About Us

Sheri Carpenter
Interim Principal
carpesh@tulsaschools.org

My name is Sheri Carpenter, acting principal at Grissom. I have worked for Tulsa Public Schools for more than 20 years serving as a community school coordinator, a teacher, and a counselor at three other schools.

I find great joy in building relationships with students and families and look forward to meeting each of you. This community has been so warm and welcoming. We have wonderful school partners and an amazing group of teachers and support staff. They work tirelessly to make sure that each student has an opportunity to learn and grow each day. 

Virgil “Gus” Grissom (1926-1967)

Grissom Elementary opened in 1969, named after American astronaut Virgil “Gus” Grissom. Grissom was an Air Force pilot and Lieutenant Colonel who flew 100 missions during the Korean Conflict. He earned two bachelor’s degrees. Grissom piloted the second Project Mercury mission, America’s second manned spacecraft. He also piloted the Gemini 3, which made him the first American astronaut to fly into space twice. 

Grissom then became the Command Pilot for Apollo 1, the first of the manned Apollo missions. The command module caught fire during a pre-flight test, and all three men on board, including Grissom, were killed. He left his wife Betty and his sons Scott and Mark. Among his many honors, Grissom was awarded the Master Astronaut badge, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Distinguished Service Medal.

The value that Col. Grissom placed on education, physical development, service, character, and family, serve as a model from which all of us can learn.

Learning. Our greatest challenges and our greatest successes are found in igniting students’ curiosity and fueling their passion for creativity. Learning is the priority of our school, and students’ learning and well-being are the primary focus for all decisions implemented by the school.

Being the Change. We are the difference-makers in the lives of children and families, and the change agents of their world and ours. We are the dream-builders that bridge children’s dreams and their present and future realities. We are role models who teach children, parents, and community members more by our choices and actions than by any other means.

Relationships. We all need to feel respected, appreciated, loved, and cared-for. Our connections with one another in no small part make us who we are. We will foster and nurture them.

A Positive Environment. Children thrive in environments that are active and engaging, safe and fair, with clear and consistent expectations. We all do.

High Expectations with Abundant Support. Individual potential is best developed when expectations for high levels of achievement are combined with targeted, scaffolded support. We set the mark high for each individual, we help each reach it, and we celebrate his or her success.

The Potential and Possibility of Each Child. It is our duty and joy to find and enhance how each one can shine. We cannot give up on any child.

Individual Diversity. Each of us can learn and does learn, though not in the same way or at the same pace.  The unique physical, emotional, intellectual, and social qualities of each individual are valuable assets to our school.

Strength of Character. The quality of our relationships, our relationships to each other and even our relationship to self, depends on the quality of our character. Trust and respect are diminished in its absence.  Knowledge and achievement are hollow without it.

Accountability. Because we are equal in our importance and our value, we are each accountable to one another, no matter who we are, how big or small. We all make mistakes; we will be honest about them, will learn what we can from them, and will move past them together.

The Collaboration of Team and of Community. We support one another in helping each individual reach her or his full potential.  When we have exhausted our educational or emotional resources, our team is here to assist and encourage us. We find in our team and in the community what we need to take the next step.

Here’s to Grissom School,
With colors blue and gold.

Here’s to Grissom School,
With pride to behold.

Like an astronaut,
We soar so high.

We are proud our flag to fly.

We love Grissom,
Gold and Blue.

We love Grissom, 
So will you.

Oh, we’ll follow, 
Loyal and True,
The Gold and Blue.

I am a Grissom Star.

I am Safe.

I contribute with Teamwork.

I am mindful of my Attitude.

I am Respectful. 

I am Responsible.

I am a Grissom Star.