Jul
11
2019 The Rodeo Heritage Has Deep Roots In The Roper Family
By MICHELE TOBERER bareback and bull rid- WLPH IRU Á\ ÀVKLQJ RF-
Page When your grandma ing. He was inducted casionally and enjoys
into the IFYR Hall Of JRLQJ ÀVKLQJ IRU WURXW
B01 is Betty Roper, the win-
ningest barrel racer in Fame in 2014. with his bulldogger
the International Pro- “Justin has been a friend, Shylo Glover.
Clip huge help to me over Jayco’s dad works for
resized fessional Rodeo Asso-
ciation, the announcer the years,” said Jayco. the Oklahoma Depart-
35% often mentions her “He is always there to ment of Transportation,
when introducing you KHOSÀ[P\ULJJLQJDQG and his mom works as
to the crowds. Jayco give me advice; I really a teacher at the Oklaho-
Roper has grown ac- look up to him. And, ma School for the Blind.
customed to hearing the I never ride a horse J.W.’s mom, Betty, lives
announcers rave about without praying to God next door to the family
his grandma and her ÀUVWµ and at 70 years old, still
six world titles as he is Jayco keeps up a very rides every day.
getting things just right busy schedule, com- “Grandma Betty is
in the chutes. peting in the Ameri- still healthy and gets
The Roper name has can Cowboys Rodeo around like a 40-year-
a longstanding rodeo Association, Cowboys old,” said Jayco. “She’s
history. As with many Regional Rodeo As- never sitting down
fourth-generation Okla- sociation and the All unless they’re eating
homa cowboys, rodeo Indian Rodeo Cowboys lunch.”
surrounds Jayco on all Association. Betty has helped both
sides. Jayco and his sis- “My dad is my big- granddaughters with
ters, Jaylie, 23, and Jer- Jayco Roper (Photo by Skylar Wright) time manager; he takes their barrel racing and
nie, 8, have had plenty care of everything,” imparted much of her
of examples set before would compete at. fourth in 2016 at the the past two years. He said Jayco. “He sched- training knowledge on
them, as their dad J.W. -D\FR·VÀUVW\HDULQWKH NJHSFR. He stepped resides in Oktaha, Okla- ules what rodeos I’m the girls as they work
competed as a team Oklahoma Junior High up to bareback horses homa, and is home- entering, and I hop and with her.
roper for many years. Rodeo Association led when he was about 14, schooled through Epic don’t ask too many “The IFYR is a great
Besides their grand- him to a national title and soon he was riding Charter School. questions.” competition where you
ma Betty’s successful as a seventh grader, with all the big boys on Learning the bronc Jayco spends much of can win a lot of money
barrel racing and horse when he left the NJHS- full size broncs. Jayco riding ropes has been his time practicing on and our family has a lot
training career, their FR in Des Moines, Iowa, won the 2017 Oklaho- easier with the help of his spur board, prepar- of history with both the
grandpa Jimmy Roper as the 2015 National ma High School Rodeo neighbor Justin McDan- ing for rodeos and goes IPRA and IFYR,” said
was a well-known and Champion Bareback Association Champion iel. Justin competed in to the gym at least three Jayco. “I’d like to win as
accomplished steer Steer Rider. Leading Bareback Rider title his the IFYR in 2003 and times each week. many world champion
wrestler. Jaylie com- up to that, he had won freshman year. 2004, winning the all- “I like to run and titles as she has so that
peted at the IFYR in the Oklahoma bareback Jayco is now 17 years around championship do a lot of core work one day, they may be
barrel racing when she steer champion title and old and has competed in 2004 after topping and powerlifting at the talking about me when
was younger and has champion rookie cow- at the International Fi- the earnings board with gym,” said Jayco. my grandson is getting
trained some great bar- boy title. Jayco placed nals Youth Rodeo for money earned in both He does make some ready in the chutes.”
rel horses; and Jernie
lives, eats and breathes
barrel racing.
