New Director Announced for Rise School of Stillwater

Rachel Stallings

STILLWATER, Okla. – The College of Human Environmental Sciences announced Rachel Stallings is the new director of the Rise School of Stillwater. Stallings completed her Master of Science Degree in Human Development and Family Science with a child and family services option at Oklahoma State University. She has been working with the students of the Rise School as a teacher’s assistant since January. Stallings also holds a Bachelor of Science in Family Relations and Child Development with a child development option from OSU. 

"I am so thrilled to be joining the leadership of the Rise School of Stillwater, where our vision is to provide the highest quality of early childhood education to children with and without developmental disabilities,” Stallings said. “My passion is to see young children succeed, and I feel that because of the partnership we have between families and the Rise School, children's success is proven daily. I am excited about the future of the Rise School of Stillwater and eager to see our vision achieved."

Serving children from 36 months of age who are developmentally delayed as well as typically developing children, The Rise School was established in the fall of 2007 by Mary and Jimmy Gonzales and the College of Human Environmental Sciences at Oklahoma State University after the Gonzales’ third child, Mya, was born with Down syndrome. 

“We are excited about the progress the children have made during the first year of classes,” Mary Gonzales said.  “Our expectations have certainly been exceeded in what progress the children would make.”

“We have had fun over the last year learning and growing as a school and look forward to the next year and the new director.  I am confident Rachel will do an excellent job as the new director of The Rise School of Stillwater,” Gonzales said.

Currently the Rise School is full, but Stallings said parents are encouraged to place their children’s name on a waiting list by calling 744-7067.

For more information on The Rise School of Stillwater, please visit http://ches.okstate.edu/rise/.