Sand Springs Public Schools provides state certified teachers to the LE Rader Center's on-site alternative school.

Contact: Ward Sherrill, Principal 246-8092
Trish McDaniel, Secretary 246-8095
Steven Perdue, Asst. Principal 246-8038
Pat Major, Secretary, 246-8039

Located on the banks of the Arkansas River southwest of Sand Springs, the L. E, Rader Center serves adjudicated delinquent youth in a residential setting. The campus is operated by the Office of Juvenile Affairs and is the maximum security institution for the state of Oklahoma. The 177 residents served at Rader are all male; approximately 14-18 years old; and are placed by judges from any Oklahoma county. The length of stay is indeterminate but averages 12-18 months per resident.

The Rader Center is one of the largest employers in Sand Springs with approximately 300 employees. Employee classifications include house parents, food service workers, maintenance staff, clerical staff, medical staff, drug and alcohol personnel, social workers, psychological assistants and administrative personnel. In addition, services are provided by recreation staff and volunteer services specialist.

The mission of the Rader Center is to offer effective intervention into the delinquent’s behavior and provide for the safety of the public. The OJA has the responsibility to provide for the juvenile’s care, treatment, training, education, rehabilitation and control as provided by state statutes and court ordered consent decrees. One of the unique components of a state operated facility is accreditation and oversight. By statute, the Rader Center must maintain accreditation with the 400 standards of the American Corrections Association that monitors the quality of life for youth in facilities. Very thorough reviews occur every three years by independent auditors. Since the Rader Center is located within the boundary of the Sand Springs Schools, OJA contracts annually with the District to provide educational services for Rader residents. By contract, OJA provides the physical plant and a budget to cover the salaries, fringe benefits, supplies, and equipment for the education staff employed by the District and assigned to the Rader Center School.

In order to assist OJA with maintaining ACA compliance, the District is required to provide services in general, special, remedial, and vocational education. The District employs a faculty of 25 teachers, 2 clerical staff, I Media Specialist, and 2 administrators to deliver individual and small group instruction. The faculty at Rader have earned 1 PHD, and 11 Masters’ Degrees. The teaching faculty averages 21 years of classroom experience and 14 years as an average at Rader. The Rader Center School operates on a year round basis.

Students arrive and exit the Rader School at random times. As a result, the curriculum must be tailored to very individual needs and open entry in design. Based upon previous educational experiences, credit, ability, levels, and interests, students are placed on “tracks” designed to maximize their stay at Rader. All students earn credit toward graduation requirements. During the last several years, about 20 students annually complete the requirements and graduate with a high school diploma. Two ceremonies are conducted on campus each year to honor the graduates. A second track provides GED readiness courses for students that are older, have few credits, and little desire to return to public school. The GED is offered 5 times a year on the Rader campus. An average of 25 students a year pass the GED and participate in the graduation ceremonies as well. The third track at Rader consists of the courses offered for the Special needs students. Approximately one-third of the students qualifies for special education and are served by our special education faculty. All students at Rader have access to vocational services at some point during their placement. The programs include Family /Consumer Science, Business, Auto Tech, Welding, and Carpentry. Oversight for these programs are provided by Career Tech in Stillwater.

Rader is a unique school; the students pose a variety of challenges. To meet their needs, class enrollment is small and instruction must be individualized. Maintaining classroom security is an hourly responsibility. It is the hope of each teacher that not only have their students acquired better academic skills, but that students have learned self control, internalized better decision making skills, acquired better social skills, and leave Rader ready to reintegrate into their families and communities.