About Us
At a glance
Disney elementary
11702 E. 25 St.
Tulsa, OK 74129
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Phone: 918-925-1480
Principal: Donna Gilford
Disney School Flyer
Folleto de Disney Elementary
Mission
The mission of Disney Elementary School is to create a community of learners while striving to provide students with a safe and nurturing environment, supporting every educational, developmental, and social need.
Focus on the Whole Child
The faculty at Disney Elementary places significant value on providing a safe learning environment for our students. We utilize the Second Step Learning Model, which incorporates lessons on bullying prevention and child safety into the daily academic curriculum. Creating high-quality learning experiences means educating the whole child by meeting his or her social, emotional, and academic needs. Social and emotional learning (SEL) is the process through which children and adults acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions.
With strong social and emotional skills, our students will be able to set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.
Dual Language program
Beginning in pre-K or kindergarten, students in the program will speak two different native languages and receive instruction in both English and Spanish. Bilingual children who are educated in their second language have been seen to outperform single language children in their native language.
Bilingualism also increases brain cognition by utilizing the highest levels of thinking, focus, and awareness. Click here to learn more.
Strong community school
One of the largest schools in the district, Disney Elementary School is considered the hug of its surrounding community. Our school is fully renovated in 2018 and works hard to live up to the Disney theme: "Where all of our students' dreams can come true." Students benefit from individualized attention and a collaborative community that supports them. Our partners in education provide tutoring, food for events, backpacks, and uniforms for students who need additional financial support. We continue to encourage our students around our work with growth mindset --The Power of Yet!
Leadership
Principal Donna Gilford has been with Tulsa Public School for more than 25 years. She started her career as a 4th grade teacher at Cooper Elementary where she stayed for 14 years. She transferred to Emerson Elementary where she stayed for two years before becoming the assistant principal at Disney Elementary in 2010. After two years as assistant principal at Disney, she stepped into the role of principal where she currently works with wonderful staff and awesome families. Principal Gilford says is such a pleasure to watch their students grow and learn at the “Wonderful World of Disney.”
Teresa Peña has acquired over thirty years of educational experience, serving students and teachers as academic coordinator, strategic school design specialist, and assistant principal in both middle and elementary schools. Perhaps most importantly, her focus with serving teachers comes from her personal experience of over 17 years as a teacher in the public school system. Peña's patient and calm approach as an administrator is balanced with a passion for community service serving as a docent for Gilcrease Museum, delivering meals with Meals on Wheels while traveling with her friends all over the world. Teresa is also proud to serve families as an English teacher to immigrants and refugees at Tulsa YWCA.
Donna Gilford
Principal
gilfodo@tulsaschools.org
Teresa Peña
Assistant Principal
penate@tulsaschools.org