The Advanced Science and Technology Education Charter Schools

Dr. Freda Deskin- Chief Executive Officer/Founder

Dr. Freda Deskin is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of the award-winning Advanced Science and Technology Education (ASTEC) Charter School in Oklahoma City.   ASTEC serves more than 900 inner-city middle and high school students.  Ninety-eight percent of ASTEC graduates go on to college.

Deskin is a nationally recognized educational consultant, known for her expertise in innovative, multidisciplinary curriculum and instruction.  Her inspirational and energetic personality make her in demand as a public speaker, trainer and lecturer. Dr. Deskin earned a B.A. from the University of Central Oklahoma and a M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma where she was a National Collegiate Scholastic All-American and was recognized for her scholarship and leadership abilities.

Dr. Deskin is listed as one or "The Five Best Known Graduates" from the University of Oklahoma. She has been a leader and pioneer in education for more than 35 years, with 15 of those years at the pre-collegiate level.  During that time her community and colleagues recognized her on many occasions. She was twice named "Teacher of the Year" by her peers and named "Educator of the Year" by her administrators. Dr. Deskin served as Coordinator of Special Projects for the Oklahoma State Department of Education and on the Oklahoma Curriculum Improvement Commission. She has served as an officer in many professional and civic Organizations and has long been considered an advocate for children.

Dr. Deskin has founded several well-known educational programs in Oklahoma.  In addition to started Oklahoma’s first “start up” charter school in 2000, she established the "Oklahoma Odyssey of the Mind," an international program which teaches and rewards creative problem solving in 1978.  In 1986 Deskin began the International Aerospace Academy, a pre-collegiate summer camp and the Oklahoma Aerospace Academy and Outreach programs. She established the first “ropes courses” at both the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma City University.  In 2007, Dr. Deskin co-founded For Youth Initiatives, a foundation that focuses on dropout prevention in Oklahoma.  Under Dr. Deskin's leadership, these programs have received awards and have reached tens of thousands of children and adults.

In 1985, Deskin was selected as a finalist in NASA's "Teacher in Space" project, becoming one of only 100 individuals in the world with the official title of "U.S. Space Ambassador." A host of education and business leaders have recognized Dr. Deskin with awards and citations for her outstanding contributions. Dr. Deskin is listed in Who's Who in American Education, Who's Who in the World, Outstanding Women in American and 2000 Notable Women in the US, and the 2002 International Who’s Who of Professional Educators. She was named the 1996 "Woman of the Year" by the Redlands Council of the Girl Scouts, was awarded the 1996 Frank G. Brewer Award for the Southwest Region for outstanding contributions in aerospace education and was inducted into “Women in Aerospace” in 2007.  

She was named one of “50 Making a Difference” by the Journal Record in 2006 and 2008 and received the prestigious “By-liner Award” by Women in Communication. Dr. Deskin has been honored by more organizations than can be mentioned, including the Boy Scouts of America, the Girl Scouts of America and the National Institute of Architects. She has served on many national committees and "think tanks" for organizations such as the Brooking Institute in Washington, DC. She has developed programs, curriculum guides and books for numerous national educational organizations such as the Challenger Center for Space Science Education, NASA, Disney’s EPCOT Center and the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA). Dr. Deskin has been featured in a number of national publications including Education Week and in educational videos.  She was selected by U.S. Secretary of' Education Riley to appear with him in a televised Town Meeting on Math, Science and the Arts.

Deskin served as Dean of Aerospace Science and Technology Education at Oklahoma City University.  The department served pre-collegiate students and provided professional development for educators.  Prior to that she taught in the University of Oklahoma College of Education and was Executive Director of the Oklahoma Aerospace Academy.

Deskin is a member of the National and State “Women President’s Organization” (WPO). She is also a member of the International Women’s Forum and serves on the State Individual’s with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Advisory Panel.  She is a board member of Red Earth and chair of the education committee and is president of For Youth Initiative (FYI).  Deskin is a graduate of Leadership Norman and Leadership Oklahoma.

The University of Oklahoma Janine Rainbolt College of Education will honor Dr. Deskin with their “Career Achievement Award” in spring of 2010.

Mr. Leo Espinoza- Procurement Officer

Leo Espinoza is a native of Southern California.  He was an independent business owner in Seattle, WA for more than 25 years before moving to Oklahoma City.

Technology, music  and electronics have been hobbies Leo for more than 40 years.  In 1998 Mr. Espinoza, began working with ASTEC on a voluntary basis, eventually resulting in the savings of many  tens of thousands of dollars through his abilities in procurement and technology.

In the  summer of 2003, Mr. Espinoza was hired by ASTEC, Inc. as a network administrator and procurement officer.

He has three grown children and a 15 year old granddaughter.

Mrs. Belinda Armstrong- Instructional Technology

Belinda Armstrong was born in Mexico City, Mexico and grew up in the United States.  She graduated from Putnam City West in 1981 and attended college on a partial volleyball scholarship at Southern Nazarene University.  After graduating in 1985 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, she went on to obtain her Masters Degree in Business Management. Ms. Armstrong began her teaching career when she worked for a company called ExecuTrain instructing adults in the use of Microsoft Office programs specializing in MS Access. Ms. Armstrong came to ASTEC the second year it was a school as a teacher and technical support provider. While at ASTEC she has taught 6th, 7th, and 8th grade technology classes, while assisting with the school’s network and maintenance of computers.  After serving as Middle School Assistant Principal and Technology Coordinator for the past three years, Ms. Armstrong will be serving as Technology Director full-time.

