Instructional Calendar for October:
- Oct. 2 - Homecoming - No School
- Oct. 9 - End of 1st Term
- Oct. 12-13 - Parent/Teacher Conferencess
- Oct. 15-16 - Fall Break - No School
- Oct. 19 - Professional Development for Staff - No School
To view the full 2026-27 Instructional Calendar, visit https://www.muskogeeps.org/page/instructional-calendars
- Oct. 2 - Homecoming - No School
- Oct. 9 - End of 1st Term
- Oct. 12-13 - Parent/Teacher Conferencess
- Oct. 15-16 - Fall Break - No School
- Oct. 19 - Professional Development for Staff - No School
To view the full 2026-27 Instructional Calendar, visit https://www.muskogeeps.org/page/instructional-calendars
Our Rougher Regiment is ready to take the field with this season’s show, “Forged by Fire”! 🔥
Come see our band perform during the Homecoming Game on Friday, October 2, at Rougher Village!
You can stay up to date on Rougher Regiment events, performances and more by following the Muskogee Bands Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/muskogeebands
We’re proud of our Rougher Regiment! 💚
Come see our band perform during the Homecoming Game on Friday, October 2, at Rougher Village!
You can stay up to date on Rougher Regiment events, performances and more by following the Muskogee Bands Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/muskogeebands
We’re proud of our Rougher Regiment! 💚
Thank you once again to the William Barry Love Foundation for all you do for MPS! Our students and staff are so thankful for all the support you continue to provide. 💚
https://www.kjrh.com/news/local-news/muskogee/muskogee-public-schools-receives-million-from-william-berry-love-foundation-sept-27-2026