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I wanted to start Lab School because I homeschooled our kids for 21 years. We watched our kids go onto colleges and careers that were all vastly different, and our children became very successful on their chosen paths. We wanted to give other students the ability to have the same educational experience tailored to them, and not have to be conformed to the cultural "norm". We pray that students who attend Lab school will leave with an excellent education that taught them to learn and seek knowledge, a network of friends they can truly call family, a love for learning that will never leave them, and the assurance that there will always be a place they can come back to you and know they will be welcomed, loved and encouraged.
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We started Lab school because we saw the need for a place where children could grow and learn using hand on. We wanted students to enjoy coming to school and remember what they learn. We believe that small classes make all the difference. With this structure, school is more a family environment where children feel comfortable and more open to ask questions. By asking questions, they are truly understanding what they learn. Our goal for students at Lab School is to take pride in everything they do and make a difference in the world. To us, making a difference means doing the little things that no one ever knows you do. We want all students to be happy with who they are without the need of recognition from others to make them feel complete.
Pete and Patty have 2 children and have been married for many years. They are two of the owners of Premier Sportsplex serving our community through sports and fitness. In addition Pete serves as the President and Director of OK Premier Volleyball, Patty serves as the Secretary and Club Administrator of OK Premier Volleyball, both are a critical part of growing many programs in our community! |
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Our inspiration for starting Lab School was to provide a learning environment where students could fully grasp the concept of being taught by utilizing hands on teaching in a small class setting. By doing away with busywork and truly focusing on the concepts, teachers would be able to care for each child as their own, ensure no one would fall through the cracks, and every student would maximize their potential.
Our hopes for the Lab School are students are not only fully educated at the highest level and ready to take their next steps academically, but that they ultimately understand there is so much more to being an adult than just a passing grade. |
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Kim Cagle graduated from Oklahoma Baptist University with a degree in Bible and Education in 1992. She has always loved working with children. Her first teaching position was at a private school in south Dallas. Throughout the years, she has taught in schools in Texas and Oklahoma, as well as overseas in China where her family spent 7 years. In addition, Kim has coached competitive gymnastics and taught varying ages of Sunday School at her church. For the past seven years, she has served in her church youth group. In addition, Kim teaches at a summer camp for foster and adoptive at-risk teens. Kim is certified in Special Education by the State of Oklahoma. Her most recent position was as Dean of Students at Le Monde International School.
Kim's joy is her family. She has nine children, 4 biological and 5 adopted, ranging in age from 15-27 years old. Kim homeschooled many of her kids for much of their education. In the fall of 2021, she added a granddaughter and grandson. Kim loves spending time with her family in any way, but especially hanging out on their back patio with cookouts and also playing games. Kim has a passion to see children of all ages grow to know they are loved and that they can succeed. She also has a desire to equip and support teachers to do the same. |
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Ashley has a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Southeastern Oklahoma State University, where she met her husband of 20 years, Greg. Together, they have two daughters, Marlie and Gracyn who attend Lab School. Before becoming a stay-at-home-mom, Mrs. Vance worked in the human resources industry and for the past several years as a private school secretary. Ashley considers herself as having the best of both worlds as a school secretary. She loves interacting with all the students and parents, helping the teachers, and being of assistance where needed! We are so lucky to have her on board!
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Andrea Chastain is our Kindergarten teacher! Ms. Andrea is a proud mom of three, Ali (22), Gracie (19), and Case (14) and wife to husband, Clifford. She’s been in the classroom on and off since 1996, taking time away to raise her children when they were young. Andrea spends her free time supporting her children in their endeavors and is a lover of animals. Andrea strives to set a solid foundation for education in her students, believes all students can be successful, and all children learn through play. Andrea has a love of early childhood education and loves all children.
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Denise Glenn is a native Oklahoman, born in MWC, and raised in Norman. She has been teaching for 15 years. Denise is a graduate of OU and holds a BA in Journalism and Minor in English Literature. She and her husband of 20 years, Roger, recently moved from the Grand Lake area in NE Oklahoma to Norman. Their eighteen-year-old son, Joshua, who Denise homeschooled during his high school years, is attending college on a Bass Fishing Scholarship at Bethel University in McKenzie, TN. She has taught grades Pre-K through 4th Sunday School for many years at their church and has also led women's bible studies.
