Oklahoma City Public Schools Partner on Teacher Recruitment for New Pediatric Behavioral Health Center at Oklahoma Children's OU Health
Oklahoma Children's OU Health and Oklahoma City Public Schools are working together to recruit and place seven teachers who will staff the new Oklahoma Children’s OU Health Behavioral Health Center when it opens in late 2026.
The collaboration will help young patients continue their education while receiving mental and behavioral health treatment, keeping them on track academically during stays that can last from one week to several months.
The new pediatric behavioral health center will offer a reimagined way of delivering care to some of the most vulnerable children in the community. It will be one of few in the nation connected to a children’s hospital, allowing for care with both medical and psychiatric concerns. Currently, many Oklahoma families must travel out of state to access this level of specialized care, placing additional stress on families already navigating difficult circumstances.
"When children are dealing with mental health challenges, they are still learning and growing every day," said Oklahoma Children’s child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr. Robyn Cowperthwaite, M.D., chief of the Section of Child and Adolescent Mental Health in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine.
"Mental health diagnoses can have long-lasting effects if they greatly impair a child's education. We want to accommodate whatever our patients need so they are learning needed skills and not falling further behind, which only causes more stress."
The OKCPS teachers will be stationed at the behavioral health center with dedicated classrooms for each unit and age group. They will work with patients across grade levels, coordinating with each student’s home school to review existing Individualized Education Programs, which outline specialized instruction for students with disabilities, or 504 plans, which provide classroom accommodations, and provide updates based on observations during treatment.
"This collaboration allows us to support children at one of the most critical times in their lives," said Kenny Ward, executive director of Special Education for Oklahoma City Public Schools. "Our teachers will help identify each student's best learning style and any behaviors that need assistance. When patients return to their home schools, they will have updated educational recommendations that set them up for success."
Oklahoma Children's will also employ a public school liaison to ensure information is communicated effectively between the behavioral health center and each patient's home school.
"We know that children who are struggling with their mental health spend so much of their time and energy on coping that it's easy to fall behind in school," said Dr. Cowperthwaite. "By providing educational support while they are here, we can look at behaviors that need assistance, determine their best learning style and make recommendations that will help them when they return home."
The collaboration expands on the existing relationship between Oklahoma Children’s OU Health and OKCPS. The district's Stay Well in School program already provides school-based digital doctor visits at several OKCPS campuses, connecting students with Oklahoma Children's pediatricians without leaving school.
"Education is an essential component of a child's overall well-being, and this continues even when they require mental health treatment," said Tracy Cothran, President of Children's Services at Oklahoma Children's OU Health. "This partnership demonstrates our commitment to addressing the comprehensive needs of each child. By ensuring patients remain engaged with their academic responsibilities, we support their sense of stability and facilitate a smooth reintegration into their daily routines. We welcome educators who fulfill all requirements for delivering a secure and supportive educational environment for our patients and offer substantial rewards as members of the OU Health community."
Oklahoma Children's OU Health has long prioritized addressing the whole child during hospitalization. Child Life specialists, music therapists, pet therapy programs and educational support all contribute to a family-centered approach that promotes healing while minimizing disruption to children's lives.
“This partnership reflects our shared commitment to serving students and families well in OKCPS,” said Alisha Suffield, chief of academics for Oklahoma City Public Schools. “By embedding OKCPS teachers directly within the behavioral health center, we’re ensuring students continue to learn, feel supported, and maintain a sense of normalcy while receiving care. Education and mental health are deeply connected, and this collaboration allows us to support healing and learning at the same time.”
The Oklahoma Children’s OU Health Behavioral Health currently under construction on the OU Health campus, is designed for family‑centered care and will include 72 inpatient beds for short‑term stabilization and longer‑term treatment. Patient rooms are being designed to allow a parent to stay overnight.
Program spaces will include a two‑story gym, outdoor respite and garden areas, family resource areas, and dedicated classrooms to support continued learning. A skybridge is planned to connect the facility to Oklahoma Children’s and Ronald McDonald House. The center is slated to open in late 2026.