Jayco started his ro-
deo career riding sheep
Virginia’s Home Furnishings
starting at
at three years old and
stepped up the rough
stock ladder to calves,
steers and mini broncs Let us 1815 N. Harrison
ur
when he was six years Build yo Shawnee, OK
old. Although he comes Logo
from a family of mainly (405) 273-6620
(405)275-7351
timed-event competi-
tors, Jayco had a pas- www.VirginiasFurniture.com
Maylen.us
sion for rough stock
from the very begin- FINANCING & LAYAWAY AVAILABLE!
ning at the Ward Rodeo 212 E. Main, Shawnee Hours: Mon-Sat, 9-5
Company rodeos he
Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
The Anadarko Daily News
Thursday, July 18, 2019 • The Anadarko, Oklahoma, Daily News • Page Three
Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise
INVESTIGATION
Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
The Freedom Call
2019
Page
founders embezzled millions
0003 By Sean Murphy view, but released a statement Epic to a traditional brick-and-
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) from the two men on Wednes- mortar school. Epic also offers
Clip — The founders of Oklahoma's day saying they dispute the alle- a "learning fund" credit of be-
resized
largest virtual charter school gations in the affidavit and that tween $800 and $1,000 per stu-
71%
embezzled millions of dollars they've cooperated fully with dent that can be used to pay for
in state funds through an illegal investigators for more than five such things as karate and dance
scheme that involved the use of years. lessons, yoga or music instruc-
"ghost students" to artificially "We will continue to coop- tion.
inflate enrollment numbers, in- erate with investigators, as we Johnson wrote in the affida-
vestigators allege. have throughout the history of vit that Harris and Chaney used
Oklahoma State Bureau of our school," the statement read. the learning fund to entice par-
Investigation agent Tommy "We are confident the facts will ents to enroll their students in
Johnson outlined the allegations once again vindicate our team." Epic. Dozens of the 'ghost stu-
in an affidavit for a search war- Epic is a free, public school dents' were home-school or pri-
rant of an Epic teacher's home for children in pre-kindergarten vate-school students who were
filed late Monday in Oklahoma through grade 12 that has en- enrolled just so parents could
County. Investigators seized a joyed explosive growth since receive the credit without any
laptop and mobile phone during it was founded by Chaney and intent to receive instruction.
their search. Harris in 2011. The school had "Many teachers dubbed them
In the affidavit, Oklahoma more than 21,000 students en- 'members of the $800 club,'" ac-
State Bureau of Investigation rolled last year and received cording to the affidavit.
agent Tommy Johnson wrote more than $113 million in state One former Epic teacher told
the school's founders, David funding in fiscal year 2019, Johnson about a family in rural
Chaney and Ben Harris, split il- according to figures from the Oklahoma that withdrew 10 of
legal profits of more than $10 Oklahoma State Department of their children from a local pub-
million between 2013 and 2018. Education. lic school and received $8,000.
"Ben Harris and David "These allegations are ex- "The parents did not require
Chaney inflated the number of tremely serious and disturbing," the students to participate in any
students reported to (the Okla- State Superintendent of Public of Epic's curriculums and they
homa State Department of Instruction Joy Hofmeister said spent their day horseback riding
Education) by enrolling and/ in a statement. "The State De- and participating in other non-
or retaining 'ghost students,'" partment of Education stands educational activities," Johnson
Johnson wrote. "Ghost students ready to work with any crimi- wrote.
were students enrolled in Epic nal investigation to determine if Chaney also recruited stu-
that received little or no instruc- public education and countless dents from private schools for
tion from Epic teachers." Oklahoma taxpayers have been dual enrollment in Epic, some-
The two men operated Epic defrauded of millions of dollars." times without their parents'
Youth Services, a for-profit lim- A department spokeswoman knowledge, according to the
ited liability company, which said Wednesday federal inves- affidavit. In one case, a student
contracted with the school to tigators also have sought data was counted for two school
oversee operations and received about Epic from the agency. years after she moved to another
a portion of the school's state- Epic also has expanded its state.
appropriated funds. virtual charter school operations In his affidavit, Johnson
The existence of the affi- into California and began efforts wrote he has probable cause to
davit was first reported by The to move into Arkansas . believe crimes committed in-
Oklahoman . The OSBI's inves- The school boasts on its web- clude embezzlement, conspira-
tigation is ongoing, and formal site that Epic teachers can earn cy, obtaining money under false
charges have not been filed. an estimated $15,000 more than pretenses, and violation of Okla-
Epic did not make Chaney the state average, and many par- homa's Racketeer-Influenced
or Harris available for an inter- ents say their children prefer and Corrupt Organizations Act.
Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
Clip
Jul 2019 Page resized
19 A002 52%
Ada News
Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
Alva Review-Courier
Jul
Probe: Oklahoma
19
2019
virtual charter founders
Page
0003
embezzled millions
Clip By Sean Murphy again vindicate our team." children from a local public school
resized Epic is a free, public school and received $8,000.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) —
69%
The founders of Oklahoma's largest for children in pre-kindergarten "The parents did not require
virtual charter school embezzled through grade 12 that has enjoyed the students to participate in any of
millions of dollars in state funds explosive growth since it was Epic's curriculums and they spent
through an illegal scheme that in- founded by Chaney and Harris in their day horseback riding and par-
volved the use of "ghost students" 2011. The school had more than ticipating in other non-educational
WR DUWL¿FLDOO\ LQÀDWH HQUROOPHQW 21,000 students enrolled last year activities," Johnson wrote.
numbers, investigators allege. and received more than $113 mil- Chaney also recruited students
Oklahoma State Bureau of In- OLRQ LQ VWDWH IXQGLQJ LQ ¿VFDO \HDU from private schools for dual en-
vestigation agent Tommy Johnson DFFRUGLQJWR¿JXUHVIURPWKH rollment in Epic, sometimes with-
outlined the allegations in an af- Oklahoma State Department of Ed- out their parents' knowledge, ac-
¿GDYLW IRU D VHDUFK ZDUUDQW RI DQ ucation. FRUGLQJ WR WKH D൶GDYLW ,Q RQH
(SLFWHDFKHU
VKRPH¿OHGODWH0RQ- "These allegations are extreme- case, a student was counted for two
day in Oklahoma County. Investi- ly serious and disturbing," State Su- school years after she moved to an-
gators seized a laptop and mobile perintendent of Public Instruction other state.
phone during their search. Joy Hofmeister said in a statement. ,Q KLV D൶GDYLW -RKQVRQ ZURWH
,QWKHD൶GDYLW2NODKRPD6WDWH "The State Department of Educa- he has probable cause to believe
Bureau of Investigation agent Tom- tion stands ready to work with any crimes committed include embez-
my Johnson wrote the school's criminal investigation to determine zlement, conspiracy, obtaining
founders, David Chaney and Ben if public education and countless money under false pretenses, and
+DUULVVSOLWLOOHJDOSUR¿WVRIPRUH Oklahoma taxpayers have been de- violation of Oklahoma's Racke-
than $10 million between 2013 and frauded of millions of dollars." WHHU,QÀXHQFHG DQG &RUUXSW 2UJD-
2018. A department spokeswoman nizations Act.
"Ben Harris and David Chaney said Wednesday federal investiga-
LQÀDWHG WKH QXPEHU RI VWXGHQWV tors also have sought data about
reported to (the Oklahoma State Epic from the agency.
Department of Education) by en- Epic also has expanded its vir-
rolling and/or retaining 'ghost stu- tual charter school operations into
dents,'" Johnson wrote. "Ghost &DOLIRUQLD DQG EHJDQ H൵RUWV WR
students were students enrolled in move into Arkansas .
Epic that received little or no in- The school boasts on its website
struction from Epic teachers." that Epic teachers can earn an esti-
The two men operated Epic mated $15,000 more than the state
<RXWK6HUYLFHVDIRUSUR¿WOLPLWHG average, and many parents say their
liability company, which contract- children prefer Epic to a tradition-
ed with the school to oversee oper- al brick-and-mortar school. Epic
ations and received a portion of the DOVR R൵HUV D OHDUQLQJ IXQG FUHG-
school's state-appropriated funds. it of between $800 and $1,000 per
7KH H[LVWHQFH RI WKH D൶GDYLW student that can be used to pay for
ZDV ¿UVW UHSRUWHG E\ 7KH 2NODKR- such things as karate and dance les-
man . The OSBI's investigation is sons, yoga or music instruction.
ongoing, and formal charges have -RKQVRQ ZURWH LQ WKH D൶GDYLW
QRWEHHQ¿OHG that Harris and Chaney used the
Epic did not make Chaney or learning fund to entice parents to
Harris available for an interview, enroll their students in Epic. Dozens
but released a statement from the of the 'ghost students' were home-
two men on Wednesday saying they school or private-school students
GLVSXWHWKHDOOHJDWLRQVLQWKHD൶GD- who were enrolled just so parents
vit and that they've cooperated ful- could receive the credit without any
ly with investigators for more than intent to receive instruction.
