Allison – high school graduate; Bovaird
Foundation Scholarship recipient

Lori McGinnis, Ed. D.
Executive Director

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833-9805
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Lori McGinnis, Ed. D. is the Executive Director for Street School. Dr. McGinnis has an eight year background in administration as a director and a consultant regarding at-risk youth at the secondary school level.

Prior to Street School, Dr. McGinnis was a program evaluator with the Oklahoma Technical Assistance Center in Cushing, Oklahoma where she provided technical assistance and evaluation to more than sixty alternative education programs in Oklahoma. By monitoring the programs she was able to increase effectiveness and overall student success. She was Director of Alternative Education in Sand Springs from 1995 to 1998, pioneering successful programs for dropout prevention featuring a school-within-a-school model for middle school students, and an evening program designed to meet the needs of working and parenting/pregnant high school students. As a classroom teacher, McGinnis served as department head for Sand Springs' special education program, introducing the inclusion process to integrate special education students effectively into the traditional classroom.

McGinnis completed her Doctorate at Oklahoma State University in Administration and Leadership, and received her Masters at OSU in Applied Behavioral Studies. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Tulsa where she graduated cum laude.

McGinnis has lobbied state legislators for continued funding of alternative education programs in Oklahoma by communicating the importance of such programs and their related services for the at-risk population.

Dr. McGinnis was a featured speaker at the National Dropout Prevention Network Conference, and her past presentations have included topics addressing "Alternative education, do it the right way!," "Managing Disruptive Behavior," "Character Education," "Conflict Resolution," "Bullying," and "Learning Styles" among other key issues important to a successful alternative education program. She has led numerous committees that have targeted issues key to the development or improving upon staff enrichment, curricula design, program development, leadership, instructional enhancement, teacher quality, program advisory groups and collaborations with other referral agencies.  She  represented the Oklahoma Technical Assistance Center through a professional video created to promote the center’s mission for both state and national levels.

From her first meeting with staff at Street School, Dr. McGinnis expressed the desire to take Street School to a national level.  She wants to see the program continue to grow by building on the strong assets already in place.  She asked each of the staff in the meeting to ask themselves an important question….”Why does this organization need you?”  She challenged the staff to draw from their strengths, acknowledge their weaknesses, plan on organizing and team building, and walk with integrity.