November 5, 2026
STATEMENT FROM THE TECUMSEH PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOARD OF EDUCATION
At tonight’s special meeting, the Tecumseh Public Schools Board of
Education voted to approve Charlie Dickinson as interim superintendent.
Mr. Dickinson will lead the district until the ongoing investigation is
concluded. Mr. Dickinson brings 42 years of Oklahoma public education experience, including more than 20 years as superintendent of Dale Public Schools. He was twice named Pottawatomie County Superintendent of the Year, and he
knows our region and the needs of rural districts like ours. Throughout his career, he has guided decisions with one question: “Is it good for kids?” We are grateful he has agreed to serve our students, families, and staff during this time.
Mr. Dickinson will begin November 6. The board will continue to cooperate fully with the investigation. Because it is a personnel matter, we are not able to comment on details, and we ask our community to respect the privacy of everyone involved while the process is completed. Our teachers and staff have kept their focus on students through this period, and we thank them. We also thank our families for their patience and support.
Iva Bingham
President, Tecumseh Public Schools Board of Education
Good afternoon, Bus 24 will be 20 minutes behind schedule.
Tecumseh Families,
We want to make you aware that two of our school buses were involved in an accident on Walnut. Thankfully, no children were injured.
Although no students riding the affected routes were involved, Bus 25 will experience an approximate 30-minute delay.
We appreciate your patience and understanding as we address the situation. The safety of our students is always our top priority.
Dear Tecumseh Families,
On Thursday, October 29, the Tecumseh Police Department investigated a reported threat involving Tecumseh High School.
After investigating, officers determined the report stemmed from a conflict between students and that there is no credible threat to our school.
Classes and activities are continuing as normal.
We are grateful to TPD for their quick and thorough response.
The district is addressing the matter in accordance with our student discipline policies.
To protect student privacy, we're unable to share additional details.
We take every report seriously, and we're thankful when students and families speak up.
If you or your student ever see or hear something concerning, please tell a teacher or administrator, or the SRO.
Iva Bingham
President, Tecumseh Board of Education
Tecumseh Public Schools Board of Education Statement for After Special Meeting
October 27, 2026
Tonight, the Tecumseh Public Schools Board of Education made the decision to place our top two district leaders on administrative leave.
This leave is part of the Tecumseh Police Department’s expanded investigation related to Coach Lowe. Effective immediately, both Superintendent, Robert Kinsey, and Assistant Superintendent, Brandi Burks are on administrative leave.
Administrative leave is not disciplinary, and it is not a conclusion about anyone. It allows the investigation to be carried out with fidelity and protects the integrity of the process for everyone involved, including our colleagues.
The Board tabled the item to appoint an interim superintendent during the absence of Mr. Kinsey and Mrs. Burks. The Board will be actively searching for an administrator to fill that position during this transition period.
Here is what you need to know as we move forward:
Until an interim administrator role is filled all leadership questions will go through the Board of Education President, Iva Bingham.
Payroll and invoices will process as they traditionally do.
Please be patient, as some items are typically handled more quickly when we are fully staffed.
October 23, 2026
The Tecumseh Public Schools Special Board Meeting scheduled for tonight, Friday, October 23, at 6:00 p.m. has been rescheduled. The original posted agenda for item two did not include a required statutory citation, and the meeting is being moved to ensure full compliance with the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act.
The Special Board Meeting will now be held Tuesday, October 27, at 6:00 p.m. at the Tecumseh Early Childhood Center. An updated agenda will be refiled and then posted on the district website in accordance with state law.
Iva Bingham
Tecumseh Public Schools
Board President
The Tecumseh Public Schools Special Board Meeting scheduled for tonight, Friday, October 23, at 6:00 p.m. has been rescheduled. The original posted agenda for item two did not include a required statutory citation, and the meeting is being moved to ensure full compliance with the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act.
The Special Board Meeting will now be held Tuesday, October 27, at 6:00 p.m. at the Tecumseh Early Childhood Center. An updated agenda will be refiled and then posted on the district website in accordance with state law.
Iva Bingham
Tecumseh Public Schools
Board President
A Message from Tecumseh Public Schools Superintendent, Robert Kinsey. Please Read at this link - https://aptg.co/NsV0M7
Parents/Guardians don't miss out on Conferences coming up on Monday, October 12th and Tuesday, October 13th. Contact your student's site for more information.
Fall Break - October 14th - 16th!
Dear Parents and Community Members,
We are writing to inform you of a personnel matter that has come to our attention and the steps the district is taking in response.
The district was notified today that criminal charges were filed on September 25, 2026 against Crystal (Haggard) Schmidkofler, who has served as secretary at Barnard Elementary School. Ms. Schmidkofler has been on administrative leave for the past six months pending the results of an investigation which culminated with these charges. The charges that she faces relate to alleged financial misconduct in her separate role as secretary/treasurer of the THS Cheer Booster Club, a position she has held since 2021. We understand the charge is embezzlement.
It is important to clarify that booster clubs are independent organizations that operate separately from the school district. While booster clubs support our students and programs, they maintain their own financial accounts and governance. The district does not have regulatory authority or oversight responsibility for booster club finances. The booster club does provide an annual financial report to the district, which is an informational spreadsheet of revenues and expenditures.
In her district employment, Ms. Schmidkofler has worked as the elementary school secretary for three years, a role that includes oversight of the school's activity fund. Prior to this position, she worked in a support role in the classroom and did not have access to district funds.
Out of an abundance of caution and our commitment to financial accountability, the district engaged an independent external auditor to conduct a comprehensive review of the elementary school activity fund. This audit examined all financial transactions and controls during the period of Ms. Schmidkofler's tenure in this role. There were no findings of mismanagement of activity funds from her role as school secretary that resulted from the independent audit.
We understand this news may be concerning. Please know that the district takes its fiduciary responsibility seriously and is committed to transparency and accountability.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact me anytime.
Brandi Burks
Assistant Superintendent
Dear Tecumseh Family: Please see link for a message from Tecumseh Public Schools. https://aptg.co/PDHXG2
Important Form: Please Complete by Friday
Parents and Guardians:
We are asking ALL families to complete the Economically Disadvantaged Form for each student, even if you do not believe your family qualifies.
Why does this matter? The information collected through this form is used to determine funding our schools receive and helps us access resources and programs for our students. When every family completes the form, we have the most accurate information possible to ensure our schools receive the funding they are eligible for.
Completing the form does not mean your family is economically disadvantaged. If your family does not qualify, you should still complete the form and indicate that.
As part of the process, you will also select the school site for each student.
Please take a few minutes to complete the form for each student by the end of the week.
Every student needs a form on file, and every completed form helps our schools maximize the funding and resources available to our students.
Thank you for taking the time to complete this important form and for supporting Tecumseh Public Schools!
Breakfast and Lunch are now free for all students district-wide!
Football season tickets are now on sale!! Call Faith at the Board Office today to get your tickets before they run out.
Attention all BAND students!
Get a jump start on school supplies for this upcoming year! https://www.tecumseh.k12.ok.us/page/parent-resources
District Wide Enrollment is happening on Tuesday, July 21st, at the THS Alumni Building!
Summer is almost here, and the Pioneer Library System Summer Learning Challenge is back! 📚☀️
Check out the graphic below for schedules, activities, and QR codes to get signed up. This is a great way to keep students learning, reading, and engaged all summer long while earning fun prizes along the way.
Learn more here: https://pioneerlibrarysystem.org/summer-learning-challenge
Come grab a SNOW CONE this Thursday at the THS Tennis Courts!
There are three more Virtual days until the end of the school year!