She studied and obtained her alternative education designation from Northeastern State University and completed coursework at the University of Texas at Austin in grant writing. Since 2007, Denise has worked in both private and public schools, and prior to that time she had a a varied career in print journalism, adult education and training, marketing, public speaking, grant writing, and accounting. She is multi-certified in both Oklahoma and Missouri in Early Childhood, Elementary Education, English, Journalism, and English as a Second Language (ESL). Denise was most recently a 4th grade teacher in Missouri at a multilingual school where she taught for 6 years. She had at the privilege of learning about arts integration through an affiliation with Crystal Bridges, Bentonville, AR, Windgate Foundation, Little Rock, AR Denise is the recipient of numerous grants, including grants from the Walton family Foundation, The American Farm Bureau Foundation, and WE Teachers. Denise is looking forward to joining the Lab School staff and meeting her new students and coworkers. |
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Mrs. Kylee has been a teacher for the last 6 years. In addition to teaching, she has been the director of our Mother's Day Out program at Rise and Shine. Ms. Kylee calls Norman her home and yells "Boomer Sooner" in the fall. When she's not at the soccer field, her family enjoys local rodeos and cooking together. She has chosen to make early learning her life's work because she believe's a child's education is one of the most valuable things they can possess.
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Teri Walker is a native Californian who moved around a lot due to her father being in the military and finally settled in Oklahoma. She graduated from OBU in 1998 and married her husband in 2000. Teri has worked in the public schools for several years, primarily with special needs children. She is looking forward to the next chapter in her life working with the students of the Lab School. Teri and her husband have two wonderful children; a son who loves band and a daughter who rocks the volleyball world.In her down time, Teri enjoys being with her family playing games, watching OU football, supporting band and volleyball, and hiking and camping.
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Kara Polk grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas. She moved to Norman to attend The University of Oklahoma and never looked back. She earned her BS in Meteorology with a minor in Math and Journalism, and obtained her Alternative Certificate in Advanced Math as well as Middle School Science. As a teacher’s kid, she has been in the education world all her life. Kara has taught in a public or private school for 11 years, and homeschooled her kids for 8 years. She wants to instill a love for learning in her students and loves to see their excitement when they master something they have struggled with. Kara is also going on her 18th year as the Preschool Ministry Director at Trinity Baptist Church in Norman.
Kara is married to her husband of 22 years, Ryan, and they have adopted 4 children, Cooper, Marin, Maddy, and Malia. She enjoys watching her kids partake in sports, music, and theater. Her favorite place to be is on the beach or traveling with her family. Kara is very excited to be joining The Lab School family! |
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My name is Bren Petroski and I am honored to become part of the Lab School teaching family this year. I am originally from Corpus Christi, TX. I graduated from Texas A&M University in 1998 with a Bachelor’s in Exercise Technology emphasizing in Cardiac Rehabilitation while competing as a collegiate track and field shot put and discus thrower. Having been an athlete since I could walk as well as a daughter to two lifelong teachers and coaches, my love for education and sports were ingrained within me as were the life lessons that accompany them. In my early career I worked for the YMCA in various capacities: Coordinator, Instructor, Personal Trainer, as well as developed and directed a Cardiac Rehabilitation program maintaining over 100 senior citizens. I have taught children’s Sunday School for over 16 years, directed various levels of AWANA for over 15 years, and coached the last three years at Norman High School as the throws coach. Having been blessed to work with such a diverse range in both age and subject matter, I have found one common factor in them all, the gift of joy and love of life that God has graciously bestowed us here on Earth. Speaking of love, I have been married to mine for over 22 years. Tom and I met on a blind date in 1999 and have not looked back since. We have three beautiful children that we are so very proud of and admit that they have taught us more about ourselves than any other life experience could. Children are truly amazing and that is why I am thrilled to be teaching your 5th graders this year. My hope is to encourage motivation, enhance their knowledge, touch their spirit, and strengthen their faith in God, in life, and in the purpose He created them.
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Lisa Wilmoth is so excited to be teaching at the Lab School as our 5th/6th grade teacher. She has been married to her high school sweetheart, Adam, for more than 20 years. She has two amazingly talented and beautiful daughters whom the Lord brought to their family through adoption. As a family, they love exploring places they’ve never been before, playing board games, watching movies, or riding roller coasters. Lisa loves photography, and her camera usually isn’t far away! She especially loves macro nature photography! Ms. Lisa not only teaches in the classroom but also directs our yearbook!
Lisa has worked with children for more than 20 years in one capacity or another. She has served in her church as the 3rd-5th grade children’s church leader for the past 6 years. Before that, her and her husband were high school youth leaders for over 10 years. They have helped run programs for children during mission trips to Juarez, Mexico, and Port-au-Prince, Haiti. She has a bachelor’s degree in Social Work and a master’s degree in Human Relations. Lisa worked at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma for 10 years, helping youth in the community succeed in school and in life. Currently, she works as a private contractor providing adoption services for children who are waiting to find their forever families. She has also homeschooled her daughters and taught at a well-established local co-op. When her daughters were in public school, she subbed or volunteered at their school almost daily. Her favorite grades for long- or short-term subbing were 3rd-6th grades, so she is beyond thrilled to continue that full time with us. |
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Blake Lindley was born and raised in Shawnee, OK. He attended Oklahoma Baptist University and graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 2007 with a B.S. in Education. He married Carol Ann in 2005. They have two sons Jordan and Marcus. Blake and Carol Ann lived and worked in North Africa from 2008-2010. He previously taught 7th grade World Geography from 2014 - 2017 at ASTEC Charter School in Oklahoma City. Blake formed and ran an international pro-life non-profit outreach from 2014-2021. He and his family are active members of Trinity Baptist Church where Blake teaches 4th/5th grade boys Sunday School. Blake has had the privilege to work and visit 20 countries on all continents except Antarctica and Australia. He enjoys spending time with family, teaching and serving others.
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Mrs. Roberts is in her 12th year of teaching. Nine of those years have been in private schools and two in public. Mrs. Roberts has a bachelors in education and an associates in psychology along with advanced education in both math and science. Outside of school, Mrs.Roberts is married to our very own Mr. Roberts and has two sons, one of which has graduated from college with a BA in english.
When not teaching, Mrs. Roberts enjoys baking, reading, traveling and decorating those amazing cakes she bakes! |
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We are so excited to have Mr. Roberts teaching our Jr. and Sr. high humanities courses again this year! Mr. Roberts comes to us as a historian and archivist at Arizona State University where he finished his Masters Degree. It has always been Mr. Roberts dream to live in the classroom where thoughts are formed and ideas take shape! We are lucky and blessed he has decided to make his home here with us. This is going to be another great year to watch him shape minds!
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READING & ART:
We are very blessed to have Mrs. Stacey step into a new role with us this year at the Lab. Stacey received her Elementary Education degree from Purdue University with a specialization in Reading. We look forward to the new reading program she is developing here at the lab! Mrs. Stacey will bring a reading lab to us to hone in on our early reading skills, help those in need of remediation, and allow those who are ahead a space to explore the wonder of books in more depth through group discussion. Teaching kids art expression and learning techniques such as mixed media, pastels, pencil, acrylic paint, sponges, as well as art history while they are expressing their personality through their own art will be an adventure we all look forward to witnessing. She has been married for seventeen years to her husband, Aaron, and they have four boys, Ben (15), Sam (13), Josh (10), and Matt (8). Stacey spends her free time running, reading, camping, hiking, or anything else outdoors. She loves being a wife and mom, and she is thrilled to be able to be part of our team. |
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Early Elementary Music:
Kathy Presley has taught children in a choir setting for over 30 years for the love of both children and music. Believing that music is a gift from God to teach almost anything, she also sees it as a powerful way to connect and simply have fun. Kathy and her husband of 37 years have 12 children, 2 bio and 10 adopted, and have served in ministry together their entire marriage. Randy is on staff as a worship pastor and Kathy as children’s director. |
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MUSIC:
We are so excited to have amazing instruction for music this year! Dr. Westby holds a Bachelor of Music in music education from Northern Arizona University as well as a Master of Music and Doctorate of Musical Arts in music composition from the University of Oklahoma. Caleb hails from Sierra Vista, Arizona and has worked extensively with students in Norman, Moore, Sierra Vista, Flagstaff, Phoenix, and Tucson throughout his career as an educator. When not composing music, he enjoys cycling, racquetball, and playing video games with his loved ones. Caleb looks forward to sharing his passion for music with our students and helping them be their best! |
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PE:
Mr. Kelvin Lockear graduated from Purnell Swett High School in June 1991, and joined the United States Navy where he retired after more than 26 years. He now lives in Blanchard with his beautiful wife Kellie and 6 amazing children, Noah – 19 Jonah – 17, Isabella – 12, Gabriel – 11, Savannah – 5, and Israel – 2. Kelvin enjoys almost everything from basketball, baseball, football, swimming, and anything that deals with the outdoors. Mr. Locklear enjoys working with the youth at his church and is very involved in community activities. Currently Mr. Locklear is pursuing his BA in Biblical and Educational Studies: Biblical Theological Studies with a minor in Education and will graduate August 2022 with a 4.0 GPA and plans on pursuing his Masters in Child Psychology. Mr. Locklear is not only part of our staff but his children are also part of our Lab School family and we are very blessed to have them. |
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The Lab School of Oklahoma
111 Premier Parkway Norman, OK 73069 Please send all mail to:
PO Box 1557 Norman, OK 73070 |
labschoolok@gmail.com
www.labschoolok.com 8:30am-6:00pm (405) 701-3668 before and after hours (405) 761-0326 
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Board of Directors:
Renee Roberts, Pete and Patty Mills Wes and Brandy White |