¿YH\HDUV "Many teachers dubbed them
"We will continue to coop- 'members of the $800 club,'" ac-
erate with investigators, as we FRUGLQJWRWKHD൶GDYLW
have throughout the history of our One former Epic teacher told
school," the statement read. "We Johnson about a family in rural
DUH FRQ¿GHQW WKH IDFWV ZLOO RQFH Oklahoma that withdrew 10 of their
Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
Enid News & Eagle
Jul
19
2019
Epic questions
State lawmaker wants answers on Oklahoma charter school
Page By Dylan Goforth Schools in multiple lawsuits brought
The Frontier about by former Epic teachers, and his
A003 wife is Shelly Hickman, Epic assis-
Clip A day after Oklahoma Superin- tant superintendent and spokeswom-
resized tendent of Schools Joy Hofmeister an. Shelly Hickman also was former
47%
said she would “work with any crimi- head of public affairs for the OSDE
nal investigation” conducted into Epic under former State Superintendent
Charter Schools, one state lawmaker Sandy Garrett.
said she plans to ask Hofmeister if Hofmeister also received more
that cooperation is even possible. dards,” Provenzano said. than $23,000 in campaign contribu-
The Oklahoman reported Tuesday Epic Assistant Superintendent/ tions from Chaney and Harris.
that Epic Charter Schools founders spokeswoman Shelly Hickman did Provenzano was critical of Clark’s
Ben Harris and David Chaney had not respond to requests for comment. decision last month to release the
been accused in an Oklahoma State Steffie Corcoran, spokeswoman for physical and email addresses of thou-
Bureau of Investigation search war- OSDE, told The Frontier in an email sands of certified Oklahoma Public
rant request of unlawfully “deriv- the department had already discussed School teachers to Epic in a records
ing profits from State appropriated varying concerns with the OSBI. request made by Shelly Hickman.
funds.” “I can assure you there is no ques- Hickman requested the information
The search warrant request tion of any of this being a factor, in order to recruit teachers away from
detailed an alleged scheme in which period,” Corcoran said in the email. traditional brick-and-mortar schools
Harris and Chaney inflated Epic’s “We have the utmost confidence in and into Epic.
enrollment in order to collect more the professional standards of our legal Provenzano told The Frontier she
money from the state, of which their office.” did not believe Clark should have
privately owned management compa- released the information to Epic,
ny kept 10 percent. saying the request was only ful-
The search warrant affidavit said an filled via a “loophole.” In the email
OSBI agent reviewed bank statements chain between Clark and Hickman,
and discovered Harris and Chaney Clark noted although such infor-
“split profits … of at least $10 million mation is typically prohibited from
between 2013 and 2018. being released, he believed since the
Harris and Chaney inflated the teachers had submitted the informa-
number of students reported to OSDE tion to a public body in order to get
by enrolling and/or retaining “ghost their certification, it was subject to
students,” the affidavit claimed. In disclosure.
this context, ghost students refer to Provenzano said she planned to
students who were enrolled in the ask Hofmeister how she can ensure
charter school but “received little or the OSDE would ethically respond to
no instruction from Epic teachers.” a criminal investigation, given “that
Following the Oklahoman’s story, we just had all these teachers unsolic-
Rep. Melissa Provenzano
Hofmeister tweeted the allegations ited get recruitment emails from Epic
against Epic Charter Schools were Epic said in a statement Tuesday, and your own general counsel cited a
“extremely serious” and “disturb- “This latest attack comes at a time loophole in order to release that infor-
ing.” She said the Oklahoma State when our growth makes status quo mation.”
Department of Education “stands education lobbying groups uncom- Provenzano said the “ball was roll-
ready to work w/any criminal inves- fortable. We are considering legal ing” on the criminal investigation into
tigation to determine if … taxpayers action to combat what we believe Epic “and has been rolling for a long
have been defrauded.” is a coordinated effort to damage time and I doubt it will go away.”