With the increase investment in Technology, ASTEC required a full-time person in this position.  Ms. Armstrong has many years of experience in the technology industry and has learned ASTEC’s network over the past 8 years.  Ms. Armstrong will continue to act as a liaison between our Spanish speaking parents and school administrators. When not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband Glen and their eight-year-old daughter Sara. She is an avid golfer.

Ms. Carolyn Parker- Finance Coordinator

Carolyn Parker grew up in Calumet, OK  and currently resides in South Oklahoma City. She served ASTEC Middle School as Secretary  from 2000-2003 and subsequently worked as Safety Director for a local charter bus company.  In May of 2008 she returned to ASTEC as Central Office Secretary, and in July of 2009 assumed the position of Financial Coordinator. 
 
Carolyn has four sons and five  grandchildren. She enjoys shopping, reading, traveling and movies.

Mrs. Erin Porter – Community School Coordinator

Erin Porter holds a Masters Degree in Human Relations from The University of Oklahoma and has been working with children and families in the Oklahoma City area as a mental health Rehabilitation Specialist for the past 3 years.  Her experience in education revolves around the alternative school setting, working with families who are often in need of crisis intervention.  She looks forward to the new, exciting opportunity of promoting substance abuse awareness and intervention for our community in conjunction with the Oklahoma State Department of Mental Health & Substance Abuse.

She loves to read as well as support local art, film, and music.  Most of all, she enjoys spending time with her husband, children, and friends, laughing and playing as much as possible.

Mr. Greg DaValt- Maintenance Director

Greg DaValt now joins the ASTEC “team” as their Maintenance Director after being independently employed for 30 years.  Growing up in Wisconsin he was a 4-H member and also a Boy Scout enjoying the Wisconsin outdoors, backpacking, camping, hunting and fishing (yes, ice fishing also) and of course his model rockets. Always having an interest in the space program he admits to more than once building a model rocket that chased his parents across the yard diving for cover.

In High School he was an avid band member and afterwards attended the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point with a scholarship in instrumental music.  Still having that (desire) for music he accepted the position of music coordinator for the World Wide Church of God in The Wisconsin Dells, where he stayed for the next ten years, working with the youths and adults, directing choirs, instrumental groups, special music events and concerts.

Having an interest in the trades, Mr. DaValt went to work for the Beaver Dam School District in their maintenance department after college. From there he worked for a local contractor for a few years until starting his own building business in 1979, remodeling and building homes.

In 1994 Mr. DaValt closed his building business to start a new enterprise. Tuning and repairing pianos and teaching piano lessons to children and adults. “Although I don’t feel old, I realize that the years are starting to catch up with me when I am now playing wedding music for the little girls and boys I used to teach.”

For 30+ years Mr. DaValt has also been active in the dog show world. He raises Champion Gordon Setters, and has traveled extensively through out the Midwest, South and the East Coast as a professional handler.

Mr. DaValt currently resides in Chandler, Oklahoma with his wife Donna on a few acres where they still enjoy their dog business under Amethyst Kennels, gardening, flowers and the warm Oklahoma weather.

Quoting: “I am excited to be a part of the A.S.T.E.C. team. A school that can truly make a difference in the lives of our children."

Jennifer Gehay - Data Specialist / Webmaster 

Jennifer Gehay was born on Canon Air Force Base in Clovis, New Mexico. As the daughter of a now retired Air Force member, she has lived in Virginia and Okinawa, Japan before finally settling permanently in Oklahoma. She graduated from Carl Albert High School in 2004 and attended Oklahoma Baptist University. After graduating in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Relations and a minor in Graphic Design, she began working as a Marketing and Advertising Specialist for the 72d Force Support Squadron for Tinker Air Force Base. She has been nominated for Civilian of the Quarter Category V "Newcomer of the Year" in 2009 and received the "Imagination and Innovation Award" in 2009. 

She and her husband, an active-duty Air Force Security Forces member, enjoy golfing, movies and spending time with their two Rottweilers, two year old Mya and four month old Salem. 

Ms. Andrea Duke- Administrative Assistant 

Andrea Duke grew up in Moore, Oklahoma. She is a graduate of Westmoore High School. Ms. Duke served as the Executive Assistant at OU Medical Center Facility Management from 1996 to 2000. She returned to OU Medical Center in 2002 where she again served as the Executive Assistant in Facility Management.  She transitioned into the Safety Specialist role in 2006 and assumed the role of Associate Fire and Safety Officer in 2007. Ms. Duke served as an Executive Assistant to Larry and Frances Jones, Founders of Feed The Children, from 2008 to 2009.

Ms. Duke is married to Tommy Bryant who serves as the Director of Grounds and Maintenance for the Oklahoma City Zoo. She and Tommy reside in South Oklahoma City with their two daughters, Katy and Jennifer.  

Ms. Duke enjoys riding motorcycles, shopping, listening to music, and spending time with her family.