A former classroom teacher who now works as a private tutor and life coach, C.C. Lawhon, Choctaw, was moved to start the school after hearing the suicide rates for bullied teens.
TULSA, Okla. – A new private school is in the works with the goal of providing a safe space for ridiculed and harassed teenagers.
Tentatively slated to open in fall 2015, the Oklahoma Alliance Academy will be the state’s first school to start from day No. 1 with a mission of reducing bullying. Although it has been advertised as an “LGBT friendly” school, its organizers stress that any student who has been bullied or targeted for any reason is welcome to attend.
“The neat thing about this school is not just that it is inclusive and invites every culture, spirituality, lifestyle, preference, you name it -- we are interested in having anyone who has felt different, unique or exceptional in any way,” Oklahoma Alliance Academy headmaster and Choctaw Nation citizen C.C. Lawhon said. “Our goal is to make a bully-free zone to allow each student an opportunity to get the best education possible.”
A former classroom teacher who now works as a private tutor and life coach, Lawhon was moved to start the school after hearing the suicide rates for bullied teens. According to the Centers for Disease Control, bullying is the third leading cause of death among teens, resulting in about 4,400 deaths per year. An estimated 14 percent of teenagers have at least contemplated suicide with another 7 percent going so far as to attempt it.
“Just while I was standing at the office for an hour recently, we had two calls from a certain public school district in the area. One student had attempted suicide and another was contemplating it,” Lawhon said. “That’s two calls just while I was in the office. I couldn’t wait any longer.”
The school’s organizers are still working to secure a facility and hope to announce a midtown location in the coming months. Once the campus is set, organizers will be able to formally announce an opening date and the tuition rates, which are expected to be comparable to Metro Christian Academy. Metro Christian Academy tuition is $8,800 for middle school and $9,265 for high school students. Scholarships will be available.
The school will initially open with grades 7-10, then expand to accommodate additional grades as needed. The school’s curriculum will allow for individualized assignments that play to a student’s strengths while meeting the benchmarks set by the Oklahoma Department of Education.
In conjunction with the Alliance Center for Equality of South Tulsa, the school is sponsoring the Love Conquers Hate 5k and fun run on June 28 at LaFortune Park as a fundraiser. Registration is available online through eventbrite.com.