On Wednesday afternoon, Rep. our school, our co-founders and our “But I’m concerned about how
Melissa Provenzano, D-Tulsa, said staff.” many people … in the state depart-
she planned to ask Hofmeister about The Oklahoman reported Wednes- ment (of education) are willing to
that cooperation pledge. day that Gov. Kevin Stitt was seeking facilitate this,” she said. “It’s not
“I plan to ask her how she is a briefing by the OSBI on Epic’s about the students or the teachers, it’s
planning to cooperate in a way that alleged “ghost students.” about who is running the show and
hasn’t already been taking place,” Provenzano has long been con- the money and could it go to students
Provenzano said. “If the state depart- cerned about the differences in regu- to increase their graduation rate.”
ment is doing its job and catching lations between traditional brick and Epic Charter School Board of
these kind of things, then $10 million mortar schools in the state and virtual Education was scheduled to hold its
doesn’t go poof.” schools like Epic. She said she also regular public meeting in Oklahoma
She said she believes the inves- was concerned about seemingly close City on Wednesday, but it was can-
tigation eventually will lead to the existing ties between OSDE and Epic. celed early Wednesday the morning.
for-profit management company Epic Oklahoma State Department of
Youth Services that “Epic filters its Education General Counsel Brad
money through.” The Frontier is a nonprofit focusing on
Clark used to work for the Hickman
“Next (legislative) session I think Law Group, a Norman-based legal investigative and watchdog journalism. For more
there will be a greater alignment firm operated by Bill Hickman. information or to donate, go to www.readfrontier.
between the accountability stan- Hickman represents Epic Charter org.
Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
Moore American
Jul
Epic schools
alleged of
19
2019
Page
A001
Clip
resized
75% using ‘ghost
students’ to
embezzle
By Jennifer Palmer school
Oklahoma Watch profits of
at least $10
A state investigator’s million
search warrant filed in court between
Tuesday seeks evidence of 2013 and
alleged embezzlement of 2018, the
state funds and obtaining affidavit
money under false pretens- states. Epic
es at Epic Charter Schools, is a publicly funded charter
including through the use school that is managed
of “ghost students,” who re- by a for-profit company,
ceive no actual instruction Epic Youth Services, which
at the school. is owned by Chaney and
Epic and and its two Harris.
co-founders, David Chaney On June 28, OSBI agents
and Ben Harris, are the visited the Oklahoma City
subject of a state law home of an Epic teacher, the
enforcement investigation, affidavit states. Her com-
puter, cellphone and files,
according to the seven-page
including notes, letters, text
affidavit and warrant filed in
messages with Epic parents,
Oklahoma County District Chaney and Harris, is what
Court. agents sought in the search
The agent reviewed bank warrant.
statements and found
Chaney and Harris split See WATCH Page A2
Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
Moore American
y y g
Jul
Watch: fortable. We are considering
legal action to combat what
19 From Page A1 we believe is a coordinated
effort to damage our school,
2019 Epic is accused of re- our co-founders and our
ceiving state funding for staff.”
Page “ghost students” as early as
A002 Superintendent Joy
Clip
2014. Those students were Hofmeister, in a state-
resized homeschooled and attend- ment, called the allegations
82%
ed private and sectarian extremely serious and
From
A001
schools and enrolled in Epic disturbing.
to receive an $800 “learn- “The state Department
ing fund” without receiving of Education stands ready
instruction from Epic, the to work with any criminal
affidavit states. Epic teach- investigation to determine if
ers dubbed those students public education and count-
“members of the $800 club.” less Oklahoma taxpayers
The learning fund is provid- have been defrauded of
ed to all Epic students and
millions of dollars. In the
can be spent on curriculum,
meantime, it is important
technology and extracur-
ricular activities. to let the legal system do its
Shelly Hickman, a spokes- work,” she said.
woman for Epic Charter When asked whether the
Schools, responded to allegations would affect the
media reports describing handling of Epic’s 2019-20
the allegations Tuesday. funding, Education Depart-
“We are audited by the ment spokeswoman Steffie
Department of Education Corcoran said they will
and state-approved auditors consult with law enforce-
each school year and are su- ment to determine the next
premely confident that we appropriate steps. Epic’s
operate our public school state funding for next year
system within the boundar- is estimated at $120 million.
ies of state and federal law,” Oklahoma Watch is a
her statement reads. “Since nonprofit, nonpartisan
our inception in 2011 we media organization that
have time after time proven produces in-depth and
ourselves innocent of all al- investigative content on a
e legations. We will again. range of public-policy issues
“This latest attack comes facing the state. For more
at a time when our growth Oklahoma Watch content,
makes status quo education go to oklahomawatch.org.
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Tahlequah Daily Press
Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